Quick links to helpful sites:

• Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
• CDE Legal Requirements for Non-Public Schools
• Colorado Private School State Regulations
• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) information on CDE
• Council for American Private Education (CAPE)
• Office of Non-Public Education 
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
• Independence Institute

COVID-19 Resources for Colorado

• Apply for EANS Grant Funds (March 13, 2021)
• Colorado Vaccine Information for Schools and Child Care Providers (January 29, 2021)
• Memo to Schools on New Round of COVID Relief (January 2021)

• Guidance to Help Schools Repsond to COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks - this is a go-to manual for school leadership experiencing one or more cases of COVID-19 (Updated July 30, 2020)
  Health Guidance for Reopening Schools - this is for local public health agencies and districts as they develop school plans (Updated July 20, 2020)

Resources from Webinar on the CARES Act and Equitable Services for Private Schools - April 23, 2020

• Webinar Recording
• Webinar Presentation Slides
• CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund: Steps Private School Leaders Should Take NOW to Prepare
• CAPS Memo to Private School Leaders on Implementation to EFS
• Sample Letter to LEA
• Guidance on Coronavirus Response Act - updated April 5, 2020
• USDE FAQs on Equitable Services under the CARES Act

Colorado Department of Education Works to Help Private Schools

When the Every Students Succeeds Act passed in the US Congress, it changed the way states provide the Title services to private schools. Each state was to appoint an Ombudsman that would work to ensure that both private schools and local public school districts were working together to provide needed services to students and teachers. Accordingly, the state of Colorado appointed Colleen Brooks as the Ombudsman. Ms. Brooks then formed a Private School Working Group that includes not only private school leaders but also local School District representatives. This group has worked to clarify and simplify the process for schools to receive equitable services. A timeline for Consultation has been developed along with an updated Consultation Form that is used at the time of Consultation.  

ESSA Resources

• ​Equitable Services 2018-19 Consultation Form
• Timeline for Consultation

• Jenny Kraska, Colorado Catholic Conference, brought insights about the legislative process in Colorado and spoke about a Tax Credit bill introduced by Senator Lundberg—Senate bill 83

• Pam Benigno from Independence Institute talked about their School Choice efforts and shared the following documents with the group:

• Colleen Brooks, Ombudsman for the Colorado Department of Education talked about the Every Student Succeeds Act. 
  View her PowerPoint: