Announcement
Problem-Solving/Consultation Online Course
Attn: All Educators
This course targets the problem-solving that occurs at the individual student level utilizing a consultant model to gain information and to support teachers and parents throughout the problem-solving process. The process is pivotal to Response to Intervention implementation and directly contributes to the validity of the body of evidence required for specific learning disabilities eligibility determination as well as other disability categories.
This online course will be offered over the course of six weeks, four times throughout the school year. Participants can receive two credit hours from Adams State, or 30 clock hours toward recertification. Dates and registration information are available at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Adena Miller
RtI/PBIS
Phone: 303.866.6698
Email: miller_a@cde.state.co.us
Arts Education Week in Colorado is Sept. 12-18
Attn: All School Personnel
Commissioner Dwight D. Jones, in partnership with the office of Gov. Bill Ritter, offered his support and read Gov. Ritter’s proclamation Monday, Sept. 13, designating “Arts Education Week in Colorado.” This week was chosen to coincide with “National Arts in Education Week” to promote and showcase the important role that arts education plays in producing engaged, successful students who are prepared for college or career success.
The proclamation underscores the arts as core academic subjects and essential elements of a complete and balanced education for all students. The document also notes that arts education is uniquely positioned to teach 21st century learning skills and critical thinking and problem solving abilities, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways to communicate and express ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom.
To view a copy of the proclamation, visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Karol Gates- Content Specialist for the Arts
Office of Academic Initiatives
Phone: 303-866-6188
Email: gates_k@cde.state.co.us
Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board Meeting
Attn: District Officials, School Counselors, Teachers and Principals
The Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, Sept. 16 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public meeting will be held in the conference center at the Community College System Lowry campus, 1061 Akron Way, Bldg. 697 in Denver.
The Sept. 16 combined work session and formal meeting agenda includes:
Work Session
-Introduction
-General Update
-Discussion of Prioritizing Funds for the Upcoming Year
-Updated Frequently Asked Questions
-Colorado Department of Higher Education Update
-Discussion of Prioritizing Funds
-Update on Students with Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements
Formal Meeting
-Welcome, roll call, approval of agenda, approval of minutes
-Public input
-Approval of action items from work session
-Action plan and next steps
The 13-member board is charged with overseeing programs that allow students to simultaneously enroll in high school and college.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Charles E. Dukes
Phone: 303-866-6142
Email: dukes_c@cde.state.co.us
Understanding the Role of School Accountability Committees in Charter Schools
Attn: Superintendents and Charter School Principals
The department has released information to help charter schools understand how to comply with the requirements for School Accountability Committees. To access this information, please see Appendix I in the “District Accountability Handbook” on SchoolView at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Denise Mund
Schools of Choice
Phone: 303-866-6740
Email: mund_d@cde.state.co.us
Conference
Fall Regional Intensive Supports Training
Attn: Special Education Directors and Coordinators, District Intensive Support Teams, Mental Health Professionals, Behavior Specialists, PBIS District Coaches, and PBIS Building Level Coach/Facilitators
The Exceptional Student Leadership Unit in partnership with the Colorado RtI/PBIS Unit would like to announce the Fall 2010 Intensive Supports Training: Functional Behavior Assessment to Behavior Intervention Plan: Making Data Based Decisions to Change Behavior with Dr. Laura Riffel.
This training will include information on enhancing behavior intervention team planning, incorporating positive support strategies into all teaching models, and integrating significant findings from behavior research. The dates are as follows:
Thursday, Oct. 28 in Montrose
Friday, Oct. 29 in Westminster
Wednesday, Nov. 10 in Pueblo
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Becky Steensen, Intensive Supports Coordinator
RtI/PBIS
Phone: 303-898-9623
Email: steensen_b@cde.state.co.us
Reading in the Rockies Conference
Attn: Teachers, Principals, Reading Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Reading in the Rockies began at Manor Vail 19 years ago. The concept was to provide a time and place for teachers to learn, interact and relax in a beautiful environment.
