The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) today announced that it will allocate $11 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to help pre-K to 12th grade public school educators with classroom resources to address COVID-19 learning loss.
The funds will be used to purchase instructional materials, technology, and other resources to support students’ academic recovery. The CDE will also provide professional development opportunities for educators on how to use these resources effectively.
“We know that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our students’ learning,” said CDE Commissioner Susana Córdova. “These funds will help us provide educators with the resources they need to help students catch up and succeed.”
The CDE is still developing the details of the program, but it expects to begin distributing funds to school districts in early 2024.
A Greater Percentage of Schools and Districts Earned Higher Marks on the Preliminary Accountability Frameworks Than in 2022
November 16, 2023
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) today released the preliminary results of the 2023 accountability frameworks. The results show that a greater percentage of schools and districts earned higher marks than in 2022.
The accountability frameworks are used to measure the performance of schools and districts on a variety of factors, including academic achievement, student growth, and graduation rates. In 2023, 46% of schools and 67% of districts earned a rating of “performance” or higher, up from 38% of schools and 57% of districts in 2022.
“We are pleased to see that more schools and districts are earning higher marks on the accountability frameworks,” said CDE Commissioner Susana Córdova. “This is a testament to the hard work of our educators and students.”
The CDE will continue to work with schools and districts to improve their performance. The final results of the 2023 accountability frameworks will be released in the spring of 2024.
State Board of Education Supports Expected Legislation to Help Families of Low-Income Students Buy Food in the Summer
November 15, 2023
The Colorado State Board of Education (SBE) today voted to support expected legislation that would help families of low-income students buy food in the summer.
The legislation would create a pilot program to provide families with cash assistance to buy food during the summer months. The program would be targeted to families with children who are eligible for free and reduced-price school lunches.
The SBE voted unanimously to support the legislation, saying that it would help to address the issue of food insecurity among children in Colorado.
“We know that hunger is a serious problem in our state,” said SBE Chairwoman Angelica Gonzalez. “This legislation would help us to ensure that all children have access to the food they need to grow and learn.”
The legislation is expected to be introduced in the Colorado General Assembly in January.
In addition to the news articles above, here are some other recent developments in Colorado education:
- The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is calling on the Colorado General Assembly to increase funding for public schools in the 2024 state budget.
- The CEA is also urging the General Assembly to take action to address the teacher shortage in Colorado.
- The Colorado Department of Education is developing a new plan to improve literacy instruction in public schools.
- The CDE is also working on a new plan to increase the number of students who are prepared for college and careers.