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Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019
** Action Item
This Week in The Scoop
Capital Construction
BEST grant celebrates 10 years of work
Since 2008 the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant program BEST has awarded approximately $2.5 billion in grants to more than 525 Colorado schools, improving health, safety and security for nearly 300,000 students.
With funding from the Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Lottery, marijuana excise tax and local matching dollars, BEST continues to improve Colorado’s educational environments through capital construction projects.
Watch the BEST video and learn more on the program's webpage.
For More Information, Contact:
Andy Stine
Capital Construction Unit
Phone: 303-866-2153
Email: bestschools@cde.state.co.us
Fill out the Charter School Capital Construction funding eligibility form
All Colorado school districts and the Charter School Institute are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction (CSCC) funding eligibility questionnaire. The CSCC-02 form for fiscal year 2019-20 is due Monday, Dec. 2.
Original signatures are required from the school district or Charter School Institute and the charter school.
Once all forms are received and the pupil count reconciliations are complete, the remaining CSCC funding will be distributed based upon actual pupil counts.
Details and the form can be found on the CSCC webpage.
For More Information, Contact:
Meg Donaldson
Capital Construction
Phone: 303-866-6184
Email: donaldson_m@cde.state.co.us
Charter schools: Notice of intent to apply for 2020-21 BEST grant funding
The Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Grant provides annual funding in the form of competitive grants for schools with health and safety facility needs. The grant is available to school districts, charter schools and institute charter schools, BOCES, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.
Saturday, Nov. 30, is the deadline for charter schools to notify CDE of interest in applying. The application will open Thursday, Jan. 2, and remain open until Monday, Feb. 24, for charter schools and school districts.
Charter schools are encouraged to contact the Capital Construction Division as early as possible even if they are not certain they will apply. CDE staff can provide technical assistance and can help guide schools through the process.
Visit the Capital Construction Online Grant Application Process webpage for more information.
For More Information, Contact:
Meg Donaldson
Capital Construction
Phone: 303-866-6184
Email: donaldson_m@cde.state.co.us
Early Learning & School Readiness
Fill out survey for interest in K-3 training
Districts are being asked to complete a short survey on their interest in allowing CDE to train K-3 teachers on how to teach evidence-based reading, as required by new legislation.
Recent changes to the READ Act require K-3 teachers to have completed training in teaching evidence-based reading by the 2021-22 school year or to provide evidence that they have met this requirement.
To do so districts must provide evidence that all educators who teach students in kindergarten through third grade have met this requirement. One option to meet this requirement is through participation in a free training provided by CDE. According to the current draft rules for the READ Act, all qualifying training would consist of 45 hours.
CDE is seeking preliminary information on which local education providers may be interested in requesting this training. The department anticipates that training would be made available regionally or within districts to meet teacher needs.
Districts are being asked to complete a short survey on their preliminary interest in CDE training by Dec. 1. The link has been sent directly to school district READ Act contacts. There is no commitment implied by participating in the survey.
More specific details about the logistics state provided training should be available in February.
For more information, visit the READ Act webpage.
For More Information, Contact:
Floyd Cobb
Teaching & Learning
Phone: 303-866-6868
Email: cobb_f@cde.state.co.us
Educator Talent
** Release weights to all schools in RANDA
All districts, BOCES and charter schools using the Colorado Performance Management System, or RANDA, will need to set professional practice weights no later than Dec. 1. This required weight setting will ensure rating calculations are correct and that all educators know and understand how they will be evaluated under the requirements specified in the State Board of Education rules.
For feedback or questions, visit the EE Contact Us webpage and connect with your regional specialist.
For More Information, Contact:
Educator Effectiveness
Phone: 303-866-6221
Email: educator_effectiveness@cde.state.co.us
Exceptional Student Services
Meeting of the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee
The next meeting of the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee (CSEAC) will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, at Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St., in Wheat Ridge.
CSEAC is a state-level committee mandated by federal and state law. Members are interested in the quality of education received by children/youth with disabilities.
Participation is statewide and representative of diverse disabilities.
Public comment begins at 8:30 a.m.
For more information, visit the committee webpage.
For More Information, Contact:
Joyce Thiessen-Barrett
Exceptional Student Services
Phone: 303-866-6757
Email: Barrett_J@cde.state.co.us
Federal Programs
2020 USDE Green Ribbon Schools Award applications now accepted
CDE is accepting applications for the 2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) Award Program.
PreK-12 Schools, districts and institutions of higher education eligible for this national award demonstrate high achievement each of the three GRS Pillars: Reduced environmental impact and costs; improved health and wellness; and effective environmental and sustainability education.
ED-GRS honorees are recognized by parents, students, staff, partners, sponsors and communities as exemplary models of achievement in sustainability, health and environmental education. Honorees will be invited to participate in national and local recognition ceremonies.
Applications are due to CDE on Monday, Dec. 2. Application assistance and resources are available for those interested in applying. Visit the Colorado Green Ribbon Schools webpage for more information.
For More Information, Contact:
Patricia Gleason
Competitive Grants and Awards
Phone: 303-866-6143
Email: gleason_p@cde.state.co.us
Postsecondary Readiness
Apply for the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program
The Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program encourages participating local education providers (LEPs) to offer learning experiences for their ninth through 12th grade high school students that usually occur outside of the classroom. The 2020-21 school year will be the pilot year of the Innovative Learning Opportunities Program.
The letter of intent, application and full details are posted on the program webpage.
For More Information, Contact:
Mary Anne Hunter
Postsecondary Readiness
Phone: 303-866-6596
Email: hunter_mary@cde.state.co.us
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