This year, Reading in the Rockies will be held at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek on Oct. 15 and 16.
For more information, contact IDA-RMB at 303-721-9425 or ida_rmb@yahoo.com
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Gena Feury
Academic Initiatives
Phone: 303-866-6974
Email: Feury_G@cde.state.co.us
Parents Encouraging Parents Fall and Winter Conferences
Attn: All
These conferences will bring parents and other professionals together to share ideas, discuss concerns, celebrate successes and obtain information relating to parenting, educating and supporting a child with a disability.
The fall conference will be held Oct. 28-30 in Vail. The winter conference will be held Jan. 20-22, 2011 in Fort Collins.
For more information about Parents Encouraging Parents contact the
PEP Hotline 303-866-6846 or outside Metro Denver 1-877-834-0588.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Katherine Keck
Exceptional Student Leadership
Phone: 303-866-6846
Email: keck_k@cde.state.co.us
Event
School Accreditation and Requests to Reconsider
Attn: Superintendents, BOCES Directors, District Assessment Coordinators, District Accountability Contacts
CDE will host a webinar on school accreditation and requests to reconsider on Wednesday, Sept. 22, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 pm. The webinar will serve as an opportunity to learn about the process of submitting school accreditation categories to CDE and the process of submitting additional evidence for CDE to consider in district accreditation and school plan assignments. Both of these processes close on Friday, Oct. 15.
To prepare for this webinar, please be sure you have reviewed the guidance on Submitting Accreditation Categories and Requests to Reconsider at www.schoolview.org/documents/SubmittingSchoolAccreditationandRequeststoReconsider.pdf.
To participate in this webinar, please follow these steps:
• When you are ready to join the webinar, visit http://connect.cboces.org/implementing163.
• When prompted, enter the phone number from which you would like to join the call.
• Wait for the online system to call the phone number you have entered.
NOTE: The phone audio bridge will not work if you are at a location that requires an extension to reach you. If this is the case, please call 866-498-5411 to join the audio portion of the meeting.
If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before and would like to test your connection, please visit: https://admin.na4.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
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
Family Literacy Grant RFP Now Available
Attn: Superintendents, District Personnel
The new Family Literacy Grant Request For Proposal (RFP) is now available. This RFP is designed to solicit applications from local education agencies to provide a coordinated and comprehensive family literacy service delivery system. Programs will be funded that:
• Support the educational development of children and adults within a family unit;
• Provide parents with an opportunity to increase their children’s school readiness and academic success as well as their own educational improvement and potential family well-being, stability, and self-sufficiency;
• Provide a focus on family literacy activities; and
• Provide innovation or a new way to approach services in an existing program.
Applicants for Title I, Part A Family Literacy Grants are limited to LEAs that receive Title I, Part A funding. Eligible LEAs may apply in partnership with Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) programs, Even Start programs (formerly or currently funded), Head Start, or Family Resource Centers. A total of $330,000 is available for distribution to LEAs and the estimated range of awards is $5,000 to a maximum of $75,000.
Proposals will be due on Wednesday, Oct. 20. For more information and to access the RFP, please visit the Web site below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Kathryn Smukler
Office of Federal Program Administration
Phone: 303-866-6842
Email: smukler_k@cde.state.co.us
FY 2008-09 NCLB Funds Availability
Attn: Federal Program Contacts, Consolidated Application Coordinators, Business Managers
Reminder: The last day to spend fiscal year 2008-2009 NCLB funds is Thursday, Sept. 30. All requests must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 15. Many districts still have 08-09 funds remaining. Distribution reports, showing the remaining funds for each district by program, are available online at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefisgrant/Grant_Distribution_Reports.htm.
