It’s time to review K-12 programs

    Every successful organization or individual sets goals, plans, implements and assesses the results. This concept applies equally to success in business, government and education.
    Currently there are over 60 programs in K-12 education that have been enacted by the state Legislature and implemented by the Colorado Department of Education. Over the years, the Colorado General Assembly has put so many programs in place for our schools that simply listing them is a daunting task. To complicate the situation even further, many programs are layered on top of existing laws and other programs.
    This structure and all of these programs could be working just fine or they could be costing schools time and money with no measurable results. We do not know which is true as we have not evaluated their implementation or outcomes.
    There is no question that these programs were all created with the best intentions. Nor that their goals to provide resources, support and accountability to students and teachers throughout our state were well founded. Yet, as it stands today, we do not take stock of the education programs we have worked so hard to create. In order to gauge our performance, shouldn’t we at least be aware of what we are doing and how well we are doing it?
 

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