Announcement
Gifted Education End of Year Reports Due Sept. 30
Attn: Superintendents, Gifted Education Directors and Coordinators
Gifted education year-end reports are due Sept. 30, 2011. Gifted education directors were e-mailed in early August user names and pass codes for the electronic data collection. For your convenience, it is highly recommended that the worksheet be used to gather data prior to completing the electronic submission.
The guidance document and report, in hard copy, are available on the CDE/Gifted Education Web page at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Katherine Keck
Gifted Education
Phone: 303-866-6794
Email: keck_k@cde.state.co.us
September Quarterly Jobs Bill ARRA Report
Attn: Jobs Bill Grantees
As another quarter draws to a close, the mandatory Jobs Bill ARRA quarterly report is due from Jobs Bill subgrantees. A report is required of all subrecipients, regardless of whether funds have been requested. The September quarterly report should include an estimate of FTE funded by the Jobs Bill from July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011 as well as transfers, if made during the same period, of expenditures from non Jobs Bill revenue sources to the Jobs Bill, even if the expense being transferred was originally incurred in a prior period.
The report must be e-mailed to Andy Lake at Lake_A@cde.state.co.us by Monday, September 12. Please title your e-mail “September quarterly Jobs Bill ARRA report” followed by your LEA number and LEA name. The report must be attached to the e-mail as an Excel document. These e-mails will be automatically processed, so correspondence in the body of the e-mail will not be answered. If you have a question about your report, please submit the question in a separate e-mail.
Please note:
*The request for funds template has been updated several times. To create your quarterly report, please download the request for funds from CDE’s web site. Do not use old forms as they may not be accepted in our internal system. Download the current request for funds form at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/Allocations.htm.
*All subrecipients of Jobs Bill funds must submit the September ARRA report regardless of the award amount. This guidance modifies any prior guidance that may have implied that only subrecipients awarded $25,000 or more must submit a report.
*Jobs Bill allocations have been finalized and 100 percent of each grantee’s allocation amount is now available to request.
For More Information, Contact:
Andy Lake
Grants Fiscal Management Unit
Phone: 303-866-6829
Email: Lake_A@cde.state.co.us
September Quarterly ARRA Report
Attn: ARRA grantees
As another quarter draws to a close, the mandatory ARRA quarterly report is due from ARRA subgrantees. The report must be uploaded through Tracker to your individual local education agency or administrative unit access portal by Monday, September 12. McKinney-Vento, ARRA I-D Competitive, and ARRA II-D Competitive grantees should submit their files by e-mail to Marti Rodriguez at rodriguez_M@cde.state.co.us, instead of uploading their reports to Tracker.
The September quarterly report should include an estimate of FTE funded by ARRA from July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, in accordance with the definite term calculation method. For more information on calculating FTE, as well as other ARRA requirements, please visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/scripts/federalstimulus/detail.asp?itemid=227006.
Please note:
*A separate Scoop announcement will be released, instructing Jobs Bill and SFSF awardees on quarterly reporting requirements for those grants. The instructions in this message do not necessarily apply to Jobs Bill or SFSF awards.
*Grantees who have expended and received all of their ARRA funds and submitted an ARRA report marked as final in line 5 of the monthly reporting template for a particular grant are not required to submit a September quarterly report for that grant.
*All subrecipients of ARRA funds, except those that meet the criteria in the previous bullet, must submit ARRA reports regardless of the award amount. This guidance modifies any prior guidance that may have implied that only subrecipients awarded $25,000 or more must submit an ARRA report.
*Please also be aware that, in order to maintain consistency in FTE reporting, CDE requires all grantees of ARRA funds to use the “definite term” methodology to calculate ARRA funded FTE. Guidance on this methodology can be found on pages 20-21 of the OMB guidance at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_2010/m10-08.pdf and in the PowerPoint on ARRA subrecipient reporting posted on CDE’s ARRA webpage.
Please also note that a new definite term began on July 1, 2011, for the FY11-12 fiscal year and only FTE that was or will be funded by ARRA from July 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 should be included in the quarterly report.
For More Information, Contact:
Andy Lake
Grants Fiscal Management
Phone: (303) 866-6829
Email: Lake_A@cde.state.co.us
U.S. Census School District Review Program
Attn: Superintendents, Mapping Coordinators
Every two years, CDE is requested to respond to the School District Review Program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau to validate the school district boundaries. The review program is of vital importance for Colorado’s allocation under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As per CRS 22.30.101-106, districts should already have notified CDE of any boundary changes, but we would like to take this opportunity to verify the boundaries on file. The last review conducted by CDE of this nature was in 2007.
