Board of Education
Supports and Resources

Facilitated Board Training for School Improvement

The Facilitated Board Training for School Improvement service was developed through a partnership between the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). This service combines effective governance practices with best practices in school turnaround work, including the CDE Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement framework (click here).

The primary objectives of the program are:

• Increased understanding of effective governance practices and board member roles and responsibilities.
• Increased board member understanding of and support for district improvement efforts; and
• Development of an action plan to improve academic outcomes aligned to board-identified areas of need.

This comprehensive program is available to boards of education that apply and serve a district with at least one school identified with a plan type of Priority Improvement, Turnaround, or On Watch. An information sheet describing all aspects of the program, including the application process, which is available by clicking here.

Supplemental Governance Training
To more broadly support governance needs aligned with HB18-1355, supplemental support is available to boards of education upon request. Specifically, the initial phase of the facilitated program—a six-hour training focused on effective governance practices—may be delivered in person or virtually upon request. Additional topic-specific support may also be available to district leadership teams from CDE staff.

Accountability & Improvement Planning

• Strengthening Engagement with District Accountability Committees: A Brief Resource for Board Members (PDF) – May 2026 This brief resource provides a series of recommendations to help ensure that the local board and accountability committees maximize opportunities for collaboration and leverage each other’s ideas to support their schools and district.
• 2024 State Accountability, Measures & Improvement Planning (PowerPoint) and Orientation Resource (PDF) - August 2024. A tool for district staff to help Boards of Education better understand state accountability and related data within the context of their local policies, priorities, and community context.
• Colorado Educational Accountability: An Overview for Boards of Education (PDF) - May 2026 This resource provides a foundational overview of Colorado’s educational accountability system at a conceptual level and includes additional materials to support deeper exploration of specific topics of interest to board members.
• Unified Improvement Plans: The Role of the School Board in Plan Development & Adoption (PDF) - May 2026 This resource clarifies the role of the school board in the development and approval of the Unified Improvement Plan (UIP).
• SchoolView, CDE Data Tools/Resources

• Board Review of Operational Policies: Guidance for Boards Using the Policy Guidance Framework (PDF) – March 2026. This resource identifies common approaches policy governance boards use to interact with operational policies. This includes common mistakes boards make in this regard and the relationship of this approach to the Colorado statutory context.
• NEW Building Trust Through Board Norms: Practical Strategies for Effective Board Governance (PDF) - August 2026
  This resource provides school boards with practical guidance for establishing board norms, embedding them into governance, and responding when they're not followed. It outlines 'next steps' boards can take to strengthen trust amongst board members and improve overall governance effectiveness. 
• Community Engagement for Effective Board Governance (PDF) – May 2026
  This resource provides school boards with practical guidance for designing meaningful and effective community engagement efforts. It outlines key considerations for engagement planning, compares common engagement methods, and includes a planning worksheet boards can use to align outreach efforts with governance priorities.
• Colorado School Board Governance Guide: Statutory Responsibilities and Annual Calendar (PDF) - April 2026 This resource provides an overview of the core responsibilities of Colorado school boards, aligned to Colorado Revised Statutes (Title 22 and related sections).This brief resource is intended to serve as a practical reference for board members, superintendents, and district support staff as they carry out their work according to state law and best practice.
• Preparing for Board Transitions: A Governance Guide (PDF) - March 2026 This brief resource outlines several steps boards can take to make member transitions smoother while supporting continuity in district leadership and improving the likelihood of sustained student success.
• Running Efficient Board Meetings: A Guide for Chairs and Superintendents (PDF) – May 2026
  This resource highlights practical strategies that support focused, productive, and well-organized board meetings. It outlines the shared responsibilities of board chairs and superintendents in agenda development, meeting facilitation, public comment management, and maintaining a governance-level focus.