2020 CAS - Dance Standards Summary of Changes

Colorado state law requires a review and revision of the Colorado Academic Standards every six years with the first review to be completed by July 2018. Stronger alignment of learning expectations within and across grades had been the primary focus of the review and revision process. This includes additions, deletions, revisions and reorganizations of the standards. Listed below is a summary of the substantive revisions of the Dance Standards.

Notable Changes to All Content Area Standards:

The review committees made changes to the structure of the standards that apply to all content areas:

Changes to the title of the Prepared Graduate Competencies section of the standards document to Prepared Graduate Statements to reduce confusion with competency-based learning systems of instruction and assessment practices.
Changes to the title of the right side of the standards document from 21st Century Skills and Readiness Competencies to Academic Context and Connections. The sections within the Academic Context and Connections continue to focus on essential skills and relevant connections to the Grade Level Expectations.
Revisions to the preschool standards for all content areas contain revisions to align the expectations with Colorado’s Early Learning and Development Guidelines and the latest revision of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework.

Revision Applicable to All Grades

Changed the sections within the Academic Context and Connections to “Colorado Essential Skills (Relevance and Application),” “Inquiry Questions,” and “Nature of Dance” to better align with the Postsecondary Workforce Readiness (PWR) skills and to increase rigor.

Revisions Applicable to Preschool through 5th grade:

The Preschool revisions represent a significant change compared to the 2010 CAS. The revised standards have improved coherence, depth, and breadth and are strongly aligned with standards revisions in Kindergarten.
Revised dance concepts show more clarity between grade levels in order to establish greater coherence of dance skills and vocabulary, which tightens alignment with research-based learning progressions for dance.
Adjustments were made to introduce historical and cultural clarity, which focuses more awareness and accessibility while exploring dance history and world cultures.

Revisions Applicable to 6th through 8th grade:

New revisions show more clarity of knowledge and skill levels in order to align greater rigor and depth of disciplinary literacy for dance technique and performance.
New revisions define and refine creative concepts bringing more focus and clarity to the process of dance making.
Adjustments developed for historical and cultural clarity bring more awareness, accessibility and depth to dance research.
Adjustments developed for reflection and response further the breadth and depth of disciplinary literacy and expressive connections made while learning the art and craft of dance, dance making, and the explorations of dance history and world cultures.

Revisions Applicable to High School (9th through 12th grade):

New revisions show a deeper clarity of knowledge and skill level in order to align greater rigor and depth of disciplinary literacy for dance technique and performance.
New revisions define and refine creative concepts bringing significant understanding, focus and clarity to the process of dance making.
Further scaffolding was included to tighten alignment of historical and cultural clarity, which brings more awareness, accessibility, rigor, and depth to dance research.
Adjustments were made for reflection and response, which expands the breadth and depth of disciplinary literacy and expressive connections students need for Postsecondary Workforce Readiness (PWR).