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New request form to change user access in the Unified Improvement Planning Online System

A new request form is now available for Local Access Managers to request any of the following changes in the Unified Improvement Planning Online System:

  • Move a school admin/user to a new school within the district.
  • Change a school admin/user to a district admin/user or accountability contact role.
  • Change a district admin/user or accountability contact to a school user/admin role.

Prior to submitting this form, LAMs must also action any changes in the IdM Access Management portal.

New improvement planning case study resources

CDE conducted a case study with University Prep, a Denver-area public charter network, to follow the implementation of an Acceleration Plan after the educational disruptions of Spring 2020 and the 2020-21 school year. New resources related to the case study and general improvement planning practices are now available on the case study’s webpage, including:

  • Annotated Version of an Acceleration Plan.
  • High-Level Progress Monitoring Plan.
  • Protocol for Developing a Multi-Year Improvement Plan.

Using your 2022 TLCC Data Webinar

Join CDE staff at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, to discuss tools for leveraging 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 your peers. Visit the TLCC website to access your data if your school or district has met reporting thresholds.

Register for the webinar via Zoom.

Stakeholder feedback requested

The Preschool through Third Grade Office seeks feedback on the "Exiting a READ Plan" guidance document. Stakeholders may provide feedback via the Smartsheet form found on the CDE "READ Act Stakeholder Feedback" webpage.

The feedback window is open through Thursday, July 28.

Complete evidence-based training in teaching reading by Monday, Aug. 1

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 must complete the training by Monday, Aug. 1, and must 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.

Introducing the Colorado Department of Early Childhood

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood, the state’s newest and first agency to be devoted solely to the well-being of Colorado’s youngest children and their families, has launched. CDEC is made up of a dedicated team of early childhood professionals led by Dr. Lisa Roy.

A new website is up and running and the current Office of Early Childhood website will be retired. The website will continue to grow and improve in the coming weeks and months. Keep up to date with CDEC and the 2023 launch of the Colorado Universal Preschool Program on  TwitterFacebook and LinkedIn.

Sign up for the CDEC newsletter to receive regular updates.

K-3 teacher evidence-based reading training deadline is Aug. 1

All kindergarten through third-grade educators who teach reading and literacy skills in Colorado must complete their evidence-based reading training requirements by Monday, Aug. 1. Documentation that they complied with the K-3 evidence-based reading training requirements should be submitted by Monday, Aug. 15.

CDE offers a free self-guided training to all K-3 educators.

Learn about the requirements to complete this training and the completion options available for K-3 teachers on the teacher training webpage.

The 2022-23 READ Act Teacher Training Completion collection in Data Pipeline opens on Monday, Aug. 1. The deadline to have files submitted to Data Pipeline is Wednesday, Aug. 31. View the READ Data Collection webpage for additional information.

Stories of Promising Practice: Mesa 51 Turnaround Success

In an effort to showcase quality education work being done around the state, the Colorado Department of Education collects stories of success in districts and schools around Colorado with videos and narratives. Mesa County Valley School District 51's turnaround success is the latest project featured in CDE's Stories of Promising Practice. Mesa 51 has received an Empowering Action for School Improvement grant and joined CDE's turnaround network with documented success. Find out more about the project on the Stories of Promising Practice webpage.

ESSER Stakeholder Engagement - Expanded Learning Opportunities

CDE seeks feedback and insights from stakeholders on using federal funds to expand learning opportunities for Colorado students. Share what is working and what additional supports are necessary to accelerate, enrich and strengthen student learning and engagement as students, teachers and schools recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Expanded Learning Opportunities are programs and initiatives that offer students the opportunity to accelerate, enrich or strengthen engagement in their learning beyond their normal school program. Examples include but are not limited to: before and after school programs, 5th Day Academies, Summer Programs, Extended school days and High-Impact or High Dosage Tutoring.

The goals of these conversations are to:

  1. Understand what is working in the realm of ELOs in Colorado.
  2. Explore potential barriers to success.
  3. Identify potential supports for expanding success of ELO programs.

View the ESSER Stakeholder Engagement, Expanded Learning Opportunities flyer for more information and to sign up for a feedback session.

ESSER Stakeholder Engagement - Expanded Learning Opportunities

CDE seeks feedback and insights from stakeholders on using federal funds to expand learning opportunities for Colorado students. Share what is working and what additional supports are necessary to accelerate, enrich and strengthen student learning and engagement as students, teachers and schools recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Expanded Learning Opportunities are programs and initiatives that offer students the opportunity to accelerate, enrich or strengthen engagement in their learning beyond their normal school program. Examples include but are not limited to: before and after school programs, 5th Day Academies, Summer Programs, Extended school days and High-Impact or High Dosage Tutoring.

The goals of these conversations are to:

  1. Understand what is working in the realm of ELOs in Colorado.
  2. Explore potential barriers to success.
  3. Identify potential supports for expanding success of ELO programs.

View the ESSER Stakeholder Engagement, Expanded Learning Opportunities flyer for more information and to sign up for a feedback session.

Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education subgrant application available

The Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education subgrant program was created for Community-Based Organizations to apply for funding 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.

Approximately $300,000 is available to award in the first year of this subgrant starting in October 2022. 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 programs.
Intention to apply is due Wednesday, Aug. 10. Applications are due Wednesday, Aug. 17.

More information on the program and grant requirements can be found on the Title V webpage.

Colorado announces the school meal eligibility policy for School Year 2022-23

The free and reduced-price school meals public release was published by CDE’s School Nutrition Unit on behalf of all sponsors that will operate the National School Lunch Program and/or the Special Milk Program during the 2022-23 school year.

Sponsors will use the School Year 2022-23 income eligibility guidelines for determining eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals and to determine eligibility for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program. In addition, households that apply through Monday, Aug. 15, may also be eligible for summer 2022 P-EBT benefits.

To support P-EBT outreach to families, sponsors can use outreach materials highlighting the importance of providing household income information this school year. Outreach materials, including school meal applications, instructions and an informational letter to households are available for school district use on the school meal eligibility webpage.

For more information about P-EBT, visit the Colorado Department of Human Services website.

School Nutrition Legislation Update

On Friday, June 24, Congress passed the Keep Kids Fed Act S. 2089, a bipartisan bill to help mitigate the impact of the loss of the child nutrition waivers. This bill will increase reimbursement to schools and child care centers, allow for meal pattern flexibilities, support access to summer meals and streamline access to healthy meals for children in family child care.

CDE School Nutrition will share more guidance on the next steps and implementation once more information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is released. 

For questions, contact Kerri Link at [email protected] or 720-660-5499.

Update to major renovation definition

CDE has updated the threshold to define major renovation for foodservice operations when determining if it is allowable for the nonprofit food service account to cover the expense. Previously, major renovation was defined as $100,000 or 25% of building value, using the lower of the two values. Moving forward, major renovation is defined as $250,000 or 25%, using the lower of the two values.

CDE’s School Nutrition unit is in the process of updating the Capital Equipment Approval Tree to reflect this change.
For questions, contact Jenny Herman at [email protected] or 720-812-3119.

Complete evidence-based training in teaching reading by Monday, Aug. 1

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

Teachers must complete the training by Monday, Aug. 1, and should submit their documentation by Monday, Aug. 15.

Please note that the READ Act training requirement is not mandatory to maintain a teacher’s license status in any way. The benefit of adding the READ Act training designation to an educator’s license is that the proof of completion will stay on the educator’s Colorado credentials for future years as they may change grade levels, schools or districts.

View the K-3 teacher training webpage for additional information.

Early Childhood Leadership Commission Town Hall on Tuesday, July 12

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission will host monthly informational town halls beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. The town halls will provide updates about the Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program implementation process and opportunities to get involved. Join us to hear from members of the governor's Early Childhood Transition Team, state agency leaders, and other early childhood champions as we work together to ensure all children, families, and early childhood professionals are valued, healthy and thriving. Spanish language interpretation will be available.

Register HERE!

State Review panelists needed for 2022-23

Experienced educators are encouraged to apply for the State Review Panel which evaluates schools and districts at the end of the Accountability Clock, and provides recommendations to the State Board of Education on required actions when schools and districts fail to make progress. Applicants with experience and expertise in school or district turnaround, alternative education, experience as a superintendent, English language learning expertise and those who are biliterate or multiliterate, are able to read and write, in both Spanish and English are especially encouraged to apply.

All applications are due Monday, Aug. 29.

For more details and application instructions, visit the School Works website.

Request for applications for McKinney-Vento Homeless Education assistance is open

Request for Applications is open for community-based organizations who demonstrate qualifications pursuant to section 2001(b)(1) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Applicants must demonstrate a successful history of working directly with public school districts and schools statewide in at least one of the two purpose areas listed below:

  • Identify homeless children and youth through outreach and reengagement strategies statewide and provide wraparound services to reduce barriers to students attending and participating fully in school activities.
  • Direct distribution of emergency assistance and support to students and their families experiencing homelessness throughout the state to reduce barriers to students attending school and participating fully in school activities.

Applications are due Wednesday, Aug. 10.

K-3 teacher evidence-based reading training deadline is Aug. 1

All kindergarten through third-grade educators who teach reading and literacy skills in Colorado must complete their evidence-based reading training requirements by Monday, Aug. 1. Documentation that they complied with the K-3 evidence-based reading training requirements should be submitted by Monday, Aug. 15.

CDE offers a free self-guided training to all K-3 educators.

Learn about the requirements to complete this training and the completion options available for K-3 teachers on the teacher training webpage.

ACCESS for English Language Learners 2.0® 2022 growth files released

The 2022 ACCESS for ELLs 2.0® student growth detail files and individual student reports have been provided to District Accountability contacts via Syncplicity. All 2022 ACCESS growth summary data will be incorporated within the Data Explorer tool and posted to the CDE website later this summer.

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