Both an online map and a District by County file will need to be reviewed and either updated or confirmed as accurate by the district mapping coordinator. The deadline to submit updates or confirm accuracy will be Monday, Oct. 3.
To assist with this important task, please designate one person as your district mapping coordinator. We do have the coordinators from 2007 listed at: District Mapping Coordinators. If the person listed for your district will not be the coordinator for 2011, please notify Annette Severson via email at severson_a@cde.state.co.us with the correct contact information by Friday, Sept, 9. This will help streamline the process for any future correspondence.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Annette Severson
Data Services Unit
Phone: 303-866-6824
Email: severson_a@cde.state.co.us
Gifted Education State Directors’ Meeting Will Be Oct. 3 & 4
Attn: Administrators, Gifted Education Directors and Coordinators
GGAP-wise Talents-rise: The fall 2011 Gifted Education Directors’ Meeting will be held in Breckenridge on Oct. 3 and 4, 2011. The main agenda topics will include root cause analysis, program plan development and creativity as a 21st century skill for all exceptionalities. Breakout sessions will host information about ALP/ICAP implementation, successful ESL programming, the 11-12 transition year and Lighthouse Projects. Directors are welcome to bring district/BOCES guests to the meetings. For registration, visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Katherine Keck
Gifted Education
Phone: 303-866-6794
Email: keck_k@cde.state.co.us
September Quarterly ARRA – State Fiscal Stabilization Funds
Attn: ARRA - SFSF Grantees
As another quarter draws to a close, the mandatory SFSF ARRA quarterly report is due from ARRA - SFSF subgrantees. A report is required of all subrecipients, regardless of whether funds have been requested. The September quarterly report should include an estimate of FTE funded by ARRA – SFSF from July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011 as well as transfers, if made during the same period, of expenditures from non SFSF revenue sources to SFSF, even if the expense being transferred was originally incurred in a prior period.
The report must be e-mailed to School Finance at schoolfiance@cde.state.co.us by Monday, September 12. Please title your e-mail “September quarterly SFSF ARRA report” followed by your LEA number and LEA name. The report must be attached to the e-mail as an Excel document. These e-mails will be automatically processed, so correspondence in the body of the e-mail will not be answered. If you have a question about your report, please submit the question in a separate e-mail.
Please note:
* Download the current request for funds form at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/Allocations.htm.
*All subrecipients of SFSF funds must submit the September ARRA report regardless of the award amount. This guidance modifies any prior guidance that may have implied that only subrecipients awarded $25,000 or more must submit a report.
*ARRA - SFSF allocations have been finalized and 100 percent of each grantee’s allocation amount is now available to request.
For More Information, Contact:
Andy Lake
Grants Fiscal Management Unit
Phone: 303-866-6829
Email: Lake_A@cde.state.co.us
Conference
Autism Level 2 Training: PRESCHOOL – Friday, Sept, 23
Attn: Occupational Therapists, Paraeducators, Principals, School Psychologists, Special Education Directors, Special Education Teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists
This one-day workshop is designed for practitioners who work in a school setting with young children who have been identified, diagnosed or suspected as having an autism spectrum disorder. Topics to be covered in the training include classroom setup, communication strategies, curricula, scheduling, and use of peers, as well as an examination of evidence-based program models and their components.
Location:
The Franciscan Event Center
6553 S. Revere Parkway
Centennial, CO 80111
Registration: 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Training Session: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This training is offered at no charge by the Exceptional Student Leadership Unit / Autism Team.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Tara Rolfe
Exceptional Student Leadership Unit
Phone: 303-866-6969
Email: rolfe_t@cde.state.co.us
Save the Date, Jan. 30 &31: PowerSchool User's Conference Call for Proposals
Attn: District Superintendents, Principals, Secretaries, Registrars, Counselors
The 2nd Annual Colorado PowerSchool Conference is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30 and Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at the Student Achievement Resource Center (SARC) in Cherry Creek.
Join PowerSchool users from all over the state for this one of a kind user group event. Beginning, intermediate & advanced sessions will be offered and will also be configured by the PS user’s role. Day one will focus on specific user roles (secretary/registers, counselors/principals) at the beginner and intermediate levels while day two will offer more advanced sessions for (secretary/registers, counselors/principals, teachers/trainers and data administers/techies).
So if you are new to PowerSchool or are looking for more advanced training; this could be the event you have been looking for!
