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Welcome to the NEWS for February 23, 2024
It’s conference time! We kick off Monday night with our Hall of Fame and Charter Champion awards (free Monday registration). Tuesday and Wednesday feature a full lineup, including keynote speakers Steve Pemberton and Pat Yongpradit. We added a FREE session to our Monday pre-conference called, "New Web & Tech Accessibility Requirements for Schools" from 10 AM - 12 NOON on 2/26. Sign up here.
In the NEWS today, Colorado Skies Academy is seeking a new authorizer in a bid to stay open while the nation’s biggest charter system is under fire. One STEM charter school teacher joins the Space Foundation’s International Teacher Liaison Program and explains why reading support abounds but effective math help is much harder to find.
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
Can Colorado teachers feel more prepared for school emergencies?
CPR News | February 21, 2024
Between reading, writing, and arithmetic, there are also disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and acts of violence at schools. While school districts have security and drills for these events, educators often have unanswered questions and are left feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Read more.
On my Momma: Fund education to solve society’s intractable problems
Boardhawk | February 19, 2024
To date, 6.9 million people have died from Covid-19 worldwide. 1.1 million of those deaths were in the United States. All of our lives will forever be changed due to Covid-19. But do you know what hasn’t changed? Education. Read more.
Budget 'amputations': Denver schools prepare for cuts, as federal dollars dwindle
The Denver Gazette | February 17, 2024
While district-run schools in Denver expect to see $30 million more in the next school year, officials are bracing for expiring federal aid, forcing them to start implementing cuts in the upcoming budget round. Read more.
National Views
Horace Mann’s solution to political turmoil in education
Thomas Fordham Institute | February 22, 2024
Fights over books, an exodus from public schools, politically obsessed adolescents, the need for civics education—Horace Mann predicted it all back in 1848. Thankfully, this education luminary also provided wisdom and insight in the common school era for how we can turn down the culture war heat in modern times. Read more.
The Promise (and Challenges) in Scaling High-Dosage Tutoring to Combat COVID Learning Losses
The 74 | February 20, 2024
Tutoring—an old education practice that historically was only available to affluent kids—raced to the forefront of public consciousness in the last two years as a way to catch all kids up after the pandemic’s learning disruptions. Read more.
Reading Supports Abound in Schools, But Effective Math Help Much Harder to Find
The 74 | February 20, 2024
When Cindy Apple began as a special education teacher at Broadmoor 3-5 Elementary School, in Louisburg, Kansas, more than 20 years ago, students needing help in math were assigned to “pull-out groups,” often at the end of math class. Read more.
It’s Time to Launch a National Initiative to Create the New American High School
The 74 | February 7, 2024
The American high school is broken. The pandemic underscored just how broken. American teens are—as a September 2023 Gallup poll shows—disengaged, stressed, and questioning the value of high school and college. At the same time, they are hungry to make a difference in the world and to use new technologies and ideas toward that end. Read more.
Survey: Teens Divided on Teaching Gender Identity and Race, Like Their Parents
The 74 | February 23, 2024
A new Pew Research Center report finds students are as divided as parents when it comes to whether and how race and gender should be discussed in class. Almost half of teens surveyed would prefer to learn that the legacy of slavery is still felt today, while 40% say they’d prefer to be taught that slavery no longer affects Black Americans. Half of teens are divided on whether students should learn that sex is determined at birth or that gender can be different from sex, while the other half say the topic should not be taught. Beth Hawkins recaps the top takeaways. Read more.
Community Announcements
NEW ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS STARTS JULY 1, 2024: House Bill 21-1110 signifies a shift in what is required and what is actionable if your online tools, platforms, website, and documents are NOT accessible. Information here. A new FREE session has been added to the pre-conference and is scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2024, 10 AM - 12 Noon in Larkspur at the Denver Marriott DTC. REGISTER HERE.
Make the Most of Your Conference Experience. Get the App Today!
Check your email today for your login details to our conference app — Engagefully. It's a soft launch, so some data is still on the move, but we wanted you in early. Take advantage of updating info, scheduling meetings and workshops you plan to attend, and crafting your custom schedule. Click here to download the app. Need a walkthrough? Follow the steps with CLCS RD Mobile App Onboarding for guidance. Questions? Reach us at [email protected].
Get Your School in its A-GAME
Over the past five years, a bold group of charter school authorizers from across the country have been reflecting on better ways to measure school quality. We have embraced the slogan: Measure What Matters, When It Matters. We now know we can only go so far without YOU at the table. Join these upcoming conversations as we get on our A-GAME together.
Education Travel: Creating Impact through Opportunity
EF Tours, the only educational travel partner local to Colorado, loves charter schools. They regularly provide charter students with travel opportunities that enhance education, foster empathy and challenge bias. The impact of their tours expands far beyond the experience itself. Visit us in Evergreen at this year's annual conference!
Making Sense of 2024: A Presentation for High School Students
The current political context is daunting and discouraging for everyone, but perhaps most of all for young Americans. What is happening in our country’s politics, how did we get here, and what is our role within it? Drawing on history, political science, original research, and popular culture, Stephen Hawkins, Global Director of Research for More in Common, seeks to answer these questions in a way that is grounded, yet inspiring, all in a 35-minute presentation. Developed for students in grades 9-12, the presentation is 35 minutes followed by Q&A. For more information, contact [email protected].
