School Turnaround Leadership Development Grant

The School Turnaround Leadership Development grant is offered through the Colorado Department of Education as part of Colorado's strategy for improving outcomes in low-performing schools and districts. The School Turnaround Leadership Development Program was originally created in 2014 through S.B. 14-124 to establish and promote leadership training designed specifically for turnaround environments. In 2018, H.B. 18-1355 modified Colorado's accountability law and incorporated the program into the School Transformation Grant. The participant opportunity is accessed through the Empowering Action for School Improvement application. The program connects eligible Colorado school and district leaders with leadership development programs vetted by the Colorado Department of Education. The opportunity supports two distinct tracks. Turnaround Leadership is intended for district and school leaders responsible for leading turnaround efforts in schools identified for improvement. Typical participants include district instructional leaders, principal supervisors, principals, assistant principals, and teacher leaders, although teacher leaders may not be the sole focus of a funding proposal. Approved programs build turnaround competencies through cohort-based learning and supported on-site application. Leadership for Students with Disabilities is intended particularly for leaders in systems identifying performance concerns for students with disabilities. Districts and schools are encouraged to participate as teams that include at least two people representing administration and special education, and BOCES team members supporting identified districts and schools may participate as part of a district-sponsored team. Eligible schools are those identified for improvement under ESSA as Comprehensive Support, Targeted Support, or Additional Targeted Support and/or schools with a Colorado School Performance Framework plan type of Priority Improvement, Turnaround, or On Watch. If available EASI funding cannot support all proposals, proposals meeting grant expectations are funded according to the EASI school-level prioritization list, with schools having the highest number of prioritization points funded first. District-level requests use the average prioritization of eligible schools as specified in the program guidance. Applicants must select a School Turnaround Leadership Development provider from the CDE Advisory List of Providers and should review the applicable provider overview grid. Funding does not guarantee acceptance into a selected provider's program because providers have limited capacity. Applicants therefore must also contact their selected provider and initiate that provider's application process. Awards are available up to $150,000 per school and are based on the cost of the selected approved provider and the size of the identified leadership team. An award may not exceed the provider costs documented by a draft scope of work or quote. Funds may support participation in the approved leadership development program, materials and books associated with completing the program, and reasonable travel expenses such as airfare, rental cars, mileage, and hotels, subject to district policy or U.S. General Services Administration rates and available funding. Travel funding is not guaranteed. Funds may not pay stipends or benefits for participating leaders or implementation efforts beyond the approved leadership development program. Provider expenses must be supported by a scope of work or quote describing timelines, deliverables, number of staff members, and costs. If provider costs exceed $150,000, the budget description must identify how the remaining expenses will be paid. Indirect costs may be included subject to the applicable restrictions, but the total request cannot exceed the maximum award. Funds must supplement rather than supplant existing federal, state, and local funding. The published program schedule provides September through December for applicants to meet with the CDE School Transformation Manager to discuss interest and outline a proposed budget, with the application due in December and award notifications occurring in January. Awardees complete application procedures with the identified provider from February through April and must confirm participants and the selected program no later than May 31. The source does not provide an exact December application deadline or an exact application opening date. The sequence, duration, and approach of the leadership development engagement depend on the selected provider and program. Federal funds must be obligated by September 30 and requested by November 1 of the applicable fiscal year; state funds must be obligated by June 30 of the final grant-cycle year. Post-award revisions require approval before expenses are incurred and must be approved by June 30. Each grantee must satisfy evaluation, reporting, and program commitments. Districts must confirm participants and programming by May 31 following award notification. Participants complete survey evaluation covering participation and programs, schools served, completion status, impact on student achievement and school culture, impact on systems and staff practices aligned with the Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement, and changes in leader actions or behavior. Final Expenditure Reports are due in GAINS by September 30 each fiscal year. LEAs must contract with identified providers, restrict funds to approved programs, participants, and eligible schools, maintain appropriate fiscal and program records, and obtain CDE approval for changes to the selected program. Participants must engage in and complete their selected provider program and required reporting. Program questions may be directed to Lindsay Cox, School Transformation Grant Manager, at Cox_L@cde.state.co.us or 720-990-7851.

Select and contact the approved provider early because grant funding does not guarantee provider acceptance and providers have limited capacity. Build the budget from documented provider costs and ensure the request does not exceed $150,000 per school. Align STLD with other EASI improvement supports when requesting multiple supports. Schools or districts anticipating leadership changes should consult the CDE School Transformation Manager about timing. Higher-priority EASI schools are funded first when qualifying requests exceed available funds.