To register, visit http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=pb4fy6bab&oeidk=a07e3vwzcxke9295e77
For More Information, Contact:
Tisha Bouwmeester
Colorado League of Charter Schools, Director of Performance Management
Phone: 303.989.5356 x 106
Email: tbouwmeester@coloradoleague.org
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Colorado Department of Education
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6971
Email: howerter_m@cde.state.co.us
SAVE THE DATE: Colorado NWEA-MAP Conference Call for Proposals
Attn: District Superintendents, Principals
The Colorado Northwest Evaluation Association User’s Conference is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21 at Pueblo County High School. Join Measures of Academic Progress users from all over the state for this one of a kind user group event. The conference will feature multiple breakout sessions in a variety of topics designed for advanced, intermediate and beginner users.
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=pb4fy6bab&oeidk=a07e3xskv4v3240daa5
For More Information,
Contact: Tisha Bouwmeester
Colorado League of Charter Schools, Director of Performance Management
Phone: 303.989.5356 x 106
Email: tbouwmeester@coloradoleague.org
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Melissa Howerter
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6971
Email: howerter_m@cde.state.co.us
Event
Specific Learning Disabilities: Specialized Instruction for Elementary and Middle School Students with Math-Related Learning Disabilities
Attn: Special Education Directors
Interactive session led by Dr. Bradley Witzel will provide…
• tools and strategies to diagnostically assess math deficits of students with specific learning disabilities in key areas of math learning: numeracy, calculation, problem-solving, fractions…
• effective, research-based instructional strategies for students with math disabilities in these key areas
• ways to progress monitor student learning and use student-centered data to plan and adjust instruction
Times: Check-in at each location starts at 8:20 a.m. (coffee/tea only) and workshop runs from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (lunch provided).
Locations/Dates:
Colorado Springs: Oct. 4
Westminster: Oct. 5
The workshop flyer and registration information are available under “Professional Development Opportunities” on the Specific Learning Disability webpage.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Melissa Chaffin
Exceptional Student Leadership
Phone: 303-866-6819
Email: chaffin_m@cde.state.co.us
Annual Charter School Finance Seminar Is Sept. 16
Attn: Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, Charter School Business Managers, and Charter School Board Members
The Annual Charter School Finance Seminar is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Adams 12 Conference Center in Thornton.
Hosted by CDE’s Schools of Choice Unit, the event provides learning opportunities for charter school board members, new school founders, finance committee members, administrators, business managers, and other charter school employees who have finance questions and or who need up-to-date information.
Agenda items target both experienced charter school operators and those new to the charter school community. To register, please visit the Schools of Choice Events page.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Jennifer Dauzvardis
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6276
Email: dauzvardis_j@cde.state.co.us
Charter School Western Slope Seminar Is Sept. 23
Attn: Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Charter School Board Members
The Charter School Western Slope Seminar is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Caprock Academy in Grand Junction.
Hosted by CDE’s Schools of Choice Unit, this event provides a full-day of interactive, hands-on workshops for charter school business managers, board members, and administrators. The purpose of this event is to collect the relevant issues, trends, trainings, and topics that have been most useful and informative to the charter school community in other recent technical assistance events, and make them available to schools and leaders on the Western Slope.
Workshop facilitators have demonstrated success in the Colorado charter school community and will intentionally differentiate each session to meet the needs of the attendees. To register for this event, please visit the Schools of Choice Events page.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Jennifer Dauzvardis
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6276
Email: dauzvardis_j@cde.state.co.us
Meetings on Sept. 14 and 26 Will Cover Charter School Standards Advisory Committee's Recommendations to the State Board
Attn: District Charter School Liaisons, Charter School Principals & Superintendents
In 2010, the Colorado General Assembly created the House Bill 10-1412 Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the State Board of Education concerning standards for charter schools and charter school authorizers. The committee has finalized its work and will be presenting its recommendations to the State Board at the Sept. 14 regularly scheduled board meeting. To access the committee’s final report, please visit: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/HB10-1412.htm.
CDE will host a public meeting to discuss how the advisory committee’s recommendations might be incorporated into existing and new state board rules. All interested parties are welcome to attend the meeting, which will be held on Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the State Board Room at CDE, 201 E. Colfax Ave., in Denver. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Melissa Howerter howerter_m@cde.state.co.us.
For More Information, Contact:
Denise Mund
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6740
Email: Mund_D@cde.state.co.us
Federal Programs
Consolidated Application Updates: Respond to Comment Log by Aug. 31
Attn: Consolidated Application Contacts
CDE staff has finished the process of reviewing Consolidated Applications. Emails have been sent notifying district/BOCES that their application has been granted substantial approval. The email included the link to access the application comment logs. The comment log provides the information needed to revise the application and budget to receive final approval. District/BOCES should respond to all comments by Wednesday, Aug. 31 in order to receive timely final approval. If you have any questions about the comments, contact the staff member who reviewed that section of your application.
Be advised that the Title I school designation table will lock down on September 1 regardless of where you are in the revision process. No changes to Title I school designations may be made after that point.
