Announcement
Educator Identifier Project – Phase III (Linking) Technical Working Group Needed
Attn: Technical Staff, Web Developers, System Analysts, CIOs
Phase I of the Educator Identifier Project established a unique identifier for each educator in the state. Phase II integrated the new ID with other CDE systems. Now, as we progress through Phase III, linking educator/student data, CDE is assembling a Technical Working Group. The goal of this multi-district working group is to explore opportunities and challenges related to design and implementation of a flexible system that can support the needs of all districts.
Be part of this problem solving group to ensure every relevant technical aspect is explored. The group will meet every Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon. While some of these meetings may be face-to-face, virtual meetings will be the primary format.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Lisa Bradley to sign up. Updates to the group’s progress will be posted on the Educator Identifier Project Web site at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Bradley
IMS
Phone: 303-866-4902
Email: bradley_l@cde.state.co.us
Charter School Standards and Charter School Authorizer Standards Committee (H.B.10-1412)
Attn: Charter School Authorizers and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators and Principals, Charter School Boards
House Bill 10-1412 established a Charter School and Charter School Authorizer Standards Review Committee. The committee has established two subcommittees – one to develop charter school standards and another to develop charter school authorizer standards.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Colorado Association of School Boards (location tentative). Watch the Web site for meeting agendas, minutes and resources. The Web site has a list of committee members and deadlines the committee will adhere to over the next year and a half.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Denise Mund, Director
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6740
Email: mund_d@cde.state.co.us
2010-11 Colorado School Library Survey Now Open
Attn: School Librarians
Letters have been sent to public school libraries throughout the state announcing the opening of the 2010-11 Colorado School Library Survey. Please access the survey at the link below.
The data gathered in the annual school library survey provides library professionals with important information for planning, evaluating and budgeting. Login information is included in the letter, but if you haven't received your letter and would like to get started, feel free to call Library Research Service at 303-866-6900 or e-mail lrs@lrs.org.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Linda Hofschire
State Library
Phone: 303-866-6827
Email: hofschire_l@cde.state.co.us
Statewide Longitudinal Data System Data Effectiveness Survey
Attn: Superintendents, DACs
In November of 2007, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) was awarded a Federal Grant to improve the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS). This grant has been used to enhance the systems in various areas including Data Warehouse and Reporting, National Transcript Center, among others.
Last year at this time we released a Data Effectiveness survey in order to gather feedback and a baseline for improving specific outcomes addressed in the grant. We will be re-issuing the survey again in the next week to collect information on progress made in the past year.
This Data Effectiveness Survey will:
1. Help CDE quantify the effectiveness of the current longitudinal data systems for users and stakeholders.
2. Identify potential areas for improvement as we enter into the final year of the grant.
Your participation is critical as we make decisions and set priorities for the work to be completed over final year. On behalf of the SLDS team, thank you in advance for your time in completing this survey.
Results through will be provided through a future article in The Scoop, most likely by early November.
For More Information, Contact:
Keith Glenn
IMS
Phone: 303-866-6919
Email: glenn_K@cde.state.co.us
Conference
Autism Training, Level 2: Progress Monitoring Friday, Nov. 5 in Glenwood Springs
Attn: Special Ed Directors, Special Education Teachers, Principals, Occupational Therapists, School Psychologists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Paraeducators
CDE's Exceptional Student Leadership Unit is pleased to announce the launch of its first Level 2 Autism training, a one-day work shop on Progress Monitoring for students with autism. This practical, user-friendly training will focus on data collection and the rationale and necessity for using it, types of data collection, behavior data collection systems and how to establish criteria for how and when to collect data for ideal classroom settings. The Level 2 Autism Training is open to participants who have previously attended the three-day Autism introduction training. If others feel they have similar content background they can inquire below regarding individual decisions.
The training will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more Information or to register, visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Brooke Young
Exceptional Student Leadership Unit
Phone: 303-866-6691
Email: young_b@cde.state.co.us
Event
CELA/CSAP-A Administration Training
Attn: District Assessment Coordinators
The Unit of Student Assessment will begin its CELApro and CSAP-A Administration Trainings later this month. Specific location information is available at the link below.
