Announcement
State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report Released
Attn: Special Education Directors, Principals, Superintendents
Colorado’s 2008-09 State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report under Part B of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are available now on the CDE Web site. The State Performance Plan establishes targets for: (1) graduation and dropout rates of students with disabilities, and (2) performance rates for those students on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) and Colorado Student Assessment Program Alternate (CSAPA) tests. The State Performance Plan also establishes targets for other performance and compliance indicators.
The Annual Performance Report is CDE’s report to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs and, based on aggregated local data, describes how the State performed in 2007-08 on targets set in the State Performance Plan.
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For More Information, Contact:
Sarah Cannon
Exceptional Student Leadership
Phone: 303-866-6749
Email: cannon_s@cde.state.co.us
Colorado's IDEA Part B Application for FFY 2010
Attn: Superintendents, Special Education Directors/Administrators, Principals, Special Educators
CDE's Exceptional Student Leadership Unit has published the following documents on the ESLU Web site for review and public comment:
-Colorado’s Part B Application for grant funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for federal fiscal year 2010
-State Level Complaint Procedures
-Proposed Due Process System Change
All documents are available online at the link below. Information about scheduled regional hearings is also available. Hard copies of the proposed documents may be requested by calling Kim Hubbard.
Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 9. Send written comments to Kim Hubbard, CDE, Exceptional Student Leadership Unit, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1175, Denver, CO 80202-5149, by fax to (303) 866-6767, or by email to hubbard_k@cde.state.co.us
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For More Information, Contact:
Kim Hubbard
Exceptional Student Leadership
Phone: 303-866-6690
Email: hubbard_k@cde.state.co.us
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship
Attn: Principals, Superintendents, School Counselors
The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program (Title IV, Part A, Subpart 6 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) is a federally funded program to promote exceptional achievement in students who show promise of continued academic excellence.
Scholarships are given to graduating high school seniors, eligible general education development (GED) graduates and home schooled students who show promise of continued excellence, in an effort to recognize and promote student excellence and achievement.
The scholarships are for study at postsecondary institutions of higher education. By promoting student excellence and achievement, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program supports National Education Goals. Student recipients under this program are known as “Byrd Scholars.”
Scholarships are awarded each year on the basis of merit to provide a scholarship for four years of continuous study at an accredited institution of higher education. The scholarships may be used for undergraduate study only. Availability and dollar amount of scholarships are dependent on federal funding for each of the four years, but will not exceed $1,500 per year, pending official notification from the U.S. Department of Education. Funding is subject to change at any time.
The 2010 application is now available online at the link below.
CDE is also looking for readers for each application. If you are interested in being a reader please contact Charles Dukes or visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeawards/byrdreader.htm
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For More Information, Contact:
Charles E. Dukes
Office of Teaching and Learning
Phone: 303-866-6142
Email: dukes_c@cde.state.co.us
Federal Programs
C-FIRS Tracker April Instrument - Request for Questions and Feedback
Attn: Federal Program Contacts
In 2009, the Colorado Department of Education, Office of Federal Program Administration (OFPA) began using the Colorado Federal Integrated Review (C-FIRS) Tracker System to collect documents and review local education agency compliance with “indicators” or legal requirements that OFPA must monitor if an LEA receives federal funds. As we prepare to collect the C-FIRS April Tracker Instrument, we are seeking feedback from the field. Please provide this feedback in specific questions or concerns pertaining to the Tracker System or the April Instrument by Wednesday, March 10. Direct all questions to Jennifer Morgan via e-mail at morgan_j@cde.state.co.us.
We will answer these questions and address any concerns during webinars scheduled for Wednesday, March 17 at 2 p.m. and Friday, March 19 at 9 a.m. Both webinars will pertain to the Friday, April 30 Tracker Instrument collection. To sign-up for a webinar, please e-mail Clara at Algiene_C@cde.state.co.us and specify which webinar you would like to attend.
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For More Information, Contact:
Jennifer L. Morgan
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303.866.6108
Email: morgan_j@cde.state.co.us.
Required Consultation with Private Schools
Attn: Federal Program Contacts and Consolidated Application Coordinators
No Child Left Behind requires districts to contact all private schools within district boundaries to schedule a face-to-face consultation meeting to discuss participation in NCLB programs. These consultations should occur as part of your planning for the 10-11 Consolidated Application. The Office of Federal Program Administration will monitor district compliance with this provision during the April Desk Monitoring. Districts must submit documentation of consultation using the required form ”Affirmation of Consultation” which is available online at the link below.
Additional information and guidance regarding the NCLB equitable participation requirements are provided in the booklet “Equitable Services to Nonpublic School Students” available at http://www.cde.state.co.us/FedPrograms/NCLB/guidance.asp.
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For More Information, Contact:
Kathryn Smukler
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6842
Email: Smukler _k@cde.state.co.us
OFPA Awards Family Literacy Grants
Attn: Superintendents, Federal Program Contacts, Title I Directors
The Office of Federal Program Administration has awarded $330,000 in reallocated Title I, Part A funds to seven school districts. The funds will support family literacy, in particular, English language learners.
