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Dear Superintendents and BOCES Executive Directors,
This special edition of the CDE Update includes information about an updated needs inventory from CDE and the Colorado Education Initiative. This edition also contains details about the extension of the USDA's Summer Food Service Program, information on how to submit ideas and feedback to the COVID-19 Policy Implications Stakeholder Group, and information about the T-Mobile hotspot program.
Past editions of the CDE Update, including all COVID-19 special editions, are available on our website.
Visit the COVID-19 Resources for Schools webpage for additional resources.
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Skip to any of the following sections:
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Community Needs Inventory
Updated needs inventory open through Oct. 23
CDE and the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI) are partnering on a second needs inventory to update the state’s understanding of current challenges facing schools and districts as they work to sustain and enhance support for students, staff and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey, which will be open through Friday, Oct. 23, will help policymakers, the department and funders make informed, data-driven decisions.
Results from the original needs inventory conducted by CDE and CEI last spring shaped decisions to focus resources on improving access to electronic devices and internet connectivity, supporting digital learning infrastructure, supporting students who are at risk, supporting BOCES, and supporting student wellbeing and family engagement.
CDE and CEI understand how incredibly busy this time is for districts, and sincerely appreciate the time it will take to complete the survey. We anticipate it should take no more than 20 minutes to complete the survey. Each section of the survey includes information on how responses will be used to inform resource allocation, priorities and/or policy.
Superintendents, BOCES Directors, charter school leaders and facility school leaders received an email today that includes a link to the survey. Each leader may designate a different contact to complete the survey, but they are asked to ensure only one response per organization.
For more information about how the survey results will be used, contact Deputy Education Commissioner Alyssa Pearson at [email protected]. Charter organizations should contact Schools of Choice Executive Director Bill Kottenstette at [email protected]. Technical questions about the survey should be directed to CEI Program Lead Sarah Forbes at [email protected].
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School Nutrition
USDA extends Summer Food Service Program flexibilities through June 30, 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will extend the flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020-21 school year. These program flexibilities allow school nutrition sponsors to operate a meal service model that best meets their community’s unique needs, while keeping kids and staff safe.
USDA is extending waivers through June 30, 2021, that:
- Allow Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) meals to be served in all areas and at no cost to families;
- Permit meals to be served outside of the typically required group settings and meal times;
- Waive meal pattern requirements, as necessary; and
- Allow parents and guardians to pick up meals for their children.
Register for the program year 2020-21 SFSP application and claim system training on Wednesday, Oct. 14. As a reminder, the back-to-school webpage and SFSP FAQs are the go-to resources for updated information about program operations during the 2020-21 school year. Any changes to the FAQs will be highlighted.
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COVID-19 Policy Implications Stakeholder Group
Public participation survey available
The COVID-19 Policy Implications Stakeholder Group is seeking input on state assessments, accountability/accreditation and educator effectiveness.
Results from the survey will be shared with the entire stakeholder group and taken into consideration when it makes recommendations to the legislature in these areas.
Those interested can visit the survey via Thought Exchange, then click the "participate" button to share their thoughts. We also ask that you rate at least 20-30 of the thoughts that others have shared. Participation is confidential. The Thought Exchange link is open through Friday, Oct. 23, and participants can revisit the platform to rate new ideas as they are posted.
For questions or more information, email Associate Commissioner of School Quality and Support Rhonda Haniford at [email protected].
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Broadband Access for Students
Protecting student information for T-Mobile's free hotspot program
CDE has been made aware of confusion around the signup process for free hotspot devices through T-Mobile's Project 10Million program. The terms of T-Mobile's program require devices to be distributed based on free or reduced price school lunch (FRL) status, so the company needs documentation in the case of an audit. However, T-Mobile does not need student identifiers for this purpose. Districts may identify the FRL students who qualify and need devices and then assign dummy numbers accordingly. The dummy numbers should be shared with T-Mobile. This process may not be clear in the communications between the vendor and districts, and CDE wants to assure districts that FRL student identifiers must not be shared. In fact, that is a privacy violation and must be avoided.
Feel free to question this practice if T-Mobile requests real identifiers. If it remains an issue, please contact CDE’s Chief Information Officer Marcia Bohannon, at [email protected].
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