Join us for our annual discussion of key education topics likely to surface during the upcoming legislative session. This year’s conversation will be held virtually on Zoom Webinar from noon - 1:30 MT on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Join here.
Last year, our conversation with lawmakers ranged from standardized testing and learning loss to funding for K-12 and higher education and school discipline.
CASB believes that quality public education is the foundation for our nation’s economic prosperity, community’s quality of life, and every child’s opportunity to live their best life. The following are current events and opportunities for our members:
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
On December 21, President Biden announced additional actions to protect Americans and help communities battle the COVID-19 omicron variant.
“We know a lot more today than we did back in March 2020,” the President emphasized. “For example, last year, we thought the only way to keep children safe was to close our schools. Today…we have more resources to keep those schools open. You can get 5- to 11-year-olds vaccinated -- a tool we didn’t have until last month. Today, we don’t have to shut down schools because of a case of COVID-19. Now, if a student tests positive, other students can take the test and stay in the classroom if they’re not infected, rather than closing the whole school or having to quarantine. We can keep our schools open -- and that’s exactly what we should be doing.”
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Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education (Department), that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is giving states the option of waiving the portion of the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test that requires applicants to identify the "under the hood" engine components. All other components of the written and road test will remain.
This announcement aims to alleviate some of the labor shortage challenges schools are facing and is one of many resources the Department continues to provide to safely keep schools open for full-time, in-person learning.
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
ADVOCACY
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The letter cites strategies and local examples of how recovery funds can and are helping address teacher/staff shortages to assist districts in attracting and retaining effective educators, including providing one-time initial hiring incentives and increasing compensation, building and maintaining a cadre of high-quality substitute teachers, supporting educator and staff well-being, and making investments in the educator pipeline.
2022 Future Rural Teachers Summit
DENVER – Dec. 15, 2021: The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) is now accepting applications for its Educator Loan Forgiveness Program, which will grant up to $5,000 annually to educators currently serving rural districts or teaching in hard-to-fill positions. This program is funded for five years. To qualify, teachers, administrators, and special service providers must have a license valid in the state of Colorado.
The program prioritizes applicants who serve in rural school districts or teach in content shortage areas—subjects that historically attract fewer educators. Prospective applicants can check eligibility on the CDHE website. Additional information and FAQ can be found in the program’s informational booklet.
To apply, prospective participants first fill out the interest survey. Doing so will grant them access to the online application portal where they can complete their application. Completed applications must be submitted by April 15, 2022. CDHE will notify all applicants of their program status within 60 days from the close of the application.
“As we deal with educator shortages across the state, this loan forgiveness program is particularly timely,” said Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, sponsor of the original loan-forgiveness bill in the state legislature. “Colorado teachers have demonstrated their worthiness in the face of the disheartening challenges brought on by COVID-19. This program rewards the educators who have shown their willingness to invest in our children and our communities.”
The loan forgiveness program is among several strategies CDHE and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) are pursuing to help curb the state’s educator shortage, which has hit rural districts especially hard. According to CDE’s Education Shortage Survey 2020-21, small rural districts had the highest percentage of teaching positions that remained unfilled.
For more information, visit the Educator Loan Forgiveness webpage.
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021
3:00-5:30 pm
Join with Zoom
Meeting ID: 8976129 5150
Passcode: 014029
The ECLC is required by legislation to convene a Transition Advisory Group (TAG), to learn from parents/families, members of the early childhood workforce, providers, school districts, human services leaders, Councils, and other stakeholders.
Your Digital Newsletter from The Legislative Council Staff
As 2021 nears its close, Legislative Council Staff are reflecting on another year spent doing what we do best - serving the Colorado General Assembly. The 2021 legislative session brought many new procedures as the COVID pandemic continued to challenge our normal ways of doing business. The LCS helped the legislature develop new ways for members and the public to safely participate in the legislative process. We also adopted new and more efficient ways to conduct our work too. Throughout all the changes of the past year, however, our commitment to serve the Colorado General Assembly safely and effectively remains unchanged. As you prepare for the 2022 legislative session, please know that LCS staff are available to assist with any issue.
Do you have a question for LCS? Contact LCS today by stopping by our front office in Room 048 in the State Capitol, by emailing [email protected], or calling 303.866.3521.
Families - We’re partnering with Girls With Impact to bring you scholarships for their 10-week mini-MBA program. Girls With Impact is the nation’s online live, online business, and leadership academy for young women, 14-18. We are able to offer these scholarships courtesy of Denver headquartered company, US Bank.
Winter classes start the weeks of January 10th and will fill up, so sign up today.
EDITOR’S NOTE
This is the final issue of ED Review for 2021. Publication will resume January 7, 2022. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.
FIGHTING COVID-19: WINTER PLAN
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The Colorado Academic Standards revision committees for the Arts and Social Studies have released draft recommendations for revision of the academic standards. The feedback window will be open until Jan. 1, 2022.
The State Board of Education is required to review and revise approximately one-third of the standards beginning in 2022 and an additional one-third every two years thereafter. The review and revision of all academic standards will be divided into three groups and each of the three groups will go through the following cycles:
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
ADVOCACY
