HUDAK’S BOARD NOTES – SPECIAL ISSUE – JULY 2007

The State Board of Education will soon begin its work implementing House Bill 07-1118. Below is a summary of the bill, and attached is a feedback form for you to use to let me know what you think.

On or before July 1, 2008, the State Board of Education must adopt "a comprehensive set of guidelines for the establishment of high school graduation requirements" that each school district must meet or exceed. These are to be minimum standards or basic core competencies or skills, not specific courses or proficiency levels.

On or before August 1, 2007, the State Board must begin to receive public comment on the adequacy of the existing state model content standards.

The State Board must take the following into account when creating the guidelines:

• Recommendations from Governor Owens’ Education Alignment Council.
• Recommendations from Governor Ritter’s P-20 Council.
• Admissions standards established by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for students entering 4-year education institutions in Colorado.
• The state’s model content standards, particularly in math, science, reading, and writing.
• Skills and competencies necessary to succeed in the 21^st century.
• The "multiple pathways to diplomas offered by school districts in the state."
• The "differing and broad categories of student interests and economic needs, including but not limited to agriculture, architecture, arts, communications, business and management, construction technology, education, finance, government, health sciences, tourism, human services, information technology, law and public safety, manufacturing, marketing and sales, physical education, science and technology, and transportation."

The Governor will appoint 12 people to serve as the State Graduation Guidelines Development Council. The members must be residents of Colorado, representative of the state geographically and demographically, and:

• Experts in the areas of curriculum, standards and assessments, career and technical skills, and learning and thinking skills, with at least one with expertise in the needs of exceptional students; or
• Representatives from the business community, public schools, institutions of higher education, community colleges, and career and technical institutions.

The Graduation Guidelines Council, in collaboration with the State Board, must hold a series of at least 6 public meetings throughout the state to hear testimony regarding the guidelines. The Graduation Guidelines Council will give the State Board its recommendations by May 1, 2008.

Once the guidelines are approved by the State Board, each school board must undertake "a community-based process to develop a blueprint for the education system in the community." Each school board must use this blueprint, as well as the guidelines developed by the state, to establish high school graduation requirements applicable to students enrolling in 9^th grade beginning July 1, 2009.