School board president: Students don’t have to worry about accreditation while D60 fights to keep it

Pueblo City School District 60 is at risk of losing its accreditation, but the school board president said it won’t be the end of the world for students.

The Colorado Department of Education put D60 on the priority improvement plan in the state’s accountability ratings. That’s next to the lowest rating. The district has been on there for four years and if it doesn’t improve by July 1, 2015, the district could lose its accreditation.

Accreditation shows that a district is meeting the state’s standard for student performance which includes how students do on the state assessment test, how they improve on those test scores, along with how ready students are for post-secondary schools and the workforce.

If D60 loses accreditation, the CDE said it could be harmful for students.

“Loss of accreditation could mean students won’t have a very good chance at scholarships, or even getting into college,” Executive Director of School and District Performance Peter Sherman said.

But school board President Dr. Kathy DeNiro said students don’t have too much to worry about when it comes to accreditation.

“Your colleges don’t look at district accreditation to enroll students. The colleges and universities look at the individual’s grades, along with SAT or ACT scores,” she said.

DeNiro also said the district will do everything it can to get state accreditation.

The district has already enlisted the services of an education consultant called AdvancED. DeNiro said teachers were lacking resources in the classroom and the consultant can help.

“AdvancED will provide resources to help structure where the needs are and where the gains need to take place and then process going forward,” DeNiro said.

AdvancED isn’t the only way the district is trying to improve.

“We are working real aggressively towards accreditation, not only with AdvancED, but having a new literacy series for K-8, and providing opportunities for our middle school students with innovation schools,” she said.

If a school district is deemed accredited with a turnaround plan or on priority improvement for five years, it can lose accreditation.

Pueblo County School District 70 was at risk of losing accreditation, but the CDE bumped it up to accredited this year.