| Acronym |
Definition |
| 504 |
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. |
| Academic content standards |
The written standards established by Colorado that outline what a student should know and be able to do at each grade level. The state assessment system is based on (aligned with) these content standards. |
| Accountability |
Being held responsible for one's commitments and actions. |
| Accountability committees (district and school) |
Committee created by law that includes parents, teachers and administrators. Makes recommendations about budget and school improvement. |
| Administrative unit |
A sufficiently large school district or BOCES that is responsible for distributing special education funds and delivering education services to students with disabilities. |
| AED and SAED |
Amortization Equalization Disbursement and the Supplemental Amortization Equalization Disbursement (Related to the employee contribution of PERA.) |
| AFT |
American Federation of Teachers, one of two national teacher unions. The other is the National Education Association (NEA). |
| Alternative education |
Schools or classrooms that are designed to serve students who aren't succeeding in the traditional school or classroom environment. Students who are failing academically or may have learning disabilities or behavioral problems may need a different setting. Alternative schools or classrooms may have more flexible schedules, smaller teacher-student ratios, counseling support and modified curricula. |
| Amendment 23 |
Constitutional change requiring K-12 funding to increase by inflation plus 1 percent from 2001-2011 and by inflation after that. |
| Annexation |
Joining a school district or parts of a district with a receiving district. |
| AP |
Advanced Placement. The designation of the College Board for college-preparatory courses that high school students can take to earn college credit. Students must master a generally higher level of coursework and pass an accompanying test to earn college credit. |
| Assessments |
Tests or other tools that measure students' skills and knowledge. Formative assessments are used by teachers and students so instruction can be adjusted as needed to improve learning. Summative assessments assess the student's overall mastery of the subject matter. |
| AYP |
Adequate yearly progress. The minimum level of academic performance school districts must achieve each year in reading, math and science on the state-mandated criterion-reference tests (Benchmark Exam). Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), each state sets the AYP gains every school must meet to reach 100 percent proficiency by 2014. Parents are notified if their child’s school is not meeting AYP requirements. |
| BEST |
Building Excellent Schools Today. This is a state matching-funds program to provide financial assistance to local districts for K-12 capital construction. |
| COPEHP |
Colorado Public Education Health Plan: Colorado Boards of Education Self-Funded Trust Inc., a multi-employer/employee health benefit program. |
| Blended learning |
Combination of face-to-face and online student instruction designed to offer more personalized and student-centered learning. |
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| BOCES |
Board of Cooperative Educational Services. BOCES are a group of districts that join together for a better use of funds. |
| CAP4K |
Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (SB 08-212). Sets a plan for establishing P-20 standards and assessments. |
| CASB |
Colorado Association of School Boards |
| CASE |
Colorado Association of School Executives |
| CASSA |
Colorado Association of Superintendents and Senior Administrators |
| CBA |
Colorado BOCES Association |
| CCC |
Colorado Children's Campaign (education advocacy organization) |
| CCHE |
Colorado Commission for Higher Education |
| CCSSO |
Council of Chief State School Officers |
| CDE |
Colorado Department of Education |
| CDHE |
Colorado Department of Higher Education |
| CEA |
Colorado Education Association (an affiliate of the National Education Association) |
| CFT |
Colorado Federation of Teachers (an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers) |
| Charter school |
A public school operated by a group of parents, teachers and/or community members as a semi-autonomous school of choice within a school district, operating under a contract or "charter" contract between the members of the charter school community and the local board of education. |
| Chartering authority |
The ability of a local board to determine, alone or in conjunction with CDE , whether to open charter schools in the school district. |
| CHSAA |
Colorado High School Activities Association |
| CIPA |
Children's Internet Protection Act |
| Classified staff |
School district employees who aren't required to have Colorado teaching credentials as a condition of employment. Bus drivers, janitors and cafeteria workers are some members of classified staff. |
| CLCS |
Colorado League of Charter Schools |
| CLF |
Colorado Legacy Foundation. CDE 's 501c(3) corporation that receives grants and promotes work in select areas. |
| CMAS |
Colorado Measures of Academic Success |
| CML |
Colorado Municipal League (Represents Colorado's cities and towns.) |
| Colorado Growth Model |
Collection of data enabling parents, educators and community members to easily evaluate growth in student achievement over time at public schools across the state. |
| Colorado Sunshine Law |
The law states that a gathering of a quorum or three or more individuals of a local board may constitute a meeting. Emailed messages discussing pending actions may also constitute meetings. A private meeting is a meeting where the discussion of public business is not the central topic. |
