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Educator Effectiveness and SB 191

Welcome to CASB's new Educator Effectiveness resource page! Here you will find a one-stop shop for everything related to SB 191's implementation - news, an overview of the law, a timeline, key dates for giving the state feedback, state resources, and other resources you might find helpful.

This page will continue to grow as the state moves forward, so please send any comments, questions or page feedback to Brad Stauffer, CASB associate executive director of communications and board development.

NEWS: State Board approves rules

The Colorado State Board of Education took a significant step Wednesday toward the implementation of the requirements of SB 191.

The State Board voted unanimously to adopt rules governing the design and implementation of teacher and principal evaluation systems. The rules now move to the Attorney General’s Office and then to the General Assembly for review and approval.

CASB believes the rules appropriately reflect the state and local partnership contemplated by the Licensed Personnel Performance Evaluation Act, as amended by SB 191. We are currently developing resources to help school boards define their role in the design and implementation of the new systems and will continue to work with CDE and other state partners to assist districts in this work. 

NEWS: CDE chooses pilot districts

The Colorado Department of Education announced Friday the 15 school districts that will pilot Colorado's new model educator evaluation system. They include:

Pilot site 1: Moffat and South Routt
Pilot site 2: Jefferson County
Pilot site 3: Wray
Pilot site 4: Kiowa, Crowley, Miami-Yoder and Custer
Pilot site 5: Valley RE-1
Pilot site 6: St. Vrain
Pilot site 7: Platte Canyon
Pilot site 8: Salida, Del Norte, Mountain Valley and Center

Those eight sites will begin implementing the state's proposed model, and staff there will receive specialized training throughout implementation. In addition, Harrison and Brighton 27J were selected as partner sites to map their existing systems against the state's.

The Colorado Legacy Foundation will also choose a number of "Integration Districts" that will implement the new system and receive assistance. This effort is part of the foundation's Gates Foundation Grant.

More than 40 school districts applied to pilot this new program - a requirement of SB 191, passed in 2010. The response was more than what CDE expected. Of those applications, 33 districts were interested in piloting the state model, and five wanted to test their own system against the state's rules. Three charter schools also applied. Districts represented rural, suburban, mountain and urban communities across the state. (See the EdNews Colorado story, which includes a list of districts that applied. See also a Denver Post article.

CDE will make materials available online through a Resource Bank for districts not chosen as pilots but that still choose to implement the system. Feedback from all districts that participate either as pilots or by using materials on CDE's Resource Bank will be considered as the state refines its process.

NEWS: CASB memo encourages cooperation

At its Aug. 3 meeting, the State Board of Education heard public testimony regarding the draft rules for the Educator Effectiveness Act.  CASB submitted a memo to the State Board of Education encouraging the State Board to focus its attention to defining the cooperative roles of the state and local districts.

NEWS: CDE responds to public input

The Colorado Department of Education on June 14 heard public input on draft rules for Senate Bill 191. CDE staff have responded to those comments in a document posted on the department's website.

Written comments are also coming in. CDE will compile those and respond to them with an online document prior to the State Board hearing Aug. 3. Written comments can be emailed to state.board@cde.state.co.us. or submitted in writing to: State Board Office, 201 E. Colfax Ave., Room 506, Denver, CO 80203-1087.

Overview of SB 191

The Colorado Legislature in May 2010 passed landmark education reform. SB 191 initiated new requirements for evaluating teachers and principals and altered tenure eligibility for licensed staff.

SB 191 mandates that at least half of a teacher’s evaluation be determined by his or her students’ academic growth. At least half of a principal’s evaluation must be determined by the academic growth of students at his or her school. The evaluations are then used to determine non-probationary or probationary status, also known as tenure, for licensed staff. Previously, tenure eligibility was based on years served, not performance.

To study and make recommendations on implementing these requirements and the many others packed into the legislation, the bill created a 15-member State Council for Educator Effectiveness. The council is comprised of CDE leaders, representatives from higher education, teachers, school administrators, school board members, charter school representatives, parents and students. The group has been meeting since summer 2010 and in April proposed its recommendations to the state board of education. The board is expected to act on those recommendations in September.

