Inaugural Commissioner’s Cup Celebrates 39 Schools that are “Beating the Odds” and Launches Colorado Legacy Foundation

The Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Legacy Foundation today jointly announce the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008.

 

The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 14th and Curtis, in downtown Denver.

 

The Commissioner’s Cup serves a three-fold goal. The first, to celebrate and recognize the success of the 39 schools featured in “Profiles of Success” (a report co-sponsored by the Piton and Donnell-Kay foundations and first released in February) that recognizes schools that are closing the achievement gap. The 39 schools are invited to the event and each will be awarded the 2008 Commissioner’s Cup.

 

The event will also formally launch the Colorado Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by CDE to join business leaders and philanthropists on entrepreneurial public education endeavors. The Commissioner’s Cup will be the annual fundraising event for the Colorado Legacy Foundation.

 

The third purpose of the event is to release the first edition of a “Best Practices Guide,” a publication and companion DVD that offers a primer on strategies common to the 39 schools (above) proven to improve student achievement. 

 

A year ago the Colorado Department of Education released “Forward Thinking” a detailed plan to shift the department’s work toward greater support and service to school districts across the state. “Forward Thinking” specifically called for CDE to “launch a 21st century strategic partnership that establishes a network of activities designed to promote and enhance statewide capacity in a way that accelerates the most promising teaching and learning efforts.” This strategic partnership includes a Colorado Legacy Foundation, a CDE Best Practices Guide and the Commissioner’s Cup.

 

Distinguished speakers include Colorado governor Bill Ritter; Chairman of Strong American Schools and former governor of Colorado Roy Romer; President of the Colorado Education Association (CEA) Beverly Ingle; Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones and Chairman of the Colorado Legacy Foundation Dr. Stephen Shogan. Anne Trujillo, news anchor of KMGH Channel 7 will act as master of ceremonies for the event.

 

For more information about the Commissioner’s Cup or the Colorado Legacy Foundation, contact Kelly Leid, Executive Director of the Colorado Legacy Foundation at 303-866-6193 or kleid@colegacy.org.

 

CDE

 

Thirteen Regional Forums Begin Next Week—Defining 21st Century Skills, School Readiness, Postsecondary Readiness, and Workforce Readiness For New State Standards

Community members, parents, educators and students are invited to attend one of 13 community meetings being held around the state during the weeks of Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 to gather ideas about definitions which will modernize Colorado model content standards. The meetings will be hosted by the Colorado Department of Education.

 

The content standards establish by grade span and subject what students are expected to learn in school.

 

Each forum will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

 

Monday, Sept. 15

 

Denver School of the Arts Concert Hall, 7111 Montview Blvd.

Jefferson County Building, Hearing Room #1, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden

Grand Junction Doubletree Hotel, Monument Room, 743 Horizon Dr.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 16

 

Colorado Springs Doubletree Hotel, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.

Durango; Miller Middle School, 2608 Junction Creek Rd.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 17

 

Alamosa School District, Ortega Middle School, 401 Victoria Ave.

Fort Collins, Johannsen Support Services Center (Poudre School District building), 2407 LaPorte Ave.

Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, 100 S. Wilcox

 

Thursday, September 18

 

Leadville School District, Lake County High School, 1000 West 4th St.

Pueblo West High School, 661 W. Capistrano Ave.

Steamboat Springs High School, 45 Maple St.

 

Wednesday, September 24

 

La Junta (location to be determined)

 

Thursday, September 25

 

Fort Morgan Middle School, 300 Deuel St.

 

Attendees will be asked to review proposed definitions for “21st century skills,” “school readiness,” “post-secondary readiness” and “workforce readiness.” Those definitions will guide revisions to specific content standards.

 

“The content standards form the bedrock of our work in schools,” said Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. “They represent a joint understanding of what is expected of teachers to teach and of students to learn. It’s critical that we gather the state’s best thinking about defining our terms in order to help the standards revision process move forward.”

