DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Colorado State Board of Education
ADMINISTRATION OF CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
1 CCR 301-69

227611-R-1.00	Statement of Basis and Purpose
The statutory basis for these rules adopted January 12, 2006 is found in 22-2-106(1)(a) and (c), State Board duties; 22-2-107(1)(c), State Board powers; 22-7-611, Closing the Achievement Gap Program, C.R.S.
According to section 22-7-611, C.R.S., the State Board of Education shall determine the criteria by which eligible schools shall be selected to participate in the voluntary Closing the Achievement Gap Program and shall promulgate rules that set forth that criteria.  
The State Board is promulgating the proposed amendments pursuant to SB09-256, 22-7-613 C.R.S., which creates a cash fund to support closing the achievement gap. 
227611-R-2.00	Selection Criteria
Eligibility for participation in the voluntary program referenced in 22-7-611, C.R.S., shall be limited to schools with an achievement gap meeting the following criteria:
2.01	School at which current and prior year reading gap is larger than the state average gap; and
2.02	School at which current and prior year math gap is larger than the state average; or
2.03	Has received an academic performance rating of unsatisfactory pursuant to section 22-7-604(5), C.R.S.
27611-R-2.00	Definitions
2.01	“Department” means the Department of Education created pursuant to section 24-1-115(A), C.R.S.
2.02	“State Board” means the State Board of Education created pursuant to Section 1, Article IX of the State Constitution.
2.03	“Eligible District” means a school district that has been identified by rule of the State Board as having a significant achievement gap.
2.04	“Eligible School” means a public school that has been identified by rule of the State Board as having a significant achievement gap.
2.05	“Poverty” means those students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch.
227611-R-3.00	Selection Criteria
The following criteria shall be used to identify districts and schools that demonstrate a significant achievement gap and thus are eligible to submit an application for funds:
3.01	Of all the districts and schools in the state with gaps in achievement status on the Colorado Student Achievement Program (CSAP) between minority and non-minority groups and poverty and non-poverty groups, the 10% of districts and schools with the highest gap, based on CSAP data from the previous 2 consecutive years; and

3.02	Of all the districts and schools in the state with gaps in growth percentiles for performance on the CSAP between minority and non-minority groups and poverty and non-poverty groups, the 10% of districts and schools with the highest growth gaps, based on CSAP growth model data from the previous 2 consecutive years.

227611-R-4.00	Timeline
4.01	The Department shall provide an outline of different strategies that the Eligible District or Eligible School may implement to improve academic achievement on the Department website, www.cde.state.co.us, by April 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which the Eligible District or Eligible School intends to participate in the program, with the exception of academic year 2009-10, when the outline of strategies will be posted on or before November 15, 2009.
4.02	The Eligible District or Eligible School shall provide to its district school board a list of strategies selected from the outline provided by the department that the Eligible District or Eligible School intends to implement to improve academic achievement by May 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which the Eligible District or Eligible School intends to participate in the program.
4.03	The district school board shall provide to the Department a list of strategies that the district school board and the Eligible District or Eligible School have chosen to implement to improve academic achievement by June 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which the Eligible District or Eligible School intends to participate in the program.