Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Important Announcements

• Application for the 2018 “One World, Many Voices” Academy Art Contest. The Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education will honor an art student that demonstrates the theme of celebrating diversity through fine art. The winner and entering teacher will be invited and honored at the CLDE Academy Conference in the spring. Applications for this honor will be due no later than 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, February 14, 2018.

• Application for the 2018 Distinguished Administrator in Support of Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Learners. Each year, the Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education honors an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled administrator to represent the entire profession in Colorado. Applications for this honor will be due no later than 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, February 14, 2018.

• Application for the 2018 Workshop and Session Proposals.  Over the past 12 years, the Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education has partnered with numerous stakeholders to offer annual professional learning opportunities.  Proposals for both the pre-academy workshops on May 1 and academy sessions on May 2 are due no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2018.

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ELD Guidebook 

As part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), CDE is required to address standards, assessments, school and district accountability and special assistance for struggling schools in a state plan.  Revisions to Colorado’s ESSA state plan will be submitted to the US Department of Education in October 2017.  Once the US Department of Education has approved the plan, updates will be made to the ELD Guidebook based on the new requirements.  Revisions and updates will be made to the following chapters: 

 

• Redesignation and Exit Guidance 2017-2018 School Year
•  Federal and State Legislation and Court Decisions
•  ACCESS 2.0 for ELLs 
• ELs in the Statewide System of Accountability
• English Language Proficiency Act (ELPA) 
• Data Pipeline: Student October count

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Recently Arrived English Learners Toolkit

The White House announced “Bright Spots” for welcoming and expanding opportunities for linguistic integration and education at end of June. The announcement identified a list of resources including the introduction of the U.S. Department of Education’s Newcomer Toolkit designed to help schools support immigrants, refugees, and their families with a successful integration process. This toolkit provides information, resources and examples of effective practices that educators can use to support newcomers in our schools and communities. We are pleased to share this tool with you.

Additional Resources

• The Center on Standards & Assessment Implementation
• Cultural Orientation Resource Center

English Learner Access to High Quality Education

On January 7, 2015, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights and the Department of Justice released a Joint guidance to spell out the legal obligations of state and local education agencies to English learners. At the same time, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) released the first chapter of an English Learners Tool Kit (on identifying all English learners), offering check lists, tools, and resources to help SEAs and LEAs in fulfilling their obligations. 

• Joint Guidance Letter
• English Learner Tool Kit OELA