 

Commissioner Jones announced the standards review process in September 2007.

 

The concept of content standards was developed in Colorado in the early 1990’s. Statewide standards for the first time defined the knowledge and benchmarks that students should acquire within each grade span and in each subject. Under state law, local school districts may adopt their own content standards as long as they are at least as rigorous as the state’s version.

 

The Colorado General Assembly passed the standards-based education law in 1993 and standards were written for reading, writing, mathematics and science. Additional standards have been developed in civics, dance, economics, foreign language, geography, history, music, physical education, theatre and visual arts.

 

The standards have not changed since schools started using them in 1994. The first strand of what has become the full Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) exam was given in 1997, when fourth-grade students were tested in reading and writing based on those standards.

 

The department’s Office of Standards and Assessment will deliver proposed new standards to the state board of education for final review December 2009.

 

For more information about the standards review process, visit

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/documents/OSA/stand_rev.html

The Alumni

 

CDE Asks Coloradoans For Definitions Surrounding Colorado Content Standards

The Colorado Department of Education announced today it will ask Colorado citizens to assist in defining 21st Century Skills and Abilities, Early School Readiness, Postsecondary Readiness and Workforce Readiness in a survey available through October 10, 2008 at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mMm4M3_2b7Rw6S0_2fV7VEJibQ_3d_3d

 

The development and approval of these definitions by the Colorado State Board of Education is pivotal in the revision of the Colorado Model Content Standards process. The office of standards and assessments is asking Coloradoans to help the department define what skills and abilities must be included in the revision of these standards as the state prepares students for a modern workforce and a global marketplace.

 

Background

The process of reviewing and revising the state’s model content

standards—descriptions of what every student is expected to learn by

subject and grade span—started in early 2008. CDE released a briefing paper that provided a review and analysis for definitions of 21st century skills, postsecondary readiness and career readiness. The analysis was conducted by WestEd, a nonprofit research, development and service agency.

 

Also in April, key stakeholders gathered for the first time to begin overseeing the review process. The department’s Office of Standards and Assessment expects to deliver proposed new standards to the state board of education by December 2009.

 

Major Steps Ahead

CDE is currently accepting applications from Colorado citizens to review academic standards in Mathematics, Reading & Writing, Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Science, Economics & Financial Literacy, Civics, History, Geography, World Language, and Physical Education.

 

 

Community members, parents, educators and students are invited to attend one of 13 community meetings being held around the state during the weeks of Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 to gather ideas about definitions which will modernize our state’s content standards. The meetings will be hosted by the Colorado Department of Education.

 

For more information on the standards review, visit

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/documents/OSA/stand_rev.html

Colorado Department of Education

 

Schedule for Commissioner Jones, Sept. 8 – 12

Monday, Sept. 8

Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones will speak at a meeting for the new Innovation and Transformation Division within the Colorado Department of Education. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m.

 

Location – Colorado Trust, Sabin Room, 1600 Sherman St., Denver

 

Tuesday, Sept. 9

Commissioner Jones will speak at the “Dreaming a Lean and Green School: A Symposium on Healthy Foods, Fitness and Environments.” The commissioner will speak at 8:30 a.m.

 

Location – INVESCO Field at Mile High, the West Club Lounge, 1701 Bryant St., Denver

 

Wednesday, Sept. 10

Commissioner Jones will attend the Colorado State Board of Education work session beginning at 9 a.m.

 

Location – Colorado Department of Education, 201 E. Colfax Ave., State Board Room, Denver

 

Thursday, Sept. 11

Commissioner Jones will join the Colorado State Board of Education during their regular board meeting beginning at 9 a.m.

