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Welcome to the NEWS for January 19, 2024
A new charter comes to Coal Creek while state enrollment hits its lowest level in a decade. Plus, 'short burst’ tutoring in literacy shows promise and AI can teach math teachers how to improve student skills.
January is moving quickly and the Colorado Charter Schools Annual Conference is just around the corner! Focused on re:visioning education, this highly-anticipated event will elevate your ongoing growth and development while providing the opportunity to connect with peers. View our lineup of workshops and register today!
Please note that weather delays pushed our Douglas County Regional Gathering to next Tues., January 23, from 5-7 PM. If you've already registered, you're all set; just update your calendar. If you can now join us, please register for this free event here.
Finally, don’t miss today’s Town Hall, starting at 9AM. We’ll focus on what's coming for this new legislative session, including areas schools should anticipate and focus on during this cycle. We hope to see you there!
If your campus has an update to share, please submit it to us by 12 PM each Thursday.
News & Commentary
Top News
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Local Headlines
Acknowledging Missteps, a Colorado District Chief Navigates ‘Devastating’ School Closures
The 74 | January 18, 2024
In April 2021, the board overseeing Colorado’s Jeffco Public Schools was about to hire Tracy Dorland as its new superintendent. But first, an urgent matter demanded their attention — closing Allendale Elementary School. Read more.
Colorado’s free preschool application in 2024: Here’s what parents need to know
Chalkbeat | January 17, 2024
Colorado families can start applying for the state’s free preschool program for the 2024-25 school year in late February. Read more.
Charter school to replace tiny Jeffco K-8 slated for closure in remote Coal Creek Canyon
Chalkbeat | January 10, 2024
The Jeffco school board on Wednesday approved a new charter school to open in Coal Creek Canyon and replace a district-run school that will close at the end of this school year. Jefferson Academy, a charter network that has long operated in the district, is proposing to replicate its model with a pre-K-8 school in the same building as the soon-to-be-closed Coal Creek Canyon K-8. Read more.
National Views
Study: ‘Short Burst’ Tutoring in Literacy Shows Promise for Young Readers
The 74 | January 17, 2024
Small, regular interactions with a reading tutor — about 5 to 7 minutes — are making a big impact on young students’ reading skills, new Stanford University research shows. Read more.
AI Can Teach Math Teachers How to Improve Student Skills
The 74 | January 16, 2024
When middle school math teachers completed an online professional development program that uses artificial intelligence to improve their math knowledge and teaching skills, their students’ math performance improved. Read more.
Amid Literacy Push, Many States Still Don’t Prepare Teachers for Success, Report Finds
The 74 | January 16, 2024
Most states have revised their strategies for teaching children to read over the last half-decade, a reflection of both long-held frustration with slow academic progress and newer concerns around COVID-related learning loss. An attempt to incorporate evidence-based insights into everyday school practice, the nationwide campaign has been touted as a promising development for student achievement. Read more.
How centralized enrollment systems enhance school choice
Thomas Fordham Institute | January 4, 2024
A new report from the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice adds to the robust literature on school choice in New Orleans, shedding light on the ways in which the centralized enrollment system in the Crescent City has grown and evolved, as well as focusing on any potential disparate impacts to both enrollment and student achievement based on race. Read more.
Community Announcements
Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado Survey Launches Wed., Jan. 24
Codes for the statewide, biennial TLCC survey will begin arriving by email next week for survey coordinators to distribute. The anonymous survey will be available for all educators, special service providers, school leaders, and education support professionals to provide feedback from Wednesday, Jan. 24, until Friday, Feb. 23. Schools and districts must have 50% participation and five responses to receive results. The survey results can be used for continuous improvement, strategic planning, research and policy. Take the survey and track participation on the TLCC website.
Mountain Middle School Achieves 2023 Distinction Rating
CC-LIVE is partnering with top accredited schools in Colorado! Mountain Middle School Announces the State’s Top 2023 Accreditation Rating of Performance with Distinction. Mrs. Tabola enjoys every moment of working with the 8th graders at Mountain Middle School. Thanks to the warmth from the students and the administration we feel through the screen we are not surprised they have received this honor and we want to say, Congratulations! A well-deserved recognition of your dedication to your students.
