DENVER -- There are big changes under way for Colorado schools.

The Colorado State Board of Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education said there would soon be a "fluid set of standards" in all of the state's K-12 schools.

The state's mission is to better track the progress of students and encourage them to pursue post-secondary educations.

The Cherry Creek School District said 80 percent of its graduates pursue some level of higher education and follow a similiar model already. The district said what makes their model different from most schools is the notion of "monitor and adjust."

"It's more like a weekly look at (students), asking, 'Are they struggling?' instead of waiting for the grade at the end of the semester or end of the quarter," said Superintendent Mary Chesley.

She said the district tries to determine if a student mastered the objective or lesson. If the student didn't, the district tries to determine what the teacher, classroom or school can do to help the student figure it out.

Chesley said the emphasis is on learning at each level.

State education officials said they are still working on the new standards but expect revisions to assessment tests like CSAP as well.

Gov. Bill Ritter applauded the work of state leaders saying Colorado will be the first state to adopt these "21st century education reforms."

The Colorado Education Association said they welcomed the change, adding they could have come earlier.

The state hopes the reforms will help them in their bid for federal "Race to the Top" funds. The state could receive as much as $500 million if Washington considers the program innovative enough to turn around schools, improve standards and assessments and ensure teacher effectiveness.