Location – Colorado Department of Education, 201 E. Colfax Ave. State Board Room, Denver

Friday, Sept. 12

“BE EMPOWERED: Make a Difference in Education” is the theme for the Colorado ACT State Organization 2008 Annual Conference. The commissioner will attend the day-long event which will focus on innovative initiatives by individuals, schools, businesses, and community organizations to create positive change within the field of education. The conference will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

 

Location – Sheraton Denver West, 360 Union Blvd., Lakewood

Colorado academics

 

Schedule for Commissioner Jones, Sept. 2 – 5

Wednesday, Sept. 3

 

Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones will visit Sheridan School District at 11:30 a.m.

 

Location – 4000 S. Lowell Blvd. Sheridan, CO  

Colorado Department of Education

 

Next Meeting of Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board is Wednesday, Sept. 3

The next meeting of the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board will be held Wednesday, Sept. 3 in Denver.

 

The meeting will be held from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the State Services Building at 1525 Sherman St., room B70.

 

The meeting agenda includes:

 

Approve minutes from the Aug. 27, 2008 meeting

 

Review/approve proposed Facility Construction Guidelines

 

Discuss/approve the request for proposal (RFP) for the Statewide Facilities Assessment

 

Full-Day Kindergarten Facility Capital Construction

o       Review/approve draft of emergency rules for prioritizing Full-Day Kindergarten grant applications

o       Discuss timeline for Facility Capital Construction grant cycle recommendations and awards

 

Discuss BEST Program timelines and general information

 

The BEST legislation increases the level of financial assistance provided to school districts, charter schools and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) for capital construction projects, particularly in those school districts that can’t afford to meet their own needs.

 

The function of the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board is to protect the health and safety of persons using public school facilities and to maximize student achievement by ensuring public school facilities provide a safe and un-crowded environment that is conducive to student learning.

 

For more information on the Capital Construction Assistance Board and to read board minutes, visit

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/CapConstCCAB.htm

 

Colorado high school news

 

Next Meeting of Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board is Wednesday, Aug. 27

The next meeting of the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27 in Denver.

 

The meeting will be held from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the State Services Building at 1525 Sherman St., room B70.

 

The meeting agenda includes:

 

Approve minutes from the Aug. 20, 2008 meeting

 

Review/approve proposed Facility Construction Guidelines

 

Discuss/approve the request for proposal (RFP) for the Statewide Facilities Assessment

·         Appoint interview committee for the selection for a vendor for the assessment

 

Full-Day Kindergarten Facility Capital Construction

·         Review/approve draft of emergency rules for prioritizing Full-Day Kindergarten grant applications

·         Discussion on modular and other auxiliary structures as permanent solutions for Full-Day Kindergarten classrooms

 

The BEST legislation increases the level of financial assistance provided to school districts, charter schools and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) for capital construction projects, particularly in those school districts that can’t afford to meet their own needs.

 

The function of the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board is to protect the health and safety of persons using public school facilities and to maximize student achievement by ensuring public school facilities provide a safe and un-crowded environment that is conducive to student learning.

 

For more information on the Capital Construction Assistance Board and to read board minutes, visit

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/CapConstCCAB.htm

Colorado elementary schools

 

Schedule for Commissioner Jones, Aug. 25-29

Tuesday, Aug. 26

·Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones will attend an Alliance for Choice and Education (ACE) breakfast featuring Mayor Cory Booker (Newark, NJ), Sen. Peter Groff and former Gov. Roy Romer. Speakers will discuss how to learn about the state of the education system and how expanded educational options can help prepare our most needy children for today’s competitive, global economy. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m.

 

 

Location – Denver Country Club, 1700 E. 1st Ave, Denver

 

·Commissioner Jones will attend Americans for the Arts, an event at Museo de las Americas in Denver. The discussion will be moderated by former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley. Featured guest speakers include Christopher Dodd, Manuel Diaz, Sheila Johnson and John Legend. The event begins at 3 p.m.

