The Scoop, December 1, 2021

 
 
 

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021

** Action Item

This Week in The Scoop

Accountability & Improvement

Finalize headcounts for the 2022 TLCC by Friday -- Survey launch Jan. 19
 

The 2022 Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado survey launches Wednesday, Jan. 19. This anonymous online survey of all school-based licensed educators and education support professionals (e.g., para-professionals, teaching assistants) promotes discussions in schools and districts about instruction, planning time, professional development, school improvement and related policy issues.

CDE has shared headcount numbers based upon data from the 2020-21 Human Resources Collection to accountability contacts and human resource contacts. These count estimates will help determine the number of codes to send each school for staff to access the survey. Districts must confirm the numbers by Friday, Dec. 3.

Schools and districts must have at least 50% participation to view their own data. Inaccurate counts could result in an interference with schools getting their TLCC survey data back.

Visit the TLCC survey webpage for more information.

For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Steffen
Accountability and Continuous Improvement
Phone: 720-498-3020
Email: [email protected]

Early Learning & School Readiness

READ Act Instructional Programming Review -- volunteers needed
 

The CDE Preschool Through Third Grade Office seeks volunteers to review Instructional Programming aligned to the READ Act. Initial reviews will be conducted virtually on multiple days in January. The application for volunteer reviewers can be found on the READ Act Instructional Programming webpage. The volunteer reviewer application closes Wednesday, Dec. 15.

For More Information, Contact:
Tammy Yetter
Teaching and Learning
Phone: 720-955-8055
Email: [email protected]

Educator Talent

K-3 teacher evidence-based reading training requirements
 

All kindergarten through third-grade teachers in Colorado must submit evidence of their compliance with the K-3 evidence-based reading training requirements by Aug. 1, 2022. Teachers will submit documentation through the Colorado Online Licensing system.

Learn about the hour, content and assessment requirements to complete this training and the various training options that are available for K-3 teachers.

For More Information, Contact:
Whitney Hutton
Educator Talent
Email: [email protected]

Exceptional Student Services

Feedback sought on state's proposed IDEA targets and improvement strategies
 

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires every state to develop a State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) that evaluates the state’s efforts on implementing the requirements and purposes of IDEA and describes how the state will improve upon those efforts. The SPP/APR includes indicators that measure child and family outcomes and other indicators that measure compliance with the requirements of IDEA. Every six years states must reset baselines and targets for their SPP/APR performance indicators. States must get broad stakeholder input before submitting their new baselines and targets on Feb. 1, 2022.

Through Jan. 7, Colorado is soliciting broad stakeholder input on the state's proposed targets and improvement strategies for each of the indicators. CDE  has created a webpage that includes videos that describe the various targets and improvement strategies as well as an online function to provide feedback.

For More Information, Contact:
Gloria Durosko
ESSU
Email: [email protected]

Health, Wellness & Nutrition

Share resources about new free youth mental health program
 

I Matter, a state program that provides up to three free counseling sessions for any Colorado youth, has been immensely popular since it began in late October with more than 700 counseling appointments scheduled or completed as of Nov. 18. Currently, I Matter has contracts with 64 clinicians to provide the services and continues to grow the provider list.

Youth and their parents can visit the I Matter platform to take a confidential online survey about their mental health and schedule sessions with a licensed behavioral health clinician, primarily via telehealth. All Colorado youth ages 18 or younger—or 21 and younger if receiving special education services—are eligible to receive free services. Youth 12 and older can sign up for counseling sessions without a parent or guardian's consent.

Spread the word by adding an I Matter email signature. Two other ways to share this important new resource for Colorado kids are by ordering free marketing materials in English or Spanish and sharing social media graphics. A Spanish version of the I Matter site will be available soon, and the program has clinicians who can provide services in Spanish.

I Matter also has care navigators available who can help youth following their three free sessions, and, where possible, it is  connecting youth with providers who accept Medicaid or their insurance. Resources are available for uninsured youth as well.

For More Information, Contact:
Elizabeth Owens
CDHS
Phone: 303-906-2360
Email: [email protected]

Botvin LifeSkills Training available for high school freshmen
 

The University of Colorado Boulder is offering a grant to Colorado schools to implement the evidence-informed Botvin LifeSkills Training High School program to students in grade nine. LST High School is a 10-session, universal substance abuse and violence prevention program that promotes social-emotional development. Through 45-minute interactive sessions, students learn:

  • Personal Self-Management Skills: Enhance self-esteem, learn problem solving, reduce stress and anxiety, and manage anger.
  • General Social Skills: Meet challenges such as overcoming shyness, communicating clearly, building relationships, and avoiding violence.
  • Drug Resistance Skills: Resist pressures to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

Selected schools will implement the program in either Fall 2022 or Fall 2024 and will receive instructor training workshops, program materials, implementation support and financial incentives.

Additional details are available on the Botvin LifeSkills Training High School program webpage

To apply, complete a brief online grant application by Monday, Jan. 31. For most school systems, the application takes less than 30 minutes, and assistance is available upon request.

For More Information, Contact:
Kyle Pacque
Health and Wellness: Project AWARE Co-Coordinator
Phone: 703-967-4216
Email: [email protected]

Postsecondary Readiness

2021-22 Concurrent Enrollment Grant application due Dec 8
 

The Concurrent Enrollment Expansion & Innovation Grant program is a funding opportunity to provide grants to partnering local education providers and institutions of higher education to expand and innovate concurrent enrollment opportunities to qualified students.

The 2021-22 grant awards up to $100,000 per approved applicant for allowable, reimbursable expenses to be used through June 30, 2022. There is a possibility that these funds may be extended beyond that time. If the deadline is extended and funds are available, approved grantees will have the opportunity to apply for additional funds.

Important dates:

Wednesday, Dec. 8: Applications due
Week of Dec. 13: Initial notifications go out

Visit the Concurrent Enrollment Expansion and Innovation Grant Program's webpage for additional information

For More Information, Contact:
Michelle Romero
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
Phone: 303-877-4155
Email: [email protected]

Standards & Assessments

Setting the Standard Webinar Series – Dec. 1
 

Join the next Setting The Standard webinar, "Math as a Second Language: Five Anchors That Create Literate Math Students", presented by Tremain Nelson, who has served in several roles in education over the past 15 years as a teacher, administrator and educational consultant.

As a teacher, he worked closely with low-income high school students that were taking Algebra for the second or third time, and his classroom was so effective that was featured on Annenberg’s Insights into Algebra Workshop. With math as the foundation for it all, it is essential that we remember to put the “M” in STEM. Math literacy is characterized by a student’s ability to authentically read, write, speak, think, and listen using the language of mathematics. Our students can become proficient in this language by learning to think and communicate like literate mathematicians.

Register for the Math as a Second Language webinar.

Learn about the upcoming topics and access past webinars on the Setting the Standard webinar page

Webinars are held the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 p.m.

For More Information, Contact:
Jamie Hurley
Office of Standards and Instructional Support
Phone: 303-866-6453
Email: [email protected]

Support & Intervention

Extension of Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports Implementation Grant application deadline
 

The 2021-2026 Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports Implementation Grant application deadline has been extended to Friday, Jan. 7. The decision to extend the application deadline was based on feedback regarding the timeline for applying for this opportunity and in the interest of serving as many schools and districts as possible with these funds.

For more information, visit the state Personnel Development Grant webpage.

For More Information, Contact:
COMTSS
Office of Learning Supports
Phone: 303-910-5873
Email: [email protected]

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