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TEACHColorado.org version 2.0

TEACH Colorado redesigned its homepage to articulate the numerous incentives for ongoing use of the TEACH Colorado platform. The new dashboard experience has customized recommendations for the most relevant content, tools and services based on individual profiles and preferences. 

For more information contact Kate Hudnut at [email protected] or 970-485-2781.

Accelerated Exam Fee Program now open

The Accelerated College Opportunity Exam Fee Grant Program provides funds to high schools to pay all or a portion of AP and IB exam fees on behalf of eligible students. Applications are due Friday, Jan. 12.

For more information contact Marina Estrada Kokotovic at  [email protected] or 303-866-6267.

New TEACH Colorado PSA

The U.S. Department of Education, TEACH.org and One Million Teachers of Color launched a new public service announcement to celebrate teachers and show the impressive skills, expertise and leadership teachers use to prepare students for success in our fast-changing world. Watch and share the PSA.

For more information contact Kate Hudnut at [email protected] or 970-485-2781.

Technical Advisory Panel: Rural representative membership opportunity

CDE seeks one rural representative to serve on the Technical Advisory Panel for Longitudinal Growth, which acts as an advisory body to CDE for the implementation of the Colorado Growth Model and the Educational Accountability Act.

TAP members are appointed by the commissioner to serve three-year terms without compensation. Applicants must represent a rural community in Colorado and demonstrate expertise with educational assessment, growth, research and/or accountability.

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Final week for feedback on the Colorado Academic Accelerator Grant Program

CDE seeks stakeholders’ feedback to help develop the new Colorado Academic Accelerator Program grant (“Math In Pre-kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade”).

This competitive grant program is designed to create community learning centers that:

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READ Act Instructional Programming Review volunteer reviewers needed

CDE's Elementary Literacy and School Readiness Office seeks volunteer reviewers to apply to review Instructional Programming in English and Spanish aligned to the READ Act. Initial reviews will be conducted virtually on multiple days in January. The volunteer reviewer application will close Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Visit the 2021-22 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Process webpage for additional information.

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CLDE Speaker Series

Are you interested in how CCSD's co-teaching program has evolved over the past 16 years to benefit students, teachers, schools, and the district? Learn the benefits of a Co-Teaching Program with Dr. Holly Porter at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Register here.

See a flyer for the event here.

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Data privacy guidelines updated for Student End of Year

Data Privacy Guidelines for education statistics based upon the Student End of Year collection have been published. This includes graduation/completion rates, dropout rates, and mobility/stability rates.

For questions about the updated data privacy guidelines contact Reagan Ward at [email protected].

Lessons available about the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado

The Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and the Office of Standards and Instructional Support, in collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Colorado educators, have developed lessons for kindergarten and first grade to support teaching about the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado.

To access Nuchiu Strong: A Colorado Resource Guide, visit the CLDE’s American Indian Education homepage. For more information, contact Georgina Owen at [email protected]

Student chefs needed for One Plate Challenge

Colorado School Nutrition Association seeks student teams for the fifth episode of the One Plate Challenge, a filmed mystery basket cooking competition. Student teams are critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges and compete for glory and prizes. Team applications are due Friday, Nov. 10.

The competition will be Friday, Feb. 15, at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus and will be aired at the CSNA Summer Conference and on social media. Find more information and a promotional flyer to share with students.  

For more information, contact Shannon Murray at [email protected]

Thompson School District teacher named 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year

Jessica May, who teaches family and consumer sciences at Turner Middle School in the Thompson School District, was named the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year at a surprise ceremony last Friday at her Berthoud school.

May was one of seven finalists for the award that is given out every year to recognize an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled K-12 teacher to serve as a voice for the state's teachers. The Teacher of the Year is entered into the National Teacher of the Year contest and gets to visit the White House for a special celebration in the spring and gets to participate in NASA's Space Camp in the summer. Every year, Colorado teachers are nominated and must apply for the honor. 

For more information about the Teacher of the Year Award, visit CDE's webpage.  

Follow this link for the press release about Ms. May's award. 

Colorado Computer Science Teacher Education Grant is open

Applications are open for the next round of Computer Science Teacher Education Grants, a program for postsecondary education of eligible teachers. Intent to Apply (encouraged, but not required) is due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10. Completed applications must be submitted through the new online application system, GAINS, by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. 

