Current Work

Alternative and Flexible Learning Models

Since the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act (1 CCR 301-39) changes were adopted by the State Board of Education in March 2024, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has been exploring future opportunities to collaborate with the field to collectively explore the rule changes and learn how districts and schools may be considering new learning designs. Some of CDE's current ideas and goals include expanding awareness of the flexibilities within the new conditions, identifying barriers and constraints impacting the field with flexible learning, supporting districts and schools with learning models under the new rules, sharing ideas and resources for programming that meets documentation requirements, and developing a learning community among practitioners.

For the most current information about the rule changes, CDE's School Auditing Office hosted an "Informational Session Regarding Changes to the Public School Finance Act" webinar on March 21, 2024. The presentation and recording materials for this webinar session are located on their Training and Office Hours webpage: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/auditunit_trainings

Past information about the changes from CDE's School Finance Unit is on their Updates to the Rules for Administration of the PSFA of 1994 webpage: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/noticerulemaking_1ccr30139_psfa
Past work related to the PSFA changes from CDE's Schools of Choice Unit is on the Blended Learning Initiative webpage: https://www.cde.state.co.us/onlinelearning/blendedlearninginitiative

More information and resources will be added to this page as CDE structures opportunities for Colorado districts, schools, and other educational stakeholders to access and participate in.

Events

Monday, May 20 - PSFA Changes for Online Schools and Programs webinar hosted by CDE
- More information on timing, registration, and attending to come
Thursday, May 23 - Alternative and Flexible Learning Models Learning Community meeting hosted by CDE
- To register, visit: https://forms.gle/U5MvbjuhmRoN3Xq9a

Contact

Mallorie Klemm, Blended Learning Education Sr. Consultant
klemm_m@cde.state.co.us
303-818-9509

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Trends Research

As of December 2023, the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI) and the AI Education Project (aiEDU) have launched a new AI in Education Statewide Steering Committee for Colorado for local and national leaders to focus on AI advancements and opportunities and explore the future of education in Colorado. More information about this project is on CEI's website: https://www.coloradoedinitiative.org/cei-and-aiedu-launch-new-ai-in-education-statewide-steering-committee-for-colorado/

Events

Tuesday, April 30 - Understanding the Prompter/Tool Relationship and Emotional Prompting Techniques training hosted by iLearn Collaborative
- To sign-up, visit: AI Virtual Workshop Sign-up
Tuesday, May 7 - Redirecting AI for Equity and Inclusion training hosted by iLearn Collaborative
- To sign-up, visit: AI Virtual Workshop Sign-up
Monday, May 20 - Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom event hosted by CR BOCES
- For more information, visit CR BOCES's website: CR BOCES AI Summer Initiative
Tuesday, May 21 - AI Audience and Setting Awareness training hosted by iLearn Collaborative
- To sign-up, visit: AI Virtual Workshop Sign-up
Tuesday, July 23 - Leading AI Innovation virtual summit hosted by CEI
- More information on timing, registration, and attending to come
Wednesday, August 14 - Taking the First Step with AI virtual summit hosted by CEI
- More information on timing, registration, and attending to come

Contact

Natasha Gordon, Data Analysis & Professional Learning Senior Consultant
720-955-9875
gordon_n@cde.state.co.us

CASE Project

The Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) has been testing the feasibility of allowing large more populated school communities in Colorado to partner with smaller committees to provide virtual learning opportunities in difficult-to-staff content areas since 2023.

CDE began collecting educator shortage data in the 2017-18 school year in response to Colorado House Bill 17-2003: Concerning a Strategic Action Plan to Address Teacher Shortages in Colorado. As part of their work, CDE created the Educator Shortage Survey distributed to all local education agencies (LEAs) including school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). As a result, CDE has reported back to the Colorado Legislature about the support provided for recruiting and retaining educators. Using this data gathered by CDE, CASE has spearheaded the "CASE Project" to expand teacher shortage support in Colorado by identifying regions, academic subject areas, and school district staff requiring the most support.

The main goals of the CASE Project have been to:

Reshape the delivery of instruction to ensure that students in any zip code have high-quality teachers and the same opportunities for courses.
Increase teacher job satisfaction and the likelihood of retaining teachers in positions longer with fever preps, opportunities to innovate, and potentially greater compensations.
Develop the skills desired by business and industry to ensure that the best teachers have access to even more students.

The CASE Project thus far has resulted in key partnerships between various school districts throughout Colorado to leverage staff and resources. The resulting strategy are available to help local education providers (LEPs) respond to educational shortages across Colorado communities for collaboration with capacity, resources, and efficiencies with small rural systems. More information will be added to this page as the CASE Project continues throughout 2024.

Events

Wednesday, July 14 through Friday, July 26 - Presentation at CASE Summer Convention in Breckenridge, CO
- For more information, visit CASE's website: https://www.co-case.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1796617

Contact

Mallorie Klemm, Blended Learning Education Sr. Consultant
klemm_m@cde.state.co.us
303-818-9509

Cheri Wrench, CASE Consultant
cwrench@co-case.org
303-921-6360

OER Project

Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S. 22-5-119) and reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado's statewide supplemental and blended learning program under Colorado Empowered Learning (CEL) ensures public access to a digital repository of content and resources for PK-12 Colorado educators and other educational stakeholders in using Open Educational Resources (OER). CEL, as administered by the Colorado River Board of Cooperative Educational Services (CR BOCES) has lead the "OER Project" for Colorado since 2021.

In collaboration with the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME), the OER Project developed the OERColorado platform composed on the OERColorado Hub and OERColorado Microsite. These websites include openly-licensed, free high-quality learning digital materials. The CR BOCES and ISKME continue to curate resources for any PK-12+ educator or user to access. Please note that OERColorado is administered by and hosted on a third party site. The site is subject to its own terms of use and privacy policies.

Events

Tuesday, May 7 - What Are Open Education Resources? webinar hosted by ISKME
- For more information, visit the OER webinar page: https://www.oercolorado.org/hubs/ISKME_Webinars
Tuesday, May 14 - Adapting Open Education Resources webinar hosted by ISKME
- For more information, visit the OER webinar page: https://www.oercolorado.org/hubs/ISKME_Webinars
Friday, May 17 - 2024 Colorado OER Conference event hosted by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
- For more information, visit CDHE's OER conference page: https://sites.google.com/view/2024coloradoconference/home
Tuesday, October 1 - Vetting and Adopting Open Educational Resources webinar hosted by ISKME
- For more information, visit the OER webinar page: https://www.oercolorado.org/hubs/ISKME_Webinars
Tuesday, October 9 - Open Educational Resources Leadership and Advocacy webinar hosted by ISKME
- For more information, visit the OER webinar page: https://www.oercolorado.org/hubs/ISKME_Webinars