BLOG

Student Re-engagement Grant Cohort 3 request for applications due Feb. 16

The Student Re-engagement Grant Cohort 3 is accepting new grant applications through Wednesday, Feb. 16. Colorado’s Student Re-engagement Grant provides educational services and supports to local education providers to maintain student engagement and facilitate student re-engagement at the secondary level. The grant, authorized by C.R.S. 22-14-109, is managed by the Office of Student Engagement and Dropout Prevention.

Funding for this three-year grant is awarded through a competitive process and is based on state appropriations. In each fiscal year, $1.9 million is distributed to grantees. The grant program focuses on LEAs serving sixth to 12th-grade students.

Visit the Student Re-engagement Grant Cohort 3 RFA webpage for more information.

K-3 teacher evidence-based reading training requirements

All kindergarten through third-grade teachers in Colorado should submit documentation of compliance with the K-3 evidence-based reading training requirements by Aug. 1. Teachers are asked to 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. 

Review Panel Application: Pre-K to kindergarten assessment alignment

CDE's Preschool through Third Grade Office (P-3) and the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) in the Colorado Department of Human Services have initiated efforts to conduct research on Pre-K and Kindergarten School Readiness assessments used in Colorado to understand alignment and coherence needs.

Marzano Research is working in partnership with the OEC and P-3 staff to conduct activities in support of this project.

Currently, the P-3 and OEC Offices are seeking volunteers to take part in the process of reviewing Colorado Kindergarten Readiness Assessments and end of Pre-K standards. Selected applicants will form review panels in the areas of language and literacy, math, physical health and development, social-emotional development, and approaches to learning. Each panel will also include a national expert in the content area of the panel domain. Panelists will commit to attending three virtual review meetings and some independent reviews to take place between February and May for up to 16 total hours of time. Meetings will be scheduled based on panelist availability to maximize attendance.

Panel positions are limited. Complete the application as soon as possible. All applicants will be notified of their application status by early February.

Access the PDG PK-K Assessment Alignment Reviewer Application.

School code change request process

Districts/LEAs requesting a new school code, school name change, school grade change, and/or are seeking to close a school must submit the application, including the superintendent/executive director's signature, on or before June 30 for the 2022-23 school year.

The benefits of submitting on or before June 30:

  • Your on-time change requests will be incorporated into the school and district performance frameworks; thus the school characteristics for districts will not need to rely on the previous year’s characteristics.
  • For those using the Colorado Performance Management System (RANDA), submitting school code change requests early ensures the school code will be available for use in the performance management system. This is beneficial as it provides the opportunity to make adjustments in the system prior to the start of the evaluation cycle.
  • You will ensure that induction programs are attached to the appropriate school code.
  • Time to complete the online certification application, a late request would miss the deadline for the online certification application.

We cannot guarantee that your request will be approved if submitted after June 30 deadline.

Visit the Year-Round Collections – Directory webpage for more information.

Submit Annual Four-Day School Week Application by May 11

School districts operating a four-day school week (less than 160 scheduled days per school year) must submit a request for approval.

To be considered for the 2022-23 school year, districts must complete the application via the Directory in Data Pipeline by Wednesday, May 11. Districts requesting approval are not obligated to follow their proposed calendar if their local planning is not finalized.

In addition to submitting the four-day application through Data Pipeline, districts Accredited with Priority Improvement Plan or Accredited with Turnaround Plan that are submitting a district-wide application for all schools within the district to be on a four-day school week must submit the following additional information separately to Jhon Penn, executive director of Field Services, at [email protected]:

  • A copy of their respective school calendars.
  • Building class schedules.
  • Assembly schedules.
  • Bell schedule including lunchtime interval.
  • Professional development calendar.

CDE will review the additional materials for the use and prioritization of instructional time. The executive director of field services and the associate commissioner of school quality and support must recommend approval of the application before it is forwarded to the commissioner for consideration.

Visit the Year-Round Collections – Directory webpage for more information.

Air Quality Improvement Grant Opportunity -- Due Jan. 31

This is the final week for CDE to accept second round applications for the acquisition, repair, maintenance, or upgrading of portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fans or filtration systems for classrooms made on or after Friday, April 1. The application closes on Monday, Jan. 31, and funds must be expended and reimbursed by June 30.

Note: Only one application per district or authorizer should be submitted. Charters, individual district schools, and facility schools must submit an application through their district or authorizer. Individual school applications will not be accepted.

