DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Colorado State Board of Education
RULES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COLORADO SCHOOL AWARDS PROGRAM
1 CCR 301-51
2207-R-1.00	Statement of Basis and Purpose.
The statutory basis for these rules is found in §§ 22-2-106 (1) (a) and (c), C.R.S., State Board duties; § 22-2-107 (1) (c), C.R.S., State Board powers; and §§ 22-11-601 through 604, C.R.S., Colorado School Awards Program. The Colorado School Awards Program, §§ 22-11-601 through 604, C.R.S., requires the State Board of Education to promulgate rules which include, but are not limited to procedures for transmitting the financial awards to schools that demonstrate outstanding performance. The modifications to the rules adopted by the State Board on February 9, 2011 were made in compliance with the requirements of the Committee on Legal Services.
2207-R-2.00	Definitions.
2.01	“Colorado Growth Model” means a scientifically rigorous statistical model that the Department uses to calculate students’ annual academic growth in the subjects included in the Statewide Assessments based on students’ scores on the annual Statewide Assessments, which model is adopted by the State Board pursuant to § 22-11-202, C.R.S.
2.02	“Colorado School Awards Program” or “Program” means the Awards program administered by the Department of Education pursuant to §§ 22-11-601 through 604, C.R.S. whereby the State Board of Education annually presents financial awards to schools that demonstrate outstanding performance.
2.03	“Department” means the Department of Education created and existing pursuant to § 24-1-115, C.R.S.
2.04	“Public School” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 22-1-101, C.R.S., and includes, but is not limited to, a charter school of a public school district, an Institute charter school, and an online program, as defined in § 22-30.7-103 (9), C.R.S.
2.05	“School Advisory Council Accountability Committee” means the committee established by the Public School pursuant to § 22-11-401, C.R.S.
2.06	“State Board” means the State Board of Education created pursuant to Section 1 of Article IX of the State Constitution.
2.07	“Statewide Assessments” means the assessments administered pursuant to the Colorado student assessment program created in § 22-7-409, C.R.S., or as part of the system of assessments adopted by the State Board pursuant to § 22-7-1006, C.R.S.
2207-R-3.00	Implementation Procedures.
3.01	John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards
3.01 (A)	Of the moneys available for the Colorado School Awards Program pursuant to part 6 of article 11 of title 22 and remaining after the distribution of funding under the Centers of Excellence Awards, one third shall be awarded as John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards.
3.01 (B)	These awards shall be granted to the Public Schools whose level of attainment on the performance indicator concerning student achievement levels, as calculated pursuant to § 22-11-204 (3), C.R.S., is within the top eight percent of all Public Schools in the state.
3.01 (C)	Subject to available appropriations, each John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award shall be five thousand, ten thousand, or fifteen thousand dollars.
3.01 (D)	These amounts shall depend on the number of pupils attending the Public School as reported in the state’s October 1 student count, pursuant to the Public School Finance Act, during the academic school year in which the school’s outstanding performance was achieved.
3.01 (D) (1)	An amount of five thousand dollars shall be awarded to those schools not exceeding 200 pupils.
3.01 (D) (2)	An amount of ten thousand dollars shall be awarded to those schools with more than 200 pupils but not exceeding 500 pupils.
3.01 (D) (3)	An amount of fifteen thousand dollars shall be awarded to those schools with more than 500 pupils.
3.01 (D) (4)	If the available appropriations are insufficient to award each school the amount specified, the Department shall reduce all awards for that year proportionately.
3.01 (D) (5)	If a school building contains more than one complete school level, they shall receive only one monetary award regardless of the number of report cards received. The monetary award shall be based on the total number of pupils within the school building.
3.02	Governor's Distinguished Improvement Awards.
3.02 (A)	Of the moneys available for the Colorado School Awards Program pursuant to part 6 of article 11 of title 22 and remaining after the distribution of funding under the Centers of Excellence Awards, two thirds shall be awarded as Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards.
3.02 (B)	These awards shall be granted to the Public Schools in the state demonstrating the highest rates of sustained student longitudinal growth across multiple years, measured by median student growth percentiles as calculated by the Colorado Growth Model, and in a manner that appropriately considers school size.
3.02 (C)	Awards shall be given to those elementary, middle and high schools with the highest sustained student growth rates as determined pursuant to subsection (B) of this section and, as appropriate, as informed by the school performance evaluation framework established pursuant to article 11 of title 22.
3.02 (D)	The number of Public Schools recognized with awards shall be based on the amount of funding available.
3.03	Centers of Excellence Awards.
3.03 (A)	Of the moneys available for the Colorado School Awards Program pursuant to part 6 of article 11 of title 22, two hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be awarded under the Centers of Excellence Awards.
3.03 (B)	These awards shall be granted to the Public Schools in the state that (1) enroll a student population of which at least seventy-five (75) percent are at-risk pupils, as defined in § 22-54-103 (1.5), C.R.S., and (2) demonstrate the highest rates of sustained student longitudinal growth across multiple years, measured by median student growth percentiles as calculated by the Colorado Growth Model and in a manner that appropriately considers school size.
3.03 (C)	Awards shall be given to those elementary, middle and high schools with the highest sustained student growth rates as determined pursuant to subsection (B) of this section and, as appropriate, as informed by the school performance evaluation framework established pursuant to article 11 of title 22.
3.03 (D)	The number of Public Schools recognized with awards shall be based on the amount of funding available.
3.04	Distribution of Awards
3.04 (A)	The State Board shall award funding to Public Schools for use within the Public School as the principal, after consultation with the School Advisory Council, deems appropriate.
3.04 (B)	Funding shall be distributed directly to the recipient Public School’s district or the Charter School Institute, whichever is applicable, on behalf of the recipient Public School. Funding shall only be used for the purposes identified by the Public School’s principal.
3.04 (C)	These award funds shall not supplant moneys made available to the public school from funding received by the school district pursuant to Article 54 of the Colorado School Laws or pursuant to the taxing authority of the school district.
3.05	Timeline for Distribution.
3.05 (A)	Within 90 days after the Department has conducted its annual review of each Public School’s performance, pursuant to § 22-11-210, C.R.S., the State Board shall notify recipients of any of the Colorado School Awards that they have been granted an award.
3.05 (B)	Distribution of the award funds, pending annual appropriations, will occur as soon as final determination of award amounts is calculated and moneys become available for distribution.
3.06	School Awards Program Fund.
3.06 (A)	Funds for the program shall be appropriated to the Department by the General Assembly.
3.06 (B)	Any funds unexpended and unencumbered at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the program fund. However, interest from the deposit and investment of these moneys shall be credited to the General Fund.
3.06 (C)	No moneys are available to the Department for administering the program.
3.06 (D)	The amount allocated by the state for the program may be increased by grants, gifts, and donations from public or private sources that will be credited to the fund.