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School Readiness Learning Sessions

Two learning sessions with Marzano Research on PreK and K–3 aligned assessments in Colorado will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and Wednesday, Nov. 9 for those who support the implementation of or use PreK or kindergarten assessments in schools, districts or early childhood programs. The sessions are not cumulative. Register to attend each meeting.

Learning Session 1: Using formative assessment data to support growth in children’s learning and development
When: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8

Learning Session 2: Understanding Coherence and Alignment needs between PreK standards and K assessments
When: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9

View the Training and Meetings webpage for additional information.

Priority Improvement and Turnaround Unified Improvement Plan webinar

A Unified Improvement Plan webinar will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, to help schools and districts newsly identified with a Priority Improvement or Turnaround plan type understand the new requirements in their UIPs.

This webinar, put on by the Accountability and Continuous Improvement Office, will be most useful to those submitting their UIPs by the January deadline. The session will highlight some best practices and key strategies in improvement planning, explain additional requirements in these plan types, give suggestions for creating a strong UIP and share resources available to help in the UIP process.

It is strongly recommended that school leaders or teams planning to attend also invite their district UIP support person and bring a current draft of their UIP to the session.

Register for the session via Zoom.

Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Symposium in Durango on Thursday, Nov. 3

Educators and district staff are invited to attend the Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness Symposium on Thursday, Nov. 3, in Durango to learn about relevant PWR resources in a collaborative environment.

Register for the Symposium via this Google Doc.

Can’t travel to Durango? Consider hosting a symposium. View the PWR Symposium webpage for future dates.

Arts Standards documents available

Revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards for the arts were approved by the State Board of Education in April and the documents are available on the Office of Standards and Instructional Support webpage.

Educator Survey for Colorado Applies Month and Free Application Days

Educators are invited to complete a brief survey on their involvement and use of the resources available for Colorado Applies Month by Friday, Nov. 5.

Thank you for supporting efforts to make applying to college attainable for students through the Colorado Applies and Free Application Days initiatives. Because of your support, Colorado Applies Month and Colorado Free Application Days have been a success for the fifth year in a row. Final numbers will be available later this year.

For more information visit the Colorado Free Application Days webpage. 

Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Survey

The Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Survey for the 2023-24 school year is due Monday, Nov. 14.

Additional information can be found on the TREP webpage.

November Early Childhood Leadership Commission town hall

A virtual town hall is schedulded for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, to provide families, providers, members of the workforce and early childhood stakeholders with updates about the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program implementation process and opportunities to get involved. Members of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission and the Governor's Early Childhood Transition Team, state agency leaders and other early childhood champions will be presenting. 

Respiratory season guidance for schools and childcare settings

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has updated guidance for the 2022-23 school year titled “Guidance for Prevention & Control of Non-COVID-19 Respiratory Illnesses in Schools and Child Care Settings”. The guidance includes important information for schools and childcare settings as they prepare for the upcoming respiratory season.

CDPHE also recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone aged six months or older who does not have contraindications.

2023-24 BEST Grant deadline

Wednesday, Nov. 30, is the deadline for all potential applicants to notify CDE of their intent to apply for a BEST grant in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023-24 grant round. Complete the Grant Manager registration form via Google Docs by Wednesday, Nov. 30.

To view the full grant round announcement, or for more information on the BEST Grant program, visit the Capital Construction Online Grant Application Process webpage.

Join the Upcoming Path4Ward Application Webinar

A webinar and Q&A on the Path4Ward application process will be held at noon on Thursday, Nov. 3, to go over the required submission materials and procedures and will also provide an opportunity to discuss the attributes of successful applications from the initial implementation period.

Path4Ward provides scholarships to low-income high school students who graduate early and can help students pay for postsecondary education and training programs, including college and workplace learning programs like internships or apprenticeships. It is currently open to applicants through a portal available on the CDHE website. The application close date is Monday, Nov. 14. The Commission on Higher Education will select a limited number of new participating districts or groups of districts from the applicant pool on Thursday, Dec. 1.

For more information on the Path4Ward program and to register for the webinar visit the Path4Ward webpage.

Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program 2023-24

The Intent to Apply form for the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program is available for 2023-24 The Intent to Apply is due by Friday, Dec. 9.

For an overview of the application and application timeline, register for the ILOP application webinar at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

The ILOP Application process webpage has more detailed information about the application process.

New funding opportunity

The School Health Professional Grant Program is intended to provide behavioral health education and intervention to students who are enrolled in elementary and secondary schools, and provide training and resources to school staff for implementing evidence-based programming for behavioral health education and care for all students.

Visit the School Health Professional Grant Program webpage for additional information.

Request to Reconsider materials due Tuesday, Oct. 25

Final request materials are due in the Accreditation Portal within the UIP online system by Tuesday, Oct. 25. If a district wishes to rescind a request, the district must do so before the deadline. All requests will be considered public record after Tuesday, Oct. 25.

CDE will contact districts with an update on the status of their requests prior to the December State Board of Education meeting. All sites participating in a request to reconsider will have their ratings finalized by the state board during the December meeting.

View the Request to Reconsider and School Accreditation webpage for additional information.

Gifted Education Advisory Committee

Applications are open for individuals interested in joining the Gifted Education Advisory Committee for the 2023-26 term.

See the Gifted Education State Advisory Committee webpage for districts and available openings.

Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot 2023-24

The Intent to Apply form for the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program is available for 2023-24. The Intent to Apply is due by Friday, Dec. 9.

For an overview of the application and application timeline, register for the ILOP application webinar at 1p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

The ILOP Application process webpage has more detailed information about the application process.

Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Symposium in Durango on Thursday, Nov. 3

Educators and district staff are invited to attend the Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness Symposium on Thursday, Nov. 3, in Durango. Participants will learn about relevant PWR resources in a collaborative environment hosted by CDE and Pueblo Community College.

Register for the Symposium via this Google Doc.

Can’t travel to Durango? Consider hosting a symposium. View the PWR Symposium webpage for future dates.

Colorado Free Application Days

Students can apply to Colorado colleges and universities for free through Thursday, Oct. 20, as part of Colorado Free Application Days.

Visit the Colorado Free Application Day webpage for additional information.

If you encounter technical problems submitting admissions applications, contact the school's Admissions Office.

Watch the Public Service Announcements in English and Spanish.

2023-24 ASCENT 101 and Estimated Numbers Intent to Participate Webinar

Register for the 2023-24 ASCENT 101 and Estimated Numbers Intent to Participate webinar that is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24. Attendees will learn more about the program and get answers to frequently asked questions.

If districts are planning to participate in the ASCENT program next year, they should complete the 2023-24 Estimated Number of ASCENT Program Participants Intent to Participate web form by Monday, Nov. 14.

The webinar will be recorded and made available on the ASCENT Technical Assistance webpage.

View the ASCENT webpage for additonal information.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Nominations are open

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or computer science teaching. Principals, teachers, parents, students or members of the general public may nominate exceptional Colorado STEM teachers who are currently teaching grades 7-12 for the 2022-23 award year.

Eligible teachers may also apply directly on the PAEMST website.

The nomination deadline is Jan. 7, and the application deadline is Feb. 6.

Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Survey

The Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Survey for the 2023-24 school year is due Monday, Nov. 14.

Additional information can be found on the TREP webpage.