Announcement
State Adopts Common Core Standards
Attn: All
On August 2, the Colorado State Board of Education voted 4-3 to fully adopt the Common Core Standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts. CDE will begin to augment the Common Core with the Colorado Academic Standards and those changes will not equate to more than 15 percent of the total content standards in each subject.
The alignment between the Colorado Academic Standards and national Common Core subjects were seen as substantively identical.
The plans will begin for Colorado to create these adjusted documents for release this fall. The Colorado Department of Education encourages districts to continue strategic planning for the implementation of the new standards as scheduled for Fall, 2011.
Your dedication to this work is outstanding and the work continues to make a difference. We will have more specifics about these adjustments in a few weeks.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Jo O'Brien
Standards and Assessment
Phone: 303-866-6852
Email: o'brien_j@cde.state.co.us
Alternative School Finance Funding Model Application
Attn: Superintendents
House Bill 10-1183 created the Alternative School Finance Funding Model pilot program 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.
Applications are due on Wednesday, Sept. 1. The application is posted on the CDE Web site at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Chad Marturano
Public School Finance Unit
Phone: 303-866-6202
Email: marturano_c@cde.state.co.us
2010-2011 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Awarded to 109 Colorado High School Seniors
Attn: Colorado Educators, Administrators, Parents
The Colorado Department of Education announces the selection of the 2010-2011 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship recipients. This program, which is federally funded and state administered, recognizes exceptionally able high school seniors who show promise of continued excellence in postsecondary education. The 109 graduating high school seniors were chosen based upon demonstrated academic achievement in high school. The scholarship is to be used to assist with the cost of undergraduate studies at institutions of higher learning during the 2010-2011 academic year. These new scholarship recipients will be joining a cohort of 343 students currently receiving the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship.
Scholarships are awarded equally across Colorado’s seven congressional districts. Each recipient is awarded up to $1,500 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study, contingent upon federal funding. For the 2010-2011 program year, the federal allocation to Colorado is approximately $660,000 for Colorado's Byrd Scholars.
Use this link for a list of the 2010-2011 winners: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeawards/byrdlist.htm
Congratulations to the 2010-2011 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship winners!
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Charles E. Dukes
Phone: 303-866-6142
Email: dukes_c@cde.state.co.us
Scholarship Opportunity
Attn: Principals, Counselors, Civics/Social Studies Teachers
The Colorado application for the 49th annual United States Senate Youth Program is now available.
The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. The 49th annual program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 5 - 12, 2011. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $5,000 College Scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
Any high school junior or senior student is eligible for the program. The student is required to be currently serving in an elected or appointed capacity in any one of the following student government, civic or educational organizations:
• Student body president, vice president, secretary or treasurer;
• Class president, vice president, secretary or treasurer;
• Student council representative; or
• Student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission or board) to a district, regional or state-level civic and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator.
Applications are due on Monday, Oct. 18. For more in-depth information and to access the application, 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
August Education Data eXchange Council (EDX) Meeting
Attn: Chief Information Officers, District Technology Leaders, System Architects, Data Experts
Help guide the vision of a next-generation data exchange system and collaborate with your technology peers across the state.
CDE is partnering with districts to host an Education Data eXchange Council. Share solutions, discuss best practices and advise the state on strategies to more efficiently and effectively exchange data.
The next meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Colorado Department of Education, 201 E. Colfax Avenue, in Room 403.
You can also connect with the meeting on Adobe Connect at http://connect.cboces.org/edx/
The dial up number to listen in is 1-866-764-6750.
For More Information, Contact:
Dennis St. Hilaire
IMS
Phone: 303-866-6840
Email: st.hilaire_d@cde.state.co.us
State Recommended Manifestation Determination Form and Accompanying Instructions
Attn: Special Education Directors, Principals, School Counselors, School Psychologists, PBIS Coaches, Behavior Specialists
A child with an educational disability may display certain disruptive behaviors characteristic of that disability that do not require discipline. The best response is to positive behavioral interventions and supports designed to enable the student to progress in the general education curriculum and to progress toward meeting the goals outlined in the child’s IEP.
