As next school year gets closer and the financial future of sponsors’ nonprofit food service accounts remains uncertain, CDE’s School Nutrition Unit asks that districts consider the following when budgeting for next school year:

• Lower reimbursement rates are anticipated under the traditional operations of the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program in School Year 2022-23. Student meals will also be reimbursed based on free, reduced-price, or paid eligibility status.
• Continued unpredictability with the supply chain could result in additional price increases on food and supplies. Districts are encouraged to check base-year contracts with food vendors to determine if price escalation language is included. It is also recommended to include price escalation language in any new solicitation released for next school year.
• It is allowable for surplus funds in the nonprofit food service account to be held as a safeguard for the next school year. Surplus funds cannot be used to:
  • pay back the general fund for previous transfers
  • cover unpaid meal charges/delinquent debt
  • cover student paid meals
  • cover adult/teacher meals

For resources and training, visit the financial management webpage. For financial questions, contact Lyza Shaw at [email protected]. For procurement questions, contact Jenny Herman at [email protected].

A rural principal is needed to serve a two-year term on the Dyslexia Working Group.

The working group was established in the 2019 legislative session by the Colorado General Assembly through House Bill 19-1134. The legislation directs the Commissioner of Education to convene a Dyslexia Working Group to improve the identification of and educational support for students with dyslexia to improve their educational outcomes.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 1.

Visit the Dyslexia Working Group webpage for additional information and to submit an application.

Applications for the 2022-25 Educational Stability Grant must be completed via the online application by Wednesday, May 4. The purpose of this funding is to address reducing educational barriers for students who experience high mobility by providing academic and social-emotional services and supports to highly mobile students.

Visit the Educational Stability Grant webpage for more information on how to apply for the grant.

The Office of Facility Schools is seeking applicants for three open seats on the Facility Schools Board. The three open seats represent:

• One person who represents school districts within Colorado and has expertise in special education
• One person who represents facilities within Colorado
• One person who represents students who receive educational services provided by an approved facility school in Colorado. This member may be a person who, as a child, received educational services provided by an approved facility school. This member may also be a parent of a student who is receiving (or formerly received) education services provided by an approved facility school.

The term of membership is three years. The board meets monthly. Members serve without compensation, except for reasonable reimbursement of expenses. Applications for the Facility Schools Board are due Tuesday, May 3. Applications can be emailed to Judy Stirman.

This summer, teachers, and leaders are invited to attend Teaching and Learning CoLabs, a new kind of free event that brings together stakeholders from districts, higher education, professional teaching, and other organizations, and the Colorado Department of Education. The dates and host sites for this summer's CoLabs are:

• Thursday, June 2, hosted by Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction
• Wednesday, June 8, hosted by the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley
• Tuesday, June 21, hosted by CSU-Pueblo in Pueblo

Schools are encouraged to attend in teams, with teachers representing multiple grades and content areas. Focus content areas will include English language arts, health, and physical education, mathematics, science, and computer science. Leadership sessions will be provided for principals and other school leaders. For more information, see the Teaching and Learning CoLabs website.

Those who want to attend are asked to complete this interest form.