A select number of school districts will pilot the state’s new evaluation system created under SB 191 in 2012-2013. Statewide implementation will occur in 2013-2014. By 2016, the new evaluation system will determine whether licensed staff attains and keeps tenure status.

Local school boards will be charged with developing policies and procedures that comply with this law and CDE rules. School districts will receive guidance from CDE in August 2011 to start preparing for the new system. CDE will release its official rules in November 2011. At the same time, the state will also supply examples of evaluations and tools to measure student growth to help school districts comply.

Continue to check this website for updates regarding SB 191 from CASB’s legal, policy and communications departments.

CASB Legal and Policy Updates

As part of your CASB membership, the legal and policy departments produce periodic updates. A few of those have already unpacked parts of SB 191.

Legal Update: A February 2011 update explains the impact SB 191 had on the nonrenewal process. Though the process is essentially unchanged, there are a few modifications to be aware of.

Special Policy Update: A March 2011 update explains the impact the bill has on reductions in force (RIF) and licensed personnel evaluations.

Special Policy Update: A July 2010 update explains changes to teacher employment laws with the passage of SB 191, including contracts, placements and transfers, waivers, nonrenewals and reductions in force.

CASB’s Role

CASB supported the legislation in 2010.  CASB made a key suggestion that CDE provide school districts with a resource bank to help them implement the new system. CASB also advocated against a “one size fits all” approach in implementing SB 191.

Two school board members, Jo Ann Baxter and Bill Bregar, are currently serving on the State Council for Educator Effectiveness. Baxter serves the Moffat County School District as school board president, and Bregar is a school board member in Pueblo School District 70 and also serves on the CASB Board of Directors. The group has defined teacher and principal effectiveness and made recommendations to the state board in April.

If we know anything, it’s that this system will continually grow and change. CASB will keep school board members informed on changes and represent school board interests at the state level. CASB will also be your go-to resource for legal advice and policy guidance to reflect these important changes.

CASB's Jane Urschel spoke during the state's first public hearing after the rules were released in early June. Read a Denver Post article about the meeting in which Urschel is quoted.

Timeline for Implementation

  • April 2011: State Council for Educator Effectiveness proposed its recommendations to the Colorado Board of Education. (Read a summary of those recommendations). 
  • May 2011: Draft of rules posted on CDE website.
  • June 8, 2011: First draft of rules presented to state board.
  • June 17, 2011: Deadline for school districts to express interest in participating in CDE’s pilot programs.
  • June-October 2011: State board gathers input on rules relating to the implementation of SB 191 through public meetings and rulemaking hearings.
  • August 2011: School districts get guidance from CDE on how to begin preparing for the new educator evaluation system.
  • November 2011: The state board of education adopts rules for a new statewide evaluation system and launches resource bank for school districts.
  • February 2012: State legislators review the state board’s rules, and approve or veto individual rules.
  • May 2012: The state board of education adopts emergency rules if the legislature repeals any provisions during its 2012 legislative session and re-submits to the legislature for review.
  • August 2013: Full implementation by all Colorado school districts
  • 2016: The first year performance evaluations will result in teachers earning or losing non-probationary status.

Key Dates

  • Friday, June 10, 2011: CDE Posts Webinar summary of draft rules
  • Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011 and Wednesday, Oct. 5: Rulemaking hearing with state board.
    Public has opportunity to testify. CDE 201 E. Colfax Ave., room 101. Hearings start at 1:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011: State board scheduled to adopt rules.

Additional State Resources


See what school districts are doing

Harrison School District Two

Leaders in Harrison School District Two in Colorado Springs have already taken significant steps in reforming their teacher and principal evaluation systems. In April 2010, the school board voted to tie that new system to salary schedules. Read more about the district’s “Effectiveness and Results Plan.”

Denver Public Schools

Denver Public Schools is also implementing a new teacher performance evaluation system. Leading Effective Academic Practice (LEAP) will be piloted during the 2011-2012 school year. Read more about the district’s efforts at leap.dpsk12.org.

Additional Resources