The Early Childhood Leadership Commission will host a town hall at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, to provide updates about the Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program implementation process.

Join via Zoom. Spanish language interpretation will be available.

The dates and host sites for this summer's Teaching and Learning CoLabs are:

• Thursday, June 1, in Grand Junction hosted by Colorado Mesa University.
• Wednesday, June 14, in Greeley hosted by the University of Northern Colorado.
• TBD in Pueblo hosted by CSU-Pueblo.

The Teaching and Learning CoLabs are one-day, multi-disciplinary regional professional development workshops developed in partnership with Colorado's higher education institutions, professional teaching organizations and CDE. This year's content areas are expanding to include ELA, math, health, PE, science, computer science, social studies, visual and performing arts and school leadership. Schools are encouraged to attend a CoLab in teams, with teachers representing multiple grades and content areas.

FAFSA and CASFA applications are due Wednesday, March 15. The application process, timeline, supports and new FAQ are available on the FAFSA/CASFA Grant webpage.

The FASFA/CASFA grant can be used to help:

• Train community volunteers to help students.
• Host a FAFSA night with giveaways for attendees.
• Design and host a summer workshop for staff to enhance ICAP and financial literacy.
• Hire a consultant/local provider to demonstrate how to enhance the FAFSA/CAFSA process.
• Defray printing costs and build awareness of the FAFSA/CAFSA process.

Click Visit the Financial Aid and FAFSA/CAFSA webpage for additional information.

The Grants Program Administration Office is recruiting volunteer reviewers to serve as members of reviewer pool. Reviewers with a diverse range of experience, expertise and representation will be selected to review applications for upcoming competitive funding and award opportunities. Reviewers serve as volunteers and stipend/honorarium payments are not available.

To become member of the reviewer pool, fill out this survey to apply. The GPA office will contact reviewers periodically to review applications applicable to the expertise and interests specified in the survey. The time commitment as a reviewer throughout the year is set by the reviewer.

Reviewers are needed for several upcoming programs:

• High Impact Tutoring Grant – March 6 - 22
• School Health Professional Grant – March 17 - April 4.
• School Counselor Corps Grant – March 22 -April 7.
• Early Literacy Grant: Professional Development – March 28 - April 11.

To sign up for a specific program fill out this survey.

Colorado’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Cohort X grant competition applications are due Monday, April 10.

CDE will award approximately $5.5 million in 21st CCLC funding for Cohort X. Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $180,000 per year per center. Priority will be given to those programs serving students who attend high-poverty, low-performing schools.

For application materials, technical assistance opportunities, and tools and resource for applying, visit the 21st CCLC Cohort X webpage.

The 21st CCLC grant program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. The purpose of this important program is to establish or expand community learning centers that:

1. Provide opportunities for academic enrichment to help students meet state and local student performance standards in core academic subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics;
2. Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
3. Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

CDE has created the ESSER Convening for Pandemic Recovery Grant to ensure that districts across the state can learn from colleagues facing similar challenges.

CDE will make up to $150,000 of ARP ESSER III funding available for this program. Eligible applicants are invited to submit applications that meet the needs of their program(s) with a maximum of $50,000 per application. 

A recording of the application webinar is available on the ESSER Convening for Pandemic Recovery Grant Program webpage.

Intent to Apply forms are due Friday, Feb. 24. The Intent to Apply is encouraged, but not required. Applications close on Wednesday, March 8.

• Fiscal questions may be directed to Tricia Miller, grants fiscal management, at [email protected] or 303-877-2154.
• Program questions maybe be directed to Christina Monaco, executive director of field services, [email protected] or 303-981-6513.
• Application process questions may be directed to Mandy Christensen, grants program administration, [email protected] or 303-957-6217.