At its May meeting, the Colorado State Board of Education upheld a Jan. 28 decision by the Pueblo 60 School District to not renew the contract of Chavez/Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy – a charter school in the district.
The charter school has operated in Pueblo for 24 years, but the local school board voted in January to non-renew the contract, citing improper fiscal management and failing to provide timely and accurate financial documents. The board also cited declining enrollment and the school’s mounting debt. The contract expires on June 30.
Under state law, charter schools can appeal a local board decision to the State Board of Education. Ultimately, state board members, who voted 7-1 in favor of upholding Pueblo 60’s decision, said they, too, were concerned with the charter school’s financial issues.
State board approves innovation plans for two schools
The board approved updated plans for two schools—Central Elementary in Adams 14 and Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs District 11—that were required to return for accountability hearings after receiving the state’s lowest performance ratings on the 2024 School Performance Framework.
Central Elementary – Adams 14 School District
Central Elementary has been on the state’s accountability clock for nine years. In 2022, the board directed the school to partner with TNTP for partial external management and to implement an innovation plan alongside a community school model. TNTP provided coaching and support for improving instructional systems. However, Central earned a “Priority Improvement” rating in 2024, prompting a required rehearing. On Thursday, the board approved the district’s proposal to continue and deepen the existing innovation plan, with a renewed emphasis on high-quality instruction and expanded implementation of the community school model. The board also approved the school-specific waivers needed to support this work.
Mitchell High School – Colorado Springs School District 11
Mitchell High School has been on the state’s accountability clock for six years. In 2022, the board approved an innovation plan focused on increased professional development and strategic waivers. However, the school received a “Turnaround” rating on the 2024 framework. In response, the board approved the district’s updated proposal to retain innovation status while bringing in a new partial external management partner, Instructional Empowerment. The revised plan includes integrating data-driven instructional systems, developing rigorous and student-centered classrooms, and implementing a defined model for coaching and professional learning.
In other action, the state board:
- Reauthorized Adams State University’s traditional educator preparation program in all but one area – special education generalist, which was conditionally reauthorized and will require the university to return next year to address identified areas for improvement in that one endorsement area.
- Conditionally reauthorized Colorado Christian University’s alternative teacher preparation program and will require the university to return next year to address identified areas for improvement.
- Directed CDE staff to extend the deadline for gathering public input regarding recommended revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards for science, specifically targeting climate literacy.
- Approved the public notice of rulemaking for updates to 1 CCR 301-39, including:
- Simplifying at-risk count requirements for schools in the Community Eligibility Provision
- Incorporating future rules on census block data collection (HB 25-1320)
- Clarifying funding rules for private school students enrolled in public schools
- Defining requirements for supplemental online courses for homebound, expelled, and incarcerated students
- Making technical updates from the Office of Legislative Legal Services review
- Discussing guidance and potential rules on school meal times as they relate to instructional time.
