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The following resources were provided by Education Elements.

Resources for School Communities in Times of Crisis

We are saddened and concerned by the recent events at the Capitol. And, we know that many educators have to carry the additional responsibility of having to address these events immediately with your students, with your colleagues, and are looking for ways to process these events yourselves. 

This year has been anything but normal.

Attention Teachers: Sign-up for the Colorado Literacy Project

Farmers and ranchers visit classrooms and read a book about agriculture! This is a FREE program.

Public comment open for READ Act rules

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act was passed by the Colorado legislature in 2012, giving the state the guiding philosophy, structure and resources children need in order to read at grade level by fourth grade. After six years of implementation, schools and districts were not seeing the dramatic improvements in reading levels envisioned by state leaders. This led to updates in the READ Act through the passage of Senate Bill 19-199.

The State Board of Education has noticed a rulemaking process for Rules for the Administration of the Colorado READ Act. Updates to the rules will incorporate legislative changes that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 sessions. Rulemaking hearings are scheduled for the January and February board meetings. A copy of the rules can be found on Board Docs (PDF).

The State Board of Education is accepting public comments on the noticed rules. Those interested in submitting feedback can do so by emailing [email protected].

For more information, visit the 2019-20 READ Act Rule Changes webpage.

For More Information, Contact:
Floyd Cobb
Teaching and Learning
Phone: 303-866-6868
Email: [email protected]

Memo from NSBA on FCC rulemaking and the E-Rate program

Overview

The FCC announced rulemaking that impacts the E-Rate program. The National School Boards Association (NSBA) encourages the state associations and district board members to file comments or reply comments to the FCC opposing a rule to place a cap on the Universal Service Fund which would negatively impact E-Rate and high-speed broadband access to schools and libraries. Instructions on how to submit comments and/or reply comments are included in a separate document. Comments are due by July 29, 2019 with the reply comment deadline of August 26, 2019. 

What is E-Rate and How Does It Operate

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) manages the schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known as the E-Rate program. It is one of four programs of the Universal Service Fund (USF), which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company under the direction of the FCC. The four programs under USF include 1) Connect America Fund (formerly known as High-Cost Support) for rural areas; 2) Lifeline for low-income consumers, including initiatives to expand service to residents of Tribal lands; 3) E-rate for schools and libraries; and, 4) Rural Health Care. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives the definition of universal service today as including rural health care providers and education related services through schools and libraries. High-speed broadband access to connect with the Internet is one of the focuses of the various programs. See https://www.fcc.gov/general/universal-service-fund Accessed July, 12, 2019.