School buses to circle Colo. Capitol over ed cuts
Denver Post - March 31, 2011
School buses from a Colorado Springs-area district are headed to Denver to make a statement about proposed education budget cuts.

City schools votes to let YAFA go
Pueblo Chieftain - March 30, 2011
The move means that if YAFA's application to CSI is approved, city schools no longer will hold the charter for YAFA.

State finds another $75 million 
EdNews Colorado - March 29, 2011
The committee got one piece of good news - that the executive branch Office of State Planning and Budgeting had underestimated state revenues this year by $75.5 million. That's of note because the JBC is using the OSPB forecast in its effort, rather than the more optimistic forecast made recently by the Legislative Council staff.

2 middle schools cited for student achievement
Pueblo Chieftain - March 29, 2011
Connect, a District 70 charter school, and Pueblo City Schools' Goodnight, a K-8 school, were named by the Colorado Department of Education as John Irwin Schools of Excellence award recipients.

Colorado schools are beginning to write off cursive handwriting
Denver Post - March 27, 2011
First grader Hailie Koski looks to her teacher Susie Richardson before starting her next letter in cursive class. Cursive writing is disappearing from school curriculums. But at the James Irwin Charter School in Colorado Springs, they embrace cursive starting in kindergarten. 

ACLU opposed to voucher plan
Highlands Ranch Herald - March 25, 2011
The Douglas County Board of Education recently approved a pilot program to offer up to 500 families nearly $5,000 each of taxpayer money to subsidize their tuition payments at private schools next fall. Almost all of the eligible schools are religious.

Expanding Horizons - 2nd Annual Liberty Auction at the Ranch

Hosted by Liberty Common School

Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Description: Music, Western Dinner Buffet and Dessert Auction. Cash Bar Available. For more information email libertyevent@libertycommon.org.

Are You Smarter than a KIPP-ster?

Hosted by KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy

Date: Wednesday, April 6
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Denver Museum of Nature and Science , 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO

Cost: $75 general admission $50 Young professionals (under 35)

Description: RSVP at www.blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp (code: kippster)
To learn more about forming a corporate team or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mandy Hughes at 303-513-1144 or mhughes@kippcolorado.org.

Overview of Relevant Educational Laws Webinar
Hosted by the Colorado League of Charter Schools
Date: Thursday, April 7
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Cost: Free

Location: Online
Description: This session provides an overview of relevant educational laws, including reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently referred to as No Child Left Behind), School Accountability Committees (SAC), Response to Intervention (RtI), English Language Learners (ELL), Advanced Learning Plans (ALP) and the Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA). While each of these topics could involve a full day of training to get a complete understanding, this introduction will provide participants with overview information about the key educational laws and terminology, allowing you to incorporate the various components into your charter school application or evaluation. Click here to register.

Gala Event at Red Rocks Park to Benefit the Compass Montessori Education Foundation
Hosted by Compass Montessori Education Foundation
Date: Saturday, April 9
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Ship Rock Grille, Red Rocks Visitor Center, Morrison, CO
Description: Live and Silent Auction, Performances from Denver Blues Greats Jack Hadley and Neil Haverstick as well as Shamwari, a youth marimba band from Boulder.  Tickets $45 - $65 sliding scale. Food and complimentary drink with ticket price.  Cash Bar.  Representative Max Tyler will be present to speak about the state of Education Funding in Colorado.
Come on out and support public arts and literature education!
Info? Gretchen Roberts, Compass Director of Development, groberts@compassk12.org or www.compassmontessori.org.

Pikes Peak Leader Meeting
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education

Date: Tuesday, April 12
Time: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: James Irwin Charter School, 5525 Astrozon Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80916
Description:  Register on SurveyMonkey by Friday, April 8, 2011, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HLZCRM6. After submitting the registration, a confirmation screen will appear. There is no fee to attend this lunch meeting; however, those who RSVP and fail to attend will be billed $16 for their lunch.

CDE Board Training
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education

Date: Thursday, April 14
Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Cost: Free
Location: Adams 12 Five Star Schools Conference Center, 1500 E. 128th Avenue, Thornton
Description: Register by Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9CDH5JR. After submitting the registration, a confirmation screen will appear.

Slice of Pi
Hosted by Denver School of Science and Technology
Date: Friday, April 15
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: DSST Stapleton High School, 2000 Valentia St., Denver, CO
Description: Honoree: Laura Barton. Laura has been a DSST supporter and advocate since DSST's earliest days and DSST is proud to recognize her contributions. Proceeds support existing DSST Public Schools programming. DSST Public Schools operates open-enrollment STEM Charter Schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools district. Click here for more information.