 

Location – Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver

 

Wednesday, Aug. 27

·Commissioner Jones will attend the Democracy Alliance from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Location – Governor’s Residence, 400 E 8th Ave., Denver

 

Thursday, Aug. 28

·Commissioner Jones will help celebrate Reg Weaver’s retirement as president from the National Education Association (NEA). The event begins at noon.

 

Location – Tamayo, 1400 Larimer Street, Denver

 

 

·Commissioner Jones will meet with members of The New West Project, a group headquartered in Denver that conducts research and develops strategies to secure and exploit recent Democratic gains in the Western states. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.

 

Location – Governor’s Residence, 400 E 8th Ave., Denver

 

·The commissioner will make his way to INVESCO Field to witness Sen. Barak Obama’s acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee for president. The speech begins at 8 p.m.

 

Location – INVESCO Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant Street, Denver

 

Friday, Aug. 29

·The commissioner will address teachers at Eagle County Schools about the district’s partnership with the Colorado Department of Education on the Closing the Achievement Gap pilot. The meeting begins at 2:30 p.m.

 

Location – Eagle County Schools, 757 E Third Street, Eagle

Colorado Department of Education

 

Standards Review Subcommittees Need You!

Educators, parents, business leaders, community members and all members of the public are invited to join an important conversation about the future of education in Colorado.
 
The Colorado State Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education are preparing for the comprehensive revision of the state’s Model Content Standards.
 
Beginning today, applications are being accepted for membership on subcommittees that will recommend revised standards for arts, mathematics, physical education, reading, writing, science, social studies and world languages.
 
“The state model content standards drive classroom instruction and student learning,” said Jo O’Brien, Assistant Commissioner for Standards and Assessment. “We need a broad cross-section represented in our discussions to ensure the updated standards accurately reflect what students need to know and demonstrate in every subject, at every grade level.”
 
Applications are available online at
* https://forms.cde.state.co.us/cgi-bin/ezs.cgi?DATABASE=modelcontent
 
The deadline to submit applications is September 15, 2008.
 
The committees will be responsible for recommending new 21st century standards to the Colorado Board of Education by December 2009.
 
Candidates will be notified of their selection to the committees by mid-October.
 
Stakeholders Meeting Monday, Aug. 25
 
The Colorado Model Content Standards Review Stakeholders will meet Monday, Aug. 25 in Breckenridge at Main Street Station, 505 South Main St. The meeting will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
 
The purpose of the meeting will be to finalize the shape and terms of the “13th grade,” to agree on the selection process of content subcommittee membership, and decide timeframes for definitions and WestEd products. 
 
In April, CDE released a briefing paper that provides a review and analysis for definitions of 21st century skills, college readiness and career readiness. The analysis was conducted by WestEd, a nonprofit research, development and service agency. The complete report is posted on the CDE Web site at
http://www.cde.state.co.us/Communications/download/PDF/20080409WestEdStandardsDefinitions.pdf *
 
WestEd also analyzed state policy nationwide regarding grade by grade articulation. This report is posted on the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/documents/OSA/stand_rev/West_Ed_Articulation_Paper.pdf

Colorado Model Content Standards

 

Gerry Difford A “Passionate Leader, Dedicated Educator” – Commissioner Dwight D. Jones

Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones today issued the following statement on the passing of Gerry Difford, former assistant to the commissioner:

 

“The Colorado education community has lost a thoughtful and inspiring leader,” said Commissioner Jones. “Gerry Difford was a passionate leader and dedicated educator who devoted his career to improving education across the state. He worked in a variety of administrative positions but always kept the classroom in his heart. We will miss his engaging smile, easy-going attitude and his genuine sense of purpose.”

 

Gerry Difford recently retired from the Colorado Department of Education as assistant to the commissioner. He served as a special assistant to the commissioner since 1999 and he formerly worked as assistant superintendent in Cherry Creek Schools, executive director of the Colorado Association of School Executives, and as area superintendent and principal in Jefferson County Schools.

 

Commissioner Dwight D. Jones