Announcement
Expelled and At-Risk Student Services RFP Now Available
Attn: Superintendents, District/BOCES Personnel, Facility Schools
The Expelled and At-Risk Student Services (EARSS) Grant Program Request for Proposal is now available. The EARSS program assists in providing educational and supportive services to expelled students and students at-risk for expulsion. Funded programs will focus on: providing educational services to expelled students; and preventing future suspensions and expulsions through a comprehensive range of strategies that are proven effective to help students who are at risk of suspension or expulsion.
This RFP is being released for a new four-year grant cycle. Awards are contingent upon funding appropriated to the EARSS program in the FY12 state budget. It is anticipated that grant awards will be based on $1,000 to $4,000 per student served, depending on the intensity and length of services. Applications are due Wednesday, May 18. For more information on technical assistance and to access the RFP, please visit the Web site below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Janelle Krueger
Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement Unit
Phone: 303-866-6750
Email: krueger_j@cde.state.co.us
New Resource on SchoolView Helps Districts Understand Educator Equity Gaps
Attn: Superintendents, HR Directors, Federal Programs Coordinators, Accountability Contacts, Principals
CDE is pleased to offer a new graphical resource that allows districts to engage in deeper analysis of educator equity gaps within their districts, through the Data Center in SchoolView. The chart on the detail page displays:
(1) the percentage of novice teachers at schools in the district (or the percent of classes taught by highly qualified teachers),
(2) school-level student demographic data (poverty or minority), and
(3) whether each school is meeting academic growth expectations.
Users can quickly identify schools with similar teacher and student demographics that may be achieving different results or highlight trends across schools within the district. Follow-up questions are included with the graph to help districts use the data to inform district action and improvement efforts, such as in the Unified Improvement Plan.
Directions: You can access the new graph at < http://www.schoolview.org/performance.asp >. Click on “SchoolView Data Center” and then select your district from the right hand navigation. Click on the “Staff” tab, and then select the “Teacher Equity” sub-tab. This will provide you will the summary level data. To select the detail level, click on the drop down next to “Summary” and you will get the “Detail” level option.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Medler
Office of Federal Programs Administration
Phone: 303-866-6993
Email: medler_l@cde.state.co.us
Standards Implementation and Assessment Transition Webinar
Attn: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals
The Office of Standards and Assessment and the Office of Teaching and Learning will co-host a webinar for district leaders with updates on standards implementation and assessment transition information on Monday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Participants will receive helpful guidance for standards transition planning for the 2011-12 school year and information on the transitional state assessment. The webinar will be recorded for those unable to participate live.
To participate, please follow this link: http://connect.cboces.org/officehour.
For More Information, Contact:
Melissa Colsman
Office of Teaching and Learning
Phone: (303) 866-6737
Email: colsman_m@cde.state.co.us
Improved ADE News
Attn: Superintendents, ADE Data Liaisons and Other Interested Persons
Colorado has released the RFP for the next generation of the Automated Data Exchange (ADE). The purpose of this project is to provide local education agencies (LEAs) with a tool that improves the process by which they submit data to CDE.
Specific goals of the project are to reduce the number of re-submissions by an LEA for a given collection by 50 percent; reduce the overall number of collections by 20 percent; reduce data redundancy so that the total number of data elements collected is reduced by 20 percent; provide an extensible system to support future data collection technology; and provide a technology that supports rapid data exchange.
The overall goal and purpose of this project is to improve and streamline the process by which CDE receives, processes and reports back the data submitted by districts. Other objectives include eliminating the need to reopen previous years’ collections after the collection window has closed; alleviating the data collection burden on LEAs; providing flexibility to LEAs in the way they submit their data to CDE; eliminating data manipulation at the state level; eliminating data manipulation at the LEA outside of their source systems; streamlining the data collections and data collection process; reducing data collection redundancies at the data element level; reducing redundancies and conflicts in edits; leveraging new technologies that will support LEAs with sophisticated IT departments as well as districts with minimal IT support; and provide a common language to build future modules/collections.
