You are here
Professional Learning Opportunities
WIDA Self-Paced Workshops
- Virtual Self-Paced Workshops are available September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024 for Colorado K-12 public school educators with a school district email address.
- No cost and no participant limit. Participants can log in at any time, from any place where they have access to internet services.
- To participate educators must have a WIDA Secure Portal account. To assist with this process, Districts must create and send a bulk upload list with educators' names and email addresses to the WIDA Client Services Center (CSC) at help@wida.us. Once WIDA CSC receives and processes the bulk upload, an automatic email will be sent to the educators on the list inviting them to create an eLearning account through the Secure Portal. Download Bulk Upload Template.
- Log into WIDA Secure Portal, open the Professional Learning tab to view self-paced, online eWorkshops available this school year.
- The Workshops are aligned to the English Learner Quality Standards. To view a list of the Workshops and which standards they align to, please read the WIDA Self-Paced Workshop FAQs.
- Certificate of Completion can be printed and/or downloaded once an Workshop is completed. CDE will not be able to reproduce certificates or verify participation.
2023-2024 Professional Learning Opportunities
Colorado educators can register for Professional Learning Opportunities through the registration link associated with each date below. In the event that there are fewer than ten people registered, the professional learning opportunity will be rescheduled and those registered will be notified. To obtain presentation materials or attendance certificates associated with each training on this webpage, please contact Request Materials or Certificates.
WIDA Facilitated Workshops
Colorado K-12 public school educators have access to attend virtual and in-person WIDA Facilitated Workshops at no cost. These opportunities are available to educators with WIDA Secure Portal accounts during the current school year. Registration for each Facilitated Workshop may have participant limits. If you registered and are unable to attend or you would like to request information about WIDA Secure Portal Accounts, please email CLDE.
October 2023: Expanding Reading Instruction with Multilingual Learners: A two part virtual workshop provides ideas for expanding reading instruction to make it more effective for multilingual learners. Participants will learn ways to build on and expand current approaches to teaching reading and to engage multilingual learners in the interactions that support reading development. This workshop consists of two live webinars on October 25 & November 1 from 2:30pm-4:00pm. October WIDA Workshop Registration
February 2024: Bringing Language into Focus: Expectations, Functions & Features: A two part virtual workshop gives educators an opportunity to take a closer look at the Key Language Uses by engaging in a deeper exploration of Language Expectations, Language Functions, and Language Features. Participants will learn the importance of purpose of mentor text to make language visible to students and will explore materials and resources to support their classroom implementation. This workshop consists of two live webinars on February 27 & March 12 from 3:30pm-5:00pm. February WIDA Workshop Registration Coming Soon
The Colorado Department of Education Office of CLDE – Speaker Series
Join the Colorado Department of Education and our guest speaker, Catherine Baldwin-Johnson, former Director of the Department of CLDE, in Jeffco Public Schools, for a session that will highlight instructional transformation for multilingual learners through best practices, leading with passion and advocacy, and empowering staff of multilingual learners through strategic district leadership.
September 28, 4:00-5:30pm
- Key levers to integrate a successful ELD district vision
- CLDE 4 Domains Tool
- Open to all district leaders
The Colorado Department of Education Office of CLDE – Virtual Workshop Series
The Colorado Department of Education CLDE Office will offer Colorado educators a virtual workshop series delivered by authors Beth Skelton and Tan Huynh. This is a virtual workshop series that focuses on serving experienced multilinguals, the asset-based term for long-term English learners (LTELs). The series is based on Tan Huynh and Beth Skelton’s book, Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals.
Two courses will be offered, one in June and the second in the fall. Dates and times are listed below:
- June 20, 22, 27, 29th 8:30 – 10:30am
- Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10th 4:00 – 5:30pm
Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals is a live virtual, multi-session book-study course for educators teaching grades 4-12 who want to provide equitable learning experiences for experienced multilinguals. The sessions will be led by the authors. Upon completion of the sessions, participants will be eligible for 10 hours of credit.
