CDE Office Hours December 10 2020 1 ESSER

CDE Office Hours December 10, 2020 1

ESSER Office Hours Topics: • Equity and Excellence Conference • Input needed • Regional Networking Meetings • Overview of planned changes to purpose and structure • Q&A Session 2

Equity and Excellence Conference: Determining the Path Forward 3

Equity and Excellence Conference: Background and Framing • The next Equity and Excellence Conference will mark the 5 th such professional learning and networking opportunity offered by CDE. • The last conference was convened in October 2019 as a two-day in-person learning event. The conference was rated well by those who attended – noting high quality of keynote presentations and breakout learning sessions. • Some areas of opportunity included deeper learning opportunities to further learning and mastery, enhanced networking opportunities, and tailoring content to the diversity of attendees* • Key goals of the 2019 conference: • Deepen understanding of effective programs, practices, and activities that help ensure equitable access for all students, especially historically underserved students • Illuminate barriers to historically underserved students’ access to educational opportunity and resources • Explore strategies that focus on system and school improvement through coordination of ESEA and IDEA • CDE is eager to convene the next “E&E Conference” to provide professional learning free of charge to school and district practitioners. However, we fully recognize that the 202021 school year has been transformed by COVID-19, and district/school staff are facing big challenges in capacity and competing needs. 4

Considerations for the next E&E Conference: What we know about the context of schooling in SY 20 -21 • Teacher and school/district leaders are under unique stresses, pivoting from inperson to hybrid to virtual learning and grappling with staff shortages, technology issues, quarantines, and overall lack of time to make remote learning happen. • Key takeaways from fall survey of district needs: • Device and connectivity needs have declined quite a bit since spring 2020, but remain a key concern for rural communities • Workforce and staffing needs are major concerns for many districts throughout Colorado. Pressures and challenges of conducting learning virtually are creating fatigue and stress on educators, school and district leaders, parents and students. • While students' mental health continued to be named as a top student priority, slightly more districts identified K-3 reading loss as a top priority this time. • CDE staff are eager to support districts during this difficult time. There is shared consensus that any learning opportunity must address the specific challenges faced during the current context. There are many perspectives on how to best do this. * • At this point, we want to hear from you about what makes sense based on your experience and needs this school year. 5

Defining Terms • Conference = 2 -3 consecutive day conference, i. e. , “typical” conference structure • Conference series = multi-part series with time in between sessions (e. g. , 1 -3 months) • Communities of Practice = focused group of district/school leaders and practitioners grappling with specific problems of practice led by expert facilitator and subject matter experts 6

Collecting Input • We will complete a very brief survey on the zoom platform. • This should take only a couple minutes to complete. There are four multiple choice prompts. • Your responses will inform CDE’s consideration of options and the right approach that meets districts’ needs. • We will review responses (in the aggregate) as a group to consider perspectives and reflect and discuss. 7 Good to Know! From a cursory scan of national/state conferences scheduled virtually/in-person in 2021, CDE identified the following number in these time ranges: • January-February: 5 • March-May: 6 • June-August: 11 • September-November: 7

Thank you! Should you have additional input, please contact Jeremy Meredith_J@cde. state. co. us 8

Regional Networking Meetings 9

Changes for this Year • • Virtual Shorter, more frequent Starting on January 14, 2021 Purpose • Discuss ESEA flexibilities that can help meet current and urgent needs • • 10 Staffing Learning loss Alternatives to using funds for professional development Socio-emotional needs

Questions? Requests for Future Topics? 11

CDE Team Contact Information CRF • Jennifer Okes, Chief Operating Officer (okes_j@cde. state. co. us) • Adam Williams, Financial Data Coordinator (Williams_a@cde. state. co. us) • Kate Bartlett, Turnaround Program Manager (Bartlett_k@cde. state. co. us) …in partnership with the Governor’s Office and Office of the State Controller ESSER • Nazie Mohajeri-Nelson, Director of ESEA Office (mohajerinelson_n@cde. state. co. us) • De. Lilah Collins, Assistant Director of ESEA Office (collins_d@cde. state. co. us) Grants Fiscal • Jennifer Austin, Director of Grants Fiscal Management (Austin_j@cde. state. co. us) • Robert Hawkins, Grants Fiscal Analyst (Hawkins_s@cde. state. co. us) • Steven Kaleda, Grants Fiscal Analyst (Kaleda_s@cde. state. co. us) 12