Blueprint for Change in Colorado: State Teacher Policy Yearbook, 2010
Author: National Council on Teacher Quality
Date: 2010-00-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: Teaching (Occupation),Elementary Secondary Education,Educational Policy,Teacher Evaluation,Teacher Effectiveness,Teacher Improvement,Tenure,Teacher Dismissal,State Government,State Regulation,Academic Achievement,Educational Improvement,Teacher Certification,Alternative Teacher Certification,Needs Assessment,Yearbooks,Retirement Benefits,Educational Change,Teacher Education,Special Education Teachers,Elementary School Teachers,Middle School Teachers,Educational Objectives,Comparative Analysis,Public Schools

The 2009 &quot;State Teacher Policy Yearbook&quot; provided a comprehensive review of states' policies that impact the teaching profession. As a companion to last year's comprehensive state-by-state analysis, the 2010 edition provides each state with an individualized &quot;Blueprint for Change,&quot; building off last year's &quot;Yearbook&quot; goals and recommendations. State teacher policy addresses a great many areas, including teacher preparation, certification, evaluation and compensation. With so many moving parts, it may be difficult for states to find a starting point on the road to reform. To this end, this paper provides a state-specific roadmap, organized in three main sections. Section 1 identifies policy concerns that need critical attention, the areas of highest priority for state policymakers. Section 2 outlines &quot;low-hanging fruit,&quot; policy changes that can be implemented in relatively short order. Section 3 offers a short discussion of some longer-term systemic issues that states need to make sure stay on the radar. In the 2009 &quot;State Teacher Policy Yearbook&quot;, Colorado had the following grades: (1) Delivering Well Prepared Teachers (D-); (2) Expanding the Teaching Pool (D+); (3) Identifying Effective Teachers (D-); (4) Retaining Effective Teachers (C-); and (5) Exiting Ineffective Teachers (B-). Colorado has an overall grade of D+ for 2009. In the last year, many states made significant changes to their teacher policies, spurred in many cases by the Race to the Top competition. Based on a review of state legislation, rules and regulations, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has identified the following recent policy changes in Colorado: (1) Colorado now requires annual evaluations for all teachers. Probationary teachers must receive at least two documented observations that result in a written evaluation report each academic year; (2) Probationary teachers must earn three consecutive &quot;effective&quot; ratings to become nonprobationary. Veteran, or nonprobationary, teachers who receive two consecutive &quot;ineffective&quot; ratings return to probationary status and have a year to improve or face termination; and (3) Beginning in 2011, the state must annually report on the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs using aggregate data, including the correlation among different preparation programs and student academic growth, educator placement, and educator mobility and retention. Colorado noted that its tenure policy regarding the earning or losing of nonprobationary status will not go into effect for three years because of the need to develop rules and provide training to district personnel. Individual sections contain footnotes. (Contains 5 figures.) [For the related reports, see &quot;Blueprint for Change: National Summary. State Teacher Policy Yearbook, 2010&quot; (ED515614) and &quot;State Teacher Policy Yearbook, 2009. Colorado&quot; (ED511880).]