The Exceptional Student Services Unit (ESSU) of the Colorado Department of Education serves students with exceptional educational needs. This monthly e-newsletter is sent to administrators, educators and support staff throughout Colorado. To access a calendar of upcoming events, training sessions and other important dates, click here.
In this email:
Recent News
Preschool Outcomes Data Quality Profiles
Data quality profiles for each Administrative Unit’s 2018-19 Preschool Outcomes (Indicator 7) results have been posted in the ESSU Data Management System. These profiles allow for a deeper dive into multi-year trends as well as the entry/exit scores and progress categories that comprise the overall summary statements. To find your AU’s profile, navigate to the attachments area and look for “2019 Preschool Outcomes Data Quality Profile IND7.”
Changes in reporting educational environments for 5 year old kindergartners
Per guidance from OSEP, 5 year old kindergartners must be reported with school-age educational environment categories starting in December Count 2020 (School Year 2020-21) - the upcoming December Count 2019 will not be affected by this change. View this memo for more detail (PDF).
CSEAC Notice of vacancies
The Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee (CSEAC) has vacant positions. Those interested in applying to be part of the committee can view the open vacancies on the CSEAC webpage. The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 18. For more information, contact David Ramer, ESSU at 303-866-6943 or ramer_d@cde.state.co.us.
Blindness/Visual Impairment – October Newsletter
The October 2019 edition of the Keeping in Touch e-newsletter has information specific to CDE-funded activities and state/national resources to support TVIs, COMS, Braillists and families of children with visual impairment, including blindness. The e-newsletter is also used to post Administrative Unit jobs for these providers. For more information about the Keeping in Touch newsletter, please contact Tanni Anthony at 303-866-6681 or anthony_t@cde.state.co.us.
The Colorado Deaf-Blind Grant
The Colorado Services for Children and Youth with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss Project (aka the CO DB Project) provides a responsive, collaborative and comprehensive consultation process, which supports Colorado children and youth, birth to 21 years, who have both a vision and hearing impairment. The technical assistance is available at no cost to parents, families and professionals in providing appropriate learning, literacy, mobility and living opportunities for these individuals. These services are in addition to those provided by administrative units and other state and local agencies.
Click here for more information about the project and/or to request free technical assistance or contact Tanni Anthony at 303-866-6681 or anthony_t@cde.state.co.us or Gina Herrera at 303-866-6605 or herrera_g@cde.state.co.us.
The Colorado Deaf-Blind Grant Annual Child Count
Every Dec. 1, the Colorado Deaf-Blind Project completes an Educational Data Advisory Committee-approved and grant-required child count of all children and youth who have combined vision and hearing loss.
The child count includes children ages 0-21 and is not predicted on a primary eligibility label of deaf-blindness but the actual manifestation of both a vision and hearing loss that impacts the child’s educational needs. The vast majority of identified children fall into the eligibility category of multiple disabilities.
District contact personnel will receive the child count packets in mid-to-late November. All information is kept strictly confidential as stated in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Click here for more information about the child count process through the grant project or contact Tanni Anthony at 303-866-6681 or anthony_t@cde.state.co.us or Gina Herrera at 303-866-6605 or herrera_g@cde.state.co.us.
SY2018-19 Indicator 11 and 12 data now available in DMS Summary Tab
Please check out ESSU Data Management System Summary Tab for SY2018-19 Ind11 and 12 data.
CDE supports in D/HH
CDE has new offerings for school administrators and staff to enhance services for students with hearing loss. At no cost to districts or BOCES, supports are available. Click on the title headings below to see each of the new offerings. They can also be accessed on CDE's Deaf and Heard of Hearing page.
- Regional Collaboration – D/HH-specific professional development is delivered in five regions through interactive face-to-face meetings (two/year) and Zoom video (three/year). Through the regional collaboration website you can view past professional development presentations, download new tools and register for upcoming collaborations and more.
- Just for District Leaders – Short Zoom meetings to address hot topics/burning questions in D/HH *Coming Soon*- Email Shauna Moden to be on the list to receive info: moden_s@cde.state.co.us.
- Deaf/HH Newsletter - Aligning content with the regional collaborations, the new D/HH Newsletter is published quarterly. To have your name added to the listserv distribution list, please email Shauna Moden: moden_s@cde.state.co.us.
- Deaf/HH Statewide Events Calendar - Much is happening around the state in D/HH for families, students, professionals and more. This calendar can be easily shared and added to your own Google Calendar. Please inform your staff and families. Do you want to get the word out about your event? Post your event here.
- D/HH Job Board – When trying to fill positions for teacher for the D/HH, educational interpreter, educational audiologist or sign language paraprofessional, fill out this job posting request and CDE will advertise the job for two weeks. Job posting requests can be resubmitted every two weeks until filled.
- Coaching and Mentoring from the Deaf/HH Leadership Team – Our team is available to provide support in Deaf education programming, instructional practice, audiology, interpreting, speech/language, Deaf plus additional disabilities, and more. Contact Shauna Moden for a Mentor Request Form at moden_s@cde.state.co.us.
- Consider how our D/HH leadership team can help support work you are doing within your district. If you or your staff would benefit from support in serving students with hearing loss, please contact Shauna Moden at moden_s@cde.state.co.us or 303-866-6707.
Training and Professional Development
Deadlines
NOVEMBER
- 1 - SPED December Count Student and Staff Snapshot is open.
- 8 - 2019-20 Budget Revision No. 1 Submission Deadline.
DECEMBER
Application for school improvement grants due Nov. 14
With the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and with revisions to the state’s Educational Accountability Act (HB 17-1355), Colorado is taking the opportunity to change the way school improvement funds are awarded to LEAs.
Rather than multiple applications on separate timelines, CDE streamlines school improvement opportunities into a single application and using a “needs-based approach” to award services and funding through the Empowering Action for School Improvement (EASI) application. The application launched recently. More information is available on CDE's Federal Programs website.
The intent of the EASI application is to develop a robust process of matching schools’ needs with rigorous, evidence-based strategies and adequate resources. Additionally, awarded funds will enhance districts’ and schools’ ability to meet the ESSA and state requirements (e.g., stakeholder engagement, improvement plan, implementation of evidence-based interventions) in a way that directly benefits students.
The single LEA application for school improvement funds is due to CDE by Thursday, Nov. 14 by 11:59 p.m.
OSEP Monthly Update
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