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Mental Health America (MHA) is now accepting applications for our 2021-2022 Young Mental Health Leaders Council (YMHLC)!

Mental Health America (MHA) is now accepting applications for our 2021-2022 Young Mental Health Leaders Council (YMHLC)!

YMHLC identifies young adults (18-25) who have created programs and initiatives that fill gaps in mental health resources in their communities. From policy to apps and peer support to sports, MHA’s young adult leaders are making a difference to meet the needs of their peers. Selected applicants participate in a six-month cohort to connect and share ideas with other leaders from across the US.

In addition to attending monthly 90-minute meetings over the six-month term, YMHLC members will:

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Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Community Stakeholder Engagement

Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Community Stakeholder Engagement

Register for an ESSER Fund Community Stakeholder Engagement Listening Session

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education need your input and perspective to ensure Colorado makes the most impactful use of federal funds the state will receive to support students, teachers and schools recovering from the interruption to our schools as a result of COVID-19.

CDE will be hosting these virtual meetings to share information about the federal funds the state will be receiving and to spend the majority of the time listening to attendees and learning from your experiences. We’ll explore questions in a variety of areas to hear directly from attendees about the pandemic’s impact on students and educators to inform the use of these one time federal funds.

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Department of Early Childhood Transition Planning

Department of Early Childhood Transition Planning

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) is tasked with approving a plan to transition to the new agency, as well as to guide the state’s new universal preschool program. As part of this transition process, the ECLC will engage a wide range of stakeholders—including parents/families, members of the early childhood workforce, providers, school districts, human services leaders, and others—to ensure recommendations are representative of the unique and diverse voices across Colorado. You can learn more about these efforts here (Spanish version here).

You’re invited to participate in this important process by completing an online interest form in English or Spanish to share the perspective you would like to bring to the Transition Advisory Group or one of its Subgroups no later than June 21, 2021. 

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Bridging the Talent Gap Survey

Help make sure employers voices are heard by getting the word out about Bridging the Talent Gap 

To ensure Colorado has a skilled and educated workforce, it is crucial that the voice and needs of employers guide the development of lasting solutions for increasing attainment and addressing local skill shortages. Due to the importance of building talent development solutions that are industry-driven and data-informed, partners in the TalentFOUND network are leading efforts to administer the Bridging the Talent Gap employer survey. The survey is designed to understand the skills gaps Colorado businesses face and identify how education and training programs can help close those gaps.

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Start Schools Stronger Summit set for June 14

Join CASB, CASE, CEA, CDE, PEBC, and the Rural Alliance for an educational summit that will allow school districts to bring together teams of administrators, teachers, and school board members for an in-person convening to learn about the latest in safety & health, mental health & social emotional learning, and accelerating learning. The event is FREE! Stay tuned for more details.

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LCS School Finance Booklet

Colorado Legislative Council Services recently published the latest edition of its school finance booklet. The booklet explains how Colorado finances its public elementary and secondary schools, with a focus on the funding formula in state law. It also describes several other statutory provisions related to school district funding, including a description of revenue earmarked for specific functions, other local sources of revenue, categorical programs, and the Colorado Preschool Program.

School Finance Booklet

CDE Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

 

 

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May Is Mental Health Month Toolkit

May Is Mental Health Month Toolkit 

Mental Health America has released its May is Mental Health Month toolkit. This year’s toolkit focuses on the Tools 2 Thrive theme to provide strategies and tools to help us all move through the challenges faced during the last year and develop practices to help us thrive. 

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 15 new local scholarship proposals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Megan McDermott, Director of Communications
Cell: 720-394-3205, [email protected]
 
Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 15 new local scholarship proposals
DENVER – April 13, 2021:  The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved 15 proposals that will provide more than $1.1 million in scholarships for Colorado students.   
 
The COSI board awarded $1,147,242 to match locally-raised scholarship dollars one-to-one during the second round of awards for 2020-2021. This funding will support more than 720 students across the state.
 
The scholarships are multi-year awards ranging from $1,000 to $12,000, depending on the program and financial need, and most students will receive the scholarship for two to four years. 
 
The 15 awards represent 13 counties ($1,002,132) and two institutions of higher education ($145,110).
 
