Colorado Charter School Institute
1600 N Broadway, Ste. 1250, Denver, CO 80202
303-866-3299 | www.csi.state.co.us
COVID-19: Updates & Guidance
December 11, 2020
 
Dear School Leaders,
 
The next School Leaders Call will take place on Monday, December 14 at 1:00pm. We will continue these calls through January and will share those dates soon.

This newsletter includes information on:
  • Toolkit Available to Help Recruit Substitute Teachers
  • ACCESS Update
  • Building Strong Collaborations with Culturally and Linguistically Minoritized Families during COVID-19 Webinar
  • Vaccine Distribution Plan
  • CHSAA Update
  • CDE Guidance for Physical Education
  • Safe2Tell Webinar
  • and more!
Update Calls for School Leaders
The next call for school leaders will take place on Monday, December 14. School leaders have been emailed the new call-in information for the School Leader Calls. If you have not received, please email Amanda Oberg.

Materials referenced on the call will be posted in the "Weekly Update Call Materials" section of the Coronavirus Updates Google Doc.
CSI School Support Contacts
Every CSI school has been assigned a CSI Support Contact. As we approach the start of a new semester please communicate to your Support Contact your school’s learning plan for the Spring Semester. Additionally, please notify your support contact if you have a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case, quarantine a cohort, or have a school closure. Click here for a list of support contacts including mobile phone numbers.
PPE Purchasing
Prior to purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to promote the health and safety of your school community fill out the survey here or contact Amanda Karger, CSI's Director of Finance, to inquire about purchasing PPE for your school through Colorado's PPE purchasing cooperative. Purchasing through this cooperative may save your school money.
Toolkit Available to Help Recruit Substitute Teachers
CDE has streamlined the process to help more accomplished professionals, career changers, college students and recent college graduates become substitute teachers. CDE is offering a new 2020-21 Substitute Authorization that only requires a high school diploma or equivalent and a fingerprint-based history on file with CDE. Visit the Become a Substitute/Guest Teacher website for details. Communication materials are also available in the communication toolkit to help spread the word.
ACCESS Update
ACCESS testing for English Languages Learners should be conducted when and if state and local health guidelines, as well as district policies and practices for COVID-19, allow students and staff to be in school buildings. All processes must follow health orders for gathering safely.

CDE's Assessment Unit has created a reference document (PDF) to help districts as they plan for safely administering the 2021 ACCESS for ELLs assessment. The testing window for the 2020-21 school year will be January 11 - March 12.

This information has been shared with ELD coordinators and school assessment coordinators. Contact Jessica Welch with any questions.
Building Strong Collaborations with Culturally and Linguistically Minoritized Families during COVID-19 Webinar
Culturally and linguistically minoritized children are less likely to engage in remote learning opportunities and more likely to experience economic vulnerability, housing, and food insecurity during COVID-19. This webinar, Co-Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education & the Colorado Bilingual School Mental Health Network, will provide strategies to increase family collaboration with culturally and linguistically minoritized families in the era of COVID-19. Participants will better understand ways to approach collaboration with families, new strategies and considerations to support culturally and linguistically responsive family collaboration, and strategies for the provision of these services in virtual environments. The webinar will take place on January 14, 2021 from 3:00pm-4:30pm. Learn more and register.
Governor Polis Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan
Educators and other school staff are considered essential workers and will begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the Phase 2 distribution this spring, according to Governor Polis' vaccine distribution plan.
In order to be as fair and efficient with distribution as possible, the state has developed a phased approach to vaccine distribution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the most targeted way possible. The initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine(s) this winter will be limited to the highest risk health care workers as well as residents and staff of long-term care facilities in the first part of Phase 1. Moderate-risk health care workers, first-responders and workers in home health care and hospice services will receive the vaccine in the second part of Phase 1.
After Phase 1 is complete, the state will make vaccinations available for high-risk individuals and essential workers this spring in Phase 2, which includes educators and other school staff.
The timeline is subject to change based on the vaccine's supply chain. Prioritization is also subject to change based on data, science and availability.
View more information on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website, including a chart which breaks down the vaccination plan by phases and frequently asked questions to help you communicate with educators, students and families.
CHSAA Update
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) this week announced the postponement of Season B sports. This will also delay the start dates for Seasons C and D.
CHSAA is proposing a February 1 start date for Season B instead of the January 4 date that was previously scheduled.
CHSAA, CDPHE and Governor Jared Polis' COVID-19 Response Team plan to meet mid-January to continue the discussion around variances for Season B and to reassess COVID-19 data at that time. Variances will not be considered prior to that date.
Specifics for each sport will be communicated upon variance approval from the CDPHE. County health department and school districts will determine open gym policies, per state guidance.
Colorado Mask Mandate Extended
Governor Jared Polis has extended the state’s face covering mandate for an additional 30 days effective December 9, 2020. Please visit CDPHE’s Guidance for wearing masks webpage for additional details, including “mask required” signage in both English and Spanish.
Expanded Testing through COVIDCheck Colorado
CovidCheck Colorado (CCC) has significantly expanded their COVID-19 testing services to help make testing available for more Coloradans. Their partnership with the State of Colorado, which will run through the end of 2020, means that everyone in Colorado can get tested free of charge. COVID-19 testing with a nasal PCR swab will be available to anyone who visits a CCC test site free of charge through the end of 2020.  Visit CCC’s Where To Get Tested webpage to find a testing location and register for a test.
Updated CDE Guidance for Physical Education
Information has been added to the Planning for the 2020-21 School Year toolkit to provide schools and districts guidance around physical education during COVID-19. This guidance and considerations are intended to support schools and districts as they make local decisions in regard to physical education in response to COVID-19. Schools may choose to share their plans with their local public health agency or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for feedback.  
Mental Health Resources
Safe2Tell December Webinar
Safe2Tell’s monthly webinar training series will take place on Thursday, December 17 from 11:00am-noon and will include information on Promoting Safe2Tell during COVID. Participants will be able to see examples from other districts and obtain free resources for S2T promotion. Registration and more information can be found here.
RISE Grant Round 2
The purpose of this fund is to provide resources to high-needs school districts, charter schools, and public institutions of higher education, to address the impacts of COVID-19 in a manner that creates lasting innovations, improved student learning, and enhanced operational efficiency for pre-K-12 and higher education.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020 – School Signed Assurances Due to CSI
Submit your school signed assurances using this assurance guideline template. Schools must also initial next to each assurance listed. Assurances need to be sent to finance@csi.state.co.us
*We will return the CSI signed copy once we have received your full application.

Saturday, December 19, 2020 – Applications due
Submit your full application to GEER.Reimbursements@state.co.us in PDF format by 5:00pm on Saturday, December 19, 2020.
Colorado Preschool Program Request for Proposals 2020
The annual Request for Proposal application for the Colorado Preschool Program is open. Any preschools interested in joining the CPP council and receiving CPP slots for eligible students should complete and submit an application to Clare Vickland by December 18, 2020. Schools currently receiving CPP slots do not need to re-apply. Please email Clare at clarevickland@csi.state.co.us with any questions and to request a copy of the application. 
Nominate for League Hall of Fame
The Colorado League of Charter Schools would like to celebrate our members and supporters of the charter school movement. Please nominate someone you feel deserves recognition for being an outstanding member of the charter community. Submit your nominees through Monday, January 11, 2021.
Continue to check the CSI Coronavirus Updates webpage.
Please contact Michael McManus with any health-related questions. 
Please contact CSI Communications with any communication- or closure-related updates.