kdoran, Author at Stand for Children Colorado

Meet Lorelei, Stand Advocacy Fellow

In Their Own Words | 11/17/2023

Stand for Children

Stand for Children Colorado advances educational equity and racial justice in Colorado through meaningful partnerships with families, educators, schools, and policymakers. One of the ways we uphold this work is through our annual Advocacy Fellowship.

Stand for Children Colorado Advocacy Fellows are community leaders advocating for policy solutions towards racial justice and equity in education.  With the support of Stand staff, advocacy fellows will deep dive into issues affecting Colorado communities today, co-create solutions, democratize knowledge back to their communities, work to break down barriers to power and access decision makers, and, in the process, build long-lasting relationships and invaluable skills.

We are excited to introduce the 2023–2024 Fellows!

Meet Lorelei

What are you most excited about in this year’s fellowship? I am most excited to continue working with Stand members to get a better understanding of Colorado Law processes and procedures, as well as learning more about communication efforts regarding outreach and support for legislation.

What is your favorite children’s book? My favorite children’s book is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. I loved butterflies when I was younger. I even had a Monarch Butterfly Habitat that I was obsessed with, spurred on by this book.

What do you love most about Colorado? I love that city life is just a hop, skip, or jump away from the mountains. It is nice to have the great outdoors and mountain activities so close to my house without having to live in the mountains full time. I get the amenities of a city with the joy and adventure of the outdoors in one location.

Poudre Share Best Practices in Raising 9th Grade On-Track Rates

High School Success | 11/16/2023

Stand for Children

Last week, Colorado policymakers joined educators from across Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon at Poudre High School for the first-ever Center for High School Success Demonstration School Learning Lab.

Over 60 attendees learned directly from the educators at Poudre leading the ninth-grade success work that has been recognized by Colorado Governor Polis as transformational. Over the past three years of partnership with Stand’s Center for High School Success, Poudre has increased 9^th grade on-track rates by 13%. Poudre was one of the first schools in Colorado to receive a Ninth Grade Success Grant from the Colorado Department of Education.

Supporting students by implementing a 9th Grade Success approach has consistently shown to improve graduation rates. In fact, students who are “on-track” (meaning they have no more than one F) at the end of their 9th grade year are three times more likely to graduate from high school than their off-track peers. 9^th Grade Success programming includes targeted interventions, transition supports, school-based teaching teams, and certain instructional approaches.

“The passion for this work from the educators at Poudre is incredible. We are proud of our partnership with them and excited their work is serving as a model for other schools and districts implementing the ninth-grade approach,” said Stand Colorado Executive Director, Krista Spurgin.

The CHSS Demonstration Schools were chosen for their sustained improvement, consistently high 9th Grade On-Track Rates, and exemplary implementation of the CHSS Roadmap. You can read more about why Poudre was selected as a leader in this work and hear directly from school Principal Kathy Mackay about their work in this blog.

Poudre High School Named National Demonstration Site

High School Success | 11/3/2023

Stand for Children

The Center for High School Success (CHSS), a program of Stand for Children, announced that Poudre High School in Ft. Collins, Colorado has been named a 2023-2023 Demonstration School. CHSS Demonstration Schools are chosen for their sustained improvement, consistently high 9th Grade On-Track Rates, and exemplary implementation of the CHSS Roadmap.

Demonstration Schools partner with CHSS to showcase the exemplary 9th Grade Success work to support deep learning for the current national network of high schools and to recruit new schools and districts to engage in 9th Grade Success Work. CHSS spoke to Poudre’s principal, Kathy Mackay about their work. We are excited to share more with you following Poudre’s first demonstration site visit.

MEET POUDRE HIGH SCHOOL IN FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

Across the three-year partnership with CHSS, Poudre High School, a large, diverse high school in Fort Collins, increased 9th Grade On-Track Rates by 13%.