County-based awards:
  • Colorado Mesa University Foundation on behalf of Mesa County, $138,759
  • Colorado Mesa University Foundation on behalf of Montrose County, $41,459
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Chaffee County, $13,980
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Garfield County, $79,453
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Jackson County, $2,000
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Lake County, $7,434
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Pitkin County, $2,000
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Routt County, $9,881
  • Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Summit County, $18,633
  • Colorado Northwestern Community College Foundation on behalf of Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties, $19,070
  • Red Rocks Community College Foundation on behalf of Jefferson County, $399,682
  • University of Colorado Foundation on behalf of Boulder County, $239,452
  • YouthPower365 on behalf of Eagle County, $30,329
Institutions of Higher Education:
  • Colorado Mesa University Foundation, $72,316
  • University of Northern Colorado Foundation, $72,794
About the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative:
The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative was created to increase the attainment of postsecondary credentials and degrees for underserved students in Colorado. The project addresses this challenge in two ways: accessibility and affordability. To increase accessibility, COSI funds programs that will help prepare students for postsecondary education, as well as support them through completion. To increase affordability, COSI provides matching funds for community scholarships.
 
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For Immediate Release: The Colorado Recovery Plan is Here

Colorado Legislature and Governor Polis
For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Governor’s Office Press Secretary Shelby Wieman | [email protected] 


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News Release: Department releases Healthy Minds and Hunger Free Campus Checklists in effort to erase hunger and address mental health needs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Megan McDermott, Director of Communications
Cell: 720-394-3205, [email protected]
 
Department releases Healthy Minds and Hunger Free Campus Checklists in an effort to erase hunger and address mental health needs
DENVER – Feb. 24, 2021: The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), along with Gov. Jared Polis and partners from Young Invincibles, Hunger Free Colorado, the Colorado Department of Human Services and Metropolitan State University of Denver today released the Department’s Hunger Free and Healthy Minds Campus Checklists to encourage the state’s postsecondary intuitions of higher education to apply for Hunger Free and Healthy Minds campus designations. 
 
The checklists aim to improve the health and academic success of students by ensuring that schools have the resources they need to help end hunger and promote mental health services and resources.
 
“At a time when too many of Colorado’s students worry about how they can afford to eat or pay rent, and struggle with mental health, these checklists are a welcome resource for campuses and a solid step toward erasing hunger and stigmas around mental health,” said Gov. Polis.
 
The state’s master plan for higher education, Colorado Rises, calls for 66 percent of adults to earn a certificate or degree by 2025. To get there, Colorado must address the barriers to student success some of which are highlighted above.
 
“Our goal as a state is to have at least seven of our postsecondary institutions of higher education earn a hunger free and healthy minds designation by the end of the year,” said Dr. Angie Paccione, CDHE executive director. “Various social determinants can significantly impact a student’s ability to progress through a postsecondary education program. Addressing these can help propel student success by meeting students where they are and by better addressing their needs.”
 
Colorado colleges and universities can use the checklists to implement four core programs and six focused initiatives to receive a "hunger free" or "healthy minds" designation. The institutions can also highlight innovative and impactful programs schools already have and may use them as one of the two required programs in each category.
 
For more information, visit https://highered.colorado.gov/social-determinants-of-student-success.
 
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CEA Media Release: Educator Shortage Crisis


So Every Student Thrives

CONTACT
Frank Valdez
Colorado Education Association
[email protected]
720-372-8888 Cell




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New Polling shows Coloradans want to postpone 2021 CMAS standardized testing for grades 3-8

CONTACT
Frank Valdez
Colorado Education Association
[email protected]
720-372-8888 Cell



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Governor Polis Announces Millions More in Education Grants for Colorado

For Immediate Release

Monday, January 25, 2021

Conor Cahill |[email protected] 

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Statements from National School Boards Association and Connecticut Association of Boards of Education on Dr. Miguel Cardona's Nomination as Secretary of Education

Alexandria, Va. (December 22, 2020) - In response to the nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) issued the following statements:


Anna Maria Chávez, Executive Director and CEO of the National School Boards Association (NSBA):

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Governor Polis Declares January School Board Recognition Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2021

Governor Polis Proclaims January 2021 as School Board Recognition Month

DENVER — Governor Jared Polis issued an official proclamation recognizing January as School Board Recognition Month. The proclamation reads in part, "school board members are extraordinary people who invest many hours of volunteer work to tackle the enormous job of governing our school districts and whose actions and decisions help impact the present and future lives of young Coloradans."

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CDE News Release - Preliminary data shows 3.3% decrease in 2020 school enrollment with biggest drop in early grades

CDE

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Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law

For Immediate Release

Monday, December 7, 2020

Conor Cahill |[email protected] 

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CASB's 80th Annual Business Meeting

The 80th Annual Business Meeting for the Colorado Association of School Boards is today, December 3, at 3:00 p.m.

The Business Meeting will be held via Zoom and only Delegates may join the call. Just like the recent Delegate Assembly held through Zoom, it will be live streamed on the CASB website for CASB members who are not Delegates. CASB members can log into the website to view. For help with login, click here

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Governor Polis Announces Back-to-School Working Group

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Conor Cahill |[email protected] 

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