Announcement
Alternative Education Campuses (AECs): Policy Guidance and Accompanying Documents
Attn: Superintendents, District Representatives and Alternative Education Campus Leaders
Thanks to the input of many stakeholders over the past year, the department has revised its guidance regarding accountability for Alternative Education Campuses (AECs). The letter at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdedocs/OPP/AECMemo5-3-11.pdf outlines the major updates and important documents, including policy guidance, application forms and a selection of measures form.
Please note:
• The first upcoming deadline for AECs is July 1. By July 1, districts/the Institute must submit (1) the Application and Renewal Form for AEC Status Designation, and (2) the Selection of Accountability Measures for AECs Form.
• All documents are currently marked as draft as they are pending EDAC approval. We do not anticipate significant changes and wanted to provide them at this time for your review, but please hold off on completing any forms until we send the final versions. We hope to do so by next week, following this Friday’s EDAC meeting. All forms will be available at the link below.
To help schools choose measures and determine if additional evidence is appropriate, CDE will soon provide districts and schools with preliminary AEC indicator ratings based on the state data from 2007-2010. CDE will also provide districts with how these indicator ratings roll up into preliminary plan type assignments, and, following a district comment period, will share these with schools.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
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
Colorado Legacy Foundation Announces Bullying Prevention Grant
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, PBIS Teams, School Safety Teams, Bullying Prevention Teams
The Colorado Legacy Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of grants for districts and schools seeking to implement comprehensive approaches to bullying prevention and improving school climate.
The Legacy Foundation will award a limited number of grants of up to $10,000 each to districts, schools, or BOCES. Proposals are due Wednesday, June 8, 2011. For more information and to download the full RFP please visit the Colorado Legacy Foundation Web site at the link below. These grants are made possible with generous support from the Gill Foundation.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Carol Mehesy
Phone: 303-736-6477 x209
Email: cmehesy@colegacy.org
Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (COAHPERD) Award Nominations
Attn: Principals, Superintendants, Directors, Teachers
The Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is asking you to submit award nominations for: Physical Education (Elementary, Middle and High School), Young Professional, Adapted PE, Dance, Health, Administrator and Athletic Director, by Thursday, May 5.
Go to www.coahperd.org > Convention > Awards to view the award criteria and submit your nomination. There are a wide variety of award categories. It is the intent to recognize the excellent instruction of those in our field through these awards. To this end, you are not merely invited but, rather, urged to nominate those who personify such excellence. Both the winner and his/her nominator(s) will be recognized at the awards banquet during the 2012 Central District Convention in Colorado Springs.
If you have questions, contact:
Patricia Morrison-Hughes
24483 E. Whitaker Ct.
Aurora, Colorado 80016
Pat@coahperd.org
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Terry Jones
Health and Wellness
Phone: 303.866.6835
Email: jones_t@cde.state.co.us
Event
National School Nurse Day
Attn: Superintendents, Special Ed Directors, Principals
Next Wednesday, May 11, is National School Nurse Day. This day of recognition was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. Remember to thank your school nurse for the work they do to keep students safe, healthy and ready to learn!
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
Three-Week Thinkfinity Online Course Available for Teachers Now
Attn: Principals
eNetColorado and Colorado Thinkfinity continue to offer three-week Thinkfinity Online course for all Colorado teachers through 2011. There are slots available for courses starting June 1 and July 1.
Two courses are offered. A three-week course for Colorado educators and a three-week course for master trainers who will train and support others on the use of Thinkfinity in the classroom.
See complete course descriptions and registration information at: http://www.coloradothinkfinity.org/colorado-thinkfinity-professional-development.html
Classes start the first of each month and courses are offered through 2011.
Individuals can register for the month they want to take the course at: http://www.coloradothinkfinity.org/register-for-courses.html
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Dan Morris
Phone: 303-917-3922
Email: dan.morris@enetcolorado.org
2011 CDE Summer Symposia
Attn: Districts
The Summer Learning Symposia, a two-day meeting facilitated by CDE, will assist schools and districts in unifying their work around Colorado's reform agenda.
