Director's Corner

Announcement:

ESSU Spring 2023 Meeting

WHO:  Facility Schools, Gifted Education, and Special Education Leaders

WHEN:  Thursday, April 13 - Friday, April 14, 2023

WHERE:  Denver Marriott West, 1717 Denver West Blvd, Golden, CO 80401

• Please watch for more information about registration and the agenda in the Exceptional Student Services Newsletter, and emails from ESSU Listservs beginning in early January.

Lodging:

We have secured a discounted rate for rooms at the Denver Marriott West:

Cost: $159 USD per night

• Book your group rate for Spring Directors Meeting
• Last Day to Book: Wednesday, March 22, 2023

*If you try to book online and are unable to do so because the discounted rooms are full, please email essu-meetings@cde.state.co.us.

Other nearby hotels:

• Hampton Inn Denver-West/Golden; 17150 W. Colfax Avenue, Golden, CO 80401
• Courtyard Denver Golden/Red Rocks, 14700 West 6^th Avenue Frontage Road, Golden, CO 80401
• Residence Inn Denver Golden/Red Rocks, 14600 West 6^th Avenue Frontage Road, Golden, CO 80401
• Springhill Suites Denver West/Golden, 1315 Colorado Mills Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80401

Beginning in 2023, CDE will no longer be reimbursing travel expenses for events, reimbursements will need to be submitted to individual districts.

For questions or more information, please email essu-meetings@cde.state.co.us

Read Act Training Requirement

The READ Act requires districts to ensure that all teachers who provide literacy instruction to students in grades K-3 fulfill the READ Act teacher training requirement.  Therefore, if a teacher regardless of title has a responsibility for teaching literacy in grades K-3 they are required to complete the training.  If a gifted teacher provides consultation or literacy enrichment in K-3 that is a critical role in literacy. This gifted teacher would need to take the training as they impact literacy in the classroom.

For more information, please visit https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy

Elements of the Gifted Program Plan

The Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) is Colorado's primary law with requirements for the implementation of specific elements and procedures for gifted education. The State Board of Education is responsible for promulgating rules that local districts use to follow Colorado education laws. Administrative Units (AUs) oversee and provide educational services to gifted students and professional development opportunities for educators. AU is defined as a school district, a board of cooperative services (BOCES), or the state Charter School Institute.

The elements below guide the AU Gifted Education Director/Coordinator in developing provisions for the implementation of the gifted program plan.

Click the links below to access information for each of the ECEA program elements.

*Legislation allows AUs to determine if Early Access is provided as a gifted programming option.