CDE Update for Superintendents and BOCES directors

Dear Superintendents and BOCES directors,

Even with students out of school, I know summer is a busy season across your districts. Thank you for everything you and your teams are doing behind the scenes to prepare for the year ahead. We are also working on our plans for the upcoming school year, and I want to remind you about some of our learning and support opportunities

50% Chronic Absenteeism Reduction Challenge

To date, 44 districts and 38 schools have joined our statewide attendance campaign focused on reducing chronic absenteeism by 50%. This year, we are offering expanded professional learning opportunities focused on student attendance.

2025-26 Professional Learning Cohorts

We invite you and your teams to take part in this year’s Leadership Learning Cohorts—collaborative spaces designed to support school and district leaders in tackling persistent challenges together. Whether you’re working to reduce chronic absenteeism, strengthen rural leadership, or address other pressing needs, these cohorts offer a chance to connect with peers, grow your leadership, and drive meaningful change.

As a reminder, we are pausing our monthly superintendent calls in July. Our next call is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12 at 8am. You should have already received a new invitation, if not please contact Emma Garrett-Nelson at garrett-nelson_e@cde.state.co.us.

I’m grateful for your continued leadership and wish you moments of rest and renewal this summer.

Susana

Dr. Susana Córdova
Colorado Commissioner of Education

Due 8/1/25: Harassment & Discrimination Data Collection required by SB 23-296

• SB 23-296 requires public schools to report data on formal harassment and discrimination cases by Friday, Aug. 1.
• Additional information is available at the Prevent Harassment or Discrimination collection website, including the collection file layout, business rules, training resources, and timeline.
• Given that this is a first year collection, please contact the Data Services team with any questions at: PreventHD@cde.state.co.us.

Due 12/31/25: Training on preventing discrimination in schools required by SB 24-162

• SB 24-162 requires public schools to provide anti-discrimination training for all school employees.
• Training must be consistent with these best practices
• Contact for questions: Joanna Bruno at bruno_j@cde.state.co.us.

School code change requests were due on Monday, June 30.

• School code change requests include grade changes, name changes, school closures or mergers, and requests for a new school code.
• Please confirm with your district team that all change requests for the 2025-26 school year have been submitted.
• If you have submitted a request and have not heard back, or, if you have a late request to submit, contact Jessica Tribbett at Tribbett_Jessica@cde.state.co.us.

Educator Career Navigation monthly office hours and support

• We hold office hours on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon for anyone with questions about hiring, educator licensure, or early childhood qualifications.
• Register once to join a session—after that, you’re welcome to drop in anytime.

The 2025-26 application for the Educator Recruitment and Retention (ERR) financial assistance program will open on Tuesday, July 1.

• On July 1, the webpage will be updated with the application and the grant’s program manager will be available for questions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. via the Zoom link on the ERR webpage.
• Contact for questions: educator_recruitment@cde.state.co.us.

New Free and Reduced Meal Policy for 2025-26

• The 2025-26 policy on free and reduced-price school meals is now available and household income collection forms will be available on July 1.
• Even with the Healthy School Meals for All program, it's important to collect household income information to help secure vital funding for your schools and students.
• Use our meal eligibility templates and outreach materials to help families understand why these forms matter.
• Contact for questions: Nell Dochez at dochez_n@cde.state.co.us or 720-948-5145.

The Local Food Program has been extended for 2025-26. Apply by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22.

• Open to sponsors of Healthy School Meals for All, charter schools, residential childcare institutions, and facility schools.
• Sponsors that served more than 2.15 million lunches in 2023-24 are not eligible.
• Contact for questions: Becca Boone at boone_r@cde.state.co.us or 720-450-4357.

2025 State Accountability Training and Resources

• We are hosting webinars to provide accountability guidance for the 2025-26 school year including updates on HB25-1278, the UIP process, charter planning, support for AECs and the 2025 accreditation and request to reconsider process.
• See the most recent updates.
• Updates are also posted on our website.
• Contact for questions: accountability@cde.state.co.us.

Accreditation and Requests to Reconsider

• Learn about the 2025 accreditation and request to reconsider processes.
• Contact for questions: accountability@cde.state.co.us

Assign Your District Accountability Contact

• DACs are designated by assignment in the Identity Management System by the District Local Access Manager and can be the superintendent or a designee.
• DACs are responsible for receiving performance data (including PII) via Syncplicity, submitting the Accreditation Form, and getting accountability-related updates.
• Fill out the Contact Request Form to join the accountability communications mailing list.

Improvement Planning

• The new 2025-26 streamlined UIP template is live with key info on requirements like biennial flexibility. Learn about setting up users and using the template.
• Changes to users within districts (changing buildings, school user to district user) must be submitted to finalize access to the online system.
• Contact for questions: uiphelp@cde.state.co.us

Resources on the impact of social media use

• We have added classroom resources and research on the mental and physical health impacts of social media use (C.R.S. 22-2-127.8) to the Media Literacy Resource Bank.
• Contact for questions: Jamie Hurley at hurley_j@cde.state.co.us.

Family, School and Community Partnerships Trainings and Resources

• We have new resources to guide district- and school-level staff to implement systemic family engagement.
• Asynchronous courses for various staff are also available.
• Contact for questions: hutchins_d@cde.state.co.us

Register to attend the 2025 School Nurse Orientation by Tuesday July 8.

• The free virtual sessions will be on Zoom Tuesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 17.
• Questions? Email SchoolNurseSpecialists@cde.state.co.us

Upcoming sessions: Preventing School Violence Training Series Educators, administrators, counselors, community members, and law enforcement can register to join our free 45-minute trainings.

• Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m.: Restorative Practices: Building Trust Before Conflict
• Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m.: Cultivating Mental Health Awareness