Colorado Ponders District-Accountability Benchmarks

By Robert C. Johnston

Colorado districts that failed to raise student scores on state tests and fell short in other school performance areas would lose their accreditation, under a proposal the state school board is to vote on this week.

Unlike accountability laws in some other states, the plan would not give the state the authority to run ailing districts. Still, the proposal would mark the first time that Colorado districts would be accredited based on state-mandated student-performance goals.

"What we're doing is bolting in place an accountability measure that gives meaning to our standards," Commissioner of Education William J. Moloney said in an interview. "Without something...