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2022 Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado Data Webinar

Join CDE staff at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, to discuss how to leverage the 2022 Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado survey data for continuous improvement, including interpretation, do's and don'ts, and protocols for team review.

The webinar will include an overview of resources, opportunities for technical assistance, and time to collaborate with peers. Visit the TLCC website to access the data for schools or districts that met reporting thresholds.

Register for the webinar via Zoom.

New Accountability and Family Partnership contacts

If a district has changes to the identified Accountability or Family Partnerships contacts for the 2022-23 school year, superintendents should submit them as soon as possible using this form. This will authorize accountability contacts to receive information and updates related to accountability, including permission to access student-level data files.

Comprehensive Support and Improvement Plan workshops

CDE is hosting four workshops for schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement. CDE staff will be available to answer questions and help with plans to meet requirements. This training is designed to support principals or the individuals writing the school-level plans, as well as the district personnel responsible for supporting the development of, review, and approval of the school Unified Improvement Plans.

Schools Identified for Low Graduation Rate
8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 1

Schools Identified for Low Participation
12 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1

Elementary and High schools Identified as Lowest 5%
8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 8

K-2 Schools Identified as Lowest 5%
12 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8

Apply for the Content Competency Stakeholder Group

CDE seeks participants from across the state to represent key stakeholders in the exploration of content competency options for initial licensure, pursuant to House Bill 22-1220.

Meetings will be held every other Friday beginning Aug. 26, and going through Oct. 28. Those interested should submit an application by Wednesday, Aug. 10. Selected members will be notified via email by Monday, Aug. 15.

Questions about the application process can be sent to [email protected].

CMAS/SAT growth and performance framework data released

The 2022 CMAS/SAT student growth detail files, CMAS individual student growth reports, along with other performance framework report data files have been released to District Accountability Contacts via Syncplicity. All 2022 growth and matriculation summary data will be incorporated within the Data Explorer tool and posted to the CDE website later this fall.

For questions related to Syncplicity, training support or the Colorado growth model, email [email protected].

P-EBT Fall corrections and Summer collection is open

The P-EBT Fall corrections and Summer collection is open in the data pipeline and will close on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Students who were omitted from the original Fall 2021 collection, students who have corrections from Fall 2021, or students who were found eligible for free or reduced-price school meals by June 30, should be submitted during this collection timeframe.

For resources, including file layout requirements and recorded training, visit the P-EBT data collection webpage.

Information about the Affordable Connectivity Program

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the President and Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides eligible households up to $30/month, or $75/month for households living on Tribal lands, toward their internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet.

All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program within the last 12 months, including children who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, are eligible for ACP benefits.

Families can check their eligibility, sign up and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov or by calling 877-384-2575. District leaders are encouraged to share this information with families in their community.

Thoughts and opinions sought for Blended Online Learning Survey

CDE seeks perspectives of administrators, teachers and other stakeholders on blended online learning, how it impacted teaching during the pandemic and thoughts on how to improve the experience.

COVID-19 caused many schools in Colorado to shift their instructional models from traditional in-person to remote learning instruction and other types of hybrid models. This shift upended what schools thought of as “normal” instruction for many students. It also gave us an opportunity to reassess what we know, or thought we knew, about “what works” in terms of instruction, seat time/funding requirements and achieving strong student outcomes.

The Blended Learning Initiative is an effort by CDE to examine what we’ve learned, how students were impacted, how education has evolved and where we go from here. Educator and administrator opinions are key to informing this initiative.

Use the Blended and Online Learning Survey to share your thoughts with CDE.

State Grants to Libraries funding available for Fiscal Year 2022-23

Nearly $3 million in State Grants to Libraries funding is available for 2022-23. Each eligible library will receive a minimum of $4,500.

The funds will be available to eligible, publicly funded school, public and academic libraries to fund grants for library materials. The purpose of the funds is to provide educational materials in libraries that support efforts to improve literacy and learning.

The guidelines and eligibility forms are posted on the State Grants to Libraries webpage along with projected funding amounts.

Eligibility forms are due by Thursday, Sept. 15.

Computer Science Education Grant applications due Tuesday, Sept. 13

The Computer Science Education Grant Program application window is open for the 2022-23 school year. This includes the Computer Science Teacher Education Grant, which provides funds for K-12 computer science teacher professional development, and the Computer Science Education Grant, which provides funding with the purpose of increasing enrollment and participation of traditionally underrepresented students in computer science education activities.

The deadline to apply for the Computer Science Teacher Education Grant and the Computer Science Education Grant has been extended to Tuesday, Sept. 13.

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission to host monthly town halls

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission will host monthly virtual town halls to provide families, providers, members of the workforce and early childhood stakeholders with updates about the Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program implementation process and opportunities to get involved.

Spanish language interpretation will be available.

