Time matters. Why we need to expand learning time.

Center for American Progress - April 15, 2011
Targeting high-poverty schools, the TIME Act provides funding to states and districts to support the creation of expanded learning time initiatives to expand the school calendar by a minimum of 300 hours for all students in participating schools.

Ready. Set. Educate! 
Greeley Tribune - April 14, 2011
On Thursday, when an employee of Mountain View Academy walked out the front door and blew the air horn, it was the running of the parents - about 70 of them trying to get to the front door of what will be Westridge Charter Academy next fall.

Not enough valid signatures submitted in Easley recall effort
Denver Post - April 13, 2011
To start the recall, organizers needed to collect valid 5,363 signatures from voters in Easley's district. Of the 5,899 submitted by organizers based in far northeast Denver, 3,283 were deemed valid after an examination by the city Clerk and Recorder.

Colorado committee to unveil complex definition of "effective educator"
Denver Post - April 13, 2011
The Colorado Council on Educator Effectiveness also made 60 recommendations on how to evaluate teachers and principals using the new definition. Those recommendations would require districts to engage teachers in selecting or developing measurement tools for their evaluations and will strongly encourage districts to use student and parent surveys as part of evaluations.

2011 Contest Finalists Announced
Team America Rocketry Challenge - April 8, 2011
Top 100 teams have been selected based on qualifying flights.  Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy is has been chosen.

Colorado One Step Closer To New State Assessment With Move To Transitional Assessment In The Spring

Colorado Department of Education - April 15, 2011
Next spring as students across Colorado sit down to take the statewide summative assessment, they will not see the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) on their desks. Instead, students in grades three through 10 will take the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP), a test that will use assessment items that are common to both the previous Colorado Model Content Standards and the new Colorado Academic Standards.

Aurora Academy 2nd Annual Falcon 5K Fun Run
Aurora Academy - April 14, 2011
Start your Spring out right!  Come run or walk with us at the FALCON 5K FUN RUN/WALK.  This run is put on by Aurora Academy Charter School and is open to community participation.  The EVENT is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th at 9:00am.  If you would like to participate please contact John Hovan jhovan@aacademy.org or Cynthia Willer cwiller@aacademy.org.

SOAR Schools Announces 2011-2012 School Leadership Team
SOAR Charter School - April 14, 2011
SOAR Charter School (now known as SOAR@GVR) opened in August, 2010, at the Evie Garret Dennis Campus in Green Valley Ranch, Denver. In 2011-2012 a second SOAR school, SOAR@Oakland, will open as part of the Restart Turnaround of Oakland Elementary School. With these two schools, Denver's first elementary school charter network, SOAR Schools, will officially begin operation.

Monarch Montessori of Denver Hires Principal
Monarch Montessori of Denver - April 13, 2011
Monarch Montessori of Denver is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Nancy Radkiewicz as Principal. Nancy will lead the charge in helping Monarch Montessori attain Kindergarten through 5th grade charter school status through Denver Public Schools.  Nancy brings a wealth of leadership and charter school development experience in elementary schools across the Front Range.

Students at Aurora Academy Earn Top Honors from the State
Aurora Academy - April 13, 2011
Governor John Hickenlooper recently announced that the students of Aurora Academy Charter School earned the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award. This elite award recognizes the top eight percent of public schools that demonstrate superior student growth on statewide assessment exams over a three year period, as measured by the Colorado Growth Model.

State Council For Educator Effectiveness Presents Recommendations For Evaluating Teachers And Principals
Colorado Department of Education - April 13, 2011
After 13 months of work, the State Council for Educator Effectiveness today presented 60 recommendations to the Colorado State Board of Education for a new statewide teacher and principal evaluation system. To see the detailed recommendations, visit: http://www.cde.state.co.us/EducatorEffectiveness/Partner-SCEE.asp

Students Raise Money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
High Point Academy - April 5, 2011
For the second year in a row, a group of High Point Academy students conducted a Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The mission of LLS is to find a cure for blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma.

Hard Times for Recess
New York Times - April 4, 2011
One principal, Audra Philippon, who runs the AXL Academy, in Aurora, Colo., told me that Playworks led to a drop in playground injuries - from 242 one year to 51 the next. In the same period, disciplinary incidents requiring office referrals fell from 40 to 10.