Click Here for Additional Information
UIP Webinar Announcement
Attn: Title I Contacts
On Wednesday, Sept. 29, the Office of Federal Program Administration will host a webinar on using the Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) with Title I schools on Improvement, Corrective Action, Restructuring and beyond. The webinar will demonstrate how the various requirements associated with these Title I areas can be incorporated into the UIP, so that schools operate from a single plan. The webinar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Following is a timeline for the webinar:
• 9 – 9:30: Title I Targeted Assistance requirements
• 9:30 – 10: Title I Schoolwide requirements
• 10 – 10:30: Title I requirements for schools on Year 1 or 2 of Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring
• 10:30 – 11: Questions and Answers
Since Title I schools on Improvement, Corrective Action, Restructuring and beyond must use the UIP this year, the webinar may prove important in guiding schools to the best use of this plan from a Title I perspective. However, any Title I school is welcome to participate in this webinar, as the first hour will walk through how to use the UIP for Title I program purposes.
The instructions and links for participating in the webinar are below. There is no need to register for this event.
Meeting Name: Using the Unified Improvement Plan for Title I Requirements
When: Wednesday 29 September, 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Dial in Details: 866-601-0566
To join the meeting: http://connect.cboces.org/r38919514/
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If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before:
Test your connection: http://connect.cboces.org/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
For More Information, Contact:
Trish Boland
Phone: (303) 866-6998
Email: boland_t@cde.state.co.us
AMAO Release and Webinars
Attn: Title III Directors, District Assessment Coordinators
Results for the 2009-2010 Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives were e-mailed to Title III Directors on Monday, Sept. 13. Student level data is now available in CEDAR. AMAOs are the accountability measures for Title III of No Child Left Behind, Language Instruction for Limited-English Proficient and Immigrant Students. There are three AMAO targets.
AMAOs 1 and 2 are calculated from the CELA-pro (Colorado English Language Proficiency Assessment) and measure the progress students are making in attaining English proficiency and the percent of students who have attained English proficiency in English based on the CELA exam. AMAO 3 is the result of AYP for English language learners. Data for AMAOs 1 and 2 will be available in CEDAR this week. Districts already have access to AMAO 3 data through previously released AYP data.
An additional webinar has been scheduled for the following time. The training will provide a detailed definition of AMAOs, how they are calculated and the ramifications if AMAOs are not met.
Friday, Sept. 17 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Audio Conference: (877) 233-9952
To join the meeting: http://connect.cboces.org/r11456768/
Additionally, all the materials from the webinar will be posted on our Web site at the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Alyssa Pearson
Phone: (303) 866-6855
Email: pearson_a@cde.state.co.us
FYI
Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act Frequently Asked Questions
Attn: Principals, Superintendents, District Finance Office, School Counselors
In May 2009, the Colorado State Legislature passed 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.
In order to help clarify the Concurrent Enrollment and ASCENT programs, we will be releasing responses to frequently asked questions here in The Scoop. A new set of questions and answers will be included in The Scoop every week.
FAQs for this week:
Q: Can all high school students participate in ASCENT program?
A: Yes, all students may participate if they meet the requirements for the ASCENT program and funding is available.
Q: Do Advanced Placement courses count as college credit for ASCENT eligibility?
A: No, a student may only use college credits from a “qualified” institution of higher education. The statute indicates that students must have completed “postsecondary coursework,” and AP is a high school course.
Q: Is there a transition period for students so that allows for participating who do not yet have 12 credits to participate in the ASCENT?
A: No, the legislation is clear about the 12 credit hour requirement.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Charles E. Dukes
Phone: 303-866-6142
Email: dukes_c@cde.state.co.us
Important Due Date
Eligibility Requirements for the CDE Capital Construction Assistance FY10-11 BEST Grant
Attn: Charter School Directors, Superintendents, Business Managers, Grant Writers
The Division of Capital Construction encourages charter schools to notify their authorizers immediately that they intend to apply for BEST funds even if they aren’t sure at this time. This will avoid not being able to submit an application due to the language in H.B. 08-1335.
The deadline for submitting your letter of intent for the BEST FY11-12 Grant Cycle is Dec. 4. Please get your letter submitted as soon as possible to avoid missing the three month deadline.
