How do I?

All Frequently Asked Questions at CDE

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Family FAQs
Educator FAQs
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CDE Information

How do I find and apply for jobs at CDE?

To view all current openings for at-will and classified position postings, visit the Job Openings and Employment Application webpage.

Contact the Human Resources Office with questions.The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified minorities and persons with disabilities to apply.

Policy

How do I submit a Colorado Open Records Act request?

Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests are handled by the Communications Division. To submit a request, first read the Colorado Open Records Act policy, then submit your CORA request form.

Grievances

How do I complain about a school?

CDE does not formally collect complaints about schools or districts. To file a complaint, reach out to your school principal, then, if necessary, the district superintendent, then your local school board.

For students with an Individualized Education Program, contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit's Dispute Resolution team at 303-866-6694.

Student Loans

How can I pay my student loan?

Contact the U.S. Department of Education at 800-433-3243 or the Education Credit Management Corp. at 866-264-8566.

School and District Information

How do I submit a data request?

View student, school and district data information collected at the state level on the Colorado Education Statistics section of the CDE website. If you would like additional information or more detail, follow the instructions on the CDE Data Request webpage.

How do I apply for my district to go to a four-day school week?

Requests to move to a four-day school week (also referred to as a reduced academic calendar, or an approval for fewer than 160 school days) are done in Data Pipeline.

For more information, view the reduced academic calendar page.

How do I know what school district I am in?

Download and view PDF maps to locate your school district based on the Colorado county in which you reside.

How do I apply to start a charter school?

Any group of parents, teachers and/or community members may develop a charter application. A minimum size is not defined in the charter school law. The school must be nonsectarian and non-home-based. Applications may not be submitted to convert an existing private school or non-public home-based educational program into a charter school.

For more information, visit the Colorado Charter Schools Introduction webpage.

How do I find education statistics for the state?

CDE collects and evaluates certain educational data as mandated by the state General Assembly. We also provide district-by-district data in specific educational areas, as well as a yearly collection of general education statistics for the state. Find statistics on our website.

How do I receive updates and important news from CDE?

Superintendents are automatically signed up to receive news releases. They also receive the department's monthly CDE Update and weekly e-newsletter, The Scoop.

If you are interested in receiving additional communications, visit the Communications Dvision homepage or contact the CDE Communications Office.

How do I receive updates and important news from CDE?

The SPARK is CDE's monthly e-newsletter to Colorado teachers with up-to-date information and resources on state-level issues, events and actions involving educators. If you are interested in subscribing to The SPARK or any of CDE's other e-newsletters, visit the Communications Dvision homepage or contact the CDE Communications Office.

How do I find and apply for jobs in Colorado school districts?

CDE does not accept applications for any positions within the school districts we serve in Colorado. In you are interested in employment with one of our many school districts, apply by contacting the specific school district directly. Various job boards are also available for teaching staff such as the Jobs for Teachers website.

How do I find information about my district?

Visit SchoolView for school and district dashboards, financial transparency information, annual accountability reports and more.

School Funding

Who do I talk to about school funding?

Contact the School Finance Division at 303-866-6141.

Gifted Education

How do I evaluate if a student is gifted and talented?

Visit CDE's Office of Gifted Education to find resources to help identify and support students who have exceptional academic potential and abilities.

Special Education

How do I have a child evaluated for a disability?

If the student is over the age of five, contact the school district in which they reside.

If the student is under the age of five, contact a Child Find specialist at CDE.

How do I evaluate a student for dyslexia?

CDE has compiled resources to support students with reading difficulties including dyslexia. Learn more on the Colorado Dyslexia homepage.

School Quality

How do I keep up with the implementation process for the 2020 Colorado Academic Standards?

The Standards & Instructional Support Office has multiple resources, including learning modules and an e-newsletter, to help districts become familiar with updates to the CAS.

How do I assess the quality of schools?

CDE does not assess the value of one school over another. For performance results, visit the Performance Framework Reports and Improvement Plans in SchoolView.

Who do I talk to about school construction?

Contact the Capital Construction Unit at 303-866-2153.

Student Enrollment

How do I enroll a child in school?

Contact the school district in which the child resides.

How do I enroll my student in an online school or program?

Most online schools will have their own specific steps for enrollment. Online schools typically require the same documents as a brick and mortar school such as a birth certificate, proof of residency, immunization records, and prior school records if applicable.

Student Records

How do I obtain transcripts from a closed college or university?

Contact the Colorado Department of Higher Education via their website or by calling at 303-862-3001.

How do I contact a closed private school?

If you have not already, you may try contacting the two offices listed below. Both handle licensing and regulatory information for small businesses. Private (non-public) schools are required to obtain a small business license from the Secretary of State, Licensing and Enforcement Division, in order to open so they may have the contact for the school on file.

Secretary of State, Licensing and Enforcement Division
303-894-2200 x2

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
1625 Broadway, Suite 2700, Denver, CO 80202
303-892-3840

How do I find records for a private school?

Neither CDE nor the districts receive or retain private school records. Please contact the school itself.

If the school is closed, contact the parent organization that operated the school to see if they retained that school’s records. See: "How do I contact a closed private school?"

How do I obtain a copy of my GED?

Go to Diplomasender.com or call 855-876-3774.

How do I obtain a copy of my diploma?

Districts to not keep copies of student diplomas, but districts are required to retain student transcripts in perpetuity. You will need to contact the school district in which your student attended school.

How do I verify education?

Contact the district in which the student in question attended school

Educator Licensing

How do I renew my license?

Visit the "Applying for a License or Authorization" page, find the type of license you want to renew, and click to view the application checklist. The checklist will walk you through all of the steps required, including education requirements, identification that must be submitted, and more.

How do I look up an educator's credential/license information?

If you are a member of the public, you can see if an educator has an active credential, a past credential or if a credential was denied, suspended, revoked or annulled by using the Public Educator Lookup.

How do I become a teacher in Colorado?

Visit the "Applying for a License or Authorization" page, find the type of teacher license you want to apply for, and click to view the application checklist. The checklist will walk you through all of the steps required, including education requirements, identification that must be submitted, and more.

How do I look up my current license or view the status of pending licenses?

Log into your eLicensing account and click on the "Credential/Application Information" tab that may contain information pertaining to pending applications as well as current and past credentials.

Note: Information prior to 2011 may not be visible to you in this lookup as that information was migrated from our old system into eLicensing and may reside in a secondary account. If your school district is inquiring, have them login to their eLicensing account where they will be able to see this older information. In the future we will merge this data into your single account. You also may not see all of your information if you have created multiple eLicensing accounts.

How do I lookup an educator credential for my school district?

Log into your eLicensing Verification Access account.

If you do not have an account, please visit CDE's school district webpage for instructions on how to apply. Any old system that you may have used in the past have been permanently closed.

How does a new teacher I hired get an emergency license?

Visit the Educator Licensing Office's Emergency Authorization webpage for information about emergency authorizations and a checklist of requirements for the application.

How does someone get a substitute license?

Colorado Issues three types of substitute authorizations: 1-year authorization, 3-year authorization, and 5-year authorization. A substitute authorization allows you to work in a Colorado public school as a substitute teacher. The substitute authorizations are issued without grade level or subject endorsement area. Visit the Substitute Application webpage in the Educator Licensing Office for more information.