Occasionally, there are students with behaviors so extreme that discipline (long-term suspension or expulsion) are necessary. Students with disabilities who are removed from their educational settings for longer than 10 school days in a school year have certain protections under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. School personnel must make decisions on a case by case basis when disciplining students with disabilities who have violated the code of student conduct.
There are many variables, timelines and considerations that factor into the disciplinary process of students with disabilities, including whether the conduct in question is a manifestation of the student’s disability. The “manifestation determination” is the result of a review conducted during a meeting by a team that includes the parents and key school personnel.
CDE has developed a form with accompanying instructions that are intended to assist practitioners and parents in completing the manifestation determination process. Please note, however, that neither the state-recommended form nor its accompanying instructions constitute legal advice.
The state-recommended Manifestation Determination Form and accompanying Instructions are accessible at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Michael Ramirez
RtI/PBS
Phone: 303-866-6991
Email: ramirez_m@cde.state.co.us
Event
Working Session: Accountability for Alternative Education Campuses
Attn: Superintendents, Principals of AECs
This Friday, Aug. 6, CDE and the Colorado Coalition of AECs (CCAEC) will host a working session on accountability for Alternative Education Campuses. The session is an opportunity for AEC leaders and districts to work with their peers and CDE and CCAEC staff to select their accountability measures for the alternative school performance framework.
To attend, please register by Thursday, Aug. 4, at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZKFYMCG.
The session will be held Friday, Aug. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Colorado Department of Education, 201 E. Colfax Ave., State Board Room, in Denver.
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
Federal Programs
Consolidated Application Update
Attn: Superintendents, Title I Directors, Federal Program Contacts
Congratulations! The vast majority of school districts in Colorado have received substantial approval for the Consolidated Federal Program Application. (If you have not received substantial approval, please contact CDE.) Districts must submit all requested revisions for all Title programs by no later than Tuesday, Aug. 31. CDE program consultants will then review revisions and grant final approval or provide additional feedback to districts. Districts must receive final approval no later than Nov. 15, or the 2010-11 allocation will be forfeited.
On Sept. 1, the Title IA School Designation (Not Served- NS, Targeted Assistance program- TA, Schoolwide program-SW) table in the application will lock and districts will not be able to make any changes. As of the beginning of the school year, districts should be clear about which schools are receiving Title IA supplemental funds. Designations will be considered final as of Sept. 1 for use in the Student October collection, comparability calculations and reports to the U.S. Department of Education.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Brad Bylsma
Phone: 303-866-6937
Email: bylsma_b@cde.state.co.us
FYI
Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act Frequently Asked Questions
Attn: Principals, Superintendents, District Finance Office and School Counselors
In May 2009, the Colorado State Legislature the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act. The collective intent is to broaden access to and improve the quality of concurrent enrollment programs, improve coordination between institutions of secondary education and institutions of higher education and ensure financial transparency and accountability. Beyond coordinating and clarifying the existing concurrent enrollment programs, the bill also creates the “5th year” ASCENT program for students retained by the high school for instruction beyond the senior year.
In order to help clarify the Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT programs, we will be releasing responses to frequently asked questions here in the weekly Scoop newsletter. A new set of questions and answers will be included in The Scoop every week.
FAQs for this week:
Q: What is the difference between extended studies and concurrent enrollment?
A: Concurrent enrollment is a type of dual enrollment program, which allows students to receive college credit before high school graduation. Concurrent enrollment programs (current and previous) include and/or included the Postsecondary Enrollment Options program; the Fast College Fast Jobs program; the High School Fast Track program; concurrent enrollment (replaces PSEO and Fast Track no later than 2012) and the ASCENT program. The ASCENT and concurrent enrollment programs require the school district to pay the tuition of participating students up to the community college tuition rate. Funding to school districts will occur as outlined in the legislation and rules.
