Announcement
Participate in a Pilot for the New Educator Performance Evaluation Systems
Attn: Principals, Superintendents, HR Directors
CDE has started the process of developing a statewide model educator evaluation system. To ensure that the processes and materials developed are valid, reliable and of the highest quality possible, a pilot has been developed that will be tested by the professionals who will ultimately be required to use them. Educators in your district have the opportunity to serve as representatives of their peers across the state during the development, testing and validation stages of this work. CDE will use the information gathered from testing the new system in pilot districts to refine and improve its quality, credibility, relevance and utility.
For the first year of the pilot, CDE would like to identify two different sets of districts:
1. A cohort of up to six school districts to test elements of the state’s new model evaluation system. Selected districts will be representative of the various sizes, student demographics and geographic differences across Colorado.
2. In addition, CDE is interested in identifying a second group of school districts to participate in the pilot process that have already developed local performance evaluation systems that reflect key elements of the legislation.
To notify CDE that your district is interested in being a part of the developmental phase of this work, please complete the online request to participate in the pilot test by Friday, June 17. CDE will review all completed notices of intent to participate in the pilot test and notify districts of their selection to be a part of this work no later than July 1, 2011.
To access the entire invitation, and apply, visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Ulcca Joshi Hansen, Consultant to CDE
Educator Effectiveness
Phone: (303) 736-6477, Ext. 207
Email: uhansen@colegacy.org
State Advisory Committee for Gifted Student Education Vacancies
Attn: Administrators, Gifted Education Directors and Coordinators, Special Education Directors, Teachers, Parents of gifted students and other community/business members interested in gifted student education
The State Advisory Committee for Gifted Student Education is seeking candidates to fill open positions from congressional districts, 3, 4, 6 and 7.
The State Advisory Committee for Gifted Student Education is comprised of citizens who represent various stakeholder groups in the seven congressional districts. The purpose of SAC is to provide information, discuss issues and make recommendations to the state board in matters relevant to gifted students and their education. New members are appointed by the Colorado State Board of Education. SAC meets four to five times a year. Subcommittees may meet more often. A term of membership is three years. Interested citizens and educators are encouraged to apply by Wednesday, July 6. For details about vacancies and the application process, see more information at the link below. Please forward the flyer to potentially interested parents, educators and community members and post to your list serves.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Katherine Keck
Gifted Education Unit
Phone: 303-866-6794
Email: keck_k@cde.state.co.us
Conference
Advancing Colorado's Plan for Improving Instruction and Student Outcomes
Attn: Superintendents, Curriculum and Instruction Directors, Secondary School Principals, Secondary School Teachers, Professional Development Staff, Educator Performance Evaluation Personnel
The Colorado Legacy Foundation and the Colorado Department of Education invite Colorado school district leaders to attend a day-long conference designed to provide information about tools that can help in the integrated implementation of the new Colorado Academic Standards, aligned assessments, and educator performance evaluations systems in Colorado. These tools are intended to support high-quality implementation efforts by local school districts as well as complement resources being developed by the CDE. In addition, participants will be given information about a potential grant opportunity to serve as a demonstration site to model high-quality implementation of new performance evaluation systems aligned to Senate Bill 10-191 and formative instructional supports intended to support educators.
Date: Monday, June 20
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
Interested districts are encouraged to send 3-5 representatives with the following roles and responsibilities:
• Superintendent
• Curriculum and instruction director
• Secondary school principal
• Secondary school teacher
• Professional development
• Educator performance evaluations
A limited number of travel stipends are available for school district representatives.
Speakers will provide an overview of the following tools and topics:
• Shell Centre modules to support formative instructional practice in math
• Literacy by design tools for use in boosting literacy skills across the Colorado Academic Standards in secondary grades
• Educator performance dashboards and data analysis systems
• Using video resources for instructional coaching
• Ensuring reliable teacher observations
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Hilary Gustave
Colorado Legacy Foundation
Phone: 303-503-9108
Email: hgustave@rebound-solutions.com
Event
UIP and District Data Infrastructure
Attn: District Accountability Contacts, District Planning Contacts District Assessment Coordinators,
The Colorado Department of Education will be offering a series of differentiated training opportunities to support Unified Improvement Planning. The first is a series in late June comprised of 1/2 day dialogues with district leaders about organizing data for planning at the district level, with separate sessions for districts with "small N" concerns.
o Pueblo, Wednesday, June 29
o North Metro Denver, Thursday, June 30
o Glenwood Springs, Friday, June 24
CDE will be customizing sessions based on the primary data reporting tool used by participants (collected as a part of registration). We will follow-up with all registrants with more information about how these days will be structured based on the data reporting tools (we intend to split the sessions into ½ days by reporting tools). The afternoon of Thursday, June 30 in North Metro will have a greater focus on large districts with customized or district-created data reporting systems. Click on URL below for registration.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Erin Loften
School and District Improvement
Phone: 303.866.6642
Email: loften_e@cde.state.co.us
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
2011-2012 Consolidated Application is Open
Attn: District Superintendents, Federal Programs Contacts
CDE is pleased to announce that the Consolidated Application is now available online at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/FedPrograms/consapp/index.asp. Under the header 2011-2012 Consolidated Application, select “2011-2011 Online Consolidated Federal Programs Application.” District and BOCES entry codes remain the same as in previous years. If you don't have your code, contact Clara Algiene at algiene_c@cde.state.co.us or 303-866-6777.