Registration is now open for this event and accessible via the link below. Please register by Friday, Oct. 22, 2010, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2010CELAproCSAPAAdminTraining as space is limited.
Please note: This training is REQUIRED for all district assessment coordinators. This training is recommended for the ELA and SpEd Directors from each district.
Other dates in the training tour include:
Tuesday, Oct. 26 in Meeker
Friday, Oct. 29 in Limon
Monday, Nov. 1 in Montrose
Friday, Nov. 5 in Pueblo
Tuesday, Nov. 9 in Monument
Wednesday, Nov. 10 in Denver
Thursday, Nov. 11 in Fort Morgan
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Mira Monroe or Liliana Graham
Phone: 303-866-6709 or 303-866-6634
Email: monroe_m@cde.state.co.us or graham_l@cde.state.co.us
Fall Special Education Advisory Committee Forum – “The Power of Partnership”
Attn: Special Education Directors, Local Special Education Advisory Committees
“The Power of Partnership,” a Special Education Advisory Committee Forum, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 9 in Westminster. Representatives from local SEACs in Colorado will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of established SEAC members, network with other local SEAC representatives and share strategies, ideas and resources. This event is being sponsored by the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee, PEAK Parent Center, Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center, Parent to Parent of Colorado and CDE.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Katherine Keck
Exceptional Student Leadership
Phone: 303-866-6943
Email: keck_k@cde.state.co.us
Federal Programs
Differentiated Reading Strategies for ELL Students RFP Now Available
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel
The new Differentiated Reading Strategies for English language learner students request for proposal (RFP) is now available. This RFP is designed to solicit applications from local education agencies to provide funding for professional development specifically focused on English language development and content achievement for ELL students. Approximately $500,000 is available for distribution to LEAs to participate in and implement professional development focused on Differentiated Reading Strategies for English language learners provided by the Center for Applied Linguistics. The estimated range of awards is between $15,000 and $30,000 per district.
Applicants for the grant are limited to Title I districts identified for improvement that have not met the NCLB Title III Annual Measurable Assessment Objectives (AMAOs) for four consecutive years (as of 2009-2010).
Proposals are due Wednesday, Nov. 17. For more information and to access the RFP, visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Morgan Cox
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6784
Email: cox_m@cde.state.co.us
Personnel Technological Proficiency Self Assessment Survey Questions
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, Federal Program Contacts, Human Resource Contacts, Technology Directors
CDE is pleased to announce the release of the Personnel Technological Proficiency Self Assessment Survey. This survey was developed based on the International Society of Technology in Educations National Education Technology Standards for Teachers and Administrators. The survey is available for use to determine personnel technological proficiency which is reported annually through the HR/SPED Oct. 1 collections. CDE is currently developing an electronic system, which will be ready in the fall, for collecting responses to the self assessment survey.
The survey system is intended to support local education agencies that accept Title II Part D funds in meeting the U.S. Department of Education’s requirement to report the percentages of personnel that are proficient in technology. LEAs are required to assess personnel to determine these percentages; however, the use of CDE’s new survey tools is optional and not required by CDE.
To access the survey and find out more about the Personnel Technological Proficiency reporting requirement, go to the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
DeLilah Collins
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6850
Email: collins_d@cde.state.co.us
Comparability Training Webinars
Attn: Superintendents, Federal Program Contacts, Title I Directors, Human Resource Contacts, Comparability Respondents
The Online Comparability System will open soon!
CDE will host webinar trainings during October. Comparability reporting requires a great deal of collaboration, so everyone is encouraged to attend a webinar.
The October webinar trainings dates are:
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Donna Morganstern
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6209
Email: morganstern_d@cde.state.co.us
The Oct. 22 Federal Programs Symposium Has Been Cancelled
Attn: Federal Program Contacts
The Federal Programs Best Practices Symposium scheduled for Friday, Oct. 22 has been cancelled due to low registration.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Judith Huddleston
Phone: 720-939-8848
Email: Huddleston_j@cde.state.co.us
Recruitment and Retention Grant RFP Now Available
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel
The new Recruitment and Retention Grant Request For Proposal is now available. This RFP is designed to solicit applications from local education agencies to enhance their ability to increase staff capacity in schools as suggested in Title II, Part A. The purpose of this program is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and ensure that all teachers are highly qualified. This particular grant is aimed at encouraging districts to assess staffing needs and consider innovative approaches to addressing those needs and must align with the Unified Plan.
Approximately $700,000 is available for re-distribution to LEAs. The maximum amount that an LEA or consortia of districts may request is $50,000; a lesser amount may be requested.
Proposals will be due on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. For more information and to access the RFP, please visit the Web site below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Michael Seymour
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6065
Email: seymour_m@cde.state.co.us
Webinar: Using the Unified Improvement Plan with Title I Schools
Attn: Title I and Federal Program Contacts
On Friday, Oct. 29, the Office of Federal Program Administration will host a webinar on using the Unified Improvement Plan with Title I schools on Improvement, Corrective Action, Restructuring and beyond. The webinar will demonstrate how the various requirements associated with these Title I areas can be incorporated into the UIP, so that schools operate from a single plan.
Since Title I schools on Improvement, Corrective Action, Restructuring and beyond must use the UIP this year, the webinar may prove important in guiding schools to the best use of this plan from a Title I perspective. However, any Title I school is welcome to participate in this webinar, as the first hour will walk through how to use the UIP for Title I program purposes.
The instructions and links for participating in the webinar are below. There is no need to register for this event.
Meeting Name: Using the Unified Improvement Plan for Title I Requirements
When: Friday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Dial in Details: 866-601-0566
To join the meeting: http://connect.cboces.org/r38919514/
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Brad Bylsma
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6937
Email: bylsma_b@cde.state.co.us
FYI
Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act Frequently Asked Questions
Attn: Principals, Superintendents, District Finance Office, School Counselors
In order to help clarify the Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT programs, we will release responses to frequently asked questions in The Scoop. A new set of questions and answers will be included each week.
FAQs for this week:
Q: Are there separate agreements for Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT?
A: Yes. Both preferred agreement models can be found at http://www.cde.state.co.us/scripts/reforms/detail.asp?itemid=576304
Q: If a college course is taught at the high school by a high school teacher, can students participate in the ASCENT program with this course?
A: Yes, this is allowed, but it would have to be specified in the cooperative agreement that such courses are acceptable.
Q: Is there a disclosure in the cooperative agreement form that declares that information can be released to high school and parent?
A: For the purposes of meeting the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the student is considered a high school student until they reach the age of 18. At that point rights transfer to the student.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Charles E. Dukes
Phone: 303-866-6142
Email: dukes_c@cde.state.co.us
Important Due Date
Submission of School Accreditation Categories and Requests to Reconsider Due Oct. 15
Attn: Superintendents, Accountability Contacts
The deadline is this Friday, Oct. 15, for two key components in the implementation of the Education Accountability Act (S.B. 09-163):
1. Submitting school accreditation categories
2. Submitting requests to reconsider district accreditation categories or school plan type assignments.
To provide you with information you may need to meet these important deadlines, CDE sent this memo to superintendents and DACs last week:
http://www.schoolview.org/documents/Oct15update.pdf
The memo provides an update on adjustments made to S.B. 09-163 implementation based on input from the field, as well as clarifies the process to submit requests for reconsideration. We received a number of requests for flexibility to ensure a common sense approach to implementation and, in response, CDE has made a number of adjustments. Specifically, the memo addresses the:
-Oct. 15 deadline for submitting school accreditation forms and requests to reconsider;
-Process for requests to reconsider, including the types of questions and reports considered by CDE;
-Public release of district and school performance frameworks;
-Unified improvement planning process, including flexibility for K-8, 6-12, and K-12 schools; small districts; and Alternative Education Campuses;
-Designation of a single accountability contact for each district; and
-Resources offered by CDE regarding implementation, including improvement planning.
District staff managing accountability processes should carefully review the e-mail for a summary of upcoming action items. Following a review, we ask that each district complete this CDE request for accountability information at the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/accountabilityrequest
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Somoh Supharukchinda
Office of Performance and Policy
Phone: 303-866-6778
Email: supharukchinda_s@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
Verify Shipping Address for Test Materials by Friday, Oct. 15
Attn: District Assessment Coordinators
In preparation for delivery of CELApro Test Materials to districts, please login to CELA Navigator to review and update your materials shipping address. This can only be done on Coordinator Update in Navigator. An e-mail has been sent to each of you with specific instructions on how to update your district information.
