Register for the 2023 Spring Parents Encouraging Parents conference

by: Bryce Reedy

Apr

12

Registration is open for the Spring 2023 Parents Encouraging Parents conference. This year's conference will be held in Grand Junction Thursday, April 27, through Saturday, April 29.

PEP conferences are designed to promote family and school partnerships to support students with disabilities and their families in schools and the community. PEP brings families and professionals together by sharing ideas, discussing concerns, celebrating successes and obtaining information related to parenting, educating and partnering to support student learning.

To learn more about PEP visit the Parents Encouraging Parents webpage.

Unified Improvement Planning template roll over is Friday

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

12

The Unified Improvement Planning template will roll over on Friday, April 14, changing from the 2022-23 template to the 2023-24 template. Once the template rolls over, school users will only have edit access to the UIP template for 2023-24. Previous years' UIPs and feedback will be view-only. District users can still access, edit and post 2022-23 UIPs if needed.

View the UIP Online System webpage for additional information.

2023-24 Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Program Intent to Participate due Monday, May 1

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

The Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Program Intent to Participate is due Monday, May 1. The submission is a two-step process. Once the ITP is submitted, a Syncplicity folder with a spreadsheet to collect student-level data will be shared with the submitter.

Click Here for Additional Information.

Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Symposium in eastern Colorado on Monday, April 24

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

The Office of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness is hosting a symposium in Byers, Colo., on Monday, April 24.

Panel discussions and small group conversations will cover career development, individual career and academic planning and graduation guidelines that help students build postsecondary and workforce readiness.

RSVP for the symposium using this Google form.

Become an exhibitor or sponsor for the 25th Annual Celebration of Educational Excellence event

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

The Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Higher Education seek exhibitors and sponsors for the 25th Annual Celebration of Educational Excellence. Register to sponsor or attend the event by Wednesday, May 31.

CDHS and CDHE are partnering with community organizations to recognize young people involved in foster care or youth services who have graduated from high school, received a GED or obtained a college degree this year. The event will begin with the Pathways to Success Education, Employment and Resource Fair at 4 p.m. and conclude with a celebration dinner at 5 p.m.

Clean Air for Schools program

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

Applications for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Clean Air for Schools program are due by Sunday, April 30.

The program is open to all public, private, charter, parochial, facility and Tribal K-12 schools.

CDPHE is partnering with Carrier West to distribute the air filters to schools. To learn more about the program visit CDPHE's Clear Air for Schools FAQ webpage.

Email any questions about the program to the CDPHE Clean Air for Schools team at [email protected].

Upcoming Regional Network Meetings and Consolidated Application Work Sessions

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

The Federal Programs and Supports Unit is hosting spring Regional Network Meetings to support local education agencies in completing the 2023-24 Consolidated Application for ESEA Funds. LEAs are welcome to attend any session, regardless of region. Anyone who works on the consolidated application is welcome to attend.

The virtual RNM on Wednesday, April 19, will provide an overview of the application functionality and highlight changes from the previous year's application.
In-person regional work sessions in April and May will provide an opportunity for LEAs to workshop their applications with the support of ESEA specialists.
Office hours Q&A in May will focus on answering questions related to the consolidated application.

Register for an RNM on the ESEA Regional Networking Meetings webpage.

Teacher Retention focus groups

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

CDE and the Colorado Department of Higher Education have partnered with the Regional Educational Laboratory, or REL Central, to conduct virtual focus groups in spring 2023 in an effort to improve teacher retention. Focus groups will discuss why teachers chose the profession, what encourages them to continue teaching and what prompts them to change careers.

All teachers are invited to join the focus groups, especially our BIPOC educators. Feel free to forward this invitation to those interested.

Complete this form to express interest in participation.

Upcoming Information Sessions: Educator Evaluations for the 2023-24 school year

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

Beginning in mid-April, the Educator Effectiveness Office will offer 60 minute information sessions to provide an overview of the updates to the 2023-24 educator evaluations.

To register for an upcoming session, complete this form. The virtual sessions will be open to all interested participants. Note that space will be limited so to accommodate as many attendees as possible only register for one session.

Contact [email protected] with any questions.

2023-24 Early Literacy Assessment Tool Project application due Friday, April 28.

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

Applications from both new and renewal applicants for the 2023-24 Early Literacy Assessment Tool Project are due Friday, April 28.

The intent of the ELAT Project is to support state purchase of software that would provide individualized assessments with immediate results, store and analyze those results and recommend activities based on those results.

By participating in the ELAT Project, applicants will be supplied with the online tool mCLASS to support DIBELS 8th Edition and Lectura, approved interim assessments for the READ Act. All approved applicants will receive software licenses to use the assessments.

Application materials and information, including a recording of the application information webinar, are available on the ELAT webpage.

Early Childhood Leadership Commission April town hall

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission will host a virtual town hall at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, to provide updates about the Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program implementation and opportunities to get involved. Join via Zoom to hear from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and the Governor's Early Childhood Transition Team. Spanish language interpretation will be available.

