April 2025 CDE Update for Superintendents and BOCES directors

Welcome to the CDE Update! This monthly publication for district superintendents and BOCES directors will show you what is happening in key priority areas at CDE and include details on implementation, milestones, deadlines and resources.

If you have any feedback regarding the CDE Update, email [email protected].

Dear Superintendents and BOCES directors,

It feels like we have been in touch often over the last weeks! As a reminder, you can find my semi-weekly communications on our website.

Thank you to those of you whose districts helped to spread the word about the 2026 Teacher of the Year nomination process - we received more than 1,800 nominations. We are following up directly with nominees to encourage them to complete the application. Please keep an eye out for requests from your classroom teachers for letters of support for their applications. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 23. Chief Communications Officer Emma Garrett-Nelson will be in touch with later this week to share nominee lists with those superintendents who have them.

This month, of course, marks CMAS testing season for Colorado school districts. Our Chief Assessment Officer Christina Wirth-Hawkins and her team have been working hard to prepare for CMAS and stand ready to support you and your teams during administration. Please feel free to contact her for help or questions at [email protected].

I look forward to seeing you next week at the monthly superintendent Zoom meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 8 a.m. These optional meetings are always on the second Tuesday of the month at 8 a.m. on Zoom.

Thank you for all that you do,

Susana

Dr. Susana Córdova
Colorado Commissioner of Education

HEALTH ALERT issued on March 31: Measles case identified in Pueblo County

Measles is a highly contagious disease, travels quickly, and is reportable to public health. Learn more about measles on CDHPE’s website.
Measles is a vaccine preventable disease.
Vaccine data for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) can be searched by school on CDHPE’s website.
Here are CDPHE’s Guidelines for Infectious Diseases in Child Care and School Settings

Action Items

Due 4/16/25: 2025-26 Early Literacy Assessment Tool applications

Schools can apply to access this (optional) State Board-approved K-3 reading assessment that provides real-time data on students' literacy skills . Applications are due April 16th, 2025.
Contact for questions: [email protected]

Due 4/25/25: Alternative Education Campus applications and renewals

This process is for schools reapplying for 2025-26 and first-time applicants who notified CDE by Jan. 31.
Pre-populated data will be available in the Data Pipeline system.
Contact for questions: April Thompson at [email protected].

Due 5/1/25: 2025-2029 Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant applications

Apply for this (optional) grant to advance literacy skills for children from birth to grade 12 with special emphasis on serving children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.
Contact for questions: Laura Lay at [email protected] .

Due 5/9/25: Reduced 2025-2026 Academic Calendar Requests

Reduced academic calendar requests (including Four Day School Week) must be submitted via the Data Pipeline Directory Collection by Friday, May 9.
Districts on district-wide Performance Watch applying for all schools must also submit the District-Wide Performance Watch - Reduced Academic Calendar Form .
Contact for questions: [email protected] .

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.
Superintendent sign-off is required.
Contact for questions: [email protected]

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 [email protected] .

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 ; look for additional resources from us this spring.
Contact for questions: Joanna Bruno at [email protected] .

Reminders and FYI Items

Educator Talent

Participants Needed: Spring Feedback Groups on Gifted Education Endorsements

District/BOCES leaders, hiring managers, current K-12 teachers, and Colorado educator preparation program representatives can complete this interest form by Friday, April 4 to participate in a virtual feedback session in mid-April.
Contact for questions: [email protected] .

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: [email protected] .

Communications Tools

Applications are open for Colorado’s 2026 Teacher of the Year!

This is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible teachers who are shaping the future. All Colorado teachers can apply here by Wednesday, April 23: cdeinfo.org/2026CTOY
Click here for a toolkit you can use to get the word out in your district .
Contact for questions: Mikaley Osley at [email protected] .

Health & Nutrition

View the CDHS March Foods Newsletter for updates from the USDA

Contact for questions: [email protected]

Professional Learning & Resources

Save the date for our free 2025 Elevating Excellence Conference: Strengthening Equitable Systems, on Monday, Sept. 22 and Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Conference Center in Thornton.

This event is for sharing strategies to increase student engagement, accelerate student outcomes, strengthen the educator workforce, and improve operational excellence.
Presenters Needed! Submit a proposal for a 1 hour session or poster by Friday, May 30 .
Contact for questions: [email protected]

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, thesenew resources, assessments and activities designed for educators, families and out-of-school time professionals.
Contact for questions: [email protected] .

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 [email protected] .

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, May 7, at 9 a.m.: How to report concerns effectively
Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m.: Restorative Practices: Building Trust Before Conflict
Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m.: Cultivating Mental Health Awareness

New legislation: HB24-1216 - Support for Justice-Engaged Youth .

Key initiatives include an interagency workgroup, responsibilities for local education agencies, a rulemaking process for credit transfer, and a hotline for information sharing.
After rules are introduced at the April State Board of Education meeting, there will be opportunities to learn more and provide feedback. Materials will be posted and feedback will be collected during the rulemaking process on the Rulemaking webpage .
Contact for questions: Johann Liljengren at [email protected] .

UIP Template Rollover to Streamlined Template April 15

All schools and districts will have access to the streamlined template , which features a more efficient layout, condensed sections, and enhanced visual appeal.
The traditional template will no longer be available. After the rollover, school users will only have edit access to the 2025-26 UIP template. Users can still access, edit, and post 2024-25 UIPs.
Contact for questions: [email protected] .

Call for Family, School, and Community Promising Partnership Practices

Submissions are due by Friday, June 6 for the eighth annual edition of Promising Partnership Practices.
Learn more on theFSCP Website .
Contact for questions: [email protected].