For More Information, Contact:
Maile Rieple
Unit of Student Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6929
Email: rieple_m@cde.state.co.us
EDX Meeting Thursday, Oct. 21
Attn: Chief Information Officers, District Technology Leaders, System Architects, Data Experts
CDE is partnering with districts to host an Education Data eXchange Council. Share solutions, discuss best practices and advise the state on strategies to more efficiently and effectively exchange data.
Help guide the vision of a next-generation data exchange system and collaborate with your technology peers across the state. This meeting is open to everyone throughout the state.
Items to be discussed at this meeting are SLDS, district initiatives on technology, Sharepoint and the new E-License process.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Jefferson County School District, 1829 Denver West Drive, Building 27, Golden, CO 80401.
If you are unable to attend the meeting at CDE, you can participate in the meeting online using Adobe Connect at http://connect.cboces.org/edx/
The dial up number to listen and participate is 1-866-764-6750.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Dennis St. Hilaire
IMS
Phone: 303-866-6840
Email: st.hilaire_d@cde.state.co.us
Update
Updated Quality Criteria for Unified Improvement Plans for Schools
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, Title I Directors, District or School staff working with schools on accountability requirements
The Quality Criteria for Schools is a resource that should be useful to any school using the Unified Improvement Plan template. It provides guidance on the elements that would be expected in a quality plan, and that also meet all state and federal requirements. In working with schools as they use the Quality Criteria to help build their Unified Improvement Plan, CDE realized that some further refinements were needed. Version 1.2 has the following improvements:
• Directions on how to use the tool
• More explicit directions for Title I schools on requirements that are unique to Title I
• More explicit directions for schools receiving the turnaround plan assignment under the state accountability system
• Clarifying language and added examples
Updated resources may be found in the Learning Center at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Medler
Phone: 303-866-6993
Email: medler_l@cde.state.co.us
Updated Registration Link for Blackboard Training: Appropriate Referral and Identification of Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse Students
Attn: Special Ed Directors
Due to difficulties with the original registration site, a new link is available to register for this popular Blackboard training and a few spaces are still open. The upcoming session is Oct. 25 - 31. Online registration closes Monday, Oct. 18. (Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis - class size is limited to 30.)
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Fran Herbert
ESLU
Phone: 303-866-6604
Email: herbert_f@cde.state.co.us
Urgent
First Unified Improvement Planning Training Will Be Monday, Oct. 25
Attn: Superintendents; Accountability Contacts; Federal Programs Contacts
The Colorado Department of Education is pleased to announce two new supports for the Unified Improvement Planning work for schools and districts: (1) a series of differentiated trainings and (2) updated Quality Criteria for Unified Improvement Plans at the school level.
Differentiated Training for Unified Improvement Planning
This series of trainings for Unified Improvement Planning is designed for those districts and schools that are required to submit a Unified Improvement Plan by Jan. 17 for a state level review to meet state and/or federal accountability expectations. The sessions have been differentiated into three types:
1) School Level Support for Schools assigned a Priority Improvement or Turnaround plan under state accountability
2) District Level Support for Districts with schools assigned a Priority Improvement or Turnaround Plan under state accountability
3) District Level Support for Districts Accredited with Turnaround or Priority Improvement plans under state accountability or identified for improvement under ESEA, including Titles I, IIA and/or III.
Training details (i.e., descriptions, locations, dates, and times) are included at the link below for these three types of training. Please note that CDE will provide a separate series of training opportunities for districts preparing Performance and Improvement Plans at a later date.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Erin Loften
Phone: 303.866.6642
Email: loften_e@cde.state.us
Colorado Department of Education
201 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado
80203-1799
Phone: 303-866-6822 or 303-866-2334
Do you know somebody in your school district who needs to read The Scoop each week? Send an e-mail to: CDE_Communications_Office@cde.state.co.us with "Sign Me Up For The Scoop" in the subject line. If you are having trouble signing up, please call the communications office at the telephone numbers above.
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