Great cohorts are forming now in over ten topical areas, and trainings are happening now. Make sure to nominate a Charter Champion aimed at recognizing and empowering the exemplary student leaders in charter high schools across Colorado. Submissions close tomorrrow October 14, 2023.

If your campus has an update to share, please submit it to us by 12 PM each Thursday.

News & Commentary

Top News

11th October 2023 Everything you need to know about voting in Colorado’s 2023 elections Election Day is Nov. 7 this year, but since every eligible registered Colorado voter will receive a mail ballot in October, you can vote sooner.

11th October 2023 Banning Smartphones at Schools: Research Points to Higher Test Scores, Less Anxiety, More Exercise The international debate over technology and youth was jolted last week by a surprising announcement: Schools in the United Kingdom will soon ban the use of cell phones.

10th October 2023 Oklahoma board approves Catholic charter school contract An Oklahoma school authority on Monday gave the thumbs-up to a contract for the nation’s first religious charter school, a virtual Catholic institution that is facing challenges from advocates who claim the school would violate state law.

9th October 2023 Schools staff up as student enrollment drops The stats on school staffing might seem like a violation of the laws of supply and demand.

9th October 2023 How Idaho earned a $24.9 million grant to expand school choice opportunities So much of what happens in the world of public education occurs in the trenches of anonymity where teachers work day-in and day-out to help their students learn, and where administrators labor to make the environment their teachers teach and their students learn as healthy and vibrant as they can, and where parents drop their children off at schools in the hope that their babies will learn what they need to excel in life and as educated citizens of the greatest country in the world.

Local

Voter guide: 2023 Denver school board candidates answer 6 questions about their priorities
Chalkbeat   |   October 11, 2023
Voters will choose three Denver school board members on Nov. 7. Eight candidates are running for the three seats. Read more. 

Why school board elections matter and why you should vote
Chalkbeat   |   October 11, 2023
Every other November, Colorado voters choose the people who make important decisions about their local schools. Read more.

Pueblo charter school is first in Colorado to launch new financial literacy app
Pueblo Chieftain   |   October 11, 2023
A new app teaching financial literacy to Colorado teens and young adults is getting its start in Pueblo at the Chavez K-12 Preparatory Academy. Read more.

Does Student-Based Budgeting promote equity? Baldermann says no
Boardhawk   |   October 10, 2023
The debate over how Denver Public Schools allocates money to its schools may not seem like the most scintillating topic to address less than a month before a pivotal school board election. Read more.

Outdoor classrooms should outlast COVID
Chalkbeat   |   October 10, 2023
For me, the smiles in back-to-school photos felt extra forced this year. How can I hold in one hand dystopian headlines about schools — closures for excessive heat, dilapidated buildings with dangerous indoor air quality, shortages of school-based mental health professionals, a worsening mental health emergency — and, in the other, the promise and excitement of a new year of learning? Read more.

Youth-led workshops push school board candidates to address student needs
Chalkbeat   |   October 10, 2023
Students may be the people with the most at stake in any school board election, but most of them can’t vote. Read more.

We must be the role models we needed as students
Boardhawk   |   October 9, 2023
In my role as assistant principal at Denver’s Valdez Elementary, I collaborate with every staff member to ensure student needs are met academically and with social emotional support. Read more.

National

Why the Kids in My School Move from Class to Class — as Young as Kindergarten
Fordham   |   October 12, 2023
It’s been more than three years since the pandemic upended schools, but students are still living with the consequences. Read more.

Public Charter Schools and the Chipotlification of American Education
The 74   |    October 12, 2023
Before Chipotle, customization of fast, casual meals was relegated to condiments, not the entire entree. Read more.

Don’t mess with Texas school reform
Fordham   |   October 12, 2023
Texas legislators returned to Austin earlier this week to try once again to enact a statewide school-choice program in the form of education savings accounts. Post-pandemic, Governor Greg Abbott is one of several state executives who have enthusiastically embraced the popular policy innovation known as “ESAs.” Read more.

I Spoke to Arne Duncan About School Reform. Here Are 5 Takeaways
Ed Week   |   October 11, 2023
Last week, at the American Enterprise Institute, former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and I sat down to talk about the future of school reform with The New York Times’ Erica Green. Read more [paywall].

Washington Charter School Students See Big Gains on State Math Tests
The 74   |   October 10, 2023
The percentage of charter school students in Washington state scoring proficient in math went up nearly 15 points in the latest round of state tests compared to those administered in the 2020-21 school year, a marked sign of improvement in a subject whose pandemic-era scores nosedived. Read more.