Extended studies dual enrollment programs are off campus programs offered through a contract between the school district and four year institutions. These programs are generally cash funded and do not carry College Opportunity Fund eligibility. Additionally, these programs are authorized through the Colorado Commission on Higher Education policies and rules pursuant to Section 23-1-109 C.R.S. (2009).
Q: Are books and fees included in the funding for these programs?
A: The legislation declares that funding for books and fees is not included; however, the school district may choose to sponsor such expenses, and it is recommended that those expenses be addressed in the cooperative agreement.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Charles E. Dukes
Phone: 303-866-6142
Email: dukes_c@cde.state.co.us
ECEA and IDEA Allocations and Supplemental Posted
Attn: Special Ed Directors
ECEA, IDEA Part B and Preschool and Part B Supplemental allocations have been posted at the link below.
Supplemental funds are available from IDEA Part B for fiscal year 2009-10.
• The spending authority for these funds expires Sept. 30, 2011.
• The Grants Fiscal Management Services Unit will adjust funds based on your end of year submission and make sure that these supplemental funds, as well as carryover funds are disbursed prior to sending you any 2010-11 funds. The Grants Fiscal Management Services Unit will e-mail your admin unit’s two-pager with the carryover and supplemental amounts once the end of year submission has been approved by CDE.
Please check the Web site for the amount of your allocation.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Ryan Moyle
Grants Fiscal Management Unit
Phone: 303-866-6034
Email: moyle_r@cde.state.co.us
Important Due Date
ARRA Interim Reporting
Attn: ARRA Grantees
Due to the requirements of ARRA Section 1512 reporting, CDE must collect year-end expenditures and FTE from districts and administrative units in August.
This collection will be accomplished through the Tracker system.
After collecting expenditures on Monday, Aug. 16, CDE will compare expenditures to the payments made for FY 2009-2010 to calculate cash on hand or close out payments for each of your district or administrative unit's ARRA grants as well as determine carryover amounts. CDE will also compare FTE to quarterly reports in an effort to verify the consistency and accuracy of quarterly reports provided in FY 2009-2010.
Colorado was selected as one of 16 states to be monitored by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO has requested this information for a report to be issued in September.
Please note: This August interim report is in addition to the end of year reports required under EDGAR and does not replace the Annual Financial Report for NCLB ARRA 2009-2010 funds due Nov. 1 or the 2009-2010 IDEA/Preschool End of Year Report. In the event the district's or administrative unit's books are not closed or final, please include any audit or other year-end adjustments that you were not able to report August 16 on your Annual Financial Report for NCLB and/or End of Year Report for IDEA .
Templates for the August interim expenditure reports are located at the following links:
*****Please follow instructions on first tab of reports*****
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/IDEA_download.htm for IDEA Part B and Preschool
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/NCLB_download.htm for Title I-A and II-D
For More Information, Contact:
David Lyon
Grants Fiscal Management Unit
Phone: 303-866-6836
Email: lyon_d@cde.state.co.us
Reminder
Application for 2011 Colorado Teacher of the Year Is Now Available
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel, Principals, Teachers
The application for the 2011 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 sponsored by the ING Foundation, Target and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Applications for this honor are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10. To access the application and additional program information for the 2011 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
Reminder: 2010 Colorado Distinguished Title I Principal and Teacher Awards
Attn: Superintendents, Title I Directors, Principals
The Colorado Distinguished Title I Principal and Teacher Awards annually recognize Title I educators who demonstrate outstanding commitment and excellence. These award programs also address the state's need to identify distinguished educators, as outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Sec. 1117(b)(3)).
This year, there is a new nomination process. Applicants are being asked to complete a brief form to nominate those educators who are deserving of the awards. A committee of CDE personnel, teachers and administrators will review the nominations and select finalists for each award. Applicants will then be sent the full nomination packet and be asked to complete it for their finalist. Copies of the short nomination packet are available now at the link below. The Short Nomination Packet is due on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Judy Huddleston
Phone: 720-939-8848
Email: huddleston_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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