Research and Practice Partnership Grant

A recent Hewlett Foundation grant will support CU Denver researchers in collaboration with numerous rural Colorado districts as they refine and expand their Student-Centered Accountability Program (S-CAP). S-CAP is a partnership of the six founding rural districts (Buena Vista, Buffalo, Holyoke, Kit Carson, La Veta and Monte Vista) with Battelle for Kids (Ohio), Generation Schools Network and the Colorado Rural Education Collaborative. CU Denver researchers Kent Seidel and Julie Oxenford O’Brian, along with several doctoral students, are serving as the research partners for the three-year project, providing technical assistance on a variety of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and processes. The goal is to develop a sustainable data-driven process of continuous improvement and peer review among the districts that can put local needs, interests and strengths in the spotlight while meeting state accountability goals.