Stakeholder Roles

Colorado’s system of accountability and support requires the coordinated efforts of several key stakeholder groups, outlined below. For more information, please refer to the District Accountability Handbook (PDF).

• The Colorado Department of Education (Department) is responsible for providing high-quality information to a variety of stakeholders about school and district performance.  The Department evaluates the performance of all public schools, all districts and the state using a set of common Performance Indicators.  The Department also accredits districts and provides support and assistance to districts in evaluating the district’s and the district’s schools’ performance results so districts and schools can use that information to inform improvement planning.
• The Colorado State Board of Education (State Board) is responsible for entering into accreditation contracts with local school boards and directing local school boards regarding the types of plans the district’s schools shall implement.
• Local school boards are responsible for accrediting their schools and for overseeing the academic programs offering by their schools to meet or exceed state and local performance expectations for levels of attainment on the state’s four key Performance Indicators (achievement, growth, closing gaps, and postsecondary/workforce readiness).  Local school boards also are responsible for creating, adopting and implementing a Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement, or Turnaround plan, whichever is required by the Department, and ensuring that their schools create, adopt and implement the type of plan required by the State Board.
• District leaders are responsible for overseeing the academic programs offering by their district’s schools to meet or exceed state and local performance expectations for levels of attainment on the state’s four key Performance Indicators.  They play a key role in the creation, adoption, and implementation of their district’s Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement or Turnaround plan, whichever is required by the State Board, as well as in reviewing their schools’ Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement or Turnaround plans. They also have a key role in recommending to the school board the accreditation category of each district school.
• District Accountability Committees are responsible for making recommendations to their local school boards concerning priorities for spending districts funds, making recommendations concerning the preparation of the district’s Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement, or Turnaround plan (whichever is applicable), and cooperatively determining other areas and issues to address and make recommendations upon.
• School leaders are responsible for overseeing the academic programs offering by their school to meet or exceed state and local performance expectations for levels of attainment on the state’s four key Performance Indicators.  They also play a key role in the creation, adoption, and implementation of a school’s Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement or Turnaround plan, whichever is required by the State Board.
• School Accountability Committees are responsible for making recommendations to their principal concerning priorities for spending school funds, making recommendations concerning the preparation of the school’s Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement, or Turnaround plan (whichever is applicable), and meeting at least quarterly to discuss implementation of the school’s plan and other progress pertinent to the school’s accreditation contract with the local school board.