Register for the next town hall to be held via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Peer reviewers needed for grant applications

CDE's Competitive Grants and Awards Office seeks qualified individuals to review Colorado Charter School Program Grant applications. Qualified reviewers will have experience in the areas of charter facilities, charter/non-profit governance, CMO, EMO, ESP or network structures, curriculum development, school administration and any other adjacent areas of expertise.

Interested participants must complete a survey regarding experience and areas of expertise by Thursday, Sept. 1. 

To learn more information about the CCSP Grant and upcoming competition, visit the Schools of Choice webpage.

New learning cohorts for 2022-23 school year

CDE is offering three learning cohorts for school and district leaders to start in the fall of the 2022-23 school year. The cohorts will convene for three to six sessions and are designed to support learning and collaboration for school improvement.

The cohorts will meet via Zoom and/or in-person and are free to participants. Districts may be required to cover costs of travel if applicable.

CDE will host the following cohorts for the 2022-23 school year:

  • Alternative Education Campus
  • Best Practices in 6-12 Grading
  • Online School & Program Leaders

For additional information, including how to sign up for a learning cohort, view this flier.

New learning series: From Policy to Practice Changing Beliefs about Charter Schools’ Inclusivity of Diverse Learners

In response to the recent research and Office for Civil Rights complaints around enrollment of special education students in charter schools, CDE's Schools of Choice office and the Collaborative for Exceptional Education have designed a special leadership series of virtual training and support, “From Policy to Practice: Changing Beliefs about Charter Schools’ Inclusivity of Diverse Learners”.

Join CDE every month as we examine policies and practices that can lead to negative perceptions and even potential liability while also offering strategies and solutions that can positively communicate inclusive messages while protecting the school against legal and financial risk.

Visit the CDE/CEE Learning Series webpage for more information and registration links for each training.

Expelled and At-Risk Student Services Grant application

The Expelled and At-Risk Student Services grant program Request for Applications is available on CDE’s website. The EARSS Grant awards will be for a six-month planning period followed by up to four years of implementation funding.

This grant opportunity is to implement programs that reduce exclusionary discipline, increase attendance and provide educational services to expelled students, students who are identified as at-risk expulsion or at-risk of dropping out of school due to chronic absenteeism.

Eligible applicants include school districts, charter schools, alternative schools within school districts, nonpublic schools, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services and facility schools. Nonpublic schools may apply for a grant pursuant to this section only to fund educational services that have been approved by the state board pursuant to section 22-2-107.

Applications are due Friday, Sept. 2. A recording of the informational webinar for the EARRS grant program is available at this link.

For full details and to access the application materials, visit the EARSS RFA webpage.

Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Subgrant application now available

The Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Subgrant application intent to apply form is due Wednesday, Aug. 10, and applications are due Wednesday, Aug. 17.

The SRAE Grant Program was created for community-based organizations to provide out-of-school time programming that supports Colorado youth in developing and navigating healthy relationships and in making decisions that result in reduced rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Approximately $300,000 is available to award starting in October. Individual awards will range between $50,000 and $100,000 with an average award of $75,000. Eligible applicants may apply to receive three years of funding to provide standards-aligned and evidence-based Sexual Risk Avoidance Education programming that uses a Positive Youth Development framework.

Request for Applications and additional information about the grant program can be found on the Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education webpage.

Communication toolkit for assessment release

The Colorado Department of Education has created a toolkit of communications resources to help provide information about the assessments and score reports. The communications toolkit includes a FAQ about the assessments, fact sheets that explain the purpose and value of assessments, PSAT/SAT, the Colorado Growth Model and how to understand score reports. Materials will soon be translated into Spanish.

For questions and more information, contact Jeremy Meyer, director of communications, at [email protected].

Proof of completed evidence-based training in teaching reading due by Monday, Aug. 15

The deadline is approaching for Colorado’s educators who teach literacy to K-3 students to submit proof that they completed their evidence-based training in teaching reading.

Teachers should submit their documentation by Monday, Aug. 15.

Licensed teachers should use the Colorado Online Licensing system and non-licensed educators should submit a request form to initiate their submission process.

The 2022-23 READ Act Teacher Training Completion collection in Data Pipeline is open. The deadline to have files submitted to Data Pipeline is Wednesday, Aug. 31. View the READ Data Collection webpage for additional information.

View the K-3 Teacher Evidence-based Reading Training Requirements webpage for additional information.

2022 Clean School Bus Rebates – Prioritized School Districts

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allows EPA to prioritize certain applicants in the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program. Applicants requesting funds to replace school buses that serve a school district that meets one or more of the following prioritization criteria below will be offered more funding per bus and receive preference in the selection process in the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates.

Learn More Here

New Guidance Helps Schools Support Students with Disabilities and Avoid Discriminatory Use of Discipline

New guidance released today from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) helps public elementary and secondary schools fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline.

These newly released resources are the most comprehensive guidance on the civil rights of students with disabilities concerning student discipline and build on the Department’s continued efforts to support students and schools through pandemic recovery.

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