3 Reasons Why More Students Are in Special Education
Ed Week   |   October 10, 2023
The number of students in special education in the United States has doubled over the past four decades, with schools responsible for providing special services to a growing segment of their student bodies. Read more [paywall].

Holding Back Struggling Readers Helps Them — and Their Siblings — Study Finds
The 74   |   October 10, 02023
Holding back struggling readers in elementary school can yield benefits that extend in surprising directions, a recently released study suggests. Read more.

Students Are Missing School Because They’re Too Anxious to Show Up
EdWeek   |   October 9, 2023
Aside from physical illness and bad weather, anxiety is the top reason high school students missed school in the past year, according to the results of a student survey from the EdWeek Research Center. Read more [paywall].

CharterFolk Contributor Peter Thorp – Once a Charter Person, Always a Charter Person, No?
CharterFolk   |   October 6, 2023
A public-school graduate myself, I spent 23 years in independent boarding schools, the last 5 of which as the head of school in Southern California. I always had some ambivalence about my work, knowing that the impact I was having was mitigated by the fact that were I to get hit by the proverbial bus, I knew my students would be well taken care of, nevertheless. Read more.

Community Announcements

Colorado Early Colleges Receives $500k Daniels Fund Grant to Boost Career and Technical Education Opportunities, Paving the Way for Statewide Educational Advancement
Long known for being a leader in choice education – and for helping students attain associates and Bachelor’s degrees at no cost while pursuing their high school diploma, Colorado Early Colleges was awarded a $500k grant from the Daniels Fund to support expansion of their career and technical educational opportunities for students.  This investment  will expand their educational offerings to further serve students of all ages and abilities.  This could have a significant impact on economic development in Colorado as well as improve educational opportunities and innovation in the state. Read the full press release here.

Bringing Your School’s Math Vision to Life
Join us at Downtown Denver Expeditionary School (DDES) to learn about our journey to create a student-centered, joyful, and rigorous math culture. Participants will learn about how we used EL’s 10 Steps to Success to change the math culture at our school and our continued work to provide high-quality math instruction that is inclusive of all students and stakeholders. Learn more here.

Charter Development Summit Series
Join the Schools of Choice Unit for our first of three webinars in our Charter Development Summit Series as we explore the ups and downs of opening a charter school in Colorado. Dr. Jim Christensen will facilitate our conversation as we explore the steps to opening a charter school in Colorado and the importance of understanding community needs in the creation of a charter school. Amanda Marquez will tell us about her journey to open Be the Change High School in Adams 14. This webinar is open to charter school developers at all stages with a particular focus on those in the beginning stages. Register for the first part of the series on October 19, 2023 at 12 PM.

Charter Development Summit: Webinar #1 “Why open a charter school?”
During the 2023-24 school year, the Schools of Choice Unit will continue to host the Charter Development Summit with three virtual webinars and a one day in-person event.Webinar One will take place on October 18, 2023 at 4 PM. Register for the first webinar to learn the basics about what a charter school is and how you go about opening one. Register here.

U.S. - China Pen Pal Program
The US-China Pen Pal Program is looking for schools to partner with for the upcoming academic year! This is a unique initiative aimed at connecting students in the U.S. and China through letter writing. Students who sign up form these two cultures, will foster empathy, promote cross-cultural communication, and instill a sense of global citizenship. For more information or to enroll, please contact [email protected].

CCSP Grant and Application Training (GAT), Part II: Submitting App in GAINS
For New, Expanding, and Replicating charter schools in Colorado seeking startup funds by the federal program/grant administered by the Schools of Choice Unit at CDE. Applicants are welcome to receive helpful information about the new grants management system and how to effectively submit the full application and supporting documents. Register here to join the virtual webinar on October 19, 2023 at 10 AM.

Inviting Applications FY24 Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to Charter Management Organizations
The U.S. Department of Education has published the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to Charter Management Organizations for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools (CMO Grants) competition. Applications are due January 5, 2024. The NIA can be accessed in the Federal Register here. The competition website can be accessed here. CSP will host a webinar to review the competition’s eligibility requirements, priorities, selection criteria, application requirements, and assurances. The webinar will also review the steps required to complete the Grants.gov registration and submission processes and answer participants’ questions. Register for the webinar.

Daniels Scholarship Application Is Now Open
The Daniels Scholarship Program helps make college possible for motivated students from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, allowing them to attend the college of their choice. Daniels Scholars receive financial and personal support, plus a new laptop computer. Scholarships range from $30,000 over four years to a full ride, depending on college choice. The application for the Daniels Scholarship Program will be open from September 15 through October 15, 2023 at 4:00 pm MT and typically takes students less than one hour to complete. Apply online now! 