Note: final allocations have been posted and those numbers should be used when submitting budget revisions (http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/NCLB_download.htm).
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Cheryl Miller
Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6214
Email: miller_c@cde.state.co.us
Important Due Date
Alternative School Finance Funding Models Pilot Program Application Deadline
Attn: Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, BOCES Directors
House Bill 10-1183 provided school districts and charter schools the opportunity to participate in a pilot program to explore more creative ways to fund public education in Colorado.
The Alternative School Finance Funding Model pilot program was created to encourage school districts and charter schools to collect data that will be used to compare the effects of alternative school funding models with those of the actual school funding method.
A school district or charter school that chooses to participate in the program must submit an application to the state board of education. Upon selection to participate, the school district or charter school shall collect data for at least two budget years that demonstrate the effects of an alternative school funding model including but not limited to the differences in funding that the school district or charter school would have experienced if it had been funded through the alternative school funding model rather than under the current school finance act.
Additional information and the application to submit to the State Board of Education may be accessed at the link below.
The deadline for submission of the application to participate in the program for two years beginning with FY2011-12 is Thursday, Sept. 1.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Theresa Christensen
Public School Finance Unit
Phone: 303-866-6847
Email: christensen_t@cde.state.co.us
AYP School-Level Appeals
Attn: AYP Respondents, Title I Contacts, District Assessment Coordinators, Superintendents
2011 preliminary school AYP data and determinations are available through the ADE at https://edx.cde.state.co.us/AYP/. The AYP ADE system will remain open for school-level updates until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2.
Your district has designated one person to be the AYP ADE contact and have access to this system. If you do not know who that person is, you need to assign a new contact, or you need your password information, call Donna Morganstern.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Donna Morganstern
Federal Programs
Phone: 303-866-6209
Email: morganstern_d@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
Important Reminder about the Fair Campaign Practices Act
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, Administrators
As a general rule, district or state employees may not use district e-mail or any district materials and/or equipment of any kind to express an opinion about, or to urge the passage or defeat of, any issue. It is also not permissible to use a school’s bulk mail permit to send out materials related to a campaign. This includes using communications options such as a PTA/PTO newsletter.
The law is clear that district and state employees cannot work on a political campaign during work hours or use any state resources towards a political campaign, to advocate for or against a ballot issue or referendum.
To reference the Act in its entirety, visit http://bit.ly/pi8jnu
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Janelle Asmus
Communications
Phone: 303-866-6822
Email: asmus_j@cde.state.co.us
Webinars
FY2010-2011 End of Year Reporting Webinars
Attn: Title I Coordinators, Consolidated Application Contacts, Budget Managers and Tracker users
As previously announced in The Scoop, the Office of Federal Program Administration and the Grants Fiscal Management Unit will be hosting two webinars covering FY2010-2011 End of Year Reporting, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. Webinar topics include the Final Expenditure Report and the Set Aside Activity Report. These documents will replace the Annual Financial Report (AFR). The intended audience is program and fiscal managers.
Webinars will be recorded to and posted to CDE’s website at the link below. To register, please email Tina Tamayo at tamayo_t@cde.state.co.us. If you have already registered, sign in information is forthcoming.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Barbara Vassis
Grants Fiscal Management Unit
Phone: 303-866-6389
Email: vassis_b@cde.state.co.us
Save the Date: DPF/SPF Webinar on Sept. 8 and 15
Attn: Superintendents, Principals, District Accountability Contacts
CDE will host two webinar sessions on the District and School Performance Framework reports:
- Sept. 8, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The sessions are designed for those new to the framework reports, or those needing a basic review. We will walk participants through the reports, including how to determine ratings for each performance indicator and how to determine overall plan type assignments. As time permits, we will also answer questions and discuss implications for accountability and unified improvement planning.
Sessions are designed as the same repeat session rather than as a series, so please only register for one session.
Registration details will be shared closer to the date.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Somoh Supharukchinda
Accountability & Improvement
Phone: 303-866-6778
Email: supharukchinda_s@cde.state.co.us
Webinar Presentations: Drugs and the Adolescent Brain
Attn: Superintendents, principals, and other school safety-related personnel
Please mark your calendars for the following webinars:
• Thursday, Sept. 15, at 11:30 a.m. -- The Effects of Marijuana on the Teen Brain
• Sept. 20, at 9:30 a.m. -- The Addicted Brain
• Sept. 27, at 11:30 a.m. -- The Effects of Tobacco on the Teen Brain
Registration for the webinars will open in early September and are sponsored by the Office of Federal Program Administration at CDE and the School Safety Resource Center.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Joyce M. Washington
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6708
Email: washington_j@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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