CDE Update for Superintendents and BOCES directors

Dear Superintendents and BOCES directors,

As we look ahead to summer, I want to thank you for the steady leadership you've shown through another year of challenge, growth, and deep commitment to Colorado’s students. I hope this month brings moments of reflection, celebration, and well-deserved rest.

Districts, schools, and families will have access to their confidential Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) student-level results beginning June 11 this year. We are releasing results to families directly and early through the Family Portal, providing parents with the opportunity to receive score information on the same timeline as schools and districts, while also reducing the report distribution workload for school and district staff. To support parent access to student results over the summer, we recommend developing a plan to share state student IDs (SASIDs) with families. Many districts have simplified this process by adding SASIDs to their student information systems and notifying parents about the upcoming release of results.

We created a communications toolkit that includes template language in both English and Spanish for newsletters and social media to help you communicate with families about the preliminary release and how to access the portal. The toolkit has fact sheets in English and Spanish that explain how to read the score reports for the English language arts, math, and science tests.

Christina Wirth-Hawkins, our chief assessment officer, will present preliminary state-level CMAS and PSAT/SAT results for the overall student population to the State Board of Education on Wednesday, June 11. A news release will accompany the presentation. Statewide disaggregated achievement and growth results will be publicly released in August.

On Friday you received an email from state.board@CDE.STATE.CO.US with a survey that the State Board of Education uses for my evaluation. Your feedback is statutorily required, but even more importantly, I deeply value hearing how you feel I am doing. I hope you’ll find time to complete the survey. It is due back on Friday, June 27.

Remember that you can find my my semi-weekly communications on our website.

I look forward to seeing you next week at the monthly superintendent Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 10 at 8 a.m. These optional meetings are always on the second Tuesday of the month at 8 a.m. on Zoom. Please note that we will not meet in July; look for a new meeting invitation for this series of meetings starting in August.

I hope that you all have plans for some downtime this summer- you certainly deserve it! Thank you for all that you do!

Susana

Dr. Susana Córdova
Colorado Commissioner of Education

Due 6/13/25: READ Act Data Collections

• Data collections for the spring READ Assessment and READ Literacy Programs and Assessment by Friday, June 13.
  • Be sure to verify your SRD count and percentage, as this affects READ funding distributions.
• Contact for questions: Tara Rhodes at READActData@cde.state.co.us.

Due 6/30/25: Annual Restraint Review Report

• District-level Annual Restraint Review Report (pursuant to HB 22-1376) are due by Monday, June 30.
• Contact Sarah Tarus at Tarus_S@cde.state.co.us for submission questions and Bill Brown at Brown_W@cde.state.co.us for program questions

Due 6/30/25: School code change requests

• Change request forms are required for school name changes, school grade changes, new school codes, and closing or merging school codes by Monday, June 30.
• Superintendent sign-off is required.
• Contact for questions: DirectoryData@cde.state.co.us

Due 6/30/25: READ Act budget revisions and submissions

• Budget revisions are open in GAINS until Monday, June 30. Please update your budget to reflect actual spending.
• The 2025-2026 READ Act submission window will be open in GAINS from April 15- June 30. The 2025-2026 submission will be reviewed when the 2024-2025 revision is approved.
• Contact for questions: Nancy Taylor at Taylor_N@cde.state.co.us .

Due 7/1/25: Update Student ID Cards with 988 Mental Health Line and Safe2Tell.

• Schools must replace the Colorado Crisis Services Line with the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line and Safe2Tell contact information on all student ID cards for the 2025–26 school year.
• Schools not issuing ID cards must post 988 materials in visible locations and send materials to parents/guardians at the start of the school year.
• In the fall, Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration will send sample 988 materials to all schools to help with local distribution.
• Access digital and printable resources now at 988colorado.com/resources.

Due 7/1/25: Guidelines for abbreviated school days for children with disabilities required by House Bill 24-1063

• All Colorado administrative units must adopt and implement CDE’s model policy or develop and adopt a substantially conforming version. Multidistrict administrative units should consider how to address unplanned removals and how to support students with 504 plans.
• Your special education directors received the CDE model policy in April.
• Contact for questions: Nick Smosna at Smosna_n@cde.staste.co.us.

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
• This webpage will be updated with additional resources on June 6.
• Contact for questions: Joanna Bruno at bruno_j@cde.state.co.us .

Did you know that CDE’s Facility Insight Team conducts regular Facility Condition Assessments?

• Find the results on our Facility Insight Dashboard designed to help you plan for facility needs. Schools applying for BEST grants get priority.
• Contact your Regional Program Manager if you need help or access.