Click to view: Long Term Success for Experienced MLs Syllabus
Registration links:
- June Course - Closed
- Fall Course - Closed
For additional course information or questions contact: Alice Collins collins_al@cde.state.co.us or Janet Turnmeyer Turnmeyer_j@cde.state.co.us
New English Language Development Coordinators
The CLDE Office will be hosting meetings to support the implementation of Colorado standardized procedures at the local level. The goal during office hours will be to build federal and state knowledge around requirements for Multilingual Learners (MLs), provide support to strengthen district processes and procedures, and establish networks between districts and schools. If you are a new English Language Development (ELD) coordinator, director, educator, or have recently been asked to support with the instructional programs for MLs in your district or school, please consider joining these meetings.
For more information about this opportunity, contact the meeting facilitator.
Identification & Data Coding for Multilingual Learners
A focus on Colorado's Standardized and Interim Identification Procedures for SY22-23. Intended for new or veteran district data and program coordinators and personnel who identify and code multilingual students.
Virtual Training Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 11:00am-12:00pm
To inquire about Identification & Data Coding for Multilingual Learners virtual trainings, please contact the presenter.
CLDE Office Hours
The Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) will be hosting virtual office hours to support educators in the instruction of Multilingual Learners (MLs). The topics will be generated, in part, based on feedback and surveys from the field, including topics of interest throughout the school calendar year. The goal of these meetings will be to clarify legal obligations and requirements, provide support in strengthening processes, and to share bright spots and promising practices in Colorado districts, schools, and public charter schools.
Virtual Meeting Dates:
Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 1:00 pm–2:00pm
Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 1:00 pm-2:00pm - Register for October 26
Obligations to Educate Multilingual Learners
This training will provide an overview of state and federal laws that impact the methods in which districts, schools, and charter schools provide academic instruction and services for multilingual learners. Participants will gain an understanding of the statutory obligations they are held accountable for in order to effectively implement programs, instruction, and supports for multilingual students.
Intended Audience – District ELD Directors, Coordinators, and other Administrators that are new to ELD program requirements in Colorado, or who would like a refresher.
Virtual training dates: Please register for one session only
- Friday, September 22, 2023, from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
To inquire about District/School/Charter School Obligations to Educate Multilingual Learners virtual training, please contact the presenter.
An Introduction to WIDA’s 2020 Edition of the ELD Standards: What’s Changed? What’s the Same?
This professional learning opportunity will provide educators with a 90-minute overview of WIDA’s newest standards-based instructional resources and how to apply them to instruction, student goal setting, and progress monitoring student levels of English Language Proficiency. Whether educators are familiar with WIDA or not, this professional learning opportunity will be helpful for learning which WIDA resources are available, which are recommended by the CLDE office, and how and when to use each resource.
Intended Audience: District ELD Directors/Coordinators, ELD Teachers/Coaches, Instructional Coaches, Classroom Teachers, Content Teachers, and any other educator who works with English learners
Aligned to English Learner PD Quality Standard II, Element A and Standard IV, Element B
Virtual Offerings: Please register for one session only
- Wednesday, May 24, 2023, from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday, May 31, 2023, from 9:00 am – 10:30 am
To inquire about An Introduction to WIDA’s 2020 Edition of the ELD Standards, please contact the presenter
Writing Language Objectives Using WIDA’s 2020 Edition of the ELD Standards Framework
This 90 min workshop will provide educators with an overview of, and practice with, using WIDA’s 2020 grade level cluster materials to write lesson-based language objectives. It is recommended, but not required, to attend “An Introduction to WIDA’s 2020 Edition of the ELD Standards: What’s Changed? What’s the Same?” prior to attending this workshop. A basic knowledge of language functions would also be helpful for this workshop.
