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Facility Schools Workgroup

Facility Schools Workgroup

Background Information

During the 2021 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 21-274 (PDF), Sustainable Model to Serve Facility Students. The bill created a workgroup to identify a potential sustainable model that is not embedded in the child welfare system, to better serve students along the continuum for services, and to address the insufficient capacity for services across the state. The workgroup submitted a final report of its recommendations to the department and Joint Budget Committee.

Senate Bill 23-219 (PDF), concerning services to support students eligible to enroll in facility schools was passed during the 2023 legislative session. The bill addressed each of the workgroup recommendations - a new funding model for facility schools; a new school type to address current capacity challenges; an accreditation system for facility schools; a grant to support shared operational services among facility schools; a technical assistance center to support rural and remote school districts in serving students with exceptionally severe and specialized needs; and a resource guide developed by various state agencies in how to establish an approved facility school. The workgroup will continue to monitor progress of implementation of changes to the facility school system and report to the Joint Budget Committee annually. 

Workgroup reports to the JBC

SB23-219 report of the work group     2023 Work Group Report

SB21-274 final report of the work group     Final SB21-274 Workgroup Report

 

Facility Schools Shared Operational Services Grant

Senate Bill 23-219 created the Shared Operational Services Grant, which is intended to support all approved facility schools in Colorado, in cost savings for shared services and purchasing. Operational services may include but are not limited to such things as food services, janitorial services, technology support, security, transportation, accounting/billing, or purchasing. This is a two-year grant, intended to fund a single applicant.

This grant program exists to identify the types of services needed by facility schools; determine which services could be shared for cost savings; identify purchasing opportunities that could provide cost savings to facility schools; create a plan with a structure/framework to organize and coordinate shared purchases and services; ensure a level of sustainability to maintain following the grant; and analyze cost savings for facility schools.

The State Board voted to approve Colorado Association of Family & Children's Agencies (CAFCA) as the grant recipient.

 

2023-2024 Meeting Dates and Information 

Meetings of the Facility Schools Workgroup will be held remotely. The meetings are open to the public; however, only working group members have an active role in the meetings. The workgroup will allow time for public comment at the beginning of each meeting. Guidelines for public comment include - 3 minutes per person, with a maximum of 5 people (15 minutes total); requests for public comment must be submitted to Darren Serrato,Serrato_D@cde.state.co.us   no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time/date - information should include name, group or entity represented, and topic. 

Accommodation Notice:    

  • If you plan to attend a meeting and need accommodations, please notify Lori Kochevar, Kochevar_L@cde.state.co.us, at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting date. Advance notice allows CDE time to set up requested accommodations before the meeting. 
  • If you have requested accommodations for a meeting and are then unable to attend, we ask for at least a 72-hour notice of cancellation, so that CDE can be proactive with cancelling requested accommodation services ahead of the meeting. Thank you! ​

Membership

  • School Districts
  • Board of Cooperative Education Services
  • Special Education Directors
  • Facility Schools and Facility Schools Board Members
  • Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
  • Department of Education
  • Department of Human Services, including Division of Youth Services
  • County Departments of Human Services
  • Parents
  • Eligible facilities

Member list

Sarah Baumgartner

Laurie Burney

Danny Combs

Kari Chapman

Michele Craig

Stacey Davis

Wendy Dunaway

Mylynda Herrick

 

Sonjia Hunt

Sandy Malouff

David Molineux

Erin Osterhaus

Betsy Peffer

Steven Ramirez

Deon Roberts

Robin Singer

Judy Stirman

Ann Symalla

Lindsey Tapp

Barb Taylor

Kevin Tracy

Callan Ware

Maureen Welch

Cate White

Laura Writebol

 

 

 

 

 

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Financial transparency

Financial information on schools and districts throughout Colorado. Learn more about financial transparency.

 

Contact Us

Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
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