Key outcomes:
-Create collaboration between and among districts and CDE
-Develop a coherent vision around Colorado's reform agenda
-Share ideas about leveraging opportunities to maximize results for students
-Develop district plans for moving forward with Colorado's education reform agenda
Target Group: District leadership teams, comprised of district, school and classroom representatives who are responsible for implementation. The intent is to enhance the capacity of all schools and districts to implement these important initiatives.
Dates and Locations:
-Monday and Tuesday, June 6 & 7 at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley
-Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 & 16 at Otero Junior College in La Junta
-Wednesday and Thursday, June 22 & 23 at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
-Monday and Tuesday, June 27 & June 28 at the Double Tree Hotel in Grand Junction
-Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 & 4 at a Denver location to be determined
Registration for all dates and locations is currently open on the CDE Web site. Registration for each symposium date will close one week prior to that date and participants will be capped at 200.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Vanessa Roman
Office of Learning and Results
Phone: (303) 866-6678
Email: roman_v@cde.state.co.us
Federal Programs
2010-11 Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives 1 and 2 Notification
Attn: Federal Program Contacts & Title III Directors
CDE e-mailed Title III grantees the preliminary 2010-2011 determinations for AMAOs 1 and 2 on May 2nd. Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) are the Title III accountability measures under NCLB. Student-level data is also now available in CEDAR for individual districts.
Requests to review AMAO 1 or AMAO 2 determinations are due to CDE by Friday, May 20.
An additional training webinar covering how AMAOs 1 and 2 were determined and the appeal process will be held on Thursday, May 12 at 1 p.m. To register, contact Donna Morganstern (morganstern_d@cde.state.co.us).
AMAO 3, which is based on AYP determinations for English language learners, will not be available until other AYP preliminary determinations are disseminated in early August. Any appeals of AMAO 3 must be made as part of the AYP appeal process. Final AMAO 3 and district-level Title III Improvement Status will be available in October.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Alyssa Pearson
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6855
Email: pearson_a@cde.state.co.us
Update on NCLB Allocations and the Consolidated Application
Attn: Superintendents, Federal Programs Contacts
At this time, the USDE has not released state allocations for NCLB funds; therefore, CDE does not have specific information regarding the funding levels of the various ESEA programs for 2011-2012. We do know that the final FY 2011 Continuing Resolution passed by the U.S. Congress included a 0.2 percent across-the-board cut to all non-defense discretionary spending. Specific education program cuts included the elimination of Title II, Part D (Ed Tech), Striving Readers and Even Start. Title II, Part A state grants will receive a 1 percent cut nationally. (It is not clear what this means for Colorado’s allocation).
CDE is not able to open the 2011-12 Consolidated Application to districts and BOCES until allocations are determined. Once CDE receives preliminary allocations from the USDE, CDE’s Grants Fiscal Office will run the calculations to determine allocations for each NCLB program in every eligible school district. This process typically takes from two to four weeks. The application will be opened when that work is complete.
CDE is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that districts will be able to obligate funds by July 1, 2011. If by mid-May CDE has not received necessary allocation information, an alternative application method will be presented to districts and BOCES.
The 2011-12 online application is very similar to that of last year. CDE encourages districts and BOCES to complete as much work as possible in anticipation of the release of the application. This includes collecting necessary data and conducting preliminary meetings with stakeholders to plan activities. Grantees are also encouraged to generate a draft narrative for all programs. A checklist of recommended activities to prepare for the Consolidated Application is available at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/FedPrograms/consapp/index.asp.
CDE will continue to send out updates to keep district/BOCES leadership abreast of any developments. Thanks for your patience.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Cheryl Miller
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6214
Email: miller_c@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
Fire Maintenance Inspections- Common Fire Hazards In Schools
Attn: Principals, Superintendants
Fire Safety is about taking precautionary measures to prevent or reduce the possibility of a fire. Threats to fire safety are referred to as fire hazards.
