Request for Applications is open for community-based organizations who demonstrate qualifications pursuant to section 2001(b)(1) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Applicants must demonstrate a successful history of working directly with public school districts and schools statewide in at least one of the two purpose areas listed below:

• Identify homeless children and youth through outreach and reengagement strategies statewide and provide wraparound services to reduce barriers to students attending and participating fully in school activities.
• Direct distribution of emergency assistance and support to students and their families experiencing homelessness throughout the state to reduce barriers to students attending school and participating fully in school activities.

Applications are due Wednesday, Aug. 10.

The 2022 ACCESS for ELLs 2.0® student growth detail files and individual student reports have been provided to District Accountability contacts via Syncplicity. All 2022 ACCESS growth summary data will be incorporated within the Data Explorer tool and posted to the CDE website later this summer.

For questions related to Syncplicity, training support or the Colorado growth model, email [email protected].

CDE and the Colorado Department of Human Services received federal approval to issue summer 2022 P-EBT benefits. There is no P-EBT application. Students may be eligible for P-EBT over the summer months if:

• The student is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, and
• The student was enrolled in an NSLP school as of May 2022, and
• The student’s district reports student information to the P-EBT program.

Summer P-EBT benefits will amount to one lump sum for each eligible student in the amount of $391. Benefits will be issued to existing P-EBT cards or new P-EBT cards, if needed, in December 2022.

Schools and districts can share CDE’s outreach materials to encourage families to provide household information through their school nutrition services department.

More information for families about Summer 2022 P-EBT will be posted to CDHS’s P-EBT website over the next few weeks. Families can contact the P-EBT Support Center Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Twenty school districts were selected to participate in the Local Food Program for School Year 2022-23. The Local Food Program is a pilot program in its second year that gives money to child nutrition program sponsors for the purchase of Colorado-grown, raised, and value-added products. This program helps bolster farm-to-school activities and supports Colorado producers, farmers, and ranchers. A total of $500,000 has been awarded to the following sponsors:

• Bayfield School District
• Boulder Valley School District
• Calhan School District
• Colorado Springs School District
• Creede School District
• Durango School District
• Englewood School District
• Greeley-Evans School District
• Gunnison Watershed School District
• Lake County School District
• Mancos School District
• Mapleton School District
• Pueblo City School District
• Sangre de Cristo School District
• South Routt School District
• St. Vrain Valley School District
• Swink School District
• Thompson School District
• Vilas School District
• West End School District

Congratulations to these sponsors for their commitment to farm to school and purchasing Colorado Proud products.

Visit the Farm to School and Summer webpage to learn more.

CDE is accepting recommendations for distinguished educators. These educators may be candidates for advisory boards, task forces, and special recognition programs. Recommendations for elementary educators new to the profession, who demonstrate unusual instructional and leadership ability are especially needed. A minimum of five years in education is a must. Candidates are building-level personnel. They are typically classroom teachers, as opposed to specialists, and are recognized by peers and supervisors as unique in their growth. Occasionally a principal or specialist is considered. Educators who are outstanding but have not received other recognition are of special interest. Recommendation deadline is Friday, June 20.

For more information and to access the Talent Pool Recommendation Form, visit the Colorado Educator Talent Pool webpage.

Apply for one of four membership positions available on the Dyslexia Working Group. The working group was established in the 2019 legislative session by the Colorado General Assembly through House Bill 19-1134. The legislation directs the Commissioner of Education to convene a Dyslexia Working Group to improve the identification of and educational support for students with dyslexia to improve their educational outcomes.

CDE is seeking to fill the following memberships:

• Rural Principal
• A school district literacy specialist
• A parent of a child who is identified as having dyslexia and a disability
• Director of special education

Online applications will be accepted at through Friday, June 17. CDE will notify applicants no later than Friday, June 24.

To achieve a diverse membership, applications will be reviewed based on the consideration of the geographical representation and individual knowledge and experience for the required representative of the working group.

Questions can be sent to Floyd Cobb at [email protected]

For more information about what is required to apply, visit the application website.