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Opportunity Now grant program Letters of Intent due Monday, Jan. 23

Applications are open for the Opportunity Now grant program. Interested applicants should submit a Letter of Intent by Monday, Jan. 23, explaining their solution and how it will positively impact Coloradans.

Enacted by House Bill 22-1350 and administered by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Opportunity Now Colorado grant program catalyzes industry and education collaboration to unlock economic mobility for Coloradans. The program seeks innovative solutions to meet Colorado’s workforce needs, partnerships that create intentional pathways between education systems and employers and opportunities for regional workers and students to connect with in-demand, high-skill, high-wage occupations. Multiple grant tracks are available for organizations and partnerships at various stages of program development, ranging from early-stage pilot programs to established, evidence-based programs.

To learn more visit the Opportunity Now website.

New round of funding approved for Fund My Future Program

Local education providers are encouraged to apply for Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative's Fund My Future program, which aims to increase student aid application completion for high school seniors. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 17. Applications may be submitted here.

Additional funds from the state is allowing COSI the launch the new application round, which allows COSI to support programming at up to two more Colorado high schools. The Fund My Future program provides funding to Colorado high schools to support FAFSA/CASFA completion strategies and offer students support in preparing for college.

More information can be found on the Fund My Future program webpage on the Colorado Department of Higher Education website.

PAEMST Nominations close Saturday, Jan. 7

Nominations for The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching close Saturday, Jan. 7. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or computer science teaching.

Anyone may nominate exceptional Colorado STEM teachers currently teaching grades seven through 12 for the 2022-23 award year.

Eligible teachers may self-apply directly on the PAEMST website by Monday, Feb. 6.

2022-23 High-Impact Tutoring Grant

CDE’s High-Impact Tutoring Program Grant will launch its next round of funding in January 2023.

An application information webinar will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Intent to Apply forms are due Friday, Feb. 15, and applications are due Wednesday, March 1.

More information and application instructions can be found on the HITP grants page.

Grades 4-12 Co-Literacy Conversations

Beginning in January, a CDE team of secondary literacy experts will host monthly conversations aimed at providing research, resources and tier 1 instructional support to leaders, teachers and other classroom practitioners who support literacy in grades four through 12.

Attendees will have a chance to share what they are doing in their schools, and learn from each other.

The first Co-Literacy Conversation will be hosted at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, via Zoom.

View the Reading, Writing and Communicating webpage for additional information.

School Bullying Prevention and Education Grant applications

The School Bullying Prevention and Education Grant program is accepting applications for funds that can be used to reduce bullying by engaging students and families, improving school climate and implementing best practices. Schools can receive up to $35,000 per year when accepted into the three-year grant program.

For more information and to download the request for application, visit the BPEG program webpage.

Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses grant applications due Friday, Dec. 16

Applications are due Friday, Dec. 16, for the Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses grant, or the John W. Buckner Grant. This one-year grant provides approximately $220,000 to be divided among grantees and is intended to increase the number of students enrolled in advanced courses for subjects in which the student has demonstrated proficiency. Grantees can use the funds for high school or middle school students.

For full details on this grant and to apply, view the John W. Buckner Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses webpage.

Senate Bill 22-070 Work Group Interest Forms

Evaluators, teachers, special services providers, principals and district/BOCES leaders are invited to participate in a work group for Senate Bill 22-070 -- the Kindergarten through 12th Grace Licensed Personnel Performance Evaluations Act to update and refine educator evaluation in Colorado. The work groups offer an opportunity to participate in the planning for implementation of SB22-070 in the 2023-24 school year.

The work groups will take place virtually from late November through mid-December 2022 and will focus on specific aspects of the legislation. Participants are required to attend all sessions of the respective work group.

Visit the Senate Bill 22-070 Overview webpage for additional information and to register for a work group.

High-Impact Tutoring Program webinar

The High-Impact Tutoring Program webinar will be held at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, and will cover various approaches and strategies to implementing high-impact tutoring and will also discuss the forthcoming request for applications.

Register for the session via Zoom.

Visit the High-Impact Tutoring Program webpage for additional information.

State Board of Education gives final approval to revised academic standards in social studies

At its November meeting, the Colorado State Board of Education voted to approve final revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards for social studies after adding the contributions of ethnic and religious groups as well as LGTBQ+ people in teaching about civil government.

