State Board Meeting - March
State Board of Education Meeting Mar. 11-12: View Agenda | Watch LIVE
Supporting Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities
Overview
Belongingness occurs at the intersection of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Healthy educational systems seek to ensure all students, including those with disabilities, enjoy this experience. Unfortunately, many years of Colorado and National data identify many inequities for these students. This website is designed to provide resources for school and district personnel to close opportunity gaps for youth with disabilities. Resources, training, opportunities to collaborate with others, and links to other sources of information regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion are available below.
Sections on this page:
What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?
Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly!
The purpose of this Community of Practice is to facilitate connections, awareness, and access to information, learning opportunities, and resources that will improve the lives of students with disabilities and benefit the families, communities, and professionals who support them. Sharing of information is encouraged; however, it is at the discretion of the CDE what information will be posted. This service is chat-free and does not include advertisements from vendors or contract-based companies.
To subscribe to the EDI CoP Listserv, please follow the directions below.
Learn about this CoP
Please watch this 4 minute video "Introducing this Community of Practice" for a topic overview defining what a Community of Practice (CoP) is, CoP characteristics, and other introductory information to help you prepare for future meetings
Supporting Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities
This equity-focused community of practice (CoP) is designed to bring together people who share a passion for addressing the opportunity gaps experienced by students with disabilities. Education leaders committed to making meaningful systemic change and promoting equitable learning opportunities will benefit from participating in this quarterly, one-hour virtual meeting.
Sessions are co-hosted by:
- Dr. Michael Ramirez, Supervisor, Equity Projects Specialist, Exceptional Student Services at the Colorado Department of Education
- Dr. Bryn Harris, Professor / Faculty Fellow for Strategic Initiatives, Office of Faculty Affairs, School of Education and Human Development and Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Colorado Denver.
Education leaders and advocates dedicated to fostering equitable learning environments for students with disabilities are welcome to join future sessions.
2025-2026 Topics
- Session 1: Setting the Stage for Family Partnerships
- Session 2: Forging Family Partnerships
- Session 3: Promising Practices in Family Partnerships
- Session 4: Family Interviewing Case Study
Session 1: Setting the Stage for Family Partnerships
Session 2: Forging Family Partnerships
Session 3: Promising Practices in Family Partnerships
Session 4: Family Interviewing Case Study
2024-25 Topics
- Session 1: Using Data to Dismantle Educational Inequalities
- Session 2: MTSS to Advance Equity
- Session 3: Advancing Equitable Evaluation Practices
- Session 4: Promoting Equitable Disciplinary Practices
Session 1: Using Data to Dismantle Educational Inequalities
Session 2: MTSS to Advance Equity
Session 3: Advancing Equitable Evaluation Practices
Session 4: Promoting Equitable Disciplinary Practices
2023-24 Topic
Community of Practice Kickoff Meeting
Purpose: Give participants an overview of the CoP process and topics, build relationships among CoP participants, and increase buy-in and excitement for participant engagement and advancing equity.
Advancing Equity for Students with Disabilities A Community of Practice (PDF) