Announcement
CDE Releases RtI Problem-Solving/Consultation Video & Facilitation Guide
Attn: Superintendents, Principals
CDE will mail out the Problem-Solving/Consultation video and Facilitation Guide the week of January 12 to all district RtI contacts. The video and facilitation guide should be used for training schools in the problem-solving process. It is a resource that will guide school teams in understanding the steps of the process and may provide insight on the team functions that constitute effective problem-solving.
If your district has not provided CDE with a RtI contact, or if you need to update your contact, please e-mail Diane Barranco at the contact information below by Friday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m.
For More Information, Contact:
Diane Barranco
RtI
Phone: 303-866-6355
Email: barranco_d@cde.state.co.us
Federal Programs
Recruitment and Retention Grant
Attn: Title II - A, Federal Programs, Human Resource Contacts
The request for proposal (RFP) for the 08-09 Recruitment and Retention grant is now available! The deadline is Monday, Jan. 26, 2009.
The intent of this RFP is to solicit applications from local education agencies to fulfill requirements of Title II, Part A. In particular, this grant is designed to enable districts to assess staffing needs and consider innovative approaches to addressing those needs. This includes examining the equitable distribution of experienced, qualified and effective teachers and increasing Colorado's statewide percentage of highly qualified teachers and Title I paraprofessionals to 100 percent. The RFP and budget are available online at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Mariah Aldinger
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6250
Email: aldinger_m@cde.state.co.us
FYI
Expansion of Child Health Plan Plus Benefits
Attn: Superintendents, Student Service Offices
In 2008, there were two Colorado senate bills passed that resulted in exciting expansions for Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) benefits beginning Thursday, Jan. 1 2009.
Senate Bill 08-057, Insurance Coverage of Hearing Aids for Minors, lifts the $800 benefit maximum on medically necessary hearing aids. By removing the benefit limit, more children will have access to the equipment necessary to help restore their hearing. This benefit change should reduce costs associated with special education and alternative treatments which would otherwise be necessary if the appropriate hearing aids are not provided.
Senate Bill 08-160, Concerning Improvements To Health Care for Children, states that mental health services for CHP+ will be at least as comprehensive as the mental health services provided to Medicaid recipients in the schedule of health care services.
This will expand current CHP+ mental health services available to members.
In order to expand mental health services, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing sought input from internal and external stakeholders. The expansion was built around the following ideas:
* Expand covered sites of service to places such as schools, homes and drop-in centers.
* Remove the caps on existing behavioral health services and include home-based services, intensive/targeted case management, wrap-around services and respite care.
* Make the prior authorization process as easy as possible for the providers and members.
* Make services available for both the child and pre-natal care members of CHP+.
* Administer the mental health and behavioral health services using the managed care philosophy.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Carol Rieder
Phone: 303-866-2777
Email: carol.rieder@state.co.us
Important Due Date
Capital Construction Grant Application for BEST grants
Attn: Superintendents, Business Managers, Facility Managers, Grant Writers
There will be a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) 2008-09 grant cycle for -
• urgent health and safety projects
• on going phases of previously awarded projects
• supplemental requests to previously awarded grants
Some pilot projects will also be selected for funding. The process and the application will be similar to the previous capital construction grant program.
The schedule will be as follows:
• The CC-03 Capital Construction Grant Application is available on the capital construction Web site at the link below.
• Completed grant applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2009;
• CDE staff will read and summarize the grant applications for the Capital Construction Assistance Board and the Colorado State Board of Education;
• The Capital Construction Assistance Board will meet as necessary to review applications and select applications to recommend to the state board;
• The recommended projects will be submitted to the state board before the Wednesday, March 18 state board work session;
• Projects approved by the state board will be awarded after Thursday, March 19, 2009.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Ted Hughes
Division of Public School Capital Construction Assistance
Phone: 303-866-6948
Email: hughes_t@cde.state.co.us
CELApro Testing Window and Return of Testing Materials to CTB
Attn: DACs
The CELApro testing window is Friday, Jan. 2, through Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Please return all testing materials to CTB before Wednesday, Feb. 4. Districts will need to know the number of boxes being picked up. If you have questions, please e-mail Marisol Enriquez at the e-mail address below.
For More Information, Contact:
Marisol Enriquez
Student Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6634
Email: enriquez_m@cde.state.co.us
News
Alternative Compensation Grants – Is This For Us?
Attn: Superintendents, Boards of Education, Director of the Colorado Charter School Institute, Director of the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, BOCES Directors
Is your district in a good position to apply for funds through a new grant program designed to help with teacher retention by supporting plans to build alternative compensation programs?
Attracting, retaining and supporting high quality teachers are critical elements in meeting Colorado’s education goals. The legislature approved $980,000 with the passage of House Bill 08-1388 to support district planning to reward teachers for “innovative, creative and high-quality teaching practices” and promoting “excellent student performance.”
Find out more about this CDE grant program at a special briefing session on Monday, Jan. 12. The session will be held from 2-4 p.m. at the Colorado Association of School Boards, 1200 Grant St., Denver.
In addition to receiving information about the grant program and its purpose, you will learn about successful alternative compensation plans and the elements of such plans from experts who have been involved in their development. There will be plenty of time for questions and dialogue.
Use this opportunity to assess your readiness and improve your chances of success. Grant proposals are due Friday, Jan. 30. For complete information about the grant program visit the link below.
What to bring:
• A team from your district – administrator, teacher, others
• A copy of the RFP
• Your ideas and questions
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Anne Marie Roberts
Office of Professional Services
Phone: 303-866-6648
Email: roberts_a@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
Colorado ACT 2009 Administration Training
Attn: High School COACT Team
High School COACT Team (ACT Invitation Only/Required)
If you have been appointed by your principal as your school's ACT test supervisor, back-up test supervisor or test accommodations coordinator and are trying to register for the required state testing training workshop, please contact ACT at 800/553-6244, ext. 2800.
New District Assessment Coordinators (Voluntary)
If you are a newly appointed district assessment coordinator interested in learning about the grade 11 COACT functions in your district’s high schools, you may register by contacting ACT at 800/553-6244, ext. 2800 to register.
Training Schedule (January 12,14,15 & 16)
All training workshops will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at noon.
-Monday, Jan. 12 in Grand Junction
-Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Pueblo
-Thursday, Jan. 15 in Greeley
-Friday, Jan. 16 in Denver (this training site is full)
For More Information, Contact:
Christine Deines
Student Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6877
Email: deines_c@cde.state.co.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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