Colorado CHSS Director, Judith Martinez shared about experience working with Poudre saying, “The Poudre team is transforming the high school experience by developing year-long transition supports for ninth graders. I’m most proud of the integration of ninth grade success approaches into the school’s pathway model.”

Poudre High School has been recognized by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and Colorado Governor, Jared Polis, for their transformational work in developing multiple pathways to meet the needs of all students. Poudre was one of the first schools to receive a CDE Ninth Grade Success Grant.

Poudre’s work around changing how kids adjust going back to school was recently featured on Fox 31.

Principal, Kathy Mackay, shared more about Poudre High School.

Tell us a little about your school community.

Poudre High School draws students primarily from three middle school feeder sites in the northern part of the District’s boundaries. Each of these schools is uniquely diverse in the types of students served—from mountainous and rural areas, from farms and ranches, from small towns, from bedroom communities to the larger Fort Collins area, from the very lowest income mobile home parks, and from the most expensive homes in old town Fort Collins. At PHS, we have six pathways that students opt into during their transition from 8th to 9th grade– Agriculture and the Environment, Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Design, Entrepreneurship, Health Science and Human Services, or the International Baccalaureate program. All pathways include opportunities to earn college credit and industry certifications. At PHS, we live by the philosophy of Ubuntu, translated as “I am who I am because of who we are.” We are Poudre High School.

Tell us a little about your school’s history with 9th Grade Success Work?

We began our journey with full-school pathway development in 2016, and embedded 9th Grade Success Work in 2018. Our pathway structure was perfect to support the 9th Grade Success Work. Our MTSS Coordinator serves as the Student Success Team Leader, and our Counselors oversee each pathway and facilitate the conversations among pathway teams of teachers. This model has been the best model for increasing teacher collective efficacy and truly integrating multi-tiered systems of support. We monitor student progress bi-weekly and intervene early and often. We’ve seen an increase in our on-time graduation rate over the last five years, and we know that this work has been incredibly influential in these gains.

What are you most proud of?

I’m proud that we’re using systems of support, rather than attempting random interventions here and there that may or may not be effective. I’m also proud that our staff believe in the work, it has created more collaboration to support students, and it has increased their individual and collective teacher efficacy.

What has been an obstacle you’ve been able to overcome?

Time is always the obstacle. There’s never enough of it. We’ve been able to “overcome” this obstacle by embedding the work within our weekly late start schedule and by using virtual meetings to be more efficient with time.

Finish this sentence. “9th Grade On-Track Work/9th Grade Success Work has been transformational at our school…”

Period. The Roadmap provides a true roadmap to implementing the structures and practices needed to do the work. The structure creates a teaming model that increases teacher collective efficacy. The data shows us that it’s the right work. We’re keeping students on-track and it’s resulting in better student outcomes, including increases in our on-time graduation rates.

How has partnering with CHSS been transformative?

CHSS has been the best support I’ve received as a principal in my ten-year career. The Roadmap, coaching, collaborations, data analysis and training have been invaluable to my growth and the growth of our teams.

Anything else you’d like to share?

At the Arts& Humanities “Kid Talk” student, RB, was brought up by the Social Studies teacher as a student she was concerned about. RB had great attendance but was failing classes because of an apparent refusal to complete or turn in work. As the teachers discussed RB, they noticed that it wasn’t as if he didn’t want to do the work, or was distracted, or didn’t understand. He was pleasant, stayed off of his phone, and was attentive to the work! He just wouldn’t do it. It was determined in the Kid Talk that RB is extremely gifted and only wanted to produce perfect quality work. He would rather not do anything than have it not be perfect. His teachers would beg him to just put down something, even if it wasn’t perfect, in order to earn some points. RB’s science teacher suggested introducing him to a High Dosage Teacher who was working with another student in her class. Once the connection was made, RB started finding success. The tutor helped give him the confidence he needed to get the work done. He had the knowledge but lacked the executive functioning skills to actually ‘do’ the work. The match was so effective that RB requested to continue working with his tutor in his second semester classes and he passed them all!

