Colorado Department of Education issued the following announcement on Sept. 10.
At the State Board of Education regular monthly meeting this week, MGT Consulting Group and Adams 14 School District leaders presented updates on the progress the district is making to improve student achievement. MGT was selected last year to provide full management for the district and is required to provide quarterly updates to the state board. Previous updates were given in September 2019 and March 2020.
The district detailed its work to support students after the COVID-19 pandemic required the shift to remote learning last spring, including providing emergency meals and distributing wifi-enabled devices and high-speed modems. Although state assessments were not given last spring, the district showed positive trends with its local assessments for English language acquisition, math and English language arts. The district’s overall strategy has focused on its English language development program, rigorous academic instruction for all students and community engagement. At the high school level, the focus is on creating a positive and welcoming school culture and developing post secondary pathways through Career and Technical Education opportunities.
READ Act Teacher Training Requirements Affirmed
CDE staff presented an update on the implementation of the READ Act requirement for kindergarten through third grade teachers across Colorado to receive training in evidence-based reading instruction. Districts have a number of options for ensuring their teachers receive the training before the 2021-22 school year, including an option for free in-person or online training provided by CDE. All of the options are listed on CDE's website. The department has received requests for flexibility in the requirement given the added challenges teachers face as they adapt to remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the board affirmed its commitment to the new requirements for teachers to ensure that all students have teachers who are trained in evidence-based reading instruction before the 2021-22 school year.
Update from Pueblo 60 School District
The board took an initial step toward amending its 2018 order directing Pueblo 60 School District to contract with an external entity to wholly manage Risley International Academy of Innovation. The board directed its legal counsel from the Attorney General’s Office to draft an order for the board's consideration at a future date that would remove the requirement for the district to retain an external manager to wholly manage Risley. The draft order will require the district to partner with another entity for partial management of Risley.
Kindergarten Reading Assessment reporting requirement paused
The board relieved districts of the requirement to submit aggregate results of kindergarten school readiness assessments this year due to the variability in conducting these observational assessments while students are learning remotely. Districts may continue to conduct the assessments, but reporting results will not be required this year.
Notices of Rulemaking for Student Learning
The board approved the following notices of rulemaking. At its November meeting, the board will hold hearings to consider repealing each set of rules since the original state statutes that authorized the rules have been repealed by the Colorado General Assembly.
- Rules for the Administration of the School Improvement Plan and Grant Program
- Rules for the Administration of the Summer School Grant Program for Facility Schools
- Rules for the Administration of the Accessible Educational Materials for Students with Print Disabilities Grant Program
- Approved the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act of 1994. Amendments distinguish, for the purpose of per pupil funding, between remote learning that is conducted due to public health and safety precautions versus other types of off-site learning not related to COVID-19.
- Approved the Rules for the Administration of the Standardized Calculation for Counting Student Attendance and Truancy. Changes to the rules take into account challenges of tracking student attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules have been amended to require districts to record attendance once daily instead of twice.
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