Offices
The Colorado Department of Education is the administrative arm of the Colorado State Board of Education. CDE serves Colorado's 178 local school districts, providing leadership, consultation and administrative services on a statewide and regional basis.
CDE is made up of more than 40 offices, 25 programs and 400-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
Accountability and Data Analysis
The Accountability and Data Analysis Unit calculates, reports, analyzes and uses education data to hold districts and schools accountable for student performance and informs improvement efforts in Colorado.
Accounting and Purchasing
Responsible for processing all financial transactions, procuring goods and services and issuing purchase orders and contracts for the department.
Adult Education and Family Literacy
Provides a range of instructional services that address the basic educational needs of Colorado youth and adults.
Audit
Ensures compliance with funds received via the Public School Finance Act, the Public School Transportation Fund and the English Language Proficiency Act.
Budget
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
The Colorado Legacy Foundation believes that increased
student achievement for all Colorado students requires effective leaders
in every school, effective educators in every classroom, and healthy and
engaging environments that ignite a passion for learning in every
student.
Colorado Preschool Program
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
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 communication functions.
Competitive Grants and Awards is dedicated to enhancing school improvement through federal and state grant opportunities.
Provides district-by-district data in specific educational areas, as well as a yearly collection of general education statistics for the state.
Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement
Is dedicated to strengthening, coordinating and aligning resources to reduce the Colorado dropout rate and ensure graduation and school completion and will advance efforts across the state to support planning and implementation of effective practices at the local level.
Early Learning and School Readiness
Strives to close the achievement gap by ensuring that all children are ready for success in school and life.
Focused on helping the state’s 178 school districts better attract, prepare and support educators who significantly improve students’ academic growth and mastery of standards, and prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce.
Exceptional Student Services
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.
Federal Programs
Provides grant administration, accountability and quality assurance services related to the federal programs it administers.
The GED Testing Program is responsible for the oversight and supervision of GED Testing Centers in Colorado. The GED Office issues official GED documents, such as original GED diplomas, transcripts and duplicate GED diplomas.
Gifted Education
Administers the state categorical program for gifted children under the ECEA.
Grants Fiscal Management
Administers federal and state grant distributions and awards.
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.
Human Resources
Administers the department’s internal personnel functions by providing human resources support and services.
Information Management 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.
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.
Literacy Grants and Initiatives
The Literacy Grants and Initiatives Office is committed to supporting districts, schools and teachers in teaching the five components of reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as oral and written language.
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.
Online and Blended
Learning
Serves and supports authorizing districts, online programs and all stakeholders by blending statutory oversight responsibilities with the provision of technical assistance.
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.
Race to the Top
The Race to the Top office is charged with monitoring and supporting all activities related to the Race to the Top award Colorado received in December 2011. The site includes information for all participating LEAs and BOCES as well as an overview of the grant and its components.
Record Integration Tracking System (RITS)
Provides information about the Record Integration Tracking System (RITS). This web-based application creates and tracks State Assigned Student Identifier Numbers (SASID). This web-based application creates an unique number for Colorado's public school employees (EDID).
Research and Evaluation
Is responsible for the calculation of Colorado’s longitudinal growth data.
Provides support and information for the effective implementation of a Response to Intervention model.
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 Improvement and Turnaround
School Transportation
Provides oversight in student transportation to and from school and school-related events in Colorado school districts.
Schools of Choice
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.
Secondary Services and Initiatives
The purpose of the Secondary Services and Initiatives Web page is to centralize information about available services within the
department that impact middle and high school students. The Web page serves as a resource for
local education providers, students, parents and interested stakeholders.
Special Education Dispute Resolution
Student Assessment
Implements the state content assessments: the Transitional
Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) and the Colorado Alternate Assessment
(CoAlt). In addition, this office is responsible for the implementation
of the English language proficiency assessments, NAEP and the grade 11
state ACT program.
Provides leadership, guidance, and support with respect to the implementation of standards, educator professional development and the dissemination of research-proven instructional practices.
This office specializes in providing technical assistance and other services to districts and schools on improvement based on their Annual Yearly Progress and CSAP scores.