President's Council WEBINAR
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education
Date: Friday, April 15
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Description: Register by Wednesday, April 13, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C7S2W88. After submitting the registration, a confirmation screen will appear.

Introduction to Using Scantron 
Hosted by the Colorado League of Charter Schools

Date: Wednesday, April 20
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (lunch will be provided)
Location: Colorado League of Charter Schools, 725 S. Broadway, Denver, CO, 80209
Cost: FREE (lunch will be provided)
Description: School leaders and teachers will gain a thorough understanding of Scantron assessments and how to get the most out of this computer adaptive assessment. To register click here no later than Wednesday, April 13.  Event is contingent upon 10 confirmed attendees. 

Introduction to Galileo K-12 Online Instructional Improvement System
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Colorado League of Charter Schools, 725 S. Broadway, Denver, CO, 80209
Cost: FREE (snacks will be provided)
Description: During this interactive seminar participants will learn how teachers and schools are implementing Galileo and receive an overview of the system. Attendees will also learn about Galileo system alignment with Common Core State Standards and next steps for Galileo implementation in participating Colorado schools. To register, click here no later than Thursday, April 14. Event is contingent upon 10 confirmed attendees. 

Writing S.M.A.R.T. Goals Webinar

Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Online

Cost: FREE
Description: Join us for an interactive webinar that will address critical insights in writing focused, rigorous goals for a charter school application. Click here to register.

Engaging Classroom Assessments
Dates: Monday, April 25 - Tuesday, April 26
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Colorado School District Self Insurance Pool, 6857 South Spruce Street, Centennial, CO 80112
Cost: League members: $300 per person | Non-members: $400 per person. (Grant funds have been used to subsidize the cost of this training, which would normally cost $655/person.)
Audience: Teachers & Teacher Leaders
Description: Teachers use "Power" standards to develop meaningful performance assessments. This two-day seminar focuses on each participant's effective design, creation, and use of performance assessments that are the foundation of powerful standards-based instructional and assessment tools. Performance assessments are a powerful teaching and learning tool that make differentiated instruction and assessment possible. 
Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: April 22 

2011 Colorado Charter Schools Rally

Hosted by the Colorado League of Charter Schools

Date: Thursday, April 28

Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: West Steps, Colorado State Capitol, Denver
Description: The Colorado Charter Schools Rally is a great chance for the charter school community to come together to voice support for equitable funding and treatment for Colorado charter school students -- and to educate elected officials about why "Charter Schools Rock!" Click here for more information and to register for tours of the State Capitol.

High Point Academy Playground Community Build
Hosted by High Point Academy
Date: Saturday, April 30 - Sunday, May 1
Time: The weekend will be divided into four work sessions: 8:30 - 12:30 and 1:00 - 5:00 on Saturday, and same times on Sunday.
Location: 6750 N. Dunkirk St, Aurora, CO 80019
Description: Over 100 people will join together to build two playgrounds that will provide a safe and fun outdoor play area for over 600 HPA students and the local community. It promises to be an amazing weekend, filled with hard work, new friends, and the satisfaction of building something that will bring joy to children for years to come. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Annette Sloan at asloan@highpointacademy.net.

Performance Management Training for Boards
Date: Tuesday, May 3
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Colorado League of Charter Schools, 725 S. Broadway, Denver, CO, 80209
Cost: League members: $100 per person | Non-members: $150
Description: Introduces charter school boards to internal and external accountability expectations and outlines the board's responsibility in maintaining a strong performance management system within their school. This training will educate charter school board members about their role in monitoring the academic program and results at their school. The training will also provide boards with tools and resources to assist in the role of appropriate oversight and evaluation. The focus of this session is on understanding student performance data, key questions board members should know how to answer, and how boards can establish sound practices in providing academic performance oversight and monitoring. Other topics typically included are key school performance expectations and measures as well as state and authorizer performance expectations and measures.
Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: April 29

Charter School Boot Camp
Date: June 8-10, 2011
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Early College High School, 4905 W. 60th Ave., Arvada, CO
Cost: $15 per day (includes breakfast, lunch and materials)
Description: Are you planning on submitting a charter school application to your district? This 3-day intensive training is a must for charter school organizers in understanding the substantive information that is required in a charter school application.
Registration: Click here. Deadline: June 6

2011 National Charter Schools Conference

Date: Monday, June 20 - Thursday, June 23
Location: Atlanta, GA

Registration: Click here for more information and to register.  

Description: The 2011 National Charter Schools Conference's theme, Because Every Child Can Succeed, embodies the charter school movement more than ever before. We hope you will join us for next year's gathering to be held June 20 through June 23, 2011, in Atlanta.

• Conference and Events Calendar
• Grants