2009/2010 Colorado Academic Standards

The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) include 10 content areas for preschool through 12th grade (comprehensive health; dance; drama and theater arts; mathematics; music; physical education; reading, writing and communicating; science; social studies; visual arts; and world languages) and incorporate the Common Core State Standards for reading, writing and communicating and mathematics.

The CAS standards are constructed backwards, starting with the competencies of prepared high school graduates to create learning expectations for what students should understand, know and be able to do at each grade level and content area. They provide clear understanding of the concepts and skills students need to master to help ensure they are successful in college, careers and life. For additional information and context regarding the CAS please visit our Colorado Academic Standards Fast Facts and FAQs page.

2009/2010 Colorado Academic Standards Resources

Below you will find resources to access the Colorado Academic Standards documents as well as standards implementation resources.

Colorado Academic Standards are available in PDF format for each of the adopted content areas.

Colorado Academic Standards Online Sortable Tool all discipline standards can be searched by discipline and grade level using this tool

Colorado Academic Standards Searchable Glossary of Terms is a tool that allows users to search for key academic and technical language embedded in the standards documents for all ten disciplines.

Curriculum Overview Samples were written by and for Colorado educators as a way to understand and translate the CAS into curriculum. The overviews provide organizing structures for addressing the grade level expectations (GLEs), evidence outcomes (EOs) and 21st century skills that build students’ mastery of the standards at each grade level.

Instructional Unit Samples are based on the curriculum overview samples. These teacher-authored units include learning experiences, teacher and student resources, assessment ideas, and differentiation options.

Family and Community Guides to the CAS were created to help families and communities better understand the goals and outcomes of the standards. They provide summaries of the learning expectations for each of the ten content areas of the standards and offer examples of educational experiences in which students may engage throughout the year. These guides are available in both English and Spanish.

Understanding the Colorado Academic Standards  will guide users in understanding the various components within the standards documents, including details around the standards framework and the reference code system.

Vertical Progressions offer at-a-glance lists of aligned grade level expectations from preschool through high school designed to guide teaching and learning toward preparing students to be college and career ready.

Standards Graphic Organizers show connections between ideas within each grade level of each content area. (This content has been archived. Contact us to request these files.)

Content Connection Samples are designed to provide examples of cross-content (multi-disciplinary) connections within the Colorado Academic Standards at grades kindergarten through 5. (This content has been archived. Contact us to request these files.)

Transition Action Plan Guide (TAP Guide) can be used to evaluate a district's existing transition plan (including communication strategies) to support districts as they transition to the 2009/2010 Colorado Academic Standards. (This content has been archived. Please see our updated implementation materials for guidance on transitioning to the 2020 Colorado Academic Standards.)