Elevating Educational Quality: Member Council's Impact and the MQSS Program
The Member Council, crucial in advising on matters benefiting both the League and the community, introduced the Member Quality Standards & Supports (MQSS) program last year. Addressing the need for high-quality education, the program targets schools with lower academic performance through SPF ratings, set for release this week. MQSS aims to boost charter sector quality with stronger standards and intentional support. Despite less than 10% of League members falling into the bottom two performance categories, the program highlights the League's commitment to elevating the charter sector and improving education quality statewide. For inquiries, contact the Member Council, Dawna Taylor (VP of School Services), or Dan Schaller (President). Your engagement is vital as we strive for statewide educational improvement.
Call for Proposals: 2024 National Charter School Conference
The NCSC24 Call for Proposal is open! Submit a proposal to present a breakout session at this June’s conference.
League Flash Poll: Take a Couple Minutes to Help Us with PERA
PERA is looking to expand the pool of qualifying employees to include substitute teachers hired by third-party contractors, even if they remain employed by the contractor rather than the school. The League is actively pushing back on this issue and needs your help to assess the potential impact on our schools. Please take a quick 8-question survey to share your insights on current practices at your school and how this shift could affect you. We'll keep you updated on developments as we continue to oppose this initiative.
INCubatoredu Webinar Series by Uncharted Learning
Uncharted Learning invites you to a transformative webinar series featuring alumni panels sharing their experiences with high school entrepreneurship through INCubatoredu. Over the next two months, join three dynamic sessions to hear directly from students whose lives were shaped by this program. Discover how INCubatoredu prepared them for college success and propelled them into thriving careers. Engage in interactive discussions, pose your burning questions during Q&A sessions, and be inspired by real-world success stories. Save the dates, register now, and unlock the entrepreneurial journey with Uncharted Learning: Wed. 1/31, 10am MT: https://bit.ly/46AEszt
Professional Learning & Exploration Program with Educational Tours
Join fellow district leaders from around the country in Japan and South Korea during July ‘24 to build global competency, explore educational innovation, connect with community and take part in professional networking in an international setting. Scholarships are available - applications are due by January 19, 2024. Apply here. For more information reach out to Heather Keeton.
Funding Opportunities
Morelli Scholarship: Empowering Dyslexic Students in STEM Education
The Morelli Scholarship application opens on January 1, 2024, encouraging potential applicants to seize this opportunity. Geared towards students with dyslexia pursuing STEM degrees in the Fall of 2024, the scholarship prioritizes those excelling in STEM subjects despite challenges in English. Many scholars engage in our free Mentorship Program during their freshman year. Visit their website for more Foundation details and to access the application. Access the list of questions on our website before the application launch, allowing interested students to work on their submissions during the holiday season.
Cahn Fellowship
Cahn Fellowship provides advanced leadership development and recognition in large metropolitan areas to strong, talented school leaders to improve public education. The best schools are led by strong principals. Cahn Fellowship selects high-potential principals to participate in programs that maximize their talents and enhance their skills. These programs aim to have a dramatic impact on the performance of the school, the outcomes for the students, and the satisfaction and commitment of the principals themselves. Learn More.
Free crisis services available through Colorado Crisis Services
Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential and immediate support from trained professionals and peer specialists. Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 844-493-TALK(8255), or texting TALK to 38255. Colorado residents can also seek services in-person at walk-in centers, regardless of ability to pay. To get help with a mental health, substance use or emotional concern—for you, or for someone you know visit the Colorado Crisis Services website.
CDE Updates
The Family Health Line is now 2-1-1
The Family Health Line phone number, 303-692-2229, has been fully transitioned to 2-1-1 and is no longer active. If this phone number is listed on any school or district website, please remove it and direct visitors to 2-1-1 Colorado. For more information contact Kasey Harlos at [email protected].
Prevention & Promotion Science Professional Development
This spring the Colorado State University Prevention Research Center, in partnership with CDE, will offer one-day, in-person regional training sessions on prevention science to support evidence-based prevention programs, practices and policies in schools. Afterward, participants can join remote learning communities to share their successes and challenges. The training dates and locations will be determined with interested district and school staff. Email Aubrie Radford at [email protected] if you’re interested in participating. For more information contact Chauncey Stephens at [email protected] or 720-355-3026.