Elevate Charter Voices: Nominate Your Champion Today!
We are excited to announce the launch of the Charter Champion program for 2023-2024, an initiative aimed at recognizing and empowering the exemplary student leaders in charter high schools across Colorado. The Charter Champions program is a four month advocacy training endeavor designed for outstanding high school students in grades 9-12. It offers a platform for these aspiring leaders to collaborate, define what it means to be a student leader, and foster a culture of excellence within their communities. To learn more and nominate a Charter champion, click here.

Board Fundamentals (Fall)
Please Join the Schools of Choice Unit for Board Fundamentals on October 27, 2023 at 9 AM. This fall, we will revisit the basics to renew our understanding of our roles as governance members. We will also discuss issues geared toward strengthening our practices to support our school leaders, staff, and students. Register here.

MindSpark's Education Accelerator funded by The Daniels Fund 
This program will allow your school to bring forward a team of 2-8 individuals to solve your largest problem of practice. The Education Accelerator (EA) is an innovative, fully customizable leadership program lasting five months. It is designed to support schools in developing an innovative culture, solving their biggest problem of practice, and elevating their future by leveraging entrepreneurship. It is a cohort-based model, where several teams bring forth a problem and we help you work through it! This opportunity is completely free thanks to The Daniels Fund! Please feel free to reach out to Kiki Huckaby, [email protected] if interested in learning more, or use this link to register.

Teaching Dr. King as an Antidote to Violence
Developed by Dr. Shawn Joseph and Dr. Matthew Daniels and endorsed by Ambassador Andrew Young, MLK curricula employs the works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to teach his unifying, non-violent principles to a digital generation. Also calling upon students to dream on paper as a central project of the course about how they can harness the historically unprecedented power of digital and social media to be torchbearers for these timeless principles in the Digital Age. To learn more about how McGraw Hill Education has incorporated these practices, view their and watch how McGraw Hill and MLK Holiday Commission celebrate new scholarship opportunities here.

Technical Advisory Panel: Rural Representative Membership Opportunity
CDE seeks one rural representative to serve on the Technical Advisory Panel for Longitudinal Growth, which serves as an advisory body to CDE regarding the implementation of the Colorado Growth Model and the Educational Accountability Act.

TAP members are appointed by the commissioner of education and serve three-year terms without compensation. Applicants must represent a rural community in Colorado and must demonstrate expertise with educational assessment, growth (including the Colorado growth model), research, and/or accountability.

By Monday, Dec. 4, applicants must submit a statement of interest and resume using this form to be considered. The selected candidate will be notified prior to January 2024.

Colorado Gives More Than $17 Million to Fund DonorsChoose Program
Colorado teachers can apply now to receive $1,000 to purchase supplies, resources, learning materials, and more that will improve the learning experiences. I encourage all teachers to apply today while funding lasts! We are investing a total of $7.1 million to support school supplies, and Colorado teachers can submit projects to receive funding by visiting: www.DonorsChoose.org/colorado.

Youth Guidance Evolve Program
Youth Guidance’s Evolve program is a Tier 2 Educator social-emotional learning (SEL) program designed to cultivate a culture of support and trauma-informed engagement by delivering training and resources to school-based staff to implement the most effective components of the organization’s most renowned programs – Becoming a Man (BAM) & Working on Womanhood (WOW). The Evolve program model creates the space for youth to thrive in a school ecosystem of supportive, emotionally attuned, and culturally competent adults. The Evolve Model meets the urgent need by bridging the therapeutic principles used to support youth growth and development in a mixed-gendered environment, with relatable engagement formats delivered by trusted school leaders, professional development opportunities, unlimited access to the Evolve Curriculum and youth engagement resources through an online learning community--known as "Evolve Central." 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.
 

Learning Opportunities 

TAPP Seeks partners to expand in Colorado
TAPP Online is a five-year study that aims to identify the most effective way to prepare school specialists to implement the Teachers and Parents as Partners (TAPP) intervention in rural communities, while creating family-school partnerships to improve student success.

Our research team is leveraging virtual professional development to bring TAPP to rural communities. Our goals are to support school specialists as they deliver TAPP and promote positive school outcomes for students they serve. Teachers and parents enrolled in the study will be paid for their participation.

For more information and to learn how to get started, please contact Laura Escobedo or Kate Watson.

