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Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Grant Program

Eligible local education providers can apply for the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Grant, created to provide menstrual hygiene products at no expense to students and to make products accessible to students regardless of gender identity.

Approximately $100,000 is available to award for the 2022-23 school year, and awards are anticipated to be between $1,000 and $5,000 per education provider. Grant funding can be used to acquire and distribute menstrual hygiene products such as tampons, menstrual pads and pantyliners at no expense to students and install and maintain dispensing machines and disposal receptacles for menstrual hygiene products. This program is governed by Senate Bill 21-255 and is open to education providers with 50% or more students eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch.

An informative webinar is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4. View the program webpage for more information.

Child Nutrition Rural summits

The Child Nutrition Rural summits are training and networking events for school food service directors, managers and staff operating child nutrition programs. Events will be hosted in northeastern and southeastern Colorado and sponsors from all regions are welcome. This event will provide opportunities for staff to engage with one another, learn new skills and discuss innovative ideas for program improvements and overcoming challenges.

The southeast region event will take place on Friday, Oct. 14. Register via Eventbrite.

The northeast region event will take place on Friday, Oct. 21. Register via Evenbrite. 

Funds are available for individuals/groups that require financial support to attend.

For questions, contact Allison Butler at [email protected].

Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program webinar

Learn about the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program in a webinar at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. This webinar will provide information on the ILOP Program as well as walk through the application steps.

Register in advance via Zoom.

Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Symposium in Durango on Thursday, Nov. 3

Register for the first Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Symposium of 2022-23 hosted by Pueblo Community College, at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, in Durango.

What to expect from the PWR Symposium:

  • Examples of best practices around postsecondary and workforce readiness from schools throughout southwestern Colorado.
  • Educators and business and workforce leaders discuss PWR initiatives such as Concurrent Enrollment, Graduation Guidelines, Capstone and Performance Assessment, Individualized Career & Academic Planning and Financial Literacy, School Counselor Corps, Career Development Incentive Program for industry certificates as well as employer engagement and work-based learning.
  • Panel discussions, student voices and small group conversations.

If you’re not close to Durango and would like to attend or host a PWR Symposium, contact Robin Russel at [email protected] or 303-866-2908.

PAEMST Nominations are open

Principals, teachers, parents, students or members of the general public may nominate exceptional Colorado STEM teachers who are teaching grades seven through 12 for the 2022-23 award year.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or computer science teaching.

Nominate a STEM teacher by Jan. 9.

Eligible teachers may also apply directly on the PAEMST website by Feb. 6.

Colorado Delegate for the 2022 National Youth Science Camp

Graduated senior Alex Dziaba of Cheyenne Mountain High School was selected to represent Colorado at the 2022 National Youth Science Camp. Dziaba was selected for her outstanding commitment to STEM and has distinguished herself in both her coursework and extracurricular STEM activities. Congratulations and best of luck to Alex as she pursues a STEM career pathway this fall at Arizona State University!

Hosted in West Virginia since 1963, the NYSCamp has traditionally been a residential science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program designed to honor and challenge some of the nation’s rising STEM leaders and provide them with opportunities to engage with STEM professionals and participate in exciting outdoor activities. Support from the National Youth Science Foundation allows Alex Dziaba to attend the NYSCamp program free of charge.

Writing Framework Resources available

CDE developed a Framework for Writing Instruction to support district-level leaders in creating a research-based framework for the teaching of writing with literacy leaders, instructional coaches and teachers.

Resources can be found on the Framework for Writing Instruction webpage.

Facility Schools Board Seat Vacancy

Applications are being accepted for the Facility Schools Board of Education. The open seat represents school districts within Colorado. And the ideal candidate is someone who has expertise in either special education or general education.

The term of membership is three years, and the board meets monthly. Applications for the Facility Schools Board should include a resume and a cover letter or letter of interest. All applications are due Wednesday, Oct. 5. Applications can be emailed to Judy Stirman at [email protected].

Request to reconsider guidance and support is available to all districts

Districts must review and verify the district rating and school plan types using the School Accreditation and Request to Reconsider form in the Accreditation Portal within the Unified Improvement Planning online system that is available to district accountability contacts. The form must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 23. Once the Accreditation and Request to Reconsider form is submitted, a Request to Reconsider tab will be available for each district and school where the district has indicated they do not agree with the current rating or plan type. All Request to Reconsider evidence must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Guidance on the accreditation and request to reconsider process and a link to register for weekly office hours is available on the Request to Reconsider School Accreditation webpage.