The Consolidated Application will be due Thursday, June 30, the same as in previous years. We understand that this is a condensed time frame. In order to expedite the process, a signed and faxed ARAC will not be necessary to access the data tables and narrative sections of the application. Districts and BOCES must log into the application and complete the ARAC form online. After completing the form, the district/BOCES will be able to proceed directly to the data tables and narrative sections of the application. Note: BOCES will not be able to access the application until member districts have completed the electronic ARAC form.
Budget files are available at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/NCLB_download.htm. A completed budget must be submitted by June 30 as part of the Consolidated Application.
Resources for completing the consolidated application are available at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/FedPrograms/consapp/trainctr.asp
CDE will also host “office hours” to answer programmatic questions. Multiple program staff will be available simultaneously. This open conference call (please dial 1-866-601-0566) will be to answer questions - no formal presentation will be provided. Please view the webinars prior to joining a call as your question may have been answered in those presentations. Office hours will be held at the following times:
Thursday, June 9, from 9 to 10 a.m.
Monday, June 13, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, June 21, from 9 to 10 a.m.
Wednesday, June 29, from 1 to 2 p.m.
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
News
Two Hundred Scholarships Available for Teachers Seeking National Certification
Attn: Teachers, Principals, Human Resource Specialists, Superintendents
The Colorado Department of Education’s Office of Professional Services and Educator Licensing today announced the limited availability of a new round of scholarships to support teachers applying for National Board Certification with the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.
Colorado teachers can apply for a federal scholarship of $1,250 provided by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as a Colorado scholarship of $750. The Colorado scholarships are being made available from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funds that were allocated to district grant applicants, but not spent. Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office this week approved the use of remaining grant funds for the Colorado portion of the scholarship.
Scholarships are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, but Colorado also reserves the right to fund teachers in low-performing schools first.
The scholarship window is open through Dec. 1, 2011, or until funds are no longer available.
Interested teachers should begin by applying with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Candidates must check the box that allows their information to be released to funding agencies. After paying an application processing charge of $65 and initial fee of $500, teachers should complete the Federal Scholarship Application Form, a one-page essay discussed on the scholarship form and the Colorado Scholarship Application Form. Scholarship application forms, the essay and proof of payment of the $565 should be faxed to CDE at 303-866-6866.
For additional questions on the process of certification, visit http://www.nbpts.org/. To apply for scholarships, fax all required information to 303-866-6866 or contact Anne Marie Roberts in CDE’s Office of Professional Services at roberts_a@cde.state.co.us
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Anne Marie Roberts
Office of Professional Services and Educator Licensing
Phone: 303-866-6648
Email: roberts_a@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
CDE's Human Capital Funding Matrix
Attn: District Leaders; Federal Programs Contacts
As the school year comes to a close, districts are writing plans for summer professional development and identifying areas of focus for the upcoming year. Visit the Colorado Department of Education’s Educator Effectiveness Resource Bank to access CDE's Human Capital Funding Matrix. The Matrix identifies potential sources of state and federal funds that may be used for various activities related to recruiting, training, evaluating, and retaining effective teachers and leaders.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Toby King
Educator Effectiveness
Phone: 303.866.6964
Email: king_t@cde.state.co.us
Update
Monthly Pest Tip: Summer Stinging Insects
Attn: Facility managers, teachers, principals
Paper wasps, yellow jackets and hornets can be a serious nuisance problem during the warm months. Schools often find yellow jackets scavenge around dumpsters and trash containers. The western yellow jacket is the most important stinging insect in Colorado. This insect is estimated to cause at least 90 percent of the “bee stings” in the state. The European paper wasp is relatively non-aggressive and less likely to sting. Stings from paper wasps and hornets usually occur when nests are disturbed.
Follow these steps to reduce the number of stinging insects around the school.
(1) Reduce nesting sites before the colonies become established in early spring.
(2) Seal all openings that allow access to hollow tubing, such as playground equipment.
(3) Control wasp nests early in the season when colonies are small.
(4) Deter yellowjackets by eliminating all food sources (open garbage cans that provide food and moisture).
The IPM program now has four school districts helping reduce the number of pests in and around schools and reducing the amount of pesticides used. If you’d like to enlist your school in the Colorado School Integrated Pest Management Program, please contact Deborah Young at the contact information below. A pest audit will be scheduled this summer and you’ll be ready for the coming school year.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Deborah Young
Colorado State University
Phone: 970-491-1377
Email: deborah.young@colostate.edu
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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