7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

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8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

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9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Session I:

 

The Status of Educational Access and Achievement in Colorado

 

Latinos represent 32% of the 1.2 million children and students throughout the educational pipeline (birth through 17) in Colorado. There is a wide range of diversity in the student body and with that comes along different trends in students’ academic performance and varying points of entry into the educational system. To date, 49% of all 3 and 4 year old children are enrolled in a preschool program of some type. In the K-12 system, Colorado students outperform national trends on 4th grade reading and math proficiency, yet by the time students reach high school only 72% of students graduate and Latinos fare even lower at 56%. This session will provide an overview of the academic trends for Latino students and will identify areas that require further policy discussion and solutions.

Chair: Dr. Valentina “Val” Flores, Board Member, Colorado State Board of Education

Resources: 1 | 2

• Mr. Bill Jaeger, Vice President of Early Childhood Initiatives, Colorado Children’s Campaign – Kids Count
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Mr. Wade Buchanan, President, The Bell Policy Centert
PRESENTATION

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10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Session II:

 

Foundations of Early Childhood Education

 

There is growing research demonstrating the short and long-term benefits of early childhood education for children, families, and communities. Evidence shows how a child’s brain has the greatest potential to grow by the age of three and it is in these first three years of life that children’s brains must be exposed to quality interactions to stimulate and strengthen brain development. This session will provide an overview of the brain development research and will also highlight the cognitive and emotional importance of supporting practices that are responsive to diverse families.

Chair: Hon. Crisanta Duran, Colorado State Representative; Board Member, NALEO

• Dr. Sarah R. Lytle, Director of Outreach and Education, Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington

 

Session Resource: 1

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11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Networking Lunch

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12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Session III:

 

Tackling Toxic Stress

Babies who are exposed to healthy and nurturing environments have the foundation needed for positive brain development. Exposure to factors such as poverty, abuse, neglect, incarceration, separation of families, and crime trigger the development of toxic stress in young children. The consequence of this toxic stress can have long-term damaging effects on children’s emotional, social, and mental development and influence their health, learning ability, and social behavior. This session will provide an overview of the research on toxic stress and ways in which policymakers can develop policies to support healthy environments to mitigate the effects of toxic stress on vulnerable families and children.

Chair: Hon. Irene Aguilar, M.D., Colorado State Senator

• Dr. Marina Mendoza, Developmental Psychologist, Child Health and Development Lab, University of Denver
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Ms. Charlotte Brantley, President & CEO, Clayton Early Learning
PRESENTATION

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1:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Session IV:

 

Colorado’s Funding Infrastructure and Policies

One of the central components of a successful early childcare education system is the funding structure. There are challenges to maintaining a strong and well-funded system. As policymakers, it is important to be strategic and creative in developing the adequate policies that meet family needs and address issues around access to such services throughout the state. This session will provide an overview of Colorado’s funding structure along with an update on select on-going statewide and local policies and initiatives focused on maintaining equitable and sustainable funding models.

Chair: Hon. Beth Martinez Humenik, Colorado State Senator

• Hon. David Skaggs, Adjunct Professor, College of Law, University of Colorado Boulder; Former Member, U.S. House of Representatives
PRESENTATION

• Ms. Kathy Gebhardt, Executive Director, Children’s Voices
PRESENTATION

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3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks and Evaluations

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

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9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Session V:

 

Standards, Assessments, and Accountability Systems: Developing a Framework for Student Success

Standards, assessments, and accountability systems are all important components of the education system and should work in concert to support the success of all students. This session will provide participants with an overview and deeper understanding of how newly adopted standards can better align with newly adopted student assessments, with a particular emphasis on the needs of English Language Learners. Participants will also have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Colorado’s education accountability systems and identify best practices for ensuring diverse stakeholders at the local level become full partners in achieving students success.

Chair: Hon. Stephanie Garcia, Member, Colorado State Board of Human Services; Board Member, NALEO Educational Fund

• Dr. Dan Jorgensen, Accountability and Research Manager, Accountability and Data Analysis Department, Colorado Department of Education; Board Member, Aurora Public Schools
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Dr. Guillermo Solano-Flores, Professor, School of Education, University of Colorado Boulder
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1

• Mr. George Welsh, Superintendent, Cañon City Schools, Colorado
PRESENTATION

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10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Session VI:

 

The Justice System and Educational Pathways: Prevention and Re-engagement of our Youth

 

National and statewide data trends demonstrate there is a disproportionate number of Latino and Black students who undergo excessive disciplinary actions, with lasting academic, economic, and civic consequences. The impact of these disciplinary actions can redirect students towards a juvenile system and prison trajectory. Evidence has found that there are ways to effectively and respectfully enforce policies to curb disciplinary issues without hindering short and long-term educational opportunities for students. This session will provide data trends of students’ contact with the discipline system across the state of Colorado. In addition, policymakers will also learn about resources and strategies to foster positive outcomes for students through restorative justice practices and policies.

Chair: Hon. Paul López, Councilmember, City and County of Denver; Former Board Member, NALEO

• Dr. Robert Balfanz, Professor, School of Education, John Hopkins University

• Dr. Daniel Kim, Director of Youth Organizing, Padres y Jóvenes Unidos
PRESENTATION | Resources: 1 | 2 | 3

• Ms. Gianina Irlando, Community Relations Ombudsman, Office of the Independent Monitor, City and County of Denver
PRESENTATION

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12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Networking Lunch

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1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Session VII:

 

Rising to the Occasion: Increasing Latino College Completion Rates in Colorado

 

As improvements are made across the education pipeline to increase the promotion of students from grade to grade, it is important that in that process they are exposed to rigorous curriculum and opportunities that will prepare them to enroll and complete post-secondary degrees. Colorado ranks second in the United States for having the largest gap between white students and Latino students in degree completion. This session will provide an overview of performance indicators for the enrollment and degree completion of Latino students in post-secondary institutions. Policymakers will also learn about the statewide and institutional policies and practices that must be in place to support academic retentions practices and increase the number of Latino student completing post-secondary degrees.

Chair: Hon. Clarice Navarro-Ratzlaff, Colorado State Representative

• Dr. Luis A. Torres, Deputy Provost, Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Mr. Curtis L. Esquibel, Director, Denver College Attainment Network

• Dr. Ramon Del Castillo, Professor and Chair, Chicano/a Studies Department, Metropolitan State University of Denver

SESSION PRESENTATION | Session Resource: 1

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2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Session VIII:

 

The Role of Policymakers in Supporting the Equitable Delivery of a 21st Century Education

This wrap up session will provide policymakers with an opportunity to dialogue and interact with each other to identify specific action strategies for moving policy forward. Participants will focus on areas of mutual interest that they would like to champion in their local communities to implement an equitable delivery of a 21st Century Education.

Facilitators:

• Hon. Deborah Ortega, Councilmember, City and County of Denver
• Hon. Phyllis Sanchez, Board Member, Pueblo City Schools
• Hon. Rosemary Rodriguez, Board Member, Denver Public Schools
• Hon. Arturo Jiménez, Denver Public Schools

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3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks & Evaluation