Charter School Capital Construction Reporting due Monday, Oct. 31

The annual CSCC-01 report for the Charter School Capital Construction program is available. All charter schools eligible to receive CSCC funding are required to complete the online form and submit it no later than Monday, Oct. 31. The information provided will be used to establish the distribution in Fiscal Year 2023-24.

Visit the Charter Schools webpage for additional information.

Feedback requested

The Preschool through Third Grade Office and the Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education seek feedback on the READ Act and English Learners: Guidance for Assessment and Determination of a Significant Reading Deficiency document.

The draft document and feedback form are available on CDE's READ Act Stakeholder Feedback webpage through Friday, Sept. 23. 

2022-23 Kindergarten School Readiness Assessment Review

CDE seeks assessment vendors to be included on the list of approved kindergarten school readiness assessments. The review of assessments for KSR is being conducted to fulfill statutory requirements and to align assessments with other state-wide assessments.

Visit the 2022-23 Kindergarten School Readiness Assessment Review Process webpage for additional information.

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission town hall

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission will host monthly town halls to provide updates about the Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program implementation process and opportunities to get involved.

Join the next town hall at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, to hear from members of CDEC, the Governor's Early Childhood Transition Team, state agency leaders and other early childhood champions working to ensure all children, families, and early childhood professionals are valued, healthy and thriving. Spanish language interpretation will be available.

Register to attend via Zoom.

Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The next meeting of the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St. in Wheat Ridge.

CSEAC is a state-level committee mandated by federal and state law. Members are interested in the quality of education received by children and youth with disabilities. The committee includes parents of individuals with disabilities, educational service providers, administrators and representatives from a variety of related agencies. Participation is statewide and representative of diverse disabilities.

View the CSEAC webpage for additional information.

Facility Schools Board Seat Vacancy

Applications are being accepted for the Facility Schools Board of Education. The open seat represents school districts within Colorado. And the ideal candidate is someone who has expertise in either special education or general education.

The term of membership is three years, and the board meets monthly. Applications for the Facility Schools Board should include a resume and a cover letter or letter of interest. All applications are due Wednesday, Oct. 5. Applications can be emailed to Judy Stirman at [email protected].

Celebrate Colorado Proud School Meal Day

The Colorado Department of Agriculture and CDE invite Colorado schools to participate in the annual Colorado Proud School Meal Day on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Colorado Proud School Meal Day is a day to celebrate Colorado agriculture and to educate students about healthy eating.

Fill out this form to share how your schools are participating in Colorado Proud School Meal Day.

Healthy Meals for All

The Colorado legislature passed House Bill 22-1414 to send the creation of a Healthy School Meals for All program to voters on the November 2022 ballot. The Healthy School Meals for All program would provide funding opportunities to Colorado public school food authorities that participate in the federal National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. If passed, the bill will:

  • Reimburse school food authorities that choose to participate in the program for free meals provided to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal school meals programs.
  • Provide funding to school food authorities to purchase nutritious, fresh food from Colorado farmers and ranchers.
  • Provide school food authorities with additional funding to increase wages or provide stipends to staff who prepare and serve the meals.
  • Establish student and parent advisory committees.
  • Have grants available to provide training and equipment to school food authorities.

View this Healthy School Meals for All FAQ sheet for more information.

P-EBT Spring Corrections and Summer Data Collection is Open

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer spring corrections and summer data collection will close on Thursday, Sept. 29. Districts with any students who fall into the following categories should plan to submit during this collection:

  • Corrections from spring 2022.
  • Students omitted from spring 2022.
  • Students found newly eligible for free or reduced-price school meals up to June 30 who need to be assessed for spring 2022 benefits.
  • Students found newly eligible for free or reduced-price school meals between July 1 and Aug. 26 or any other student who has not been previously submitted and needs to be assessed for summer 2022 benefits.

Visit the P-EBT data collection webpage for resources, including file layout requirements and recorded training.

Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation webinar

Join CDE for a webinar at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, to plan for student success in the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation program for the 2023-24 school year. The TREP program allows for students on an educator pathway to concurrently enroll in postsecondary coursework for a fifth and sixth year.

The recording will be made available on the TREP website for those who are unable to attend. 

Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program webinar

Learn about the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program in a webinar at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. This webinar will provide information on the ILOP Program as well as walk through the application steps.

Register in advance via Zoom.