Charter School Capitol Updated Resources
Charter School Capital broad library of charter school resources aims to provide the information charter leaders need to help their schools thrive! A plethora of resources has recently been updated or created for your use. Each of which have tips, strategies and guides on a range of topics. Check out all of the new material:

• The Charter School Board Governance Guide: Recruit and Manage Your Board

• The Charter School Audits Guide: Preparing for the Annual Audit

• The Charter School Facilities Financing Guide: Buy Your School

• The Charter School Budget Guide: Budget for Success

• Charter School Budgeting Terms Defined

• The Charter School Growth Guide

CDE Updates

Notify of FY24-25 BEST Grant Round by Nov. 30
The deadline for all applicants to notify CDE of their intent to apply for a BEST grant in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024-25 grant round is Nov. 30. The intent to apply form, as well as the full grant round announcement, can be found on our website. Click Here for Additional Information.

Charter School Capital Construction Annual Reporting due Tuesday, Oct. 31
All charter schools eligible to receive Charter School Capital Construction funding are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction Report on an annual basis. This online report is due by Tuesday, Oct. 31, and determines the funding levels for the next fiscal year. Click Here for Additional Information.

Family, School and Community Partnerships Framework and Rubrics Released for Community-Based Partners
The Family, School, and Community Partnerships Framework and Rubrics has been released specifically for community-based partners, who may include out-of-school time programs, local community businesses and external partners such as libraries, faith-based communities, cultural organizations and public health organizations who engage regularly with youth and families. These rubrics will help community partners self-assess their partnership practices and programs with families and schools. Access the new FSCP P-12 Framework for Community-Based Partners here. 

CCSP Start-Up Grant Competition
The Schools of Choice (SOC) Unit at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is conducting the 2023 Colorado Charter School Program (CCSP) Start-up Grant Competition and is in need of a number of substantial volunteers with experience in charter schools to read and review grant applications. This program provides grant funds and technical assistance for up to 4-years to new and expanding charter schools across all of Colorado. To learn more information about the CCSP Grant and upcoming competition, see the attached flier, visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart/grantprograms and/or send inquiries via email to [email protected].

Proposed Changes to Public School Finance Rules
The Colorado Department of Education's School Finance Unit is currently seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Public School Finance Act (PSFA) rules and will continue collecting feedback through mid-August. Your perspectives and ideas will play a vital role in creating a fair and effective PSFA framework that benefits our schools and students. You can find the proposed rule changes linked below. The Department has recently been in conversations with the State Board of Education to explore making revisions to the Public School Finance Act (PSFA) rules (1 CCR 301-39) to modernize the rules to reflect the educational delivery system of today and make some technical updates/changes. Your early participation is critical in influencing the decision-making process. After this initial feedback phase, the State Board of Education will announce a formal rulemaking process, which will afford additional opportunities for input. This is an excellent opportunity to have your voice heard and contribute to shaping the future of public school financing in Colorado. Please respond below.

• To review the proposed draft edits to the School Finance rules: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WHiUICSxbpBq9TCNft_xGtz-v9f7r0DE/view?usp=drive_link
• To provide feedback on the draft edits through the feedback survey by mid-August: https://forms.gle/pNqwp5u3EYrbfCLU8

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the CDE team below:

• Questions about the full rules – Amy Carman, Executive Director of School Finance and Grants, CDE
• Questions about the Blended Learning Initiative – Mallorie Klemm, Blended Learning Sr. Consultant, CDE

Register for the free CDE Equity and Excellence Conference
Registration for the 2023 Equity and Excellence Conference is open. The free Equity and Excellence Conference, titled “Strengthening and Expanding Practices: All Students and All Educators Emerging Stronger,” will convene Nov. 1-2. The goal is for attendees from diverse professional backgrounds to strengthen and share ideas, strategies and plans for how to improve best first instruction through evidence-based and best practices.

Find out more on the Equity and Excellence Conference webpage.

League News & Events

Reflecting on the 2023 Leadership Summit: A Day of Insight and Inspiration
Your vibrant presence at the 2023 Leadership Summit elevated it to a resounding success. For a full recap of the event, visit the Leadership Summit webpage. Thank you for your invaluable contribution!

