Announcement
Colorado's New School Safety Resource Center
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, Other School Safety-related Personnel
Peter A. Weir, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, has announced the establishment of the School Safety Resource Center. The creation of the Center was authorized by SB08-001.
CDE is excited about this new partnership and potential to enhance school safety efforts statewide. The Commissioner of Education will soon announce his appointments to the Center's Advisory Board. You may learn more by reading Director Weir's letter at the weblink provided.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Janelle Krueger
Office of Federal Programs Administration
Phone: 303.866.6660
Email: Krueger_J@cde.state.co.us
Event
CELApro Assessment Standard Setting, October 14-16, 2008
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, DACs
Please save the date for the CELApro Standard Setting to be conducted Tuesday, October 14 - Thursday October 16, 2008.
The purpose of the CELApro Standard Setting is to set cut scores on the test scale for each proficiency level (Advanced, Proficient, Intermediate, Early Intermediate, Beginning).
The standard setting process allows content experts to provide input about the content (skills relative to language acquisition) that students at each proficiency level should know. As a result of this process participants will determine recommended cut scores which are taken to the state board for final approval.
Participant qualifications:
-Educators who are highly qualified (ESL, Bilingual, Linguistically Different, Reading and Writing), CELApro district trainers, applied linguists with experience working with students
Applications are due by September 12, 2008. An application for the event is posted at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Marisol Enriquez
Unit of Student Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6634
Email: enriquez_m@cde.state.co.us
District Assessment Coordinator Academy: September 11, 2008
Attn: Superintendents, DACs
The Unit of Student Assessment is offering its first training for DACs (District Assessment Coordinators) on Thursday, September 11, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
New DACs
We are hosting a live training in Denver for new DACs since the management, logistics and technical requirements for Colorado's assessment system is detailed and exacting (CSAP, CSAPA, CELApro, COACT, NAEP). As we receive feedback from DACs, we know that early face-to-face training support helps prevent errors and missed deadlines.
Veteran DACS
This is the kickoff. Please join us for this important training. The registration will be online and a link will be e-mailed to DACs on August 22, 2008 and will close on September 3, 2008.
For More Information, Contact:
Fabian R. Maes
Unit of Student Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6877
Email: Maes_F@CDE.state.co.us
FYI
School Counselor Corps Grant Program
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel, Principals
Approximately $2.6 million remains available funding for the 2008-2009 school year to increase the availability of effective school-based counseling within secondary schools. A school district (on behalf of one or more secondary schools), BOCES, Charter School or Institute Charter School may apply for School Counselor Corps Grant funds for:
-increasing the number of school counselors for secondary students (grades 7-12)
-increasing the level of school counseling services provided to increase the graduation rate within the state
-increasing the percentage of students who appropriately prepare for, apply to, and continue into postsecondary education
Priority will be given to applicants that will serve:
• secondary schools at which the dropout rate exceeds the statewide average; and/or
• secondary schools with a high percentage of students who are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch exceeding the statewide average.
Applications will be due Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Grant writing information sessions on this grant opportunity will be held for district leaders in early September. For information regarding the grant writing sessions, the RFP, and exemplary grant application examples, please visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Kim Burnham
Competitive Grants and Awards
Phone: 303-866-6916
Email: burnham_k@cde.state.co.us
News
Data Interpretation Guide
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, DACs, Curriculum Coordinators
This week CDE's Unit of Student Assessment released a new resource, The Colorado Data Interpretation Guide. This manual provides guidance to district and school personnel as well as parents and other interested stakeholders in the appropriate use of state assessment data, including the Colorado Growth Model.
This guide may be used to train and inform district and school personnel as well as parents in using the state student assessment results (CSAP, CSAPA, CELA or COACT) for their intended purposes. This manual may be helpful as a reference when discussing:
-the meaning of student performance ratings with parents.
-the meaning of school and/or district data with stakeholders.
-how to examine district curricular and program alignment to the state standards.
-how to locate existing resources for district and school personnel to access to best utilize state assessment data.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Holly Baker
Unit of Student Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6664
Email: baker_h@cde.state.co.us
Read To Achieve News
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel, Principals
The Read To Achieve program has much to celebrate as we begin the second year of the current grant cycle. Changes in legislation created new goals for our schools last year.
