HB13-1172 Summary

• Changes school accreditation categories from descriptive names ("accredited with distinction," "accredited with turnaround plan," etc.) to letter grades ("A," "B," "C," "D," "F")

• Authorizes parents of students in schools with "D" or "F" accreditation for at least 2 consecutive years to petition the state board for school reform, requiring 60% family signatures for 2-year underperforming schools and over 50% for schools underperforming longer than 2 years

• Requires state board to place parent petitions on agenda at next public meeting and may direct local school boards or charter institutes to implement reform actions, with consideration of whether the school has improved in preceding 2 years

• Establishes process for local school boards or institutes to select and implement reform actions within 30 days of state board direction, with option for state board to grant extension of up to one school year

• Updates related statutes throughout Colorado education law to replace references to specific plan types with accreditation category letter grades (A-F)