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.

Aurora Academy 2nd Annual Falcon 5K Fun Run
Hosted by Aurora Academy
Date: Saturday, April 16
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: 10251 E. 1st Avenue Aurora , CO 80010
Cost: $20.00 per adult; $10 per child or $35.00 per family
Description: Start your Spring out right!  Come run or walk with us at the FALCON 5K FUN RUN/WALK.  This run is put on by Aurora Academy Charter School and is open to community participation.  The EVENT is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th at 9:00am.  If you would like to participate please contact John Hovan jhovan@aacademy.org or Cynthia Willer cwiller@aacademy.org.

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 Monday, April 18.  Event is contingent upon 10 confirmed attendees. 

Introduction to Galileo K-12 Online Instructional Improvement System
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Rose Family Foundation, 600 South Cherry Street, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80246
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 Monday, April 18. 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.

Cheyenne Mtn Charter Academy Spring Benefit Bash
Hosted by Cheyenne Moutain Charter Academy
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Stargazers Theater, 10 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Description: Amidst continuing economic uncertainty and hefty funding cuts to Colorado public schools, one public charter school is taking matters into its own hands to raise significant funds for school programs. Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy and The Vanguard School will hold their first annual Spring Benefit Bash on Thursday, April 21, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at trendy Stargazers Theatre in Colorado Springs. More information about
the event may be found on the website www.SpringBenefitBash.org or by calling Jessica TenBrink, director of marketing and development for Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy, at (719) 471-1999 x 290.

Administrator Mentoring Cohort
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education
Date: Friday, April 22
Time: 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Compass Montessori Golden Campus, 4441 Salvia Street, Golden, CO 80403
Description: For lunch, click here to register at SurveyMonkey by Wednesday, April 20, 2011. After submitting the registration, a confirmation screen will appear.

Reach Out to Teach Out - Again!
Hosted by Elements Academy

Date: Saturday, April 23
Time: 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Montbello Rec Center, 15555 E. 53rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80239
Description: Our last event was such a success, and we secured support from over 140 community members for the opening of Elements Academy. When you're on a roll, keep going!  Click here for more information.

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.

Community Open House
Hosted by Pikes Peak Prep

Date:Thursday, April 28

Time: 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: 525 East Costilla Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Description: We invite you to join us for an open house to learn more about Pikes Peak Prep, how we are ensuring children have educational success and growth, and an introduction to our programs and staff. 

Best Practices in Gifted Education
Hosted by Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning

Date: Saturday, April 30th
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning, 510 North Chestnut, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Cost: $15 Includes lunch and a certificate of participation.
Description: Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning seeks to support the gifted educational needs of students in the Pikes Peak Region. Part of our vision and mission is to develop as a resource center for families and staff who work with gifted students, and one of our first opportunities is available this spring. Our focus will be to provide a solid introduction to giftedness and best practices in education for these students. We will review definitions of giftedness, characteristics of these learners, their unique social-emotional needs, and Colorado requirements. Teachers will have the opportunity to work on differentiating actual lessons and units for these students, and to explore differentiation techniques with those units. Cancellations after Thursday, April 28th at 4 p.m. will be billed for lunch. To RSVP, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bestpracticesapr30 and mail your check to AcademyACL, 2510 North Chestnut, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. We will email you to confirm your registration once your check has been received. For any questions, you are welcome to contact office@academyacl.org or call 719.434.6566.

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

REACH Education Conference
Hosted by REACH Center

Date: Thursday, June 2 - Friday, June 3
Location: Inverness Hotel and Resort, 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112
Cost: Registration fee: $169. Continuing education credit available upon request.
Description: We are proud to present the REACH Education Conference in Colorado!  REACH Center is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that, for over thirty years, has helped students, educational institutions, and instructors, as well as businesses and communities acquire the skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to thrive in a diverse world. This Conference will provide an opportunity for you to celebrate arts and cultural diversity within the context of learning, and to discover how beneficial these elements are to the process.

Click here for more information or email Nelly at Nelly@mdcampbellassoc.com.

Charter School Boot Camp
Date: Wednesday, June 8 -Friday, June 10
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