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Family, School and Community Partnerships Framework and Rubrics Released for Community-Based Partners

The Family, School, and Community Partnerships Framework and Rubrics has been released specifically for community-based partners, who may include out-of-school time programs, local community businesses and external partners such as libraries, faith-based communities, cultural organizations and public health organizations who engage regularly with youth and families.

These rubrics will help community partners self-assess their partnership practices and programs with families and schools.

Access the new FSCP P-12 Framework for Community-Based Partners here. 

Charter School Capital Construction Annual Reporting due Tuesday, Oct. 31

All charter schools eligible to receive Charter School Capital Construction funding are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction Report on an annual basis. This online report is due by Tuesday, Oct. 31, and determines the funding levels for the next fiscal year.

Click Here for Additional Information

Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Workshop Series

CDE's Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education will offer educators a virtual workshop series provided by Natasha Quiroga that will focus on supporting the immigrant students and families of Colorado. The content will cover understanding the immigration legal system, dispelling common immigration misconceptions, analyzing federal policies impacting immigrant children (Title 42 and DACA), analyzing the Flores Settlement Agreement, trafficking victims’ protection act, as well as other various related areas of the immigration journey.

The sessions below are designed for superintendents, district leadership teams, coaches, general educators and English language development specialists.

  • Session 1: Immigration 101 - Thursday, Nov. 14, 2023, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Session 2: From the Border to the Classroom: Experiences of Unaccompanied Children - Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Session 3: The Long Road Ahead: The Path to the U.S. and the Legal Journey of Immigrant Students - Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Click Here for Additional Information

2023-24 Local Food Program Grantees

The list of School Food Authorities participating in the 2023-24 pilot year of the Local Food Program is available on the Reimbursement and Funding Nutrition webpage.

Approximately $500,000 was awarded to the sponsors for the purchase of Colorado grown, raised, processed and value-added products. The goal of this program is to help bolster farm to school activities and support Colorado producers, farmers and ranchers.

Ninth Grade Success Grant Applications are open

CDE is accepting new grant applications for the Ninth Grade Success Grant through Monday, Oct. 30. An application training webinar will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The Ninth Grade Success Grant Program provides funding to local education providers and charter schools to help improve the ninth-grade student experience by ensuring that students enrolled in ninth grade develop the skills they need to continue to 10th grade and graduate from high school ready for a career.

View the Ninth Grade Success Grant Request for Applications webpage to register for the application webinar and to apply.

Stakeholder feedback for Spanish Instructional Program rubrics

CDE seeks stakeholder feedback on the rubrics used to evaluate Spanish Instructional Programs for the READ Act Instructional Programming Advisory List. The review window for stakeholder feedback is Tuesday, Oct. 3 to Friday, Oct. 13.

Stakeholders wishing to provide feedback on the Spanish rubrics should complete the application via Smartsheet. The rubrics and feedback form link will be shared through email with eligible stakeholders on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Visit 2023-24 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Process for more information on the review process.

For questions, contact [email protected].

Free crisis services available through Colorado Crisis Services

Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential and immediate support from trained professionals and peer specialists. Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 844-493-TALK(8255), or texting TALK to 38255.

Colorado residents can also seek services in-person at walk-in centers, regardless of ability to pay.

To get help with a mental health, substance use or emotional concern—for you, or for someone you know visit the Colorado Crisis Services website.

CLDE virtual speaker session with Grant Geis on Oct. 19

Education leaders are invited to a 90-minute virtual speaker session with Grant Geis, culturally and linguistically diverse education coordinator in District 49, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19.

During the session, Geis will highlight the successful implementation of language scaffolds for multilingual learners. View the resources in the CLDE cohort planning Google folder ahead of the session.

CLDE virtual speaker session with Catherine Baldwin-Johnson Thursday, Sept. 28

Education Leaders are invited to a 90-minute virtual interactive session with Catherine Baldwin-Johnson at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28. Baldwin-Johnson will highlight the instructional transformation for multilingual learners through best practices.

View the flyer for the webinar for additional information.

Register to attend training for CDE's new grants management system

CDE will host in-person and virtual training for the Colorado Grants Administration Implementation and Navigation System. Virtual training details will be posted on the GAINS Training webpage once confirmed.

Spots are still available for the following in-person events next week:

  • Monday, Sept. 25, at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Front Range Community College in Westminster. (Updated Location)
  • Thursday, Sept. 28, at Morgan County School District Office in Fort Morgan.

GAINS will launch later this fall and will streamline and consolidate multiple CDE application systems and processes into a single location and system.

Registration information for these sessions and other upcoming in-person events is available on the GAINS Training webpage.

