During its October meeting, the Colorado State Board of Education received updates on key initiatives from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) aimed at increasing student engagement and improving academic outcomes.
The department has set targets for the 2027-2028 school year, such as reducing the chronic absenteeism rate by half from its pandemic peak of 35.5% in 2021-22, and raising the percentage of third graders who meet or exceed expectations on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) English Language Arts tests to 60%.
In the 2024-25 school year, student attendance remained steady with an average daily attendance rate of 91.4%. Chronic absenteeism was reported at 28.4%, similar to last year. Sixty percent of districts improved both their attendance and chronic absenteeism rates. Kindergarten through second grade saw gains across the state. Two-thirds of districts in CDE’s Attendance Learning Cohort also reported progress.
The department’s Every School Day Matters campaign has expanded, now including over 50 schools and districts participating in a statewide challenge to cut chronic absenteeism by 50%. The CDE is also increasing professional learning opportunities, building family and community partnerships, and encouraging engaging instruction to help students feel connected in school.
To improve reading outcomes, the department aims to increase third graders meeting or exceeding expectations on CMAS English Language Arts from 42% in 2024 to 60% by 2028. CDE staff told the board that significant reading deficiency rates are declining statewide. Schools participating in CDE’s Early Literacy Grant are showing stronger gains than the state average. Nearly 60% of K–3 students now attend schools using the Early Literacy Assessment Tool (ELAT).
Efforts to accelerate improvement include sharing effective instructional practices, redesigning data systems for better district support, and strengthening local instructional leadership.
The board also took action on other matters:
“Voted 9-0 to approve the rules for the Administration of the Public Transportation Fund, specifically to update the definition of capital outlay from an expenditure in excess of $100 to an expenditure in excess of $10,000 and to expand the list of allowable additions that can be included as reimbursable expenses.”
“Voted 9-0 to approve the rules for accounting and reporting, including adding references to the Universal Preschool Program and Healthy School Meals for All.”
The Colorado Department of Education states its vision is “to create equitable educational environments where all students and staff in Colorado thrive. Our role is to improve student outcomes and ensure students and families across Colorado have access to high-quality schools by serving, guiding, and elevating our state’s 178 school districts and BOCES.”
