owens based his education reforms on expanding and empowering the already-established colorado student assessment program (csap), which had been created during the administration of democratic predecessor roy romer. owens added “accountability reports” to the tests, which provided parents with a 'school report card' to allow them to better assess the performance of colorado's public schools. he also expanded colorado's charter school program (which he had sponsored as a state legislator in the 1990s) as well as other school choice initiatives.