The awarding districts must use the funds before Tuesday, August 31. Funded projects include summer-school activities, parents and children learning together, and parent computer literacy enhancement.
Thanks to the many districts that submitted proposals. It was unfortunate that all could not be funded. Please consider using regular or ARRA Title I funds to support proposals that could not be funded.
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For More Information, Contact:
Kathryn Smukler
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6842
Email: smukler_k@cde.state.co.us.
2010-2011 Consolidated Application Checklist
Attn: Federal Program Contacts and Consolidated Application Coordinators
The Office of Federal Program Administration has developed a checklist for the Consolidated Application to help local education agencies get ready for the 2010-2011 application. This checklist contains steps that an LEA should take to be ready to complete the Consolidated Application when it is available in late spring.
The checklist is available at the link below.
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For More Information, Contact:
Brad Bylsma
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6937
Email: Bylsma_b@cde.state.co.us
Gun-Free Schools Act Policy Desk Review
Attn: Federal Program Directors and Superintendents
The Gun-Free Schools Act policy review by CDE will resume in April.
Prior to Thursday, April 15 school boards may need to adopt a revised policy statement in order to ensure that their current policy conforms to requirements. The policy is a condition of receiving No Child Left Behind funds.
NCLB federal program directors were e-mailed a memo on Feb. 24 that provided further guidance about specific requirements of the policy. The memo also noted that CDE would consider any member district of the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) that adopts CASB’s recently revised model policy to be in compliance with the Gun-Free Schools Act. CASB issued a policy update in early February. CDE and CASB worked together to reconcile a conflict between state and federal statutes in order to ensure districts clearly met the federal requirements for the purposes of CDE’s review. The memo is available at the link below.
Districts are to upload the policy in the CFIRS Tracker system by Friday, April 30.
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For More Information, Contact:
Janelle Krueger
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303.866.6660
Email: Krueger_J@cde.state.co.us
Intent to Plan a Title I Schoolwide Plan
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, Title I Directors, Federal Program Contacts
The last date to submit an “Intent to Plan a Title I Schoolwide Plan” for the 2010-2011 school year is Wednesday, March 31. Please use the form found at the Web site below to notify the state of the school’s change to its Title IA program.
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For More Information, Contact:
Trish Boland
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6998
Email: boland_t@cde.state.co.us
FYI
Comments to Teacher Incentive Fund Program Requested
Attn: Superintendents, HR Directors
The U.S. Department of Education has released proposed guidance on the Teacher Incentive Fund. In addition to increasing the funds available through this program, changes to the program requirements are also being propsed. The public comment period will end Monday, March 29, after which final guidelines will be published.
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For More Information, Contact:
Nina Lopez
Phone: 303-916-5434
Email: Lopez_N@cde.state.co.us
Applications for President Obama Visit
Attn: Superintendents, High School Principals
The White House is inviting high schools to apply for President Obama to speak at their high school graduation. "The Race to the Top High School Commencement challenge encourages schools to show how they are making great strides on personal responsibility, academic excellence and college readiness," said the announcement from the White House.
Gov. Bill Ritter's office has asked to be made aware of any high schools that are applying. Please let the CDE Communications Office know, using the contact information below, if your school is submitting an application.
More about the competition is at the link below.
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For More Information, Contact:
Mark Stevens
Communications Office
Phone: 303-866-3898
Email: stevens_m@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
CAP4K Town Hall Meetings in Pueblo and Steamboat Springs
Attn: Principals, Superintendents, Teachers, Parents, Students, Assessment Coordinators, Early Childhood Educators
CDE and the Colorado Department of Higher Education will jointly host a town hall meeting in Pueblo on Thursday, March 4 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Pueblo Community College, Hoag Theatre – Academic Bldg, 900 West Orman Ave., as part of the ongoing effort to discuss the next generation of the state assessment system. The meeting will focus on postsecondary and workforce readiness and high school assessments.
The state-wide tour continues to Steamboat Springs on Wednesday, March 17 from 5-7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Steamboat Springs Community Center, 1605 Lincoln Ave. The Steamboat meeting will be devoted to school readiness and primary grade assessments.
Educators, students, parents, business and community members and interested citizens are invited to the meetings.
The gatherings are part of the thirteen statewide meetings planned to solicit a broad spectrum of community thinking. The meetings will either focus on school readiness and primary grade assessments or Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness and secondary grade assessments. The work was launched by Senate Bill 08-212, the “Preschool to Postsecondary Education Alignment Act” also known as the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K).
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For More Information, Contact:
Emmy Glancy
Standards and Assessments
Phone: 303-866-6118
Email: glancy_e@cde.state.co.us
Update
Race to the Top Announcement Thursday, March 4
Attn: Superintendents, Principals
Please be aware that tomorrow (Thursday, March 4) the U.S. Department of Education will announce the list of finalists for Race to the Top competitive grants. The finalists will be invited to make oral presentations later this month in Washington, D.C., and the winners of Race to the Top (round one) will be announced in April. The announcement is expected at 10 a.m. Colorado time. The communications office will issue a news release tomorrow and also post it on the CDE Web site at the link below.
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For More Information, Contact:
Mark Stevens
Communications
Phone: 303-866-3898
Email: stevens_m@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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