Facility Schools Board seat vacancy

The Office of Facility Schools seeks applicants for the recently vacated State Placement Agency Seat on the Facility Schools Board. The open seat represents state-level child placement agencies.

The term of membership is three years with the board meeting monthly. Members of the board serve without compensation, except for reasonable reimbursement of expenses. To apply, email a resume and a cover letter/letter of interest to Judy Stirman at [email protected] by Tuesday, Oct. 31.

2023-24 READ Act Instructional Program review

The 2023-24 Instructional Program review cycle will open on Monday, Oct. 16.

The READ Act requires CDE to create an advisory list of evidence-based or scientifically-based instructional programming in reading for use by local education agencies. During each review cycle, new providers have the opportunity to be added to the advisory list. The review is a two-part process for vendors to submit instructional programs, core, supplemental and intervention, to be reviewed for inclusion on CDE's READ Act Advisory List.

For more information visit the 2023-24 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Process webpage.

Alternative Education Campus performance frameworks released

For districts with Alternative Education Campuses, the 2023 AEC performance frameworks have been provided to District Accountability contacts via Syncplicity. All ratings have been incorporated within the District & School Dashboard and posted to the CDE website.

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

Office of Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness regional tours

The Office of Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness will host regional tours beginning in October. The purpose of these tours is to collaborate with peer schools and districts and identify best practices for PWR programming.

Read more and RSVP for a tour on the PWR Regional Tours webpage.

Seven finalists for the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year announced

Last week, CDE announced the seven finalists for the 2024 Colorado Teacher of the Year competition.

Each year, the Colorado Teacher of the Year program recognizes an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled K-12 classroom teacher to represent the entire profession in Colorado. The sole finalist will be named by the end of October and will become Colorado’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The finalists for the Colorado Teacher of the Year 2024 Award are:

  • Rawa Abu Alsamah -- Rocky Mountain Prep, Denver
  • Danielle Cerna -- Trailside Academy, Mapleton School District
  • Ivy Dalley -- Mancos Middle School, Mancos School District
  • Miles Groth -- Ute Pass Elementary, Manitou Springs School District 14
  • Kimberly Kane -- Delta Middle School, Delta County School District 50J
  • Jessica May -- Conrad Ball/Turner Middle School, Thompson School District
  • Tiffeny O’Dell -- Byers Junior Senior High School, Byers School District 32-Jl

For more information on each finalist, read the Sept. 15, news release.

Official ratings designated in the District and School Dashboard

For all districts, performance framework PDFs available in Syncplicity have been updated to include “Official” in the name of the PDF to help support districts with communications. Preliminary official ratings are also available publicly in the District and School Dashboard and are noted as "Official". Official ratings are used for state accountability and public reporting. PDFs will be made public in December when ratings are finalized.

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

CoLabs regional host applications

The Office of Standards and Instructional Support seeks one district, one group of districts in the same region or one BOCES to partner with to co-create and pilot a meaningful professional learning experience for educators and leaders at no cost.

The deadline to complete this CoLab interest survey is Tuesday, Sept. 26.

While only one district, region or BOCES will be selected this year, other CoLabs events will be held in the future. See the CoLabs webpage for additional information.

All districts and BOCES are encouraged to reach out to us the Office of Standards and Instructional Support for professional learning needs.

Fall 2023 CDE grant writing trainings

The Student Pathways Unit is offering a series of four regional grant development training sessions this fall. Led by grant-writing specialist Annette Sloan, participants will learn to organize grant applications, craft high-quality responses, use data, set SMART goals, communicate and create well-thought-out budgets.

The training sessions will be from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The dates and locations are as follows:

  • Oct. 4, at Alamosa School District
  • Nov. 14, at Edwards Early Learning Center
  • Nov. 16, at Thompson School District
  • Dec. 14, at Lewis Palmer School District


Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. Register for a training session using this Google form.

Charter School Capital Construction annual reporting due Oct. 31

All charter schools eligible to receive Charter School Capital Construction funding are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction Report on an annual basis. This online report is due by Tuesday, Oct. 31, and determines the funding levels for the next fiscal year.

Find the CSCC-01 report under Forms on the Charter Schools webpage.

Facility Schools Board seat vacancy

Applications are being accepted for the Facility Schools Board of Education. The open seat represents one person from a state-level child placement agency within Colorado. The term of membership is three years, and the board meets monthly. Members of the board serve without compensation, except for reasonable reimbursement of expenses.

Send a resume and a cover letter/letter of interest by Saturday, Sept. 30, to Judy Stirman at [email protected].