The notice of intent can be a one sentence letter or e-mail which states that “[Insert name of charter school] intends to apply for BEST funds when the application becomes available.”
Please provide the Division of Capital Construction Assistance at CDE a copy of the notification.
Pursuant to 22-43.7-103(7) C.R.S., an eligible charter school means a charter school as described in section 22-54-124 (1)(f.6)(I)(A) or (1)(f.6)(I)(B) C.R.S., that has been chartered for at least five years on the date its authorizer forwards an application for financial assistance to the Board on behalf of the charter school.
AND
Pursuant to 22-43.7-109(3) C.R.S., a charter school shall notify its authorizer that it intends to apply for financial assistance at least three months prior to the application submission deadline. The charter school shall forward its application for financial assistance to its authorizer, which shall forward the application to the board together with a letter indicating the authorizer's position on the application.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Scott Newell
Division of Public School Capital Construction Assistance (BEST)
Phone: 303-866-6717
Email: newell_s@cde.state.co.us
Update
Accountability for Alternative Education Campuses
Attn: Superintendents and Principals of Alternative Education Campuses
Thanks to the districts that have submitted their selection of accountability measures for state-designated Alternative Education Campuses. The deadline was Sept. 1, so if you have not yet submitted this for your AECs, please send your forms ASAP to Margo Allen, executive assistant, at allen_m@cde.state.co.us. The form is available online at: www.schoolview.org/documents/SelectionofAccountabilityMeasuresforAlternativeEducationCampuses.doc.
CDE’s initial review of the submissions has found high variability in the measures, metrics and cut-points selected across districts. The department is currently analyzing state data to better calibrate appropriate cut-points. Since this delays the department’s approval of AEC measures, we are re-examining the Oct. 15 deadline for districts to submit 2009-10 AEC results.
The department plans to share the findings of our data and content analysis in a meeting targeted for the last week of September. The details of this meeting will be announced in next week’s Scoop. We encourage district leaders with AECs and AEC leaders to attend. We value our partnership with districts and schools in this effort and invite you to contact us prior to this meeting if you wish to discuss this in advance.
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
Implementation of S.B. 10-191, Ensuring Quality Instruction through Educator Effectiveness
Attn: All
In preparation for implementation of S.B. 10-191, the department has several initiatives underway.
Increasing staff at CDE:
• CDE has accepted applications and will begin interviews to hire a S.B. 10-191 supervisor to assist the state board in its analysis of existing local personnel evaluation systems and provision of training and technical assistance to districts in implementing systems that meet S.B. 10-191 requirements. This supervisor also will oversee the collection, evaluation and approval of appropriate interim assessments, processes, tools and policies to be included in a CDE resource bank that districts may use in developing their evaluation systems.
• CDE is also preparing to interview candidates for the position of Educator Special Advisor to the commissioner. This is a two-year position for a classroom teacher to provide guidance and support to the department as new initiatives are developed and implemented. The advisor will serve as a spokesperson for Colorado educators, facilitate input from the field and provide a constant classroom perspective to the work of CDE.
Supporting the State Council for Educator Effectiveness:
CDE has been working to provide appropriate background information and data to the Council, as it develops its project plan and begins to outline its recommendations. For more information about the Council, including upcoming meetings and minutes from previous meetings, visit: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovRitter/GOVR/1251573887411.
Resources to Support Districts Implementation:
Later this school year, CDE will contact districts to gather information about the current status of local personnel evaluation systems in order to collect exemplary practices, procedures and tools and to evaluate where CDE can best serve districts. CDE also has developed a self-assessment tool for district administrators to assess how well their personnel evaluation systems meet current statutory requirements and to prepare for the implementation of all requirements under S.B. 10-191. To access this resource, visit the link below.
Click Here for Additional Information
For More Information, Contact:
Kady Dodds
Office of Performance and Policy
Phone: 303-866-6274
Email: dodds_k@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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