Visit the Air Quality Improvement Grants webpage for more information.

Join Colorado Broadband Office for a Capital Projects Listening Session

Colorado is receiving $171M in State Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The Colorado Broadband Office will provide a brief update on the eligible uses and timeline of these funds and then open each session with some guided questions to hear your feedback on the needs of your community. Register ahead of time at the provided link. 

Everyone is welcome to participate (ISP, community members, COGs, Rural Electric, Community Anchor Institutions, Utilities, Non-profits,etc) 

Read More

Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Hosts Second Annual Virtual National Career Fair Feb. 11-12, 2022

School districts and education companies from across the country will be on hand to meet with potential new hires

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 20, 2022) – In order to help organizations that are affected by ongoing staff shortages and individuals who are looking to enter the education field, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) is hosting a virtual National Career Fair from 1 - 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 11 and Feb.12, 2022. School districts and education companies from across the country will be at the online event to recruit for a wide variety of jobs, including teachers, school counselors, school and district superintendents, and other education positions, as well as for company jobs such as education consultants. The event includes workshops for job seekers with interview tips, resume feedback, and mock interviews. For school districts and companies, it offers an opportunity to make connections with the ALAS network to support diversity within staff.

Read More

CoMath Conversation: Acceleration, Pathways, and Tracking in Middle School Math

What are the latest debates and best practices for acceleration in middle school mathematics? Should students be skipping a grade? Who should take Algebra 1 as an eighth-grader? Who is helped and who is harmed by some of these practices? For the January CoMath Conversation, attendees will have the chance to share what they are doing in their schools. Because this tends to be such a lively conversation, we'll save discussion of high school for a future CoMath Conversation. To join, register via Zoom.

LEPs may apply for the Fund My Future Grant

The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) program has launched the new Fund My Future Grant, which will award up to $1.5 million in grants to LEPs for student aid completion programs. This grant focuses on increasing student aid application completion (FAFSA/CASFA) among high school seniors in Colorado. COSI is seeking proposals from local education providers interested in receiving funds to help implement programming and student services with the goal of having all high school seniors complete an application for student aid before graduation.

Some highlights of this opportunity include:

  • Successful proposals must require students to complete the FAFSA/CASFA before graduation unless the requirement is waived under conditions approved by the LEP.
  • Funds will be disbursed to:
    • Support strategies to increase awareness and completion of FAFSA/CASFA, or;
    • Hire staff to focus on student aid applications in addition to general college-going support to increase postsecondary access.
  • Grants begin July 1 (or earlier depending on the application period and program structure), and funds will be available for use through June 30, 2026. Grant terms may vary depending on the award.

More information on the timeline as well as application materials and support can be found on the COSI website. An informational webinar will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. Use this Zoom link to access the meeting.

Rural principal needed to serve two-year term on the Dyslexia Working Group

The application process is open for a rural principal to serve 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 through Tuesday, Feb. 15. Visit the Dyslexia Working Group's webpage for more information.

Student Re-engagement Grant Cohort 3 request for applications due Feb. 16

The Student Re-engagement Grant Cohort 3 is accepting new grant applications. The Request for Applications is due Wednesday, Feb. 16. Colorado’s Student Re-engagement Grant provides educational services and supports to local education providers to maintain student engagement and facilitate student re-engagement at the secondary level. The grant, authorized by state statute C.R.S. 22-14-109, is managed by the Office of Student Engagement and Dropout Prevention.

Funding for this three-year grant is awarded through a competitive grant process and is based on state appropriations. In each fiscal year, $1.9 million is distributed to grantees. The grant program focuses on LEAs serving sixth to 12th-grade students.

Visit the Student Reengagement Grant Cohort 3 RFA webpage for more information.

Seeking reviewers for Reading Teacher/Reading Specialist Endorsement Standards Review

The Educator Preparation office will review the current reading teacher and reading specialist endorsement standards in early 2022 and seeks to establish a working group for possible revisions. The initial meeting for the stakeholder group will be held at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27. A full-day working meeting will follow on Friday, Feb. 4. Interested stakeholders must be able to commit to both of these dates and times. Meetings will be held virtually.

We’re seeking participation from a variety of stakeholders, including:

  • District/BOCES teachers, leaders (reading teachers, hiring managers, principals, instructional leads, etc.)
  • Colorado teacher preparation programs (reading faculty, program leaders, etc.)
  • CDE literacy experts
  • Community and educational literacy advocates

Interested participants must complete the interest form by Thursday, Jan. 20. Notifications will be sent out to all interested participants next week with details about the review process.