| Common Core Standards |
The Common Core State Standards are academic standards set by a coalition of states to establish the common core of knowledge and skills that students should develop in K-12 education so they will graduate from high school prepared for college or careers. |
| Community engagement |
Approach to community problem-solving in which citizens are deeply involved in the process.Citizens come together and consider relevant facts and values; listen to one another in order to think critically about the various options; consider the underlying tensions, tough choices, and varied consequences inherent to addressing public problems; are willing to refine and adapt their opinions and interests; and ultimately seek to come to some conclusion for action. |
| Consolidation |
Joining two or more school districts or parts of districts to create a single new school district. |
| CORA |
Colorado Open Records Act requiring that most public records be available to the public. |
| CSFP |
Colorado School Finance Project |
| CSI |
Charter School Institute (an agency within the CDE that can authorize CSI Charter Schools) |
| Curriculum |
The subject matter, skills and processes that are taught so students will achieve identified standards of knowledge and skill. Curriculum is singular and curricula is plural. |
| DAC |
District Assessment Coordinator or District Accountability Committee |
| Disaggregated data |
Information that has been sorted according to certain criteria or subdivisions. For example, test results can be sorted by groups of students who have similar characteristics, such as economic disadvantage, race or ethnicity, disabilities, or limited English proficiency. Teachers and parents can then determine how each group is performing. |
| DOE |
Department of Education (Usually in reference to the federal department.) |
| Drop-out rate |
The proportion and time at which students leave school before graduating for reasons that may include failing grades, suspension or expulsion, lack of interest, economic hardship, pregnancy, marriage, peer conflict, incarceration, lack of attendance and use of alcohol or drugs. |
| ECS |
Education Commission of the States |
| ELL |
English language learners. Also, programs or approaches used to teach English to those who don’t speak English as their first language. |
| ESEA |
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, aka No Child Left Behind. |
| Ex officio |
Literally meaning "by virtue of one's office," the term refers to the practice that allows a member of an official group, such as a school board, to designate someone to fill a certain role at the group's request. |
| Executive session |
A private portion of a meeting of a school board or other governing body that can be held only for purposes specified by law and from which the general public and press are excluded. |
| FERPA |
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act – federal law governing privacy of student information |
| Fiduciary |
The concept of stewardship, referring to a person or persons having duties that require good faith, trust and special confidence. Fiduciary duty is to act for someone else's benefit, while subordinating one's personal interests. The term is often used in conjunction with managing money or property, using a very high standard of care. For example, a school board acts as the community's trustee of public funds for the schools and therefore has a fiduciary responsibility for using those funds. |
| Fiscal year (FY) |
All financial accounts are to be completed by the end of the 12-month period known as the fiscal year, which begins July 1 and ends June 30. |
| Free-and-Reduced Lunch Program |
See National School Lunch Program |
| FRN |
Federal Relations Network (The National School Boards Association and CASB program for federal lobbying.) |
| FTE |
Full-time equivalent (Refers to a full-time position.) |
| Gallagher Amendment |
Enacted in 1982 as an amendment to the Colorado Constitution (It set forth the guidelines for determining the actual value of property and the valuation for assessment of such property.) |
| GED |
General Education Development test. A nationally recognized measure of high school-level knowledge and skills. In Colorado, GED has been replaced by “high school equivalency examination.” |
| Good faith |
The duty to act in a fair and equitable manner, without coercion, intimidation or threats of coercion or intimidation. |
| GPA |
Grade point average |
| Grievance |
A formal, written complaint from an employee regarding working conditions or treatment of from another community member. |
| Gifted education |
Refers to children identified with above-average intellectual potential. |
| HB |
Abbreviation preceding legislative bill originating in the State House of Representatives. |
| Head Start |
A federally sponsored comprehensive child development program that serves children from birth to age 5, pregnant women and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. |
| HIPAA |
Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (Protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information.) |
| Home school |
A school conducted by parents or legal guardians for their own children. |
| ICAP |
Individual Career and Academic plan (Required for all students by Colorado law.) |
| IDEA |
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A federal law that requires states to provide all eligible children who have disabilities with a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) from infancy through age 21, consistent with a state’s more specific legal provisions. |
| Individualized Education Program (IEP) |
A written instructional plan for students with disabilities who are designated as special education students under federal law. |