February 1, 2024 Advocacy Day Mark your calendars for February 1, 2024, a day poised to ignite inspiration and spark transformative conversations. Together, we'll continue to pave the way for a brighter future for charter education, armed with newfound insights and an unwavering commitment to advocacy. The League's annual Advocacy Day serves as a vibrant platform for the entire charter school community, encompassing visionary school leaders, dedicated educators, impassioned parents, and motivated students. Colorado State Capitol

February 27 – 28, 2024 2024 Annual Conference Please join us at the 2024 Colorado Charter Schools Annual Conference, a two-day charter school event dedicated to empowering educational excellence. Prepare for an unforgettable experience that will transform your professional practice. DTC Marriot

Learning Communities & Networking Groups The League offers cohort experiences in "Learning Communities" available for current League Members to connect with, meet with, discuss topics, and share materials with peers at charter schools around the state. Learn more

Charter Champions Charter Champions is a four month advocacy training program for a diverse group of charter high school students who aspire to be leaders in their community. We are seeking shining stars in grades 9-12 who go above and beyond and want to speak out on behalf of their charter communities. Nominations can be submitted by teachers, school leaders, coaches or other charter school staff — anyone who wants to shine light on a deserving charter high school student who has made their community proud. Nominate a Charter Champion

Health & Wellness

New Toolkit for School Employee Wellness
Investments in school employee wellness can reduce school system costs, foster positive working conditions, and improve outcomes for students. However, traditional approaches to wellness are often limited to physical and mental health and frequently focus exclusively on teachers, which limits the potential of school system investments to promote equitable and sustainable wellness for all school employees. Child Trends has released a new toolkit that school systems can use to ensure that all employees experience wellness at work.

Annual Colorado Youth Suicide Prevention Symposium Register Now!
Don't miss out on the Annual Colorado Youth Suicide Prevention Symposium happening on Thursday, November 16, 2023. The event will be held both at the Lowry Conference Center and virtually via Zoom, ensuring accessibility for all participants. In collaboration with our partners from the Department of Public Health & Environment’s Office of Suicide Prevention, this symposium promises to be an insightful and impactful gathering. Secure your spot now by registering here.

Community grant opportunity to support and promote Healthy School Meals for All 
The Blueprint brings people together to make sure Coloradans can easily get food where and when they need it. By supporting the Healthy School Meals for All program with a statewide marketing and outreach campaign, we’re on a mission to transform the lives of Colorado public students and their families – one nourishing school meal at a time. 

To ensure every child has the right to access nutritious and delicious meals, we pledged $370,000 for community-based organizations to support and actively promote the new program locally.

The online application opens on Monday, September 25. Colorado-based organizations and coalitions are eligible to apply for one of three levels of grants that range from $5,000 - $20,000 for roughly a year of activity. This includes those who are traditionally overlooked for funding. Organizations led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) folks and/or non-staff community members directly affected by Healthy School Meals for All are encouraged to apply! 

Find out more about this upcoming grant opportunity.

The Colorado Health Foundation
Oct. 15, 2023 Grant Deadline

• Advancing Advocacy and Justice with Communities of Color
• Building a Pipeline of Primary Care Providers to Serve Diverse Communities

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

Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility grant program applications open
Eligible local education providers can apply for the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Grant, which was created to provide menstrual hygiene products at no expense to students and make products accessible to students regardless of their gender identity. Approximately $100,000 is available to award for the 2023-24 school year, and awards are anticipated to be between $1,000 and $5,000. Funding can be used to acquire and distribute menstrual hygiene products at no expense to students and install and maintain dispensing machines and disposal receptacles for menstrual hygiene products. An informative webinar is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct 10. This program is open to Colorado educational providers who serve 50% or more students eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch. Review the program website and Request for Applications for more information.

School Nurse Professional Development grant application available
The School Nurse Professional Development grant, funded through CDC’s COVID-19 Public Health Workforce Supplemental Funding, will support local education providers in their efforts to provide professional development opportunities for school nurses that increase current school nurse capacity and/or retain qualified school nurses. Allowable expenses include:

• School nursing professional development tuition and registration fees.
• Travel expenses to attend school nursing professional development events, including lodging, per diem and mileage reimbursement.
• School nursing professional development speaker and/or facilitator fees.
• School nurse-related publications, such as reference texts.
• School nursing professional dues
• School nursing licensing renewal fees.

Approximately $100,000 is available for the 2023-24 school year. Awards will likely range from $1,000 to $5,000, based on the amount of funding requested and the number of applications received. See the Request for Applications on the program webpage for more details.

Suicide Prevention
September is Suicide Prevention Month. 17% of youth who participated in the 2021 Healthy Kids Colordo survey reported thoughts of suicide, with LGBTQIA youth disproportionately represented. Here are ways to help along with resources from SAMHSA:

• Educate yourself and others about suicide prevention: Learn the warning signs and risk factors for suicide, how to support someone considering suicide, and familiarize yourself with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Read and share SPRC’s new resource: Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth: A Resource Guide for Professionals, Families and Communities.

Health Equity
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 

Recent League Newsletters

• ACT (September 20, 2023)
• NEWS (October 6, 2023))
• MOVE (September 8, 2023)
• LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (May 8, 2023)
• CONNECT COHORT (September 28, 2023)