Our schools rose to the challenge: 73 percent achieved their goal of 65 percent of their students at benchmark or above on the DIBELS assessment by the end of the 2007-2008 school year. The RTA Governing Board determined that the remaining 17 percent are otherwise making progress towards the goal of CSAP proficiency in 3rd grade, and those schools will receive extra support from the Literacy Grants and Initiatives unit this year.
In year two, we are providing professional development sessions for our annual mandatory networking day. Tina Pelletier will lead an Advanced Data Analysis Workshop and Kim Marcum will present The Basics of Great Reading Instruction: A Primer for Paraprofessionals and New Teachers. Read To Achieve schools have a choice of attending the networking day in Denver on September 17th or 18th. While only one RTA staff member is required to attend, we are providing funds for teams of four to take advantage of these sessions.
We look forward to a successful year supporting our partner schools as they help more Colorado students to reading proficiency.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Michelle Boyer
Literacy Grants and Initiatives
Phone: 303-866-6982
Email: boyer_m@cde.state.co.us
To Do
District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Change Request Form
Attn: Superintendents, DACs
If you are appointing a new District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) please complete the DAC Change Request form.
Your new DAC must be registered in order to access state assessment data, secure sites, and receive important communications from the Unit of Student Assessment and assessment vendors.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Fabian R. Maes
Unit of Student Assessment.
Phone: 303-866-6877
Email: Maes_F@CDE.state.co.us
Update
Important Changes to Times/Locations for Regional Presentations to Superintendent/BOCES Directors on Growth and Accreditation Contracts
Attn: Superintendents and BOCES Directors
Dates for the Alamosa and Telluride meetings are being changed to accommodate the funeral arrangements for Dr. Gerry Difford, former assistant to the commissioner at CDE. We learned today that the services will be Friday afternoon here in Denver, prompting this change. Thank you to all for your flexibility and understanding.
As previously described, districts will generally be held harmless during this current school year so we can learn the new accreditation system together. The changes reflect requirements from state statute, input from superintendents and other education leaders and direction from "Forward Thinking." The new process also incorporates the Colorado Growth Model.
CDE is conducting regional meetings concerning the accreditation process and implementation of the Colorado Growth Model (1st two hours of session). Technical assistance will also be provided for the six-year Accreditation Contract that each school district needs to submit by October 15, 2008 (last hour of session for those interested). Also, someone from federal programs will address the latest federal ruling on AYP and the change in how some ELL students will be coded.
You are invited to attend the regional meeting that best fits your schedule.
August 21 Northwest Region
9:00 – 11:00 Hayden School District board office
1:30 – 4:30 Edwards, Colorado Mountain College
August 22 West Central Region
8:30 – 11:30 Grand Junction - Mesa 51 School District, Emerson bldg., 930 Ute Ave.
August 26 Southwest and West Central Region
8:00 – 11:00 Durango School District board room
2:00 – 5:00 Telluride School District, intermediate school music room
August 27 Southeast and Pikes Peak Regions
8:30 – 11:30 Pueblo 70 School District Office
1:00 – 4:00 Colorado Springs - Harrison School District board room
August 28 North Central and Northeast Regions
8:45 – 11:45 Brush School District administration office
1:15 – 4:15 Limon East Central BOCES office
August 29 Metro Region
9:00 – 12:00 DASSC Metro – Jefferson County Superintendent’s Seminar Room
August 29 Southwest Region
4:30 – 6:30 Alamosa, SLV BOCES
For More Information, Contact:
Dr. Kenneth Turner
Learning and Results
Phone: 303-681-5408
Email: turner_k@cde.state.co.us
Colorado's Assessments
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, DACs
To clarify the messages about our Colorado assessments:
1. CSAP 3-10 and CSAPA 3-10 will be administered, as usual, through 2011.
2. Colorado ACT at 11th grade will continue to be administered through 2011.
3. Upcoming pilot programs will be offered, in the meantime, to help us determine the best ways to assess our students at the high school level. Various vendors will be invited to participate.
Please Note: The CELA and NAEP assessment programs will continue as they have.
For More Information, Contact:
Jo O'Brien, Assistant Commissioner
Office of Standards and Assessments
Phone: 303-866-6931
Email: norlander_a@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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