ADE data liaisons were sent a copy of the RFP with instructions about forwarding to interested vendors. CDE are excited to be entering this new phase and look forward to collaborating with local education agencies to make this emerging data collection process a reality. We appreciate your support!
For More Information, Contact:
Jan Rose Petro
Data Services
Phone: 303-866-6838
Email: petro_j@cde.state.co.us
Event
Western Slope Facilitated Discussion: Curriculum and the Transition to the New Colorado Standards
Attn: Superintendents, curriculum directors, content specialists, and other district instructional leaders
You are invited to participate in a facilitated discussion regarding curriculum development and the transition to the new Colorado Standards.
Date: Wednesday, April 20
Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Location: Montrose County School District offices; 930 Colorado Ave., Montrose District Phone: 970-249-7726.
Register online at https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHh2V1cyeWppQ2FHdkM1THJYN19jYmc6MQ to guarantee your participation. Registration closes Friday, April 15.
For More Information, Contact:
Melissa Colsman
Office of Teaching and Learning
Phone: (303) 866-6737
Email: colsman_m@cde.state.co.us
School Nurse Orientation
Attn: School Nurses, Superintendents, Special Education Directors
School Nurse Orientation will be July 18 - 21 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs. This four-day training is critical for nurses new to school nursing.
The orientation will cover special education/504, screenings, communicable disease, immunizations, medication administration, & health care plan development.
The training is free and open to nurses hired this year. There will be an opportunity to sign up for the School Nurse Induction Program for nurses in districts that do not have an approved induction program.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Kathleen Patrick RN
Health and Wellness Unit
Phone: 303-866-6779
Email: patrick_k@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
Now Seeking Nominations for Colorado Talent Pool
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel
The Colorado Department of Education maintains a file of emerging classroom leaders that consists of a cadre of distinguished teachers and principals. These educators may be considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces, as well as candidates for special recognition programs. Your recommendations will identify educators who will be of great value to your community and state and who may also ultimately receive prestigious recognition.
We are very fortunate to have a rich base of veteran educators represented in our current talent pool. They have been and continue to be a valuable resource in our state efforts. What is particularly lacking at this time is representation from educators relatively new to the profession who demonstrate unusual instructional and leadership ability. Such persons exhibit strong potential for professional leadership and inspiring presence that impacts students, colleagues, and community.
Nominations for 2011 additions to the talent pool are due by Friday, April 15. For more information on the nomination process, please the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Lynn Bamberry
Competitive Grants and Awards
Phone: 303-866-6813
Email: bamberry_l@cde.state.co.us
Application for 2012 Colorado Teacher of the Year Is Now Available
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel, Principals, Teachers
The application for the 2012 Colorado Teacher of the Year is now available. Each year, the Colorado Teacher of the Year Program honors an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled teacher to represent the entire profession in Colorado. The Colorado Teacher of the Year will automatically become Colorado's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The role of the Colorado Teacher of the Year is to act as:
. a liaison between the teaching community and the legislature, the Department of Education, districts and communities;
. an education ambassador to businesses, parents, service organizations and media;
. a resource on the state of the profession to be available for workshops and conferences around the state; and
. an education leader involved in teacher forums and education reform.
Applications for this honor will be due no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, August 1. To access the application and additional program information for the 2012 Colorado Teacher of the Year, please visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Lynn Bamberry
Competitive Grants and Awards
Phone: 303-866-6813
Email: bamberry_l@cde.state.co.us
Fire Maintenance Inspections
Attn: Principals, Superintendents
The Division of Fire Safety perform fire inspections in accordance with the Adopted Fire Code currently the 2006 International Fire Code. The importance of maintenance inspections is to help mitigate conditions that may cause or contribute to fires or explosions; endanger life or property if a fire occurs or contribute to the spread of a fire.
