Littleton Public Schools is one of 14 districts in the state
given the highest rating under the Education Accountability Act of
2009.
LPS has been given the rating of “Accredited with Distinction”
by the Colorado Department of Education. The new accreditation
process establishes an expanded set of indicators that places value
on academic growth and success in preparing students for college
and career readiness. The process was launched by Senate Bill
09-163 and emphasizes outcomes that matter most for students.
“For us it’s a great validation and testament to the work our
teachers and principals do every day,” said Patty Turner, director
of learning services at the district.
The evaluations are based on four performance indicators:
academic achievement, academic growth, gaps in growth levels for a
variety of historically disadvantaged subgroups and success in
preparing students for post-secondary and work force readiness
(based on dropout rates, graduation rates and scores on the ACT
college entrance exam). In some cases, the final assignment is
based on additional data provided by the school district.
LPS was the only district in the Denver metro area to receive
the highest distinction.
Turner attributes LPS’ high rating to the teachers. The rating
is not only a result of CSAP scores, it is also a measure of
student growth.
“We have had very systematic professional development over the
past three or four years on literacy and math,” Turner said.
“Teachers are becoming more and more skilled. I think it’s a
measure of how effective our teachers are.”
In all, 111 of the state’s 186 school districts (61 percent)
were rated as “Accredited with Distinction” or “Accredited.”
Ninety-seven were rated as “Accredited.”
“The majority of Colorado school districts provide high-quality
learning opportunities for students and these results bear out that
fact,” said Colorado State Board of Education Chairman Bob Schaffer
in a prepared statement. “Congratulations to these districts that
are accredited with distinction and are setting a high bar for
performance and delivering on the promise to students.”
After “Accredited with Distinction,” “Accredited,” and
“Accredited with Improvement Plan,” the remaining accreditation
categories each come with an increased level of state oversight and
support. Those categories are: “Accredited with Priority
Improvement Plan” and “Accredited with Turnaround Plan.
The Colorado Department of Education will recognize school
districts rated as “Accredited with Distinction” at 10 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 9. in the main lobby at CDE, 201 E. Colfax Ave., in
Denver. The event is scheduled to include Gov. Bill Ritter, State
Board of Education Vice-Chair Randy DeHoff, Commissioner Jones and
Associate Commissioner Richard Wenning.
For a complete list of district accreditation ratings, visit
www.schoolview.org/PerformanceFrameworks.asp
Districts “Accredited with Distinction”
Academy School District 20, Aspen School District 1, Cheyenne
Mountain School District 12, Expeditionary BOCES (Rocky Mountain
School of Expeditionary Learning), Hinsdale County School District
RE-1, Kiowa County School District C-2; Lewis-Palmer School
District 38, Littleton Public Schools, Ouray School District R-1,
Plateau School District RE-5, Prairie School District RE-11,
Ridgway School District R-2, Steamboat Springs School District RE-2
and Telluride School District
