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Approved Training Providers FAQs
As required in state law, all performance evaluations must be conducted by an individual who has completed a training in evaluation skills that has been approved by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). Approved Training Providers (ATPs) offer training opportunities on the state model evaluation system and effective practices in educator evaluations. If you are interested in becoming an Approved Evaluator Training Provider or would like to learn more about the ATP program, the following FAQs offer clarification and links based on frequently asked questions.
Please contact your Educator Effectiveness Regional Specialist or email educator_effectiveness@cde.state.co.us with any direct questions and/or requests for additional information.
Q. What is the purpose of Approved Training Providers (ATPs) and what role do they play in educator evaluations in Colorado?
A. The Approved Training Providers (ATPs) program was created to support the training of evaluator designees. To help school districts and BOCES distribute leadership, manage workload, and ensure high quality feedback to all educators, state statute and rule allow designees to conduct evaluations for teachers, special services providers (SSPs) and principals as long as they have been through an evaluator training program approved by CDE. C.R.S.22-9-106 (4)(a), C.C.R.5.03 (B)
Q. What is an evaluator designee?
A. Evaluator designees do not hold a principal or administrator license and must therefore be certified by an Approved Training Provider (ATP) in order to conduct evaluations of licensed personnel. Any person who conducts an evaluation of school licensed personnel (i.e., teachers, special services providers [SSPs], or principals) must hold a principal or administrator license or complete a state approved evaluation training.
Q. Who can apply to become an ATP?
A. Districts, BOCES, Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), Consulting Groups, and Individual Consultants can all apply to become an ATP. Individuals from districts, BOCES, IHEs, or Consulting Groups are not approved but rather the application and approval is for the entity itself.
Q. What is the process to become an ATP?
A. The process to become an Approved Training Provider (ATP) includes: review the ATP Informational Overview; complete an initial application indicating interest in becoming an ATP; and following contact with a member of the Educator Effectiveness Office, attend a training for new ATPs. During the training, prospective ATPs will receive the support documentation that is required prior to approval. The entire application and support documentation package is then reviewed, and approval (or feedback for re-submission) is sent to the identified contact.
Q. How long does it take to become an ATP?
A. It depends. Training for applicants seeking to become an Approved Training Provider (ATP) is generally offered twice a year on an as needed basis in response to interest and number of applicants. Depending on the timing of submitting an initial application and the next available training, the process could be completed relatively quickly. Please contact educator_effectiveness@cde.state.co.us or your Educator Effectiveness Regional Specialist for more information.
Q. Once approved as a training provider, i.e., become an ATP, how long does that approval/status last?
A. Current providers are required to complete an annual renewal process (typically in the spring) to ensure quality of program and certification criteria.
Q. Is there a cost/fee to become an ATP?
A. No. There is no cost or fee to become an Approved Training Provider (ATP). Applicants and established ATPs are responsible for all costs associated with attending CDE training and updates.
Q. Are only school districts/BOCES eligible to become an ATP?
A. No. In addition to school districts and BOCES, any individual or organizational consultant, as well as institute of higher education are eligible to become an Approved Training Provider (ATP).
Q. What is required to become an ATP?
A. Prospective Approved Training Providers (ATPs) need to complete an initial application that indicates interest and intent to pursue becoming an ATP and attend a two-day training for new ATPs. During that training prospective ATPs will receive the support documentation to be completed by the applicant and that is required prior to approval—this includes and is not limited to an instructional framework that provides details of the planned training program as well as an application agreement. The entire application and support documentation package is then reviewed, and approval (or feedback for re-submission) is sent to the identified contact.
Q. What are the requirements for ATPs?
A. As part of the application package, all ATPs sign an application agreement that lists the requirements for ATPs. These include: implement evaluator training with fidelity to the training, content, and resources provided by CDE; develop and implement a comprehensive program and determine the success criteria for completion of the program that certifies/approves evaluator designees if they do not hold a principal or administrator license; maintain documentation of trainings and a list of training participants that completed the program and/or that were certified/approved as evaluator designees; attend all provider trainings by CDE as required to maintain designation as an Approved Training Provider, and; participate in annual orientation from CDE for updates on the State Model Evaluation System. In addition, all ATPs agree to not discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, national origin, color, disability, or age.
Q: Who maintains the records of training participants?
A: Each ATP is expected to maintain documentation of training materials that demonstrate how participants engage in learning (i.e., training agenda, presentation of documents, reading materials and resources, among others). This documentation may be requested by CDE for verification purposes or during a site visit.
Q: Who provides the certification for evaluator designees?
A: Each ATP providers certification for evaluator designees who complete their training. The ATP certifies that the evaluator designee is prepared to conduct and complete evaluations of licensed personnel.
Q: For how long are evaluator designees certified?
A. Each ATP determines how long the certification of their evaluator designees will last, e.g., one year, six months, or until the designee receives a license as a principal or administrator, among others. In addition, each ATP determines any requirements beyond the initial training for designees to remain certified, e.g., participate in monthly check-ins, work with a mentor evaluator, or commit to participate in annual training, among others.
Q. Does our district/BOCES need to be an ATP to provide training for our educator evaluators who are already licensed as a principal or administrator?
A No. Any district/BOCES may conduct training for their educator evaluators who are already licensed as a principal or administrator without being identified as an ATP. A district/BOCES only needs to become an ATP to train and certify evaluator designees (i.e., those who are not licensed as an administrator/principal and who will conduct and complete evaluations for licensed educators.)
Q. As an ATP, can we provide training for licensed administrators/principals?
A. Yes. An Approved Training Provider (ATP) can provide training for licensed administrators/principals to reinforce effective evaluation practices. However, the primary purpose and expectations/responsibility for ATPs is to provide training and certification of evaluator designees.
Q. Does our district/BOCES have to use the Colorado Performance Management System (COPMS) in RANDA to become an ATP?
A. No.
Q. How frequently is the training offered to become an ATP?
A. Training for applicants seeking to become an Approved Training Provider (ATP) is generally offered twice a year on an as needed basis in response to interest and number of applicants. Please contact your Educator Effectiveness Regional Specialist or email educator_effectiveness@cde.state.co.us for more information.
Q. Does CDE provide training and certification of evaluator designees?
A. No.
Q. What are the annual expectations/requirements for ATPs?
A. As a part of the annual renewal process, established Approved Training Providers (ATPs) provide CDE with a summary of general program statistics regarding participants, training content, and number of evaluator designees certified through the ATP’s program. In addition, ATPs provide the following information: notification of any modifications to the originally approved program, updates/changes in provider contact information, as well as any summary/analysis of participant feedback.
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