State Grants to Libraries funding available for Fiscal Year 2023-2024

Funding is available to eligible, public school, public, and academic libraries to supply grants for library materials. Eligible libraries will receive a minimum of $4,500 to provide educational materials in libraries to improve literacy and learning.

Guidelines and eligibility forms are on the State Grants to Libraries webpage along with projected funding amounts

Eligibility forms are due by Friday, Sept. 15.

The Family, School, and Community Partnerships in High Learning Cohort Application Due Sept 1st

The Office of Family, School, and Community Partnerships is recruiting for the second FSCP in High School Learning Cohort.

This virtual opportunity is a statewide cohort of high school teams who will participate in four virtual sessions from September to March to learn best practices in FSCP in High School using Colorado’s P12 FSCP Framework and User’s Guide.

Learn more about the FSCP in High School Learning Cohort and register at this link by Friday, Sept. 1.

Early childhood educators eligible for loan forgiveness

Applications for the Colorado Department of Higher Education's Early Childhood Educator Loan Forgiveness Program are open until Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Early childhood teachers, special service providers, paraprofessionals, assistant teachers, directors, child development teachers, ECE mental health professionals, and floaters currently employed full-time at a licensed childcare center in Colorado are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in federal student loan forgiveness.

Funds will be disbursed over nine months. Priority will be given to qualified applicants working in childcare deserts and bilingual educators early in their careers.

Learn more and view the application materials here.

If you have questions, contact [email protected].

Click Here for Additional Information

2023 Assessment, Growth Results Available Thursday

Results from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, PSAT, and SAT assessments that were taken in the spring as well as the growth information will be released on Thursday, Aug. 17, at the State Board of Education meeting.

The results will be available on CDE's website after 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Autism Literacy Institute

Autism Literacy Institute Tier 1 and Tier 2 trainings will be offered again this year. This training includes in person and virtual sessions in October and January.

Click Here for Additional Information

Youth involvement in standards

CDE is looking for youth advisors for the 2023-25 Colorado Academic Standards revision process. Every two years, the state is required to review and revise a portion of the Colorado Academic Standards. Recently passed legislation requires the state to include youth advisors in the standards review process.

The next set of standards to be reviewed will include computer science, English language proficiency, physical education and world languages.

Applications for youth advisors are available until Friday, Aug. 25. The youth advisors must be 14 to 19 years old and enrolled, attending or recently graduated from one of the following:

  • A Colorado junior high, middle or high school, including tribal schools, online schools, charter schools or approved facility schools
  • A nonpublic home-based educational program
  • A high school equivalency examination program
  • Or who have obtained a high school diploma through successfully completing a high school equivalency examination.

Youth advisors will serve a two-year term and may be able to serve more than one term. Click here for more information about youth advisors and the standards review and revision process.

Upcoming Webinar: Accreditation and Request to Reconsider

CDE staff will host an hour long informational walkthrough of the 2023 accreditation and request to reconsider process on Aug. 17 at 1 p.m.

Districts must submit the Accreditation Form in the Accreditation Portal by Friday, Sept. 22 and request to reconsider materials by Monday, Oct. 16.

Click Here for Additional Information

READ Act Principal/Administrator Training Available

Free READ Act principal/administrator training will be available Thursday, Aug. 10. To qualify for READ Act per pupil funding for the 2024-25 school year, districts must ensure school principals and district administrators complete the required training by Aug. 1, 2024.

An informational webinar will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10.

Click Here for Additional Information

Youth involvement in standards

CDE is looking for youth advisors for the 2023-25 Colorado Academic Standards revision process. Every two years, the state is required to review and revise a portion of the Colorado Academic Standards. Recently passed legislation requires the state to include youth advisors in the standards review process. 

The next set of standards to be reviewed will include computer science, English language proficiency, physical education and world languages.  

Applications for youth advisors are available until Tuesday, Aug. 15. The youth advisors must be 14 to 19 years old and enrolled, attending or recently graduated from one of the following:

  • A Colorado junior high, middle or high school, including tribal schools, online schools, charter schools or approved facility schools.
  • A nonpublic home-based educational program.
  • A high school equivalency examination program.
  • Or who have obtained a high school diploma through successfully completing high school equivalency examination.