Each school district and charter school will have until the beginning of the 2024-25 school year to transition to the revisions to the social studies standards. However, local education providers must incorporate Holocaust and genocide studies into an existing course required for high school graduation by July 1, 2023.

Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program Intent to Apply

The Innovative Learning Opportunity Pilot Program Intent to Apply for 2023-24 is due by Friday, Dec. 9. A secure Syncplicity folder containing the application will be sent once the Intent to Apply is submitted. The ILOP Application is due via Syncplicity on Friday, Dec. 16.

Visit the ILOP webpage for more information on the process and to view the ILOP Application webinar recording.

Universal Preschool begins July 1

The Universal Preschool Program will launch on July 1, at which time the Colorado Preschool Program will end. CDE will continue to administer preschool special education for children ages 3 through 5 in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Exceptional Children's Educational Act.

Questions about implementing the Colorado Preschool Program during the 2022-23 school year should be directed to CDE's Preschool Special Education staff.

Questions regarding ongoing implementation of IDEA requirements for preschoolers should be directed to CDE's Preschool Regional Specialists.

For information about preschool implementation effective on or after July 1, contact the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.

You Look Good in Stripes campaign for new high school sports officials

People interested in officiating high school sports for the first time will have their first year of dues covered by The Colorado High School Activities Association in an effort to get more officials in sports that have seen a sharp decline in participation. These dues include each new official’s background check, insurance, testing, rule books, a membership to a sport-specific association and a membership to ArbiterSports.

Interested applicants can fill out this five-question form. The staff at CHSAA will send each applicant’s contact information to area sport directors, who will reach out with details of training, meetings, procedures and requirements.

As part of the “You Look Good in Stripes” initiative, CHSAA will also provide uniform and equipment grants for new officials once registration and testing are complete.

Additional information be found on the CHSSA website under the Officials tab at the top right of the page.

Respiratory virus communications toolkit available

Respiratory viruses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus, flu and COVID-19 are spreading across Colorado and the nation. The communications team in the Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created a respiratory virus toolkit.
Resources in the toolkit include:

  • Sample newsletter copy.
  • Sample social media posts below.
  • Frequently asked questions.

Visit the CDPHE website for additional information.

The Family, School and Community Partnerships in high school learning cohort application is open

Starting in January 2023, CDE’s Office of Family, School and Community Partnerships will offer training for school and district leaders on effective FSCP practices at the high school level.

Registration is free to participants. Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 9.

Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program 2023-24

The Intent to Apply form for the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program for 2023-24 is due Friday, Dec. 9.

For an overview of the application and application timeline, register for the ILOP application webinar at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

The ILOP Application process webpage has additional information about the application process.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics nominations are open

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching nomination deadline is Saturday, Jan. 7. Anyone may nominate a STEM teacher currently teaching grades seven through 12 for the 2022-23 award year.

Eligible teachers may also apply directly on the PAEMST website by Feb. 6.

The PAEMST are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science teaching.

Applications for Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness, Career and Education Grant are due Thursday, Nov. 17

Applications for the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness, Career and Education Grant, also referred to as the FAFSA/CAFSA Completion Grant, are due Thursday, Nov. 17. Funding requests will be accepted for $1,000 to $10,000 per year for three years.

For full details and to apply for the grant, view the Financial Aid and FAFSA/CASFA Completion webpage.

The Educator Loan Forgiveness Program application window is open

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is accepting applications for the Educator Loan Forgiveness Program, which will grant up to $5,000 annually to educators currently serving rural districts or teaching in hard-to-fill positions. This program is funded for five years. To qualify, teachers, administrators, and special service providers must have a license valid in the state of Colorado.

Prospective participants must complete the application by Saturday, Jan. 15. CDHE will notify all applicants of their program status within 60 days from the close of the application.

Updates will be posted on the CDHE website and social media accounts.

Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses grant applications due Friday, Dec. 16

Applications are due Friday, Dec. 16, for the Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses grant, or the John W. Buckner grant. This one-year grant provides approximately $220,000 to be divided among grantees and is intended to increase the number of students enrolled in advanced courses for subjects in which the student has demonstrated proficiency. Grantees can use the funds for high school or middle school students.

For full details on this grant and to apply, view the John W. Buckner Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses webpage.