CO HB1295

State auditor must contract with a public or private entity by October 1, 2020, to conduct a performance audit of Colorado's statewide public education accountability and accreditation systems, with completion required by October 1, 2021.

Audit must address: effectiveness of accreditation system for evaluating student performance; whether the Colorado growth model meets statutory requirements; consistency of accreditation standards over time; effectiveness of creating seamless pre-K through postsecondary standards and assessments; changes made to systems since establishment; interaction between accountability and accreditation systems; and whether systems provide credible basis for comparing schools and districts.

Final audit report must include findings and recommendations for improving the accountability and accreditation systems, and must be submitted to the commissioner of education, state board of education, and education committees of the legislature after release by the legislative audit committee.

State auditor is authorized to access all books, accounts, reports, records, and information held by public schools, school districts, and the state charter school institute for purposes of the audit, including confidential or exempt records.

Section repeals effective July 1, 2022; act takes effect August 5, 2020, subject to referendum petition provisions.