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Board approves transfer of Colorado Military Academy into D11 amid performance concerns
Summary
The District 11 Board of Education voted to authorize Colorado Military Academy (CMA) to transfer its authorization to the district after a detailed review by the district advisory committee and months of monitoring; DAC raised concerns about low state test participation and academic declines but recommended the transfer with conditions.
The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education voted to approve the transfer application submitted by Colorado Military Academy, moving CMA from the Charter School Institute to local authorization.
The District Accountability Committee (DAC) had reviewed the application and provided a detailed report noting CMA’s strengths — including strong enrollment, a large Civil Air Patrol program and programs aligned with the local military community — and concerns, principally that CMA had been on the state’s priority-improvement “clock” in recent years because of low standardized-test participation and declines in some achievement measures. Velvet Stepanek, speaking for the DAC, told the board the committee ‘‘supports school choice’’ but urged close monitoring if the transfer were approved.
Nicole Roberts, CMA’s executive director, told the board the school has enacted a multi-part turnaround plan, including stronger instructional coaching, revised master schedules that add intervention blocks, curriculum reviews, and new finance controls. Roberts said CMA had improved its fund balance and created a board-controlled reserve for capital needs, and stressed the school’s role serving military families: "We are a Purple Star school," she said, noting a high share of students with military-connected backgrounds.
Board members pressed CMA leaders on academic data, staffing and state test participation. CMA said it has taken steps to improve coding and family communication around state tests and expected participation to meet state thresholds this year. Board members also noted that local authorization brings closer oversight and recurring annual performance reviews; the district’s charter contract would include performance benchmarks and fiscal oversight.
The transfer passed in a roll-call vote with all seven directors voting in favor.
The board and administration said they will treat CMA as an authorized district charter and will monitor quarterly academic and financial reports and require periodic board-reviewed improvement plans. The DAC report and CMA’s response will be part of the public record of the transfer.
CMA’s transfer is scheduled to be implemented with a new local charter contract and standard annual accountability reviews under District 11’s authorizing processes.