| J or JT |
At the end of a school district name. Joint, crosses county lines. |
| JBC |
Joint Budget Committee. Made up of members from both the House and Senate. |
| LEP |
Limited English proficiency (former acronym). Current acronym is ELL, English Language Learners. |
| Licensed staff |
Within a school district these are employees who, by law, must hold certain Colorado credentials as a condition of employment. This level of personnel, sometimes referred to as nonclassified or licensed staff, includes teachers, counselors, principals and others. |
| Mill |
One thousandth of a dollar, a mill is a rate similar to a percentage (a percentage is one hundredth). One mill = .001/$1, or one tenth of one penny. |
| Mill levy |
A tax rate, measured in mills, representing the portion of a property's value collected by a government entity's tax (called a levy) to fund its budget. |
| NACSA |
National Association of Charter School Authorizers |
| NAEP |
National Assessment of Educational Progress. Often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP is a standards-based test that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education as a means for measuring student achievement so that student performance in one state can be compared with that of another. NAEP exams are given to a representative sample of the student population in grades 4, 8 and 12 in every state. |
| NASBE |
National Association of State Boards of Education |
| National School Lunch Program |
Formerly know as the federal Free- or Reduced-Lunch Program, meals that are provided free or at a low cost to children who are determined eligible according to federal guidelines based on family income. |
| NCAA |
National Collegiate Athletic Association |
| NCLB |
No Child Left Behind. The name for the current authorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The law is built on four principles: accountability for results, more choices for parents, greater local control and flexibility, and an emphasis on doing what works, based on scientific research. |
| NCSL |
National Conference of State Legislators |
| NEA |
National Education Association, one of two national teacher unions. The other is the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). |
| NREA |
National Rural Education Association |
| NSBA |
National School Boards Association (The national organization that is a federation of state school boards associations.) |
| PBIS |
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. PBIS is a program used by many districts. |
| PEBC |
Public Education Business Coalition |
| PERA |
Public Employees' Retirement Association. Manages pensions and other benefits for public employees. |
| PLACE |
Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (Usually references an exam.) |
| Policy |
A general statement a school board or other governing authority adopts to indicate a desired condition, direction or belief. |
| Policy Governance® |
Policy Governance® is a governance model that some school boards use to provide policy leadership. It is a system of interrelated principles that uses policies to express board values and perspectives in all areas with clear authority and accountability for all significant roles. |
| Poverty rate |
The economic level of a school's student enrollment, which is generally determined by the percentage of students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-cost meals. |
| PPA |
Per pupil allocation |
| PPOR |
Per pupil operating revenue |
| PPR |
Per pupil revenue |
| Professional development |
Ongoing, systemic learning activities designed to enhance the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes of educators to achieve specific objectives toward the goal of increasing student achievement. Also known as in-service training. |
| Proprietary functions |
In a school district, they include such activities as hosting athletic contests, leasing or renting school-owned facilities, or engaging in any similar revenue-yielding activity. |
| PSF |
Public school finance |
| PTA |
Parent Teacher Association |
| PTO |
Parent Teacher Organization |
| Public engagement or public involvement |
The sustained, active interest and participation of parents, community members and other taxpayers in supporting and improving schools. |
| Quorum |
Defined by statute or in the bylaws of a board or other governing body as the number or proportion of members that must be present in order to conduct business. Commonly, a majority of members constitutes a quorum. |
| R or RE |
At the end of a school district name (reorganized) |
| READ Act |
The Colorado READ Act establishes a process for districts to identify K-3 students who read below grade level and work with their parents to provide extra reading support before students reach the fourth grade. |
| Referendum C |
Approved by Colorado voters in 2005 to temporarily override TABOR limits on state revenues and allow the state to keep and spend the excess of TABOR revenues it collected for five years. |
| Referred measure |
Any ballot question or ballot issue submitted by the General Assembly or the governing body of any political subdivision to the eligible electors of the state or political subdivision. |
| Regular board meeting |
A scheduled board meeting that is held at least monthly during the school year, but may also be held when school is not in session. |
| Remediation |
The process of providing extra instruction to help a student improve in a particular subject area identified in the student's Academic Improvement Plan (AIP). |
| RIF |
Reduction in Force. When a teacher's contract is canceled as a result of budget or program cuts. |
| RTI |
Response to Intervention |
| RTTT |
