Colorado Supporting LGBTQ+ Learners Through Policy and Action
Leading off with the news everyone around the Denver area has been waiting for: our “One Dupont West” happy hour is back! Join us for drinks and snacks on Thursday, August 25 starting at 4:30pm at?Avanti - Denver. Let us know you are coming by responding?here.
Our team has been tracking?activities?over the last few months regarding support for our LGBTQ+ learners. On Tuesday July 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the?Respect for Marriage Act?with a bipartisan 267-157 vote. Colorado’s delegation was split down party lines with three voting against the bill and four in support. At the federal level, there has been a striking difference from the robust efforts from Governor Polis’ administration to ensure that the gaps in the “legal and lived experiences for LGBTQ people'' are addressed through legislation and policy in Colorado.?
My Whiteboard Advisors colleague,?Hillary Knudson, hosted a?conversation?with educators and advocates about ensuring safety for our LGBTQ+ learners with special introductory remarks by Governor Polis. Also, last month, through our work with NationSwell, the Governor made a?call?for all fifty states to?protect?same-sex marriage in their respective state laws. These are issues we will continue to track and discuss - and are open to hearing more about the work many of your organizations are doing across the state to support all of our learners.
As we continue to ensure the diverse experiences of Coloradans are integrated into policies and practice across the state, we wanted to draw your attention to Senate Bill 22-140, which has tasked the?Office of New Americans (ONA)?to create a global talent task force that is reflective of the diversity of our state. ONA is asking interested individuals from across the public and private sectors to participate in the task force by submitting an application by August 1. More details can be found?here.
Spotlight on Colorado Education and Workforce
In the last few years,?29 states?– including Colorado – have passed laws or implemented policies related to evidence-based approaches to reading or the “science of reading.” The?2019 state law?requires that schools implement one of the core programs designated by the state. It was?revised?in the 2021 legislative session to include requirements related to curriculum transparency, which is a hot topic across many state legislatures. Additionally, the READ Act requires all teachers to complete a course on Science of Reading to be trained on the instructional practices associated with foundational reading skills. Teachers have been given two years to meet this requirement and different districts have provided different forms of training and programs, as well as CDE’s free option. The deadline for teachers to have completed the?required training?is upon us: August 1, 2022.
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