Please Weigh In: DPS Public Comment

Community Engagement | 10/4/2023

Natalie Perez DPS Parent and Community Organizer

My 7th grade son, Roman, and I went to the last Denver Public Schools board meeting to ask them to reconsider their recent change to limit public comment to two hours during their regular meetings.

You may have heard that the board announced that they would immediately start limiting how long parents, educators, and community members may address them during public comment sessions while they develop a policy for public comment moving forward.

Share Your Thoughts

We are asking YOU to share your thoughts on how you want the board to engage with their constituents.

We believe there is a solution that ensures there is time and space for the community to connect with their elected representatives and addresses long working hours for DPS staff. This feedback will be shared with DPS Board representatives so that YOUR voice and opinion can help them create an inclusive and equitable policy for public comment sessions.

What You need to Know about November’s Election

Elections | 09/28/2023

Stand for Children

This year is an “off year election,” meaning that you won’t be voting for president or others running for office at federal levels of government. What you will find on your ballot this year is officials running for local office – like the school board, people who are much more likely to have an impact on your day-to-day life. You will also be asked to consider several important ballot initiatives.

Your ballot for the upcoming General Election will be arriving in your mailbox in the coming weeks. Election day isn’t until Tuesday, November 7^th, but we are sharing information, so you have time to prepare to vote in this important election.

Get More Information:

Here’s where you can get the latest information about your voter eligibility and ballot drop off and polling locations. It’s not too late to register to vote or update your information if you’ve moved.

Research What’s on the Ballot:

You don’t have your ballot yet, but you can still prepare! This website will provide you a sample ballot for your address. There will likely be candidates running for your local school board. These people can have a deep and lasting impact on the schools in your community and your child’s education, so make sure to do your research before you vote!
- Visit their websites, check out their social media, and Google their name to see recent news coverage.
- Pull information from organizations you trust to see who they have endorsed.
There are also statewide ballot initiatives for you to consider this year. Stand has endorsed both Prop II and Prop HH.
The Blue Book (you will receive a hard copy of this in the mail, too!) is a voter guide with easy-to-understand explanations of each ballot initiative compiled by nonpartisan staff of the Colorado Legislative Council.

Vote By November 7:

Here’s where you can find locations to drop off your ballot. Just be sure you drop it off by November 7.

Our Work Together Next Year -Please Weigh in!

Legislation | 09/22/2023

Krista Spurgin Executive Director

We spent time this summer in conversation with parents, educators, policymakers, and community members. Now our team has identified goals that build upon our impact in recent years and act on what we heard in listening sessions. Will you please weigh in on our plans?

Our Goals for Next Year:

Early Literacy
- Understanding how to better support educators to use the science of reading and evidence-based curriculums and practices in their literacy instruction.
Ninth Grade Success
- Expanding funding for the Ninth Grade Success Grant program.
Supportive Schools
- Promoting educator diversity by securing continued funding for policies that create equity in teacher preparation and alternative pathways to enter the workforce.
Justice System Reform
- Helping prevent recidivism in our justice system by updating probation and parole supervision to include remote check-in options.
- Expanding access to criminal record sealing for non-violent offenses, helping to remove barriers to housing and employment.
- Reducing unjust fees for incarcerated individuals and their families.

We cannot do this work alone – we need your help! Read more about our priorities and let us know which ones you are interested in working with us to advance.

Early Educators – Please Weigh In

Early Literacy | 07/28/2023

Krista Spurgin Executive Director

We know the importance of students reading on grade level by the end of third grade, so the Stand for Children team is collecting feedback through this survey from K-3 early literacy educators, administrators, and support staff, like interventionist. We will not share any identifiable information, including district or school information; we want to ensure we are hearing from educators across Colorado.

As champions of early literacy, we know the importance of educators having the necessary support, tools, and resources, to ensure all children are reading on grade level by the end of third grade. We want to understand how recent early literacy policy changes are working and where additional support is needed.