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.

Statewide Teaching and Learning Conditions in Colorado Survey launches today

Unique, anonymous, single-use codes for the Teaching and Learning Conditions in Colorado survey have been mailed and emailed out to association representatives or principals in all school buildings in Colorado. Be sure to distribute these codes to educators, special service providers, education support professionals, and school leaders. Schools and districts must have 50% participation and five responses in order to receive results. Visit www.tlccsurvey.org to track your school’s participation, access the survey, and to reach the help desk.

Applications for the Early Literacy Assessment Tool project due Jan. 31

Applications for the Early Literacy Assessment Tool project for the 2022-23 school year are due Friday, Jan. 31.

A recording of the Nov. 17 application training webinar can be accessed on the ELAT webpage.

The ELAT Project is designed to assist teachers in meeting READ Act assessment requirements. The online tool will allow teachers to obtain real-time assessments of the reading skill levels of their K-3 students. Based on assessment results, the online tool will generate intervention plans and materials to support students.

Participating local education providers will select a vendor and will be supplied with the software to use the assessments and supporting professional development opportunities. Participants will choose between:

  • Amplify for Acadience Reading (formerly named DIBELS Next) and IDEL, approved interim assessments for the READ Act, and DIBELS Deep PA/WRD diagnostic reading assessment, an approved diagnostic measure.
  • Istation for ISIP Early Reading and ISIP Lectura Temprana approved interim assessments for the READ Act.

All participating LEPs will receive software to use the assessment. Districts will be responsible for providing their own hardware.

Apply for the Early Literacy Grant – Professional Development

The 2022-23 Early Literacy Grant – Professional Development application is open and due Tuesday, March 15.

This grant opportunity supports Colorado educators in the implementation of scientific- and evidence-based reading programming and strategies for kindergarten through third-grade students. These funds are specifically intended for early literacy professional development for elementary educators. This grant opportunity is designed to support Colorado educators in the implementation of scientifically-based reading research programs and strategies for K-3 students.

Register here for an application information webinar Thursday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. 

Visit the ELG page for more information.

Review Panel Application: Pre-K to kindergarten assessment alignment

CDE and the Office of Early Childhood in the Colorado Department of Human Services are conducting research on pre-k and kindergarten school readiness assessments used in Colorado to understand alignment and coherence needs. Marzano Research is working in partnership with the OEC staff as well as CDE's Preschool Through Third Grade Office to conduct activities in support of this project.

As part of this project, the P-3 and OEC offices seek volunteers to take part in the process of reviewing Colorado Kindergarten Readiness Assessments and end of pre-k standards. Selected applicants will form review panels in the areas of language and literacy, math, physical health and development, social-emotional development, and approaches to learning. Each panel will also include a national expert in the content area of the panel domain. Panelists will commit to attending three virtual review meetings and conducting up to 16 hours of independent review between February and May. Meetings will be scheduled based on panelist availability to maximize attendance.

If interested, please complete this application. All applicants will be notified of their application status by early February.

Gov. Polis, Commissioner Anthes encourage educators and education support professionals to fill out statewide survey

DENVER -- Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Commissioner of Education Katy Anthes urge all school-based educators and support staff to complete the statewide survey of teaching and learning conditions, which will be available Wednesday, Jan. 19, and will remain open for a month.

Results from the Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado Survey provide school, district and state policymakers with reliable data on teaching and learning conditions in public schools throughout the state. The results from the anonymous survey can give leaders information on areas that deserve attention in the school environment.

Read More

Request for Public Comment on Broadband Programs in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it is requesting public comment on a wide range of policy and program considerations associated with new broadband grant programs authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program, and the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program. 

The BIL provides $65 billion to expand broadband in communities across the U.S. Of those funds, $48.2 billion is allocated to NTIA to deploy broadband to unserved and underserved locations, create more low-cost broadband service options, deploy middle mile infrastructure, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities. To fulfill the goals of the statute, NTIA is interested in input on the program design, policy issues, and implementation considerations for these new programs. Commenters are encouraged to address any or all the questions enumerated in the Request for Comment that is available here:  ntia.gov/other-publication/2022/.... Written comments may be submitted to regulations.gov by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 4, 2022. All comments submitted will be posted publicly on regulations.gov.

Read More