View a webinar training session about the grant application that was held on Oct. 25.

For more information, contact Pam Lewis at [email protected] or call 720-576-4622. View this page to learn more information about the 2023-24 CSed Grants

Celebrate Family and School Partnership in Education Month

November is Family and School Partnership in Education Month, and the State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education and CDE are launching a social media campaign promote the importance of family, school and community partnerships.

Throughout the month, we encourage schools, families, students and our community partners to share examples of how they collaborate. Use #PartnerInEd #FSCPMonth2023 and connect with CDE social media to help spread the word. Follow this link for the FSCP Month Communications Toolkit.

For more information, contact Darcy Hutchins at [email protected].

CSCC funding and eligibility report is overdue

All charter schools eligible to receive Charter School Capital Construction funding are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction Report on an annual basis. This online report was due by Oct. 31 but schools may still send in their report, which helps CDE determine your eligibility and funding levels for the next fiscal year. Use this link to submit your report.

For more information, contact Brandon LaChance at [email protected].

UIP Public Posting and Access

Thank you to districts for submitting UIPs for the Oct. 16 deadline. See the publicly posted plans here. Note, publicly posted UIP’s can be updated at any time, by district users re-submitting for public posting.

For questions, contact Erin Loften at [email protected].

Request for Application for the Colorado Academic Accelerator Program opens Dec. 15

The Request for Application for the Colorado Academic Accelerator Program grant opens Friday, Dec. 15 with applications due by Thursday, Feb. 15. 

This competitive grant program is designed to create community learning centers that provide opportunities for academic enrichment and support activities during non-school hours, periods when school is not in session, or during extended learning hours, including tutorial services; and offer families opportunities for engagement in their student's education, including opportunities for mathematics literacy and related educational development.

Eligible entities are selected for a grant that runs for a period of three years. CDE will prioritize applicants that:

  • Adopt intervention strategies;
  • Use evidence-informed programs that build student skills in STEM and mathematics;
  • Use digital math accelerator programs;
  • Serve high-needs students, as determined by the department;
  • Have an established presence and relationship in the community;
  • Have demonstrated in the application how the eligible entity will meet the needs of diverse student populations.
CDE will award approximately $24 Million over a three-year span. This month, CDE will engage stakeholders to elevate student, family and stakeholder voice. Check for updates on the Academic Accelerator Grant page.

For more information or questions, contact Jozette Martinez at [email protected].

GAINS office hours to support pilot grants

The Grants Program Administration team will host weekly office hours on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. to support LEAs/LEPs on the access and use of the new Grants Administration Implementation and Navigation System (GAINS) in submitting applications for the two pilot grants in the system, the Computer Science Grant and the Colorado Charter School Program Grant.

Both grants are due in November, and these office hours are highly recommended for all applicants wanting additional technical assistance for GAINS. Registration link can be found on the GAINS training webpage. 

For more information contact Jess Hollingshead at [email protected].

Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado survey launches Jan. 24

The 2024 Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado survey is an anonymous online survey of all school-based educators, building leaders, special service providers and education support professionals that will launch on Jan. 24.

The survey promotes discussions in schools and districts about instruction, planning time, professional development, school improvement and related policy issues. CDE will send headcount numbers based upon data from the 2022-23 Human Resources Collection to accountability contacts and human resource contacts. These count estimates will help determine the number of codes to send each school for staff to access the survey. Districts must confirm the numbers by Friday, Dec. 1.

Schools and districts must have at least 50% participation to view their own data. Inaccurate counts could result in an interference with schools getting their TLCC survey data back.

For more information, contact Lisa Steffen at [email protected].

Charter School Capital Construction Eligibility Report Due Oct. 31

All charter schools eligible to receive Charter School Capital Construction funding are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction Report (CSCC-01) on an annual basis. This online report is due by Tuesday, Oct. 31, to help CDE determine eligibility and funding levels for the next fiscal year.

Click here for more information.

2023-24 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Open

The 2023-24 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Process is open. During each review cycle, providers have the opportunity to apply to be added to the list. The review is a two-part process for vendors to submit core, supplemental and intervention instructional programs to be reviewed for inclusion on CDE's READ Act Advisory List. The Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply opened Oct. 16 and will close Friday, Nov. 3. For questions, contact [email protected].