Colorado’s education accountability system needs a major overhaul, according to a report from a task force composed of parents, educators, students and community leaders.

The group, which released its report Friday, was created to examine the state’s accountability system.

The report released by the 26-member panel recommended that, among other things, ratings for schools and districts better reflect the achievement of different student groups and provide their parents and guardians with a clearer understanding of how well schools prepare students for life after high school.

Such an overhaul would better reflect the needs of students and schools, according to a news release from the group, which was formed under House Bill 23-1241 by the Colorado General Assembly.

The Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance and Resource Inequity task force conducted more than 150 hours of meetings and focused on addressing the gaps in the outcomes across the board in attempt to ensure that resources are distributed fairly to all students.

In total, the task force developed 30 recommendations aimed at helping the state better evaluate and support student success.

The group’s work covered the areas of accountability, frameworks, state assessments, public reporting and engagement, and continuous improvement practices.

The group emphasized the following:

Better metrics for growth, achievement, and postsecondary readiness. To give parents a clearer idea of how schools prepare students for college or careers, the task force recommended adding new measures focused on postsecondary and workforce readiness.

Modernizing state assessments. The recommendations included creating assessments that adapt to student needs, offer multilingual options, and provide quicker results to help teachers and the community understand student progress.

Improving data sharing and accessibility: Recognizing the importance of accessible information, the task force proposed a statewide dashboard that would offer clear, easy-to-understand data on school performance for parents, educators, and policymakers.

Strengthening improvement processes. The task force suggested creating a system of early identification and targeted support to help schools and districts address issues as they arise and recognize successes.

Wendy Birhanzel, the superintendent of Harrison School District 2 and the task force’s chair, said that the recommendations are just the beginning.

“Our commitment to this work must continue to ensure that every student in Colorado has access to the educational opportunities and outcomes they deserve,” she said. 

The full report is available here.