Youth advisors will serve a two-year term and may be able to serve more than one term. Click here for more information about youth advisors and the standards review and revision process.

Register to Attend Training Opportunities for CDE's New Grants Management System

CDE's department-wide grants management system, GAINS, will launch this fall. GAINS will streamline and consolidate multiple CDE application systems and processes into a single location and system.

CDE will host in-person trainings from Tuesday, Sept. 19, to Thursday, Sept. 28, for external system users, as well as one virtual training.

Click Here for Additional Information

2023-24 Educator Recruitment and Retention Financial Assistance

The 2023-24 Educator Recruitment and Retention financial assistance application is open through Wednesday, Aug. 30. Qualified educators may apply for up to $10,000 to help finance their educator preparation program expenses. Recipients must teach in a shortage area for three years.

Additional application windows will open Oct.1 - Nov. 15 and Jan. 3 - Feb. 15.

Click Here for Additional Information

Upcoming Accountability & Improvement Planning Webinars

The School Improvement and Planning team will host these training webinars:

  • Accountability 101: Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1-2:30 p.m.
  • Stakeholder Engagement with the UIP: Thursday, Aug. 17, 10-11 a.m.
  • Data Dashboards for Improvement Planning: Thursday, Aug. 31, 10-11 a.m.
  • Year 1 Priority Improvement/Turnaround UIP Support Webinar: Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1-2:30 p.m.

Visit the Accountability training webpage to register for a session.

Educator Shortage Survey Results

Results are available for CDE's Educator Shortage Survey, an annual, mandatory statewide survey for all districts and BOCES that employ educators. Learn more about the 2022-23 school year numbers of positions filled by shortage mechanisms, and numbers of positions going unfilled.

For assistance, contact the Educator Talent Research & Impact Office at [email protected].

Click Here for Additional Information

Expelled and At-Risk Student Services Grant Application

The Expelled and At-Risk Student Services grant program application is available on CDE’s website. The EARSS Grant awards will be for a 6-month planning period in Spring 2024 followed by up to four years of implementation funding.

This grant helps provide educational services to expelled students, students who are identified as at risk of expulsion, students who are habitually truant or at-risk of becoming habitually truant, and/or at-risk of dropping out of school due to chronic absenteeism. Eligible applicants include school districts, charter schools, alternative schools within school districts, nonpublic schools, BOCES, and facility schools.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Aug. 21.

Click Here for Additional Information

CMAS Assessment Toolkit Now Available

CDE created communications materials in both English and Spanish to help families understand the results from the Colorado Measures of Academic Success tests and the PSAT and SAT that will be publicly released on Thursday, Aug. 17. Resources include instructions on how to understand score reports, the role of state assessments, and an assessment FAQ.

Supplemental Online Options for Students- Fall Registration

Registration for Colorado Digital Learning Solutions is open until Wednesday, Aug. 23. All courses have a registration fee of $200, and courses begin on Aug. 23.

See the full CDLS catalog of over 250 courses.

Contact Dan Morris through email or call 303-917-3922 if you need more information.

Click Here for Additional Information

Assessment Communication Toolkit Now Available

State assessment results will be presented and publicly released at the Aug. 17 State Board of Education meeting. An assessment communication toolkit is available to help districts and schools communicate with families about CMAS, PSAT and SAT scores.

CDE Highly Mobile Youth Learning Cohort Virtual Convening

The Office of District Improvement Strategy and the Office of Student Support are hosting a virtual conference on Out of School Time for Highly Mobile Youth at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9,  for school and district leaders.

Participants will hear about successful OST programming and learn about options for OST from CDE.

Click Here for Additional Information

Federal Programs Office Hours

The Federal Programs & Supports Unit provides bi-weekly virtual support to Local Education Agencies through its ESEA/ESSER Office Hours.

Anyone responsible for the local administration and implementation of ESEA or ESSER programs is invited to join.

Click Here for Additional Information

Training Opportunities for CDE's New Grants Management System

CDE's first department-wide grants management system, GAINS, will launch this fall. GAINS will streamline and consolidate multiple application systems and processes into a single location and system.

CDE will host in-person trainings from Sept. 19 to Sept. 28, as well as one virtual training. 

Submit your information here to be notified of important registration information.

Click Here for Additional Information