Expanding Quality & Access to your Mission: Charter Replication, Expansion & Growth in Colorado [Webinar Replay]
Special thanks to Bill Knous, Colorado League of Charter Schools Director of Charter School Development, Paige Jovanovic, Denver Public Schools Director of Authorizing and Accountability, and Nicole Wetzel, Global Village Academy North School Leader, for sharing their knowledge about charter expansion and replication efforts. If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording here. Register for the third webinar on March 6 here.
New Collaborative to Funds Charter Research
MIT Blueprint Labs recently launched a Charter School Research Collaborative to make charter research more actionable, rigorous, and efficient. The Collaborative will fund research proposals on long-term student outcomes, non-test score measures of school quality, the determinants of school quality, charter governance practices, and more (the full research agenda is here). The first request for proposals is now open, and Blueprint seeks proposals of various sizes, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 based on research scope and stage. Apply here by April 17, 2024.
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.
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.
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.
CDE Updates
Informational CMAS Science & AEC Performance Framework Results Now Live
The 2023 informational performance framework reports containing 2023 CMAS Science for all districts and attendance/truancy results for Alternative Education Campuses have been provided to district accountability contacts via Syncplicity. For questions related to Syncplicity, training or support, email [email protected].
Charter Development Summit Series #3
March 6, 2024 | 12 PM MT
This session will focus on Charter School-Community Engagement, including engagement with families, district, and community. We will be learning from Mehran Ahmed, School Leader at AXL, Bobby Young and Jenny Finlay from Compass Community Collaborative, and others about the innovative ways they engage with their communities.Is is geared towards new/replicating/expanding charter schools but all are welcome. We hope to see you there.
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.
League News & Events
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Health & Wellness
Professional Development
Dying to be thin: What School Based Behavioral Health professionals need to know about eating disorders
February 28 | 12PM - 1:45 PM
Hosted By: Mountain Plains MHTTC
Registration Deadline: February 28, 2024
Register here.
Prioritizing Well-Being Among School and District Staff, Educators & Administrators
March 14 & April 11 | 2 PM MT
Health and well-being are fundamental to our success in educating youth, engaging families, collaborating with colleagues, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 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. Register here.
The Impact of Stress on Learning and Behavior
April 15-16 | 8AM - 4:30PM MT
Hosted By: Mountain Plains MHTTC
Registration Deadline: February 23, 2024
Register here.
Free Health Equity Training
On-Demand
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! Register here.
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.
Register here.
Funding Opportunities
Community Resilience Initiatives: New Funding Opportunities Available
In alignment with The Colorado Trust’s 2024-26 Strategic Plan, the Community Resilience Initiatives are three-year investments demonstrating the foundation’s belief in and commitment to the strengths, abilities and resiliency of Colorado communities. These seven grantmaking initiatives address the strategic plan’s three focus areas of food, housing, and mental and behavioral health, all of which emerged during the planning process as top priorities in communities across Colorado. This funding aims to bolster entities working to respond effectively to disruptions in communities resulting from economic downturns, social turbulence, public health crises, or a lack of coherent or effective public policy. The Community Resilience Initiatives include seven competitive funding opportunities.
EPA Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution
Closes: March 19, 2024
Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R-OAR-APS-24-02. Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Q&A documents. For more information: https://www.epa.gov/iaq-scho
2024-2027 Colorado Student Wellness Grant
Closes: March 20, 2024
This grant program exists to support evidence-based practices and the implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model (WSCC) as a strategy to improve the health and well-being of children and youth in Colorado to:
- Increase coordination of policies, practices, and programs to support students' physical, mental, emotional, and social needs.
- Expand local student wellness policies (C.R.S. 22-32-136 (5.5))
- Connect school health and wellness efforts to comprehensive health education standards and skills.
- Identify and address barriers related to learning and health.
Applications for the Colorado Student Wellness Grant must be submitted through GAINS. More information about GAINS is available on CDE’s website. If you have any questions, please email Liz at [email protected].
Resources
Study: Overscheduling Harms Students' Well-being
A recent data analysis by economists from the University of Georgia and the Federal Reserve Board highlights the psychological costs of overscheduling for students, particularly during high-school years. The study reveals that excessive homework and extracurricular activities can harm mental well-being, making students more anxious, depressed or angry. Read more in The Hechinger Report.
Recess for Adults
You are, let’s say, eight years old, sitting at your school desk. Yes, that desk: the one that confines you in your chair, the one sitting in orderly roles, where you are supposed to do, well, whatever, with self-control and, above all, without causing trouble. Getting things done, under the teacher’s gaze. The bell rings. You are overcome with adrenaline-fueled excitement. It’s recess. Let’s go out to the playground. Doing something else. Read more.
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.
Free Crisis Services
Colorado Crisis Services offers free, confidential support 24/7. Call 844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255. Walk-ins are welcome for all Colorado residents, regardless of ability to pay. Visit the website for mental health, substance use, or emotional concerns.
Jobs
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Recent League Newsletters
- ACT (February 15, 2024)
- NEWS (February 9, 2024)
- MOVE (February 16, 2024)
- LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (February 7, 2024)
- CONNECT COHORT (February 22, 2024)
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