Education Commissioner changes purpose of state agency

DENVER – Ever since its inception, the Colorado Department of Education has functioned basically as an overseer of what's happening in classrooms.

Now, just three months on the job, Commissioner Dwight D. Jones believes his employees should do far more than that.

"We believe we also have a role around support and service," said Commissioner Jones.

Thursday, Commissioner Jones unveiled his plan entitled "Forward Thinking." It is billed as the future of the Colorado Department of Education. He believes CDE should function as the visionaries for all public schools.

While Commissioner Jones recognizes the limitations in a state where school districts are given local control, he thinks the Department of Education should provide more guidance to districts on how to meet classroom needs. He also wants to enhance professional development opportunities for teachers to help improve the graduation rates and close the achievement gap between white and minority students - rich and poor ones.

"We believe that's our role. We believe it's a role that we can play. I'm quite pleased at the talent (within the Department of Education)," said Commissioner Jones. "And, it is time we roll that talent out to districts in a way that makes sense."

"We're very excited that that is the approach he is taking," said Beverly Ingle, president of the Colorado Education Association. She says in the past CDE could've been more responsive. "What I can say to you is that there have been a lot of complaints that our issues weren't heard. Sometimes the response was that CDE did not have money to do this," said Ingle.

Another big part of the plan is a review of the academic standards and the Colorado Student Assessment Program tests or CSAPs. Commissioner Jones says experts will carefully go over these two items and determine if they are still appropriate for 21st century students.

Commissioner Jones predicts the review will lead to a change.

"Not only will they be changed, but there will probably be areas that we could potentially have significant change," he said.

Everything that Commissioner Jones is proposing does not have any additional money attached to it. He says he will take existing resources and funnel them in different directions. Commissioner Jones hopes to see a major impact in Colorado Schools within the next three-to-five years.