Grant-funded Learning Cohorts for 2023-24 school year

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Apr

05

CDE will host the following grant-funded learning cohorts for the 2023-24 school year:

Unfinished Math Instruction Learning Cohort (Elementary Math)
Chronic Absenteeism Learning Cohort (Secondary)

Learning cohorts meet for three to six sessions for participants to share and observe practices and discuss strategies for implementation. Grant funding, up to $20,000, is available. Depending on the cohort, sessions will be on Zoom and/or in-person and include additional opportunities for professional learning.

Applications for grant-funded cohorts are due Friday, April 14.

View the Learning Cohort webpage to apply and access specific information on each cohort.

Southern Colorado Education Job Fair

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

University of Colorado Colorado Springs is hosting the Southern Colorado Education Job Fair for employers and candidates on Friday, April 7. The event will take place on the UCCS campus in the Gallogly Events Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Districts from across southern Colorado are hiring for a wide variety of positions, including licensed teacher, para-professional, bus driver, school counselor, secretary, school psychologist, nurse and special education teacher roles. Candidates may register for the job fair on the UCCS College of Education website.

Technical Advisory Panel for Longitudinal Student Growth will meet Thursday, March 30

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

The Technical Advisory Panel for Longitudinal Student Growth will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 via Zoom.

The public meeting agenda will focus on new postsecondary and workforce readiness measures, high school on-track growth and other accountability related topics.

Visit the Technical Advisory Panel for Longitudinal Growth webpage for additional information.

Early childhood education transition survey

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

The Department of Early Childhood has partnered with the National P-3 Center at the University of Colorado to conduct a survey on the transition between the early care education system and the K-12 education system. Stakeholders are asked to fill out the survey by Friday, April 7. Information gathered through the survey will be used to develop the tools necessary for the implementation of the "Transitions to Kindergarten in Colorado: A Roadmap."

Funded by the state’s Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative, this work will culminate in an Early Childhood Transition Summit in October 2023. Additional opportunities to participate in this work, including the summit, are outlined in the survey.

More information can be found on CDEC’s website.

Proposals for November’s Equity and Excellence conference due May 1

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

Proposals for break out sessions at the Equity and Excellence Conference are due Monday, May 1. Submit proposals to present 60-minute breakout sessions using this Google form.

The Equity and Excellence Conference is a free event for all Colorado educators and leaders to attend and share ideas, strategies and plans on how to improve instruction in Colorado. The 2023 Equity and Excellence Conference, titled “Strengthening and Expanding Practices: All Students and All Educators Emerging Stronger,” will be Nov. 1-2 at the Denver Hilton Inverness. Additional information available on the Equity and Excellence webpage.

Contact [email protected] for questions about the conference.

Help students “get their piece of the pie” with FAFSA and CAFSA

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is encouraging students to get their piece of the financial aid pie by filling out the FAFSA and CAFSA. FAFSA is a student's ticket to scholarships, grants, work study and other financial aid that can put higher education dreams in reach. This year, Colorado has set a goal of reaching 52% completion.

Below are some ways to promote CAFSA and FAFSA:

Share this letter signed by CDE and CDHE with students to encourage them to complete the FAFSA.
Check your school’s FAFSA completion rate with CDHE's FAFSA Completion Tool. For questions about the tool, email [email protected].
Watch the CDHE FAFSA Myth Busters series with Executive Director, Dr. Angie Paccione.
Host a FAFSA night in your community. Check out this toolkit from the U.S. Department of Education for templates, tools, sample programming and more.

Visit CDHE's FAFSA webpage for additional information.

Comprehensive Health Education funding opportunity

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

Intent to apply forms for The Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Grant are due Friday, March 31.

Applications are due Thursday, April 27.

The Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Act provides approximately $300,000 for the 2023-24 school year with up to four years of funding. Local Education Providers are eligible to apply for up to $30,000 per year to develop and implement local comprehensive health education programs in grades PK-12.

For more information, visit the Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Grant Application 2023 webpage.

Educator financial aid training available

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

The Colorado Department of Higher Education and CDE will facilitate the first Educator Financial Aid Training for the Denver Metro region on Monday, June 5, at the Community College of Aurora. To register, complete the form here.

This one-day training is designed for K-12 school counselors, advisors, educators and any who are involved with the FAFSA/CASFA processes at their school, organization or agency, and will include updates and changes on the FAFSA, an overview of CASFA, ICAP, the FAFSA Completion Portal, My Colorado Journey and more. Additional training sessions will be available for other regions.

Participants who complete the training will be eligible to receive a $500 stipend as part of House Bill 22-1366 Improving Students’ Postsecondary Options.

Questions can be emailed to My Colorado Journey at [email protected].

Clean Air for Schools enrollment deadline extended

by: Bryce Reedy

Category: Newsletter

Mar

29

The enrollment deadline for the Clean Air for Schools program has been extended to the end of April. Schools should apply as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery of the air cleaners. All public, private, charter, parochial, facility and Tribal K-12 schools in Colorado can apply for the program.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Clean Air for Schools program provides free HEPA filter portable air cleaners to all schools across Colorado. In addition to providing HEPA portable air cleaners, CDPHE will provide participating schools with necessary supplies for their optimum operation, including three years’ worth of replacement HEPA filters and surge protectors to ensure safe, practical set-up of the units in the classroom.

Learn more about Clean Air for Schools on CDPHE’s website.