Educator voice is essential, so ff you are an early literacy educator and/or K-3 classroom administrator, please take a few minutes to share your feedback by completing the survey. 

This information will be compiled into materials to report out the views of educators and may be used to inform future policy to support early literacy educators.

Take the Survey

About Our Early Literacy Work:

Stand for Children Colorado has a longstanding and deep commitment to improving early literacy outcomes for Colorado students and supporting educators. In 2012, Stand supported the passage of the READ Act, Colorado’s early literacy policy to provide targeted supports for K-3 students reading significantly below grade level. In 2018, we championed HB18-1393, which strengthened the READ Act by increasing funding for Early Literacy Grants and for evidence-based approaches to be used. SB19-199 ensures that evidence-based literacy programming supports teacher training. In 2021, we advocated for the addition of a literacy-specific component to exams for teacher licensure to ensure that training programs prioritize using evidence-based reading approaches. Finally, in 2022, we championed SB22-004, which expands the science of reading training to principals and administrators. These policies were developed after hearing feedback from teachers about changes that would support them, and we are proud to advocate for them alongside educators from across the state.

We have also developed two reports studying early literacy in Colorado: Improving Early Literacy in Colorado: Realizing the Promise of the READ Act (2016) and The State of Literacy In Colorado (2017). 

Standing With You

Standing With You | 07/5/2023

Krista Spurgin Executive Director

Top Legislative Priorities Now Law

We are thrilled that all of our top priority bills have been signed into law.

In our blog, you will find updates on each of the policy priorities we shared prior to the legislative session focused on advancing educational equity, youth and racial justice in Colorado, and making our schools and communities safer and more supportive.

We are so grateful to the many advocates, partners, and policymakers we worked alongside to bring these policies to fruition. Parents, educators and community leaders participated in listening sessions last summer to identify needs and policy solutions, engaged with lawmakers, testified before committees and shared their experiences with members of the media. Hundreds of advocates sent thousands of emails to policymakers, and 27 shared their lived experiences in testimony before committees nearly 60 times. These impactful policy changes will mean more and better support for Colorado students and educators. They represent steps toward safer and more supportive schools and communities for all Coloradans.

Advocates Join Stand for Day at the Capitol

More than a dozen parents, educators and community leaders joined our team for a day at the Capitol. These advocates were briefed on the latest on key policies moving through the Capitol, listened to Senate floor debate (and were even invited to sit on the Senate floor), got a tour of the Capitol and shared their policy priorities. “I am very fortunate to be here today with Stand. For many years, I have involved myself into the practices and policies of schools, but I’ve never really had the opportunity to dive in and really make a difference at in the policies that are implemented at the state level. This is really what we need in order to be able to make the changes for our kids.” Flor Orozco, parent and Stand Advocacy Fellow.

Advancing Language Justice in Denver Public Schools

We are thrilled to announce that after months of collaboration, learning, and relationship-building, Language Justice was added as a priority as an ENDS statement that talks about equity in Denver Public Schools (DPS). ENDS statements are “description of the long-term goals for the district”. This statement was approved by the DPS Board of Education.

Language Justice is defined as a commitment to ensuring all voices are heard and understood in the process of community engagement. It is more than having access to translators and interpreters, it is a practice to create inclusive and equitable spaces so that community, families, students, and staff can participate in the language of their heart. Read more.

Funding Expanded for Ninth Grade On-Track Program

$1.6 million for the Ninth Grade Success Grant program was included in HB23-1231, Math in Pre-Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade. This funding will help ensure that more Colorado students finish their 9th-grade year on track and graduate high school prepared for post-secondary success.