Intended Audience: District ELD Directors/Coordinators, ELD Teachers/Coaches, Instructional Coaches, Classroom Teachers, Content Teachers, and any other educator who works with English learners
Aligned to English Learner PD Quality Standard II, Element A and Standard IV, Element B
Virtual Offerings: Please register for one session only
- Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Friday, June 2, 2023, from 9:00 am – 10:30 am
To inquire about Writing Language Objectives Using WIDA’s 2020 Edition of the ELD Standards, please contact the presenter
WIDA Screener and WIDA Screener for Kindergarten
Training prepares new test administrators to complete WIDA's online self-paced modules and quizzes before becoming certified to administer and score the WIDA Screener for students in grades 1-12 and WIDA Screener for Kindergarten students. Participants will examine protocols and procedures to administer and score assessments to identify multilingual learners. Certification must be obtained directly from WIDA and is not issued after attending these trainings. For more information about the certification process, please view the WIDA Screener Assessment page.
Virtual Training Dates: Please only register for one Screener for Kindergarten date
- WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 10:00am-12:00pm
- WIDA Screener (grades 1-12): Friday, June 23, 2023 from 9:00am-11:30am
- WIDA Screener (grades 1-12): Thursday, August 3, 2023 from 11:00am-1:30pm
- WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 from 12:30pm-2:30pm
To inquire about WIDA Screener or WIDA Screener for Kindergarten virtual trainings, please contact the presenter.
Teaching Science to English Learners
through the Colorado English Language (CELP) Standards
This is a three-part virtual professional learning opportunity that provides K-12 science and classroom teachers, as well as ESL/bilingual educators, a foundational knowledge of English language development and explores tools and strategies for making science more accessible to English learners through teaching the Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) standards.
Participants must attend all three sessions.
- Aligned to English Learner PD Quality Standards I (Element A), II (Elements A&B), III (Element B), & IV (Element A) (9 contact hours)
- Intended Audience - K-12 science teachers, classroom teachers, coaches, co-teaching teams, grade level teams, and school teams
For more information or to inquire about hosting a virtual session, school or district leadership may contact the presenter. Please include the name of the requested workshop.
Teaching Math to English Learners
through the Colorado English Language (CELP) Standards
This is a three-part virtual professional learning opportunity that provides K-12 math and classroom teachers, as well as ESL/bilingual educators, a foundational knowledge of English language development and explores tools and strategies for making math more accessible to English learners through teaching the Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) standards.
Participants must attend all three sessions.
- Aligned to English Learner PD Quality Standards I (Element A), II (Elements A&B), III (Element B) & IV (Element A) (9 contact hours)
- Intended Audience - K-12 math teachers, classroom teachers, coaches, co-teaching teams, grade level teams, and school teams
For more information or to inquire about hosting a virtual session, school or district leadership may contact the presenter. Please include the name of the requested workshop.
Implementing District Systems to Support Quality ELD Programs
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) researchers studied fifteen districts and identified nine leading indicators for quality English Language Development (ELD) programs. Using these nine leading indicators, researchers developed the District-Level Quality ELD Program Implementation Rubrics to use as a tool in developing, modifying, and/or evaluating systems in support of English learners. In this workshop, participants will learn the background and methodology of the study, as well as the utility of the rubrics within a school/district context. Participants are encouraged to bring local district-level data that will support them in engaging in conversations regarding improvement of systems to support ELD programs.
This workshop is designed for a team of educators from a school or district (intended audience - district directors, coordinators, and administrators - teacher leaders are encouraged to attend with principal approval). In order to obtain the most benefit from this workshop, it is highly recommended that at least two educators from a school or a district attend as a team. One member of the team should register all members of the team. Training certificates will indicate Alignment to English Learner PD Quality Standard IV (Elements A&B).
To inquire about Implementing District Systems to Support Quality ELD Programs, please contact the presenter.
Welcoming and Engaging Multilingual Newcomer Students
Participants will explore foundational principles to welcome and engage newcomers and their families into classrooms and schools. Areas of focus for this training include: laws that protect newcomers, culturally responsive teaching and metacognition in the classroom, factors that influence language acquisition, and the importance and value of communicating with families.
To inquire about Newcomers virtual training, please contact the presenter.