Race to the Top. Federal competitive education grant opportunity. |
| Rules/Regulations |
Mandates issued by the State Board of Education or other state and federal agencies to guide, require or limit school district operations. Rules stem from state statutes or federal law and may identify procedures for carrying out the requirement. Rules used to be called regulations. |
| SACPIE |
State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education |
| SB |
Abbreviation preceding bills originating in the Colorado State Senate |
| SB 08-212 |
A 2008 state law requiring new state standards and setting a P-16 framework in place. |
| SB 09-163 |
Educational Accountability Act, passed in 2009. |
| SB 10-191 |
Educator Effectiveness Bill, passed in 2010. |
| SB 15-213 |
Bill related to school safety and prevention of violence that adds some liability while removing some immunity. |
| SBE |
State Board of Education |
| School board |
The local legislative unit of school district governance charged with operating the district according to the mandates of laws and regulations. |
| School district |
A defined geographic and governmental area, overseen by a locally elected school board and managed by a superintendent, in which the public schools serve students who either live within the area's borders or enroll through school choice or a legal transfer from a different school district. |
| School in need of improvement |
This is the term No Child Left Behind uses to refer to schools receiving Title I funds that have not met state reading and math goals for at least two years. In some instances, a school labeled as needing improvement may receive extra financial, staffing or programmatic assistance. Students in the school may be eligible for such services as extra tutoring or may transfer to another public school in their district, within certain guidelines. |
| School-community partnership |
A voluntary relationship between a school and a community group or business that meets the needs and uses the resources of both partners for their mutual benefit. |
| School-wide programs |
Comprehensive school improvement programs accessible to all students, particularly those who are low achievers and at risk of failure. The programs are funded by a school's Title I programs, which are based on an enrollment of at least 40 percent low income. |
| SDFSC |
Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities |
| SEA |
State Educational Agency (see CDE) |
| SES |
Socio-economic status |
| SFP |
School Finance Partnership (a state organization) |
| SIG |
School Improvement Grant. Federal money to assist schools and districts in "turnaround" or "needs improvement" status. |
| SIP |
School Improvement Plan. The plan required by law for schools to improve student achievement. |
| SMART |
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Research-based, Time-phased. Usually references elements of well-written student learning objectives for kids with and without disabilities. |
| SOA |
School of accountability |
| SOP |
State operated program |
| Special board meeting |
A board meeting convened for a special purpose by the proper procedures to decide a specific item of business. |
| SPED |
Special education for students with disabilities |
| SRO |
School resource officer |
| Standards-based test |
An assessment that tells how a student's performance compares to some standard of knowledge or skill. A criterion-referenced test (CRT) is a standards-based test. |
| STAR |
Standardized Test for Assessment of Reading |
| Statutes |
Laws created by state or federal legislation. |
| STEM |
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Throughout the U.S., school leaders and educators are being challenged to offer students a rigorous course of study in STEM content and to promote competencies toward careers in STEM fields to ensure that our nation stays strong and competitive in the global economy. Also STEAM includes “arts.” |
| TABOR |
Taxpayers Bill of Rights. (Provisions in Colorado's Constitution that limits revenues and requires voters to approve tax increases.) |
| TCAP |
Transitional Colorado Assessment Program |
| TELL |
Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning. An anonymous statewide survey of licensed, school-based educators to assess teaching conditions at the school, district and state level. |
| TIF |
Tax Incremental Funding. An economic development funding program that permits municipalities to use tax revenues resulting from economic development to fund new public construction. |
| Title I |
The largest federal aid program for elementary and secondary schools. Funding is based on the number of low-income students enrolled in a school. Title I money pays for extra educational services for children who are behind or at risk of falling behind in school. |
| UIP |
Unified Improvement Plan. Used to streamline improvement planning components of state and federal accountability requirements. Shifts from planning as an "event" to planning as a component of "continuous improvement." UIPs also provide a mechanism for external stakeholders to learn about schools' and districts' improvement efforts. |
| URS |
Uniform Readiness Screening. A state-mandated, developmentally appropriate assessment used to determine if a student has substantial difficulty reading. |
| USDE |
United States Department of Education |
| State Board of Education |
The regulatory body for public elementary and secondary education throughout Colorado. The board has nine members appointed by the governor for a single seven-year term. |
| PARCC |
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The new multistate testing program Colorado has joined |
| P16/P20 |
One name for education, preschool through higher education. |