Lauren Kinney shares her experience from Day at the Capitol

“I’ve been working with Stand as a fellow and it has invited me to take up space in politics that I never really thought I belonged in or never knew the right entry point. Now because of this I feel inspired to do more community organizing to find ways that I can advocate not only for students but also for members of the queer community, and BIPOC voices. I believe that Stand is doing some incredible work.” Lauren Kinney, educator and Stand Advocacy Fellow

Bri Buentello, Stand Government Affairs Director and former Special Education Educator on legislation that will expand translation of individualized education plans

“I’ve seen the disproportionate impact that a language barrier brings, specifically in Latino kids,” she said. “It’s going to drastically increase parental involvement in the IEP process. This is going to lead to us better serving students.”

Learn More

Early Literacy Educators: We Want to Hear from You!

Stand for Children Colorado will be publishing a report to give an update on the impact of literacy policy in recent years, including the passage of the READ Act in 2012 and subsequent updates related to evidence-based curriculum alignment, teacher and principal training in the science of reading, and increased funding for early literacy grants. 

We will be centering educator voice and experience, so if you are an early literacy educator and/or K-3 classroom teacher or administrator, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Our goal is to hear from as many Colorado educators as possible, so please consider sharing this with your colleagues.  

Learn more about our early literacy work.

Thank you for Standing

Top Legislative Priorities Now Law

Legislation | 06/8/2023

Bri Buentello Government Affairs Director

Yesterday marked the end of the 30-day period for Governor Polis to sign into law the bills that were passed during the 2023 legislative session. We are thrilled to tell you that all of our top priority bills have been signed into law.

Below you will find updates on the policy priorities we shared prior to the legislative session focused on advancing educational equity, youth and racial justice in Colorado, and making our schools and communities safer and more supportive.

We would be remiss if we didn’t, once again, thank the many advocates, partners, and policy makers we worked alongside to bring these policies to fruition.

Parents, educators and community leaders participated in listening sessions to identify needs and policy solutions, engaged with lawmakers, testified before committees and shared their experiences with members of the media. Hundreds of advocates sent thousands of emails to policymakers and 27 shared their lived experiences in testimony before committees nearly 60 times.

These impactful policy changes will mean more and better support for Colorado students and educators. They represent steps toward safer and more supportive schools and communities for all Coloradans.

Stand’s 2023 Top Legislative Priorities

Updates on our 2023 top policy priorities:

Expand funding for the Ninth Grade On-Track Program.

HB23-1231, Math in Pre-Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade, supports math educators with evidence-based training and interventions to help K- 12th-grade students struggling in math. Importantly, this bill includes $1.6 million for the Ninth Grade Success Grant program to help ensure that more Colorado students finish their 9th-grade year on track and graduate high school prepared for post-secondary success. Status: Signed into law!

Remove barriers to support teaching candidates, expanding and diversifying the educator workforce.

HB23-1001, Expanding Assistance For Educator Programs, a continuation of HB22-1220, expands eligibility for financial assistance and offers loan forgiveness to a larger pool of educators who qualify for state programs. Status: Signed into law!

HB23-1064, Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, creates a compact to make it easier for active-duty military spouses to transfer their teaching licenses without further testing, thereby allowing them to teach in Colorado classrooms faster. Status: Signed into law!

SB23-087, Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Program, creates a teacher degree apprenticeship program as an alternative route to teacher licensure and helps to alleviate the educator shortage. Status: Signed into law!

Ensure equitable school funding.

SB23-099, Special Education Funding, increases Special Education Funding by $40,203, 671. Status: Signed into law!

Eliminate the practice of lying to juveniles during interrogation.

HB23-1042, Admissibility Standards For Juvenile Statements, increases funding for interrogation training for law enforcement, as well as improves the general reliability of confessions by requiring all juvenile interrogations to be recorded. Status: Signed into law!

Cap the cost of phone calls from prison or jail.

HB23-1133, Cost Of Phone Calls for Persons In Custody, mandates that the Department of Corrections (DOC) provide communications services to persons in DOC custody in a correctional facility or private prison. Status: Signed into law!

OTHER KEY BILLS WE WORKED TO ADVANCE THAT ARE NOW LAW

HB23-1003, School Mental Health Assessment, creates the sixth through twelfth-grade mental health assessment program.