CLDE Professional Development on Teaching, Learning, and Trauma
The Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) is pleased to partner with author, Beth Kelley, MA, LPC, to offer professional development in the area of Teaching, Learning, and Trauma for Colorado district administrators, coordinators, coaches, counselors and teachers. The content focus of this five-session course will intersect the importance of teaching, learning, and mental health in areas of understanding adolescent learners with chronic stress and trauma, foundations of effective practice, healthy relationships in complicated times, and conflict resolution. All sessions will take place virtually on Thursdays from 4:00 – 5:30p.m. beginning November 5, 2020 through February 18, 2021. Upon completion of the entire professional learning and required assignments, participants will be eligible for a maximum of 10 Professional Development Hours. For more information about this professional development, information found in the Course Syllabus (PDF) or how to Purchase Book, please contact Alice Collins.
The ABCs of Long-Term English Learners
Colorado educators have an opportunity to participate in professional development provided by the Colorado Department of Education CLDE Office and Beth Skelton focused on meeting the needs of students classified as Long-term English Learners (LTELs). This professional learning outlined in the Course Syllabus (PDF) is meant for general educators, content area teachers, and English Language Development Specialists and will focus on research-based practices that best support LTELs. All sessions will take place virtually, beginning with an introductory “Live” Taster session on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 4:00-4:45pm. Upon completion of all five sessions and required assignments, participants will be eligible for 10 hours of credit. For more information about this professional development, please contact Alice Collins.
Linking Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) to Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards
Intended Audience - K-12 Teachers, Content/Classroom teachers as well as ESL/bilingual educators
The standards session provides instructional staff (content/classroom teachers as well as ESL, bilingual educators) a foundational knowledge of English language development and the connection between academic standards and the CELP standards. Linking the CAS to the CELP Standards PowerPoint.
English Language Proficiency (ELP) Growth Across State and Federal Accountability
Intended Audience - District Directors, Coordinators, and Administrators
This session will compare and contrast State and Title III accountability calculations based on English language proficiency (ELP) growth. Presenters will provide guidance and support on how districts can use these accountability results to inform local programming.
EL Data Dig Tool
Intended Audience - District Directors, Coordinators, and Administrators
This session will provide attendees training and support on the structure, logistics, and intended use of the EL Data Dig Tool. Additionally, presenters will demonstrate where districts can obtain data that is available through CDE resources. Mock data will be used to engage attendees in experiential learning and practical application. Data Diving to Support ELs Powerpoint.
District ELD Program Rubrics: A Self-Assessment to Improve ELD Programs
Intended Audience - District Directors, Coordinators, and Administrators
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) researchers studied fifteen districts and identified nine leading indicators for quality English language development (ELD) programs. Using these nine leading indicators, researchers developed the ELD Program Rubrics for districts to use as a tool in developing, modifying, and/or evaluating systems in support of English Learners. In this session, participants will learn the background and methodology of the study, as well as the utility of the rubrics within a school/district context. ELD Program Rubrics Powerpoint.
Progress Monitoring Language Development through Formative Assessments
Intended Audience - Content area teachers, classroom teachers, coaches, co-teaching teams, grade level teams, and school teams
This session will focus on progress monitoring for language development through formative assessment. Participants will utilize the WIDA performance definitions to review student work samples for language development. All attendees should bring at least one sample of student work. Samples can be in any format (exit tickets, essays, videos, etc.). Formative Assessment Powerpoint.
Language, Literacy, and Access to Content 101
Intended Audience - Classroom teachers, Literacy Teachers, ELD specialists/coaches, administrators.
This workshop will provide a foundational knowledge of first and second language acquisition and literacy development for secondary English learners and will explore tools for making literacy and content more accessible to English learners. Attendees will receive 6 contact hours of training aligned to English Learner PD Quality Standards II (Element A) & III (Elements A&B). Please note – this workshop will not meet the training required by the Colorado READ Act. Information regarding the Colorado READ Act requirements and trainings can be found at READ Act - SB 19-199 Amendment Updates.
Financial information on schools and districts throughout Colorado. Learn more about financial transparency.
Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
Fax: 303-830-0793
Contact CDE
CDE Hours
Mon - Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See also Licensing Hours
UPDATED
September 25, 2023
Copyright © 1999-2023 Colorado Department of Education.
All rights reserved.
Title IX.
Accessibility.
Disclaimer.
Privacy.
Connect With Us