Common Fire Hazards in Schools
1. Too much artwork and paper materials on corridor walls and classroom exit doors. Artwork and teaching materials shall be limited on the walls of corridors to not more than 20 percent of the wall area.
2. Blocked or obstructed exit doors. Emergency exits (in classrooms and corridors) should be clear at all times. With signage in place above all required egress doors, signage should be illuminated.
3. Improper storage of materials. Corridors must maintain the required egress width to exit the building in an emergency. Boxes, tables, desks, and other materials should not be stored in hallways that would interfere with exiting the building in an emergency. Stairs (and underneath stairs) should not be used to store paper, boxes, or other materials and equipment.
4. Blocked access to emergency utility shutoff valves/switches. There should be a 36-inch wide clear path to emergency gas, electric, water shutoff valves/switches, main HVAC shutoff switches and equipment. Emergency shutoff valves/switches should be clearly marked. Keep access aisles to these devises free and clear at all times.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Joseph Montoya
Phone: 303-239-5862
Email: joseph.montoya@cdps.state.co.us
May Tip of the Month - Disposing Pesticides
Attn: Facility managers, custodians
Pesticides can be useful to have around the home and garden to help combat some of the pests we encounter, but they do have a limited shelf-life. Manufacturers intend for consumers to replace pest control products every two to three years so the products remain effective.
The BEST way to dispose of pesticides is to use them as intended. If you have extra, see if a friend or neighbor can use the product. Legally disposing of concentrated pesticide products can be difficult. Watch your local newspaper for information on hazardous waste collection programs or contact your local CSU Extension office, city, county, or county health department for details on pesticide disposal programs. You can also see if your local landfill will accept pesticides for disposal. Despite the difficulty of getting rid of these products, NEVER resort to dumping them down the drain, putting them in the garbage can, or dumping them down the storm drain. As little as one teaspoon of certain pesticides rinsed down a drain is enough to show up as a pollutant in local streams. And in the future, consider using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to manage pest problems instead of reaching for the quick fix.
Contact your local Extension office for more information on IPM (www.ext.colostate.edu). And if you do need to purchase pesticides, buy only enough pesticide for the job to avoid storage and disposal issues.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Deborah Young
Colorado State University
Phone: 970-491-1377
Email: deborah.young@colostate.edu
Update
Early Childhood Assessments Update
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, Teachers, District Curriculum, Literacy, and Math Coordinators
CDE recently issued a memo outlining the next steps in updating and aligning the early childhood education assessment system. Specifically, the state board will update the Colorado Basic Literacy Act rules and review the approved literacy assessment tools. In addition, the state board will identify a protocol for assessing numeracy and approving a plan for measuring school readiness of all kindergarten students.
Below is the anticipated timeline:
• June 2011 – Two reports will be presented to the state board of education. A report on the validity and reliability of existing CBLA assessments and a report on the early childhood suite of assessments used by Results Matter. CDE staff will also provide a brief overview of current approaches to teaching and measuring numeracy in the context of earlier grade levels.
• August 2011 – Based on reliability and alignment measures of existing tools and national research findings, CDE will present to the board a first draft of updated CBLA rules and a protocol for assessing numeracy. There will also be discussion about exemplary assessment tools for measuring literacy.
• September 2011 – CDE will publish revised draft CBLA rules and the draft protocol for assessing numeracy and offer opportunities for public feedback.
• November 2011 – SBE will conduct a CBLA rulemaking hearing to establish the new rules regarding the administration of literacy assessments. Public comment will be invited. In addition, CDE staff will identify recommended literacy and numeracy assessments for board member discussion.
• December 2011 – SBE will adopt revised CBLA rules, adopt a protocol for assessing numeracy and approve CBLA assessment tools.
Please click the link below to read the memo.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Emmy Glancy, Program Manager CAP4K
Office of Standards and Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6118
Email: glancy_e@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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