Accountability Pathways Grant Program

Accountability Pathways is a Colorado Department of Education grant opportunity intended to support Local Educational Agencies and schools as they plan for and implement statutory options, or pathways, for persistently low-performing schools and LEAs. The program focuses on schools and LEAs nearing the end of the Accountability Clock and those with an action directed by the State Board of Education. For sites nearing the end of the clock, funding can support exploration of pathway options, thoughtful early action, development of a pathway plan, and readiness for State Board of Education discussions. For sites already subject to directed action, funding can support implementation of the approved pathway plan. The sequence of support is determined in partnership with the Accountability Pathways program lead and the assigned CDE School Transformation Specialist and is customized to the needs of the school or LEA. Eligible applicants are LEAs with a school in Year 4 or 5 of Priority Improvement or Turnaround on the current School Performance Framework, a school currently subject to an action directed by the State Board of Education, or an LEA in Year 4 or 5 of Priority Improvement or Turnaround on the current District Performance Framework or with a State Board-directed action. Eligible schools and LEAs are strongly encouraged to apply in Year 4 in anticipation of State Board hearings during Year 5. Sites transitioning to Year 4 On Watch or Year 4 On Hold may use funds for early action activities, while sites advancing to Year 5 plus must use funds for activities associated with State Board-directed action. Schools and LEAs are limited to one award per fiscal year across active EASI cohort grant cycles, and sites with active Accountability Pathways funding should consult their assigned CDE School Transformation Specialist about the appropriate timing for additional funding. Available funding varies by school and district status. Schools under directed action may receive up to $80,000 per school per year for up to 2.5 years, while districts under directed action may receive up to $100,000 per district per year for up to 2.5 years. Year 4 schools may receive up to $80,000 per school in 2025-26 and 2027-28, and Year 4 districts may receive up to $100,000 per district in those years, with the 2027-28 awards contingent on progression on the Accountability Clock. Total Accountability Pathways awards per district or LEA may not exceed $320,000 per year. Where State Board-directed action involves management, CDE may increase an award beyond the stated maximum to account for contracting with an Accountability Pathways Partner, subject to funding availability, CDE discretion, and notable district cost sharing. Allowable expenses include consulting and technical assistance for a pathway plan, visits to sites with successful or promising pathway implementation, diagnostic reviews, facilitated meetings and community gatherings, translation, staff stipends, travel to CDE-led grant meetings, technical assistance on strategic resource allocation, recruitment and negotiation costs for innovation or management partners or charter school operators, certain legal fees associated with establishing partner contracts, third-party provider fees, and early action or early implementation activities. Applicants should develop the proposed budget in partnership with their assigned CDE School Transformation Specialist. A general budget placeholder may be acceptable with specialist approval or during initial pathway plan development. External-provider expenses require a scope of work, with a draft acceptable, identifying timelines, deliverables, and costs. Indirect costs may not be entered in the budget. Funds must supplement and not supplant other federal, state, and local funding. Program support generally covers preparation for a potential State Board hearing and the period during State-directed action, with a designed duration of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 years. Funds for Year 4 sites are intended to support activities during 2025-26 and 2026-27, with a contingent award available for 2027-28. The published program calendar directs prospective applicants to meet with their CDE School Transformation Specialist from September through December to discuss interest and outline a proposed budget, identifies December as the application-due month, and identifies January for award notifications. The source does not provide an exact day for the December application deadline and does not expressly state that the opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule. Grantees must integrate pathways work into the school or LEA Unified Improvement Plan when in Year 4, or into the pathway plan for a site with an active State Board-directed action. If a school or district reaches the end of the Accountability Clock, the LEA is expected to present its pathway plan to the State Board of Education before applicable statutory deadlines. Implementation grantees must comply with progress monitoring requested by CDE staff and the State Board. Final Expenditure Reports are required in GAINS each fiscal year by September 30. LEAs must maintain appropriate fiscal and program records, return funds when required, and supplement rather than supplant existing funding. District leadership must identify an LEA employee with decision-making authority to lead the process, while school leaders must participate in grant activities and collaborate with the LEA and CDE on a pathways timeline. If not all EASI proposals can be funded, proposals meeting grant expectations are funded according to the EASI school-level prioritization list, with schools having the highest number of prioritization points funded first; district-level supports use the average prioritization of all EASI-eligible schools. Applicants are encouraged to work closely with their assigned CDE School Transformation Specialist on program fit, timing, budget, and the sequence of support. The program contact identified in the detailed program document is Andy Swanson, Director of Transformation Strategy, School and District Transformation, at 303-817-9067 and Swanson_A@cde.state.co.us.

Work with the assigned CDE School Transformation Specialist on program fit, timing, sequence of support, and the proposed budget; eligible schools and LEAs are strongly encouraged to apply in Year 4 in anticipation of Year 5 State Board hearings; if proposals exceed available funding, proposals meeting expectations are funded according to EASI prioritization points, with higher-priority schools funded first.