(80) What is the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant and How Can It Benefit My School?

8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2025 ‐ 1 hour

Room: Evergreen (B)

Operations, Funding, & Facilities

It’s no secret that securing adequate funding for charter school facilities can be challenging. Colorado’s recent five-year federal State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant offers a unique opportunity to address these needs. This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the grant, its eligibility criteria, and how it can benefit your school.

You’ll learn about the specific steps involved in applying for the grant, including key deadlines. Discover how it can provide access to facility audits, a valuable tool for assessing your school’s current facilities and identifying potential areas for improvement. Additionally, you’ll understand how the grant can support professional development opportunities for your team, allowing you to earn valuable charter school finance credentials.

Lastly, get exciting insights into how the grant aligns with other facility programs, such as the Facility Insight Program and the Charter School Capital Assistance Fund. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the potential of your school's facilities! Join us to learn how the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant can help you create a better learning environment for your students.

Speakers

Paola Paga

Director of Charter Schools, Colorado Department of Education

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Bill Kottenstette

Executive Director, Colorado Department of Education

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Paola Paga

Director of Charter Schools, Colorado Department of Education

Paola Paga is an accomplished educational leader with over a decade of experience in the charter school sector, currently serving as the Director of the Charter School Office at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). She leads a team focused on supporting over 260 charter schools across the state through the administration of a federal facilities grant, state waivers, legislative reports, and responding to public inquiries regarding charter schools. Paola has been with CDE for six years in various roles within the Schools of Choice Unit, which serves families and supports internal and external stakeholders in providing innovative, high-quality public school choice options that enhance opportunity, access, and inclusion for students in Colorado. Before joining CDE, Paola staffed several statewide and local campaigns and spent the 2017 legislative session working with the Colorado House Speaker’s office. Additionally, she was an elementary school teacher for five years in both Denver and Houston. In her free time, Paola enjoys yoga, hiking, mentoring youth, and gardening with her husband, Marc, and their children, Aaron and Olivia, as proud homeowners in Denver.