CSAP_and_Educational_Accountability

CSAP and Educational Accountability Coming up next spring is the fourth annual Colorado Student Assessment Program (commonly referred to as CSAP) exams, which test students on standards-based criteria in math, science, reading and writing. Highly publicized and widely debated, the CSAP has not exactly been taking the back seat to other educational issues. In fact, it is has been and still remains the educational issue in the state, dividing teachers, administrators, state legislators and even the governor as to what function the CSAP should serve in public schools. It started as rallying cry from Gov. Bill Owens—his answer to the critics who said not enough was being done to adequately reform education within the state. For the past ten years, the country has been undergoing a radical change in education reform. Standards have been implemented in every public school system to make sure students are learning and performing at the levels expected of them and their respective grade levels. Owens saw this as not being enough, so he implemented the CSAP along with its penalties for under-performing schools, and rewards for high-achieving ones. To explain these penalties and rewards, the assessment system must be touched on first. students, csap, schools, teachers, school, test, state, public, standards, being, education, grade, time, one, math, exam, reading, need, even, educational, teaching, take, reform, student, legislators, each, been, because, years, writing, way, through, teacher, should, science, proficient, over, learning, implemented, given, gaps, english, denver, achievement, unsatisfactory, succeed, studies, score, questions, preparation