HB24-1282, Ninth-Grade Success Grant & Performance Reporting, was introduced. This bill expands funding for the 9th Grade Success Grant Program, which will allow more Colorado schools to implement the approach changing the trajectory for our high school students.
Decades of research has shown that supporting students by implementing a 9th grade success approach improves graduation rates, and the impacts in Colorado schools speak for themselves.
Englewood, High School
“It has allowed us to set the bar high and then provide the supports that our students need in order to be able to reach that bar and achieve. Our 10th grade teachers have said they have seen the positive impact that our Ninth Grade Academy has had on our kids,”
Jamie Pollett, Dean of Instruction & Assessment and 9th Grade Administrator
Poudre High School
“The data shows us that it’s the right work. We’re keeping students on-track, and it’s resulting in better student outcomes, including increases in our on-time graduation rates,”
Kathy Mackay, Principal
Center High School
“In addition to graduation rates going from 59% to a 79%, we have seen our 9th grade GPA increase 28%, and the number of behavior referrals given to freshman has decreased by 67%. We believe this to be a direct result of the added emphasis of targeted support for these students,”
Katrina Ruggles, Counselor
HB24-1282 will allow more schools to use these proven approaches to support Colorado students.
9th grade on-track work includes implementing targeted interventions, transition supports, school-based teaching teams, certain instructional approaches, and more. Schools doing this work must invest financially and increase staff collaboration.
We will share more soon about how you can join us in advocating for this critical legislation.