2025-26 Educator Effectiveness Assurances now open

• Submit by Tuesday, July 1, on the Assurances for Educator Evaluation Systems webpage.
• This required step is also a chance to confirm your approach to evaluations.
• For support on the submission process, contact your Educator Effectiveness Regional Specialist or Educator_Effectiveness@cde.state.co.us.
• Technical questions may be sent to EdTalentResearch@cde.state.co.us

Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Program

• This program offers a new pathway to teacher licensure through hands-on, paid, on-the-job learning and aims to improve teacher recruitment and retention by investing in the talent already present in local communities. Learn more on our website.

Updated Educator Effectiveness Metrics Dashboard

• The Educator Effectiveness Metrics Dashboard now includes aggregated teacher and principal evaluation data from the 2023-24 school year.
• Due to changes in 2023-24 evaluation weighting (70% performance evaluation, 30% measures of student learning), data from this year is not comparable with prior years.
• Contact for questions: Trish Malik at EdTalentResearch@cde.state.co.us .

Educator Shortage Report released

• Our educator shortage report for the 2024-25 school year (based on the HR collection) is now available. Key takeaways include:
  • The overall statewide educator shortage declined to 2.91% – a drop from 3.53% the previous year.
  • The number of vacancies for teachers and special service providers (SSPs) increased.
  • Principal and paraprofessional vacancies decreased, contributing to a statewide drop in unfilled positions from 1.64% to 0.68%.
  • Rural and small rural districts continue to face the highest shortages, though unfilled positions in those areas also declined.
• For more information, contact Kristin Kipp at kipp_k@cde.state.co.us.

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.

School Finance Rulemaking

• In May, the State Board of Education approved a Notice of Rulemaking for the Public School Finance Rules (1 CCR 301-39). A formal rulemaking hearing is planned for August.
• The June board meeting will include a staff presentation on recent changes tied to SB25-125, which took effect May 15, and discussion of areas that may need updates:
  • Simplifying at-risk count rules for schools in the Community Eligibility Provision
  • Guidance on private school students submitted for funding
  • Updates tied to HB25-1320 on census block data
  • Clarifying rules for supplemental online courses
  • Work-based learning definition updates (SB25-315)
  • Technical changes and meal-time guidance
• Districts are encouraged to share feedback with Jennifer Okes at okes_j@cde.state.co.us.

House Bill 25-1278, the Education Accountability System bill, was signed into law this session.

• The bill includes changes to state assessments, performance frameworks, public reporting, and the accountability clock, with more areas set for future study.
• Several other bills also made adjustments to improvement planning, AECs, and PWR programs.
• We do not anticipate major changes to next year’s Performance Frameworks or accountability processes.
• Look for feedback opportunities soon and learn more on our website

Statewide Unified Improvement Plan Elements Dashboard

• The dashboard displays student performance priorities, root causes and major improvement strategies data for self-selected schools and districts.

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.

Join the 2025-26 50% Reduction Attendance Challenge

• Work toward cutting chronic absenteeism in half and explore professional learning opportunities.

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

2025-26 Principal Leadership Institute Support school leaders to empower their teachers and build stronger climate and culture.

• Our Principal Leadership Institute has three pathways: distributive leadership, early literacy, and first-year principals. Applications are due by Friday, June 13.
• Contact for questions: Trish Malik at malik_t@cde.state.co.us.

Apply for a grant to implement the National Fishing in Schools Program.

• Grant awards are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be determined based on need.

Register for the 2025–26 Leadership Learning Cohorts by Saturday, Aug. 30.

• These yearlong learning groups are designed for school, BOCES, and district leaders to collaborate, explore research-based practices, visit Colorado schools, set goals, and navigate change on key educational topics.

READ Act Online Teacher and Administrator Training Upgrade

• CDE’s READ Act online K-12 Teacher and Administrator 5- and 20-hour trainings will be inaccessible from Friday, June 20 through Friday, June 27 while they’re moved to an upgraded Learning Management System.
• The upgrade will be complete on Saturday, June 28.
• For questions email ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us.

READ Act Online K-3 Teacher Training sunsets on June 19

• Users who registered for this training before Aug. 1, 2023, must complete the course and final assessment by 11:59 p.m. Thursday, June 19, to receive credit and a certificate of completion.
• Contact for questions: ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us.

Guidance on implementation/adoption of high-quality instructional materials

• Our guide outlines steps for evaluation and implementation, with support materials for subjects like English language arts, math, social studies, science, and more.
• Contact for questions: CDE subject-area specialists

New K-12 math interventions are now available

• Co-created with Colorado educators, these new resources, assessments and activities designed for educators, families and out-of-school time professionals.
• Contact for questions: mathacceleration@cde.state.co.us.

Powerful Practice: Evidence-Informed Math Teaching Educator Learning Cohort

• This no-cost, asynchronous learning opportunity includes guides for school or district-wide learning plans, with virtual discussion groups and optional graduate credit available.
• Priority registration for 2025 is open on our website.
• Contact for questions: Joe Brenkert at brenkert_j@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