Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021

NOTE: There will be no Scoop on Dec. 29 or Jan. 5.
** Action Item

This Week in The Scoop

Educator Talent

Register for 2022 Educator Workforce Communities of Practice
 

A strong educator pipeline that can prepare, recruit, and retain high-quality and diverse educators is essential for improving student success. However, many Colorado districts are experiencing teacher shortages and high turnover. To address this challenge, CDE and the Region 12 Comprehensive Center are launching an online community of practice initiative in 2022 for K-20 peer teams to engage in collaborative analysis, discussion, planning, and action to improve educator preparation, recruitment, hiring, diversity and retention.

We’re seeking participation from leaders, key staff, and stakeholders from a variety of organizations, including:
• School districts & charter schools
• Traditional & alternative teacher prep programs
• BOCES
• State offices (CDE, CDHE, CDLE, etc.)
• Advocates (CEA, TEACH Colorado, etc.)

Learn more and sign up here.

For More Information, Contact:
Carolyn Haug
Educator Research and Impact
Phone: 303-866-6923
Email: [email protected]

K-3 teacher evidence-based reading training requirements
 

All kindergarten through third-grade teachers in Colorado must submit documentation that they complied 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 available for K-3 teachers. 

For More Information, Contact:
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 Tuesday, Feb. 1. Through Friday, 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

I Matter program for youth garners national attention, Spanish-langage webpage launches
 

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory this month calling attention to the youth mental health crisis in our country. Colorado's I Matter program, which provides youth with three free mental health sessions, was touted as an innovative use of telehealth to meet young people where they are.

This week the state's Office of Behavioral Health launched YoImportoColorado.org, I Matter's Spanish-language site to make this free service accessible to even more Coloradans. Youth may opt to schedule with a Spanish-speaking counselor if they prefer. We ask you to spread the word by sharing the social media graphics in our digital toolkit and by sending pictures of the colorful I Matter banners hanging in your community to [email protected].

For More Information, Contact:
Laura Gabbay
Email: [email protected]

News & Notes

Early Graduate Innovation Program Pilot to launch in January
 

The Colorado Department of Higher Education announced the launch of the Early High School Graduate Innovation Pilot Program, which will provide funding to low-income high school students who graduate early to pay for post-secondary education and training programs, including college and workplace learning programs like internships or apprenticeships. Participating schools will receive 25% of the average state per-pupil revenue for each participating student, and are encouraged to apply these funds to counseling and support activities for potential and participating early graduates.

Five schools, districts or groups of schools will be selected from the applicant pool by the Commission on Higher Education. The application period will open in early January and close in mid-February. CDHE is also partnering with Colorado Succeeds on the Path4Ward initiative, which will provide application and implementation support to interested schools and districts. Check the website for additional information, including an upcoming applicant webinar and staff availability for questions and application feedback.

For More Information, Contact:
Jack Wolflink
Colorado Department of Higher Education
Email: [email protected]

Standards & Assessments

CDE accepting public feedback on social studies and the arts
 

Public feedback on committee recommendations for standards revisions in the arts is open until Saturday, Jan. 1. The deadline to submit feedback on the social studies standards has been extended to Feb. 1.

For more information, visit the Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision Process webpage.

For More Information, Contact:
Joanna Bruno, Ph.D.
Office of Standards and Instructional Support
Phone: 303-919-3907
Email: [email protected]