Exceptional Children’s Educational Act High-Cost Reimbursement applications
Applications and instructions are available for reimbursement of special ed high-cost student expenditures for the 2022-23 fiscal year. In Administrative Unit and Out of District applications are due Friday, March 1.
Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee openings
CSEAC has openings for new members who are interested in the quality of education received by children and youth with disabilities. CSEAC is a state-level committee mandated by federal and state law that includes parents of individuals with disabilities, educational service providers, administrators and representatives from a variety of related agencies. The committee is statewide and representative of diverse disabilities. Click here to view the application and current list of vacancies on the CSEAC website.
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Awards nominations and applications open
PAEMST Awards are the highest honors the U.S. government bestows upon kindergarten through sixth grade teachers of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or computer science. Principals, teachers, parents, students and members of the general public may nominate exceptional Colorado STEM teachers who teach grades K-6 for the 2023-24 award year. Eligible teachers may also apply directly on the PAEMST website.
League News & Events
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Health & Wellness
Empowering Educators: Navigating Comprehensive Sexual Health Education with Trauma-Informed Practices, and Holistic Approaches
This series of two webinars is designed for educators who are teaching or will be teaching or supporting Comprehensive Sexual Health Education in their school or district. In these interactive webinars we will explore best practices when teaching comprehensive sex education and skills-based health education. Session one will dive into trauma-informed education, healing centered engagement, along with relevant Colorado legislation. These interactive and engaging sessions are brought to you by the Trailhead Institute and Thrive Consulting and in partnership with SHAPE Colorado. When January 24, 2024, 4:15-5:30pm and February 7, 2024, 4:15-5:30pm. Where: Zoom.
Invitation to Quarterly Lunch + Learn: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Colorado Schools
Join the Colorado Project AWARE team and Envision:You for our upcoming Quarterly Lunch + Learn on Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The event, conducted via Zoom, will focus on the topic "What Do LGBTQ+ Youth Need from The Trusted Adults in Their Lives?" This webinar-style learning opportunity is open to all Colorado school communities, and we encourage you to share it within your networks. To attend, please register. For any inquiries, reach out to us at [email protected]. Visit our webpage to learn more about Colorado Project AWARE.
Educator Residency Improves Teacher Diversity, Well-being
PEBC's pilot program, supported by a $1.5 million, 2-year grant from Kaiser Permanente, aims to rebuild the educator workforce in Colorado by recruiting teachers from historically underserved populations. The Teacher Residency program, aligned with the Thriving Schools initiative, focuses on integrating social and emotional well-being into classrooms to address burnout and retention challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, during the 2022-2023 school year, 9% of teaching positions in Colorado remained unfilled. Since the grant, the program has seen a 32% increase in participants from historically underrepresented groups, with retention rates 25% higher than the national average for program graduates. Learn more about the impactful PEBC Teacher Residency program.
Prioritizing Well-Being Among School and District Staff, Educators, and Administrators
Health and well-being are fundamental to our success in educating youth, engaging families, collaborating with colleagues, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Register for a four-part, learning series that prioritizes staff well-being with Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools on January 25, February 22, March 14, and April 11 at 4 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. PT. All school and district staff, regardless of position or title — including cafeteria workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, teachers, and administrators — are encouraged to attend this no-cost webinar series.
The Colorado Health Foundation: Feb. 15, 2024 Grant Deadline
- Building a Pipeline of Primary Care Providers to Serve Diverse Communities
- Capital Infrastructure - Increasing Access to Care for Coloradans of Color
- Equitable Community-Designed Outdoor Spaces
- Supporting Coloradans in Recovery through Nonclinical Programs
- Supporting Holistic, Culturally Responsive and Youth- Driven Physical Well-being
Free Health Equity Training
Check out the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC)’s 90-minute recording of Equitable Language and Why it Matters. School Health Professionals play a vital role in student health! Enroll in the Health Equity Online Module, a 2.5-hour, self-paced online course from the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center. The course is free and meant for those who are serious about walking their health equity talk but aren’t quite sure how to get started.
Jobs
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Recent League Newsletters
- ACT (January 17, 2024)
- NEWS (January 5, 2024)
- MOVE (January 12, 2024)
- LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (January 10, 2024)
- CONNECT COHORT (December 7, 2023)
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