Colorado Charter Schools

News & Updates

Registration open for Parents Encouraging Parents Conference

Parents Encouraging Parents is a statewide conference designed to promote family and school partnerships by bringing families and professionals together for two days of educational opportunities, connection, and community.  Our winter 2024 PEP will be Jan. 26-27 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Aurora. Registration is open.

Consider adding a brief announcement and links on your websites, social media, and newsletters to inform families and professionals of this incredible learning opportunity. Early registration is encouraged due to limited space. For more information contact Beth Donahue at 720-926-1453 or donahue_b@cde.state.co.us

Intent to Apply for Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program 

The Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program supports a variety of learning experiences that usually occur outside of the classroom. Schools interested in participating in 2024-25 should complete the Intent to Apply form by Wednesday, Dec. 6. The ILOP Application process webpage has more detailed information about the application process. Learn more about ILOP here. For more information contact Erica Ryan at ryan_e@cde.state.co.us or 720-576-4288

National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant

The National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant opens the week of Nov. 13 in CDE’s new Grants Administration Implementation and Navigation System. Approximately $312,000 will be awarded in this grant cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the Intent to Apply form. The Request for Applications and recorded training sessions about grant details and the application process in GAINS will be released in the coming weeks. For questions or more information, contact Diane Matthews at matthews_d@cde.state.co.us or 720-595-8042.

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

Nita Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers 

The 21st CCLC grant application window for Cohort 11 will open by Friday, Dec. 15, with applications due on Feb. 15. CDE will award approximately $3 million in 21st CCLC funding for Cohort 11, and individual grant awards will range from $50,000 to $180,000 per year per center. Priority will be given to those programs serving students who attend high-poverty, low-performing schools. For grant competition updates, visit the 21st CCLC webpage

Opportunity, Access and Inclusion Resources

CDE Equity Tool Kit

Imagine a school where ALL the children are loved and challenged, where the educators are empowered and where families and communities are seen as critical partners. Each of us is uniquely positioned to create a learning environment that honors the talents and gifts of each student so that they are prepared to thrive in their careers, in their homes and in their greater communities. This toolkit has been designed to give school leaders the tools and resources needed to capitalize on those unique strengths that foster supportive and effective relationships wherein the community works together to mitigate barriers to success. We designed this toolkit to support you and your community as you further build a learning environment where every student and every educator is supported to find success.

This toolkit is designed to provide user-friendly information and resources to support school and district leaders in centering equity in their work to support positive outcomes for the students they serve. We are all in different phases of our equity journey, and that’s OK. You are already off to a great start because you are here, you are reading, and you are open. We hope this toolkit supports you on your quest to create welcoming environments where all students and families feel a sense of belonging and all students are supported to achieve success.  Visit the CDE Equity Tool Kit

Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education virtual workshop series

The Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education will offer a virtual workshop series delivered by authors Tan Huynh and Beth Skelton. The series is based on Huynh's and Skelton's book, Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals and focuses on serving experienced multilinguals, the asset-based term for long-term English learners.
The workshops will consist of four live, multi-session book-study courses for educators teaching grades four through 12 who want to provide equitable learning experiences for experienced multilinguals. Upon completion of the sessions, participants will be eligible for 10 hours of CTE credit. The workshops will be offered in June and again in the fall. To learn more and to sign up for one of the two workshop series, visit the Professional Learning Opportunities webpage. For more information contact, Alice Collins at collins_al@cde.state.co.us, or Janet Turnmeyer at turnmeyer_j@cde.state.co.us

Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC): Equity-Driven Strategies for Addressing Chronic Absence

With recent spikes in chronic absenteeism, what can teachers and education leaders, researchers, and policymakers do to re-engage students in the classroom—particularly students who have historically been marginalized? The Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd invites you to the next three installments of Equity-Driven Strategies for Addressing Chronic Absence, a six-part webinar series designed to exchange research-based and community-informed ideas for increasing student attendance and engagement. Learn more at the links below and register today. 

Increasing Attendance and Engagement for Multilingual Learners

December 6, 2023 | 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m. PT

Visit the WEEAC registration page to attend: https://weeac.wested.org/event/equity-driven-strategies-for-addressing-chronic-absence-webinar-series-session-vi/