HB23-1168, Legal Representation and Students with Disabilities, requires CDE to create and maintain a list of attorneys qualified to represent a parent in a due process complaint and creates a fund to pay attorneys defending parents against due process complaints filed by an education provider.

HB23-1223, Task Force to Prioritize Grants Target Population, creates a task force to establish shared goals and guidelines for prioritizing new and existing grant money to reduce youth violence, suicide, and delinquency risk factors.

HB23-1249, Reduce Justice Involvement for Young Children, funds the expansion of existing local Collaborative Management Programs (CMP) statewide to serve 10-12-year-old children that come into contact with law enforcement and child victims with support from the Department of Human Services.

HB23-1263, Translating Individualized Education Programs, permits the multidisciplinary team that creates an individualized education program (IEP) for a child, who may be eligible for special education services, to translate the IEP draft documents into the dominant language spoken in the home of the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian.

HB23-1290, Proposition EE Funding Retention Rate Reduction, refers a ballot issue to the voters at the November 7, 2023, statewide election to allow the state to retain and spend state revenues that would otherwise need to be refunded. If voters approve the ballot measure: the money set aside will be transferred to the preschool programs cash fund and the general fund and the nicotine tax will stay at the rates required by proposition EE.

HB23-1291, Procedures For Expulsion Hearing Officers, addresses due process rights for students by mandating the sharing of evidence during an expulsion hearing, prohibiting conflicts of interest for the hearing officer, as well as requiring annual training regarding student development, restorative justice, and special education and the law.

SB23-004,  Employment Of School Mental Health Professionals,  authorizes a school district to employ health professionals, who are not licensed by the Colorado Department of Education but hold a Colorado license for their profession.

SB23-039, Reduce Child And Incarcerated Parent Separation, requires the Department of Human Services to prioritize and facilitate communication and family time between children and their parents who are incarcerated.

SB-23-287, Public School Finance, increases the statewide base per pupil funding for the 2023-24 budget year by $598.25 (to account for inflation) and creates a public-school finance task force.

HB23-1100, Restrict County Jail Contracts with ICE, prevents the state from contracting with a private company to detain individuals for federal immigration purposes and begins a review process of these contracts over the next two years.

Early literacy educators: We want to Hear from You!

Early Literacy | 06/2/2023

Krista Spurgin Executive Director

In 2023, Stand for Children Colorado will be publishing a report to give an update on the impact of literacy policy in recent years, including the passage of the READ Act in 2012 and subsequent updates related to evidence-based curriculum alignment, teacher and principal training in the science of reading, and increased funding for early literacy grants. 

To center educator voice and experience, we want to hear from you! If you are an early literacy educator and/or K-3 classroom teacher or administrator, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Our goal is to hear from as many Colorado educators as possible, so please consider sharing this with your colleagues.  

About Stand’s Early Literacy Work:

Stand for Children Colorado has a longstanding and deep commitment to improving early literacy outcomes for Colorado students and supporting educators.

In 2012, Stand supported the passage of the READ Act, Colorado’s early literacy policy to provide targeted supports for K-3 students reading significantly below grade level. In 2018, we championed HB18-1393, which strengthened the READ Act by increasing funding for Early Literacy Grants and for evidence-based approaches to be used. SB19-199 ensures that evidence-based literacy programming supports teacher training. In 2021, we advocated for the addition of a literacy-specific component to exams for teacher licensure to ensure that training programs prioritize using evidence-based reading approaches. Finally, in 2022, we championed SB22-004, which expands the science of reading training to principals and administrators. These policies were developed after hearing feedback from teachers about changes that would support them, and we are proud to advocate for them alongside educators from across the state.

It is critical for policymakers to understand the perspectives of educators across Colorado, so if you are an early literacy educator and/or K-3 classroom teacher or administrator, please take a few minutes to complete the s urvey.