Once an inspection is scheduled there a couple of things the school district may do to help:
1. Gather fire drill records
2. Gather fire alarm inspection reports
3. Gather sprinkler system inspection reports (if applicable)
DFS inspectors need to review school district annual inspection reports for fire alarm testing and fire suppression system inspection reports if a sprinkler system is present. Inspectors will also review fire drill log sheets to ensure that monthly fire drills are being conducted.
Annual inspections on fire alarm systems are required to be performed by personnel who are qualified and experienced in the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
If you have any questions regarding fire alarm inspections, feel free to contact a DFS inspector.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Joseph Montoya
Phone: 303-239-5862
Email: joseph.montoya@cdps.state.co.us
Reminder to Submit Unified Improvement Plan
Attn: Superintendents, Accountability Contacts, Tracker Respondents, District Assessment Coordinators and Federal Programs Contacts
This is a reminder that the deadline to submit Unified Improvement Plans (UIPs) to CDE is on Friday, April 15. Plans due to CDE by this date are summarized below:
Under State Accountability
Schools: Turnaround Plans, Priority Improvement Plans, Improvement Plans or Performance Plans
Districts: Turnaround Plans, Priority Improvement Plans, Improvement Plans or Performance Plans
Under ESEA Accountability
None
By April 15, all districts, including those on performance and improvement plans, will need to submit final district and school plans to CDE. In 2010 – 2011, the Unified Improvement Plan template is required for districts with an initial January deadline and recommended, but not required, for districts with an initial April deadline. Final district and school plans should be submitted via Tracker in the April “UIP for SchoolView – April” Instrument, as outlined in the “Unified Improvement Plan Submission Process Summary” document. This is the plan that will be posted publicly on SchoolView.
For submission details, please refer to “Unified Improvement Plan Submission Process Summary” on SchoolView. For assistance with Tracker, please contact Katy Jackson at 303-866-6858, uiphelp@cde.state.co.us or Jennifer Morgan at 303-866-6108, Morgan_j@cde.state.co.us.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Katy Jackson
Phone: (303) 866 - 6858
Email: uiphelp@cde.state.co.us
To Do
CDE’s Statewide Longitudinal Data System Program Surveying Districts
Attn: CIO’s, Technology Directors, District Technology Leaders, Educational Technology Administrators
The Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) program team will soon be surveying all Colorado districts to collect information about all district’s current data collection and reporting systems.
As CDE works towards implementing solutions that will simplify district data reporting, provide tools for more consistent reporting processes across districts, and provide higher data integrity, several new initiatives are underway. One initiative includes a P-20 Statewide Longitudinal Data System with enhanced automation and less district-level manual intervention. As an important first step in accomplishing this, CDE must better understand the level of technology surrounding each district’s key academic and business systems. For this reason, CDE has developed a district survey, the purpose of which is to capture enough data from each district to provide CDE with a baseline of technology information surrounding reporting systems. From the data collected here, gaps will be analyzed and plans developed for a new concept and ultimately a more streamlined data reporting system. Summarized technology information will also be shared state-wide to help foster multi-district collaboration and cooperation so you can all see the tools and technologies your colleagues are using.
CDE is sending this survey to key technology leaders in each district with the hope that someone familiar with the technology systems may be able to complete the survey more quickly and not take the time of the academic or instructional staff. Multiple people may access the survey at any given time, so how each district manages its own completion is up to them.
If you are a small district, please let us know who your technical liaison is, so we can ensure your district’s input is considered. This is a voluntary survey, but a critical one. Successful analysis largely depends on participation in this survey. You may also forward this, and other related messages.
For More Information, Contact:
Marcia Bohannon
Information Management Services Unit
Phone: 303-866-6175
Email: Bohannon_m@cde.state.co.us
Update
TELL Survey Results Available on Friday, April 15
Attn: Superintendents, Principals
All results for the 2011 Colorado Teaching, Empowering, Leading & Learning survey will be posted on the TELL Web site on Friday, April 15. There will also be guides and resources for schools and districts.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Medler
Phone: 303-866-6993
Email: medler_l@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.
|
