Adoption of Curriculum

Purpose

Colorado Early College (CEC) adopts curriculum that advances its mission to provide every student, regardless of background or academic starting point, access to rigorous high school and college-level coursework. CEC provides each student with access to complete secondary and postsecondary courses simultaneously such that, upon successful completion, students will have completed the requirements of a high school diploma and an associate’s degree or postsecondary credential. As a CDE designated early college, CEC adheres to all requirements in C.R.S. 22-35-103(10)(a). This policy ensures an orderly and mission-aligned process for curriculum development, adoption, and change.

Principles Guiding Curriculum Adoption

CEC adopts curriculum that directly supports our institutional mission of an early college. Curriculum development must align with the following principles:

• Rooted in Colorado Department of Education Academic State Standards.
• Congruent with CEC course and program learning objectives.
• Provides academically rigorous, content-rich curriculum and instruction that is data-informed, research-based, and promotes the learning objectives of each course.
• Course content supports both academic growth and character development.
• Ensures a coherent, vertically aligned learning foundation for all students.
• Offers a planned progression of essential knowledge in English, Mathematics, Science, and World Languages.
• Fully prepares students for successful completion of college-level coursework.
• Reinforces shared civic and cultural principles that support effective communication and responsible citizenship.
• Integrates regular and periodic assessments that demonstrate mastery of curriculum goals.
• Presents more than one viewpoint on academic issues.
• Avoids objectionable materials when possible; in cases where materials may be questioned, an opt-outoption must be available.
• CEC students taking college-level coursework will be subject to course content and materials that are at the discretion of the college/university partner institution.

Network Alignment

To ensure consistency, equity, and high-quality academic experiences across all Colorado Early Colleges campuses, CEC maintains network-wide alignment in all major curricular structures. School-based curriculum may include non-core academic subject areas.

Network-wide alignment includes:

1. Common course sequencing in core academic subjects (Math, English, Science, and Social Studies).
2. Common course descriptions, competencies, learning outcomes and catalog language for core subjectarea classes.
3. Consistent graduation requirements that entail aligned credit expectations for each core discipline.
4. Shared college course placement practices, utilizing a multiple measures approach to ensure equitable access and opportunities to college-level courses.
5. Shared assessment and evaluation standards and rubrics.
6. Curriculum materials, textbooks, etc. can be network-wide or school-based, as long as materials align
   with state standards and CEC core competencies.

Curriculum Adoption Process

Network-wide curriculum development and alignment must be a collaborative process and include involvement and input from key stakeholders, including the Executive Director of Educational Services, Heads of Schools, Academic Deans, and Teachers.

School-based curriculum adoption and assessment is led by the school’s Academic Dean, with broad oversight and leadership provided by the Heads of School and with input provided by Teachers, CTE Coordinators, SAC (School Accountability Committee), and Academic Advisors.

Career & Technical Education Programming

CEC may add or discontinue CTE programs based on demonstrated student demand, workforce alignment, postsecondary and industry relevance, funding sustainability, and program performance. Proposed new CTE programs shall follow CEC’s established curriculum adoption and program approval process. Existing CTE programs shall be reviewed regularly using student enrollment trends, student performance data, credential attainment, postsecondary outcomes, fiscal viability, and labor market alignment. Programs that no longer meet identified needs, performance expectations, compliance requirements, or sustainability thresholds may be discontinued. When feasible, CEC will provide students and families with reasonable advance notice to support appropriate completion for any program/pathway that is scheduled to be discontinued.

Additional Legal References:
V. Legal and Regulatory Alignment
Includes compliance with:
– C.R.S. 22-35-101 et seq.
– C.R.S. 22-35-104(10)
– C.R.S. 22-7-1005
– C.R.S. 22-32-109
– 1 CCR 301-1

Policy References:
Early College Graduation Policy