Offices
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is the administrative arm of the Colorado State Board of Education. CDE serves Colorado's 178 local school districts, providing them with leadership, consultation and administrative services on a statewide and regional basis.
CDE is made up of over forty units, 25 different programs, and 300-plus staff members, all pursuing the department's organizational commitment. In keeping with this commitment, the department not only administers K-12 public education, but also the state library system, family/adult literacy efforts, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Office List with Description
Accounting and Purchasing
Responsible for processing all financial transactions, procuring goods and services and issuing purchase orders and contracts for the department.
Accreditation/Regional Services
Provides a personal link to CDE that helps maintain relationships, develop leadership capacity, facilitate two-way communication between the field and CDE, and provides professional development.
Achievement Gap and Academic Support
Adult Education and Family Literacy
Provides a range of instructional services that address the basic educational needs of Colorado youth and adults.
Audit Office
Ensures compliance with funds received via the Public School Finance Act, the Public School Transportation Fund and the English Language Proficiency Act.
Budgeting
Is responsible for the management of the entire budget process which includes the development and submission of the department’s annual budget request to the General Assembly.
Capital Construction
Provides financial and technical assistance to school districts, charter schools, and the Charter Schools Institute for facility needs.
Charter School Institute
Is an independent agency in CDE that serves as a statewide charter school authorizer.
Colorado Legacy Foundation
Is a new privately funded nonprofit organization founded by CDE. The foundation seeks to build ongoing statewide leadership and support for aligning Colorado’s P-20 education delivery system to meet the global demands of today’s rapidly expanding, knowledge-centered economy.
Colorado Preschool Program (CPP)
Provides service and support in the development and administration of early childhood programs serving at-risk three, four, and five year olds in 171 school districts throughout the state.
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB)
Is a state-funded school within CDE. The school was established for the purpose of providing comprehensive educational services for children who are blind/low vision and/or deaf/hard of hearing birth to age 21.
Colorado State Library
1) promotes the establishment and development of all types of publicly-supported free library service throughout the state; 2) ensures equal access to information without regard to age, physical or mental health, place of residence, or economic status; 3) aids in the establishment and improvement of library programs; 4) improves and updates the skills of persons employed in libraries through continuing education activities; and 5) promotes and coordinates the sharing of resources and disseminate information regarding the availability of library services in Colorado.
Communications
Assists CDE offices with internal and external communications functions.
District and School Improvement Support
Early Childhood Initiatives strives to close the achievement gap by ensuring that all children are ready for success in school and life.
Educational Technology and Innovation
The primary goal of the Educational
Technology and Innovation office is to assist districts in the application
and use of technology as a tool to support teaching and learning.
Exceptional Student Leadership
Administers both the State Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) and the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for children with disabilities.
Facility Schools
Oversees the implementation of educational programs within facilities.
Family Education Programs
Federal Program Administration
Provides grant administration, accountability and quality assurance services related to the federal programs it administers.
Gifted and Talented
Administers the state categorical program for gifted children under the ECEA.
Grants Fiscal Management
Administers federal and state grant distributions and awards.
Human Resources
Administers the department’s internal personnel functions by providing human resources support and services.
Information Services
Supports the department’s mission to guarantee quality education for all Colorado children by collecting student data from all Colorado school districts necessary to support the acquisition and distribution of state and federal funding and to meet state and federal reporting requirements.
Innovation and Transformation
Is a division at CDE to create an alliance in the work of several
offices – language, culture and equity, regional services, online learning and schools of choice.
Innovation Schools Act of 2008
Language, Culture and Equity
Provides leadership, expertise, and consultation to districts, parents/guardians, students and Colorado communities in order to support all English language learners and migrant students linguistically, socially, and academically.
Leadership Prep and Development
Literacy Grants and Initiatives
Management Services
Nutrition
Is responsible for the administration of the federal Child Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, Afterschool Care Snack and Summer Food Service Programs) in public school districts throughout Colorado.
Office of Teaching and Learning
Online learning
Serves and supports authorizing districts, online programs and all stakeholders by blending statutory oversight responsibilities with the provision of technical assistance.
Preschool to Postsecondary Education Alignment Act Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K)
Senate Bill 08-212, also known as “Colorado’s Achievement Plan for Kids” or CAP4K, is a landmark education reform initiative that creates for the first time in Colorado a truly aligned preschool to postsecondary educational system.
Provides state and federal funding, training, and technical assistance to schools to prevent risk behavior, serve at-risk students and their families, and promote positive health and behavior.
Professional Services and Licensing
Helps draft legislation and policies to carry out the vision of the
commissioner, the state board, Colorado Legislature, national trends and legislation and the educational community.
Research and Evaluation
Is responsible for the calculation of Colorado’s longitudinal growth data.
School Finance
Colorado public schools and the Charter School Institute (CSI) receive funding from a variety of sources. However, most revenues to Colorado's 178 school districts and CSI are provided through the Public School Finance Act of 1994 (as amended).
School Transportation
Provides oversight in student transportation to and from school and school-related events in Colorado school districts.
Schools of Choice (SOC)
Provides information about non-traditional K-12 educational options (public charter, open enrollment, nonpublic and homeschool) to parents, teachers, districts, schools, CDE, and the general public.
Special Education Dispute Resolution
Special Education Support and Facilities
Standards and Assessments
Reviews the Colorado model content standards and the current research in both content and pedagogy most effective in helping students and teachers achieve better classroom results.
Student Assessment
Is charged with the responsibility of implementing the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) CSAPA , the Colorado English Language Acquisition assessment in grades K-12, and the grade 11 ACT for Colorado.