Colorado Offers Grants to Support Purchase of High-Quality Curriculum for Math and Reading

The Colorado Department of Education created a grant program that will award $10 million in federal recovery funds to support districts in the purchase of high-quality, standards-aligned K-8 math curricula, K-3 READ Act-approved instructional programs, and curriculum-based professional learning. The state aims to ensure that Colorado students and schools are able to narrow opportunity and achievement gaps and accelerate the completion of lost or unfinished learning with a special emphasis on populations most impacted by the pandemic.

To provide special focus to students most impacted by the pandemic, districts that serve a specified percentage of students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, and rural areas will be prioritized in the application process.

We are highlighting this practice because Colorado’s grant program will help to address the learning loss experienced by students most impacted after two years of pandemic disruptions. These funds will equip educators with curriculum-based professional learning and ensure students are receiving high-quality curriculum and instructional materials.

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Reviewer Analysis

Jocelyn Pickford

Colorado is smart to invest in high-quality instructional materials and aligned professional learning as the core of effective learning acceleration.

Dale Chu

Colorado has been a leader in encouraging school districts to use better curriculum, especially in reading. Targeting recovery dollars towards high-quality instructional materials and curriculum-based professional learning is a shrewd move that could help yield long-term dividends in the form of increased literacy and numeracy rates.

The Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University

Purchasing high-quality instructional materials is a good use of one-time federal funds. The materials can be used after the life of the grant and don’t add any recurring financial obligations.

Center on Reinventing Public Education

This investment will address growing achievement gaps by prioritizing grants for school districts serving historically underserved student groups. One highlight is the additional focus on teacher professional learning. Successful curriculum implementation requires intentional onr-ramps for teachers.

EdAllies

We are supportive of the equitably-targeted resources for purchasing instructional infrastructure. This is the kind of policy choice that eludes a fiscal cliff while making a sustaining impact on student learning.

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About the Author

Chad Aldeman is a nationally recognized expert on education policy, including school finance; teacher preparation, evaluation, and compensation; and state standards, assessment, and accountability. Keep up with Chad on the EduProgess: Unpacked blog.