A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

APPLICATION NO    :    R215G30008 APPLICANT         :    Colorado Department of Education                        Office of Educational Services/ 		       School Effectiveness Unit                        201 E. Colfax Avenue                        Denver, Colorado  80203 CONTACT PERSON    :    Marianne Kenney TELEPHONE	  :    (303) 866-6762 AWARD TO DATE     :    $675,499 PROJECT PERIOD    :    09/01/93-09/30/96 

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is conducting four interrelated activities: (1) To develop and publish a State Curriculum Framework for geography that supports the new National Geography Education Standards; (2) to implement an exemplary model for standards- based pre-service education and certification, (3) to implement an exemplary model for standards-based inservice education and recertification; and (4) to encourage other states to adopt elements of Colorado's curriculum framework and models for pre-service and in-service education and certification.

Collaboration between the CDE and the Colorado Geographic Alliance is an essential element of the project's framework development, models, and dissemination. Collaboration also extends to every participating school, teacher, student, professor, parent, and state policy maker. These efforts are intended to build the "critical mass" necessary to effect change.

A working draft Framework has been completed. Written primarily by teachers trained in incorporating standards into curriculum, the Framework includes an analysis model that compares state and district standards with the National Geography Standards for the purpose of facilitating district alignment with the National Standards.

During the past year, the project has also instituted the preservice course at the University of Northern Colorado, incorporating portfolios and performance assessments for students. The project has set in motion the inservice models in eight "catalyst" schools districts. Teams of experienced educators have been trained at summer institutes on standards-based education and have developed units of instruction that have translated the new standards and Framework into everyday classroom practice. The project continues to use a training of trainers model to create a "multiplier" effect. The multiplier effect has been enhanced by inclusion of a video designed to show teachers throughout the state how standards can enrich curriculum.

During the coming year, the project will focus on the following: (1) providing inservice workshops and presentations based on models provided in the Framework; (2) field testing the units developed by the "catalyst" school districts; (3) adding 12 new "catalyst" districts; (4) evaluating the geography methods course at the University of Northern Colorado; (5) publishing a Framework supplement offering preservice and licensure policy recommendations; and (6) sponsoring district visitations by state education department officials and geography alliance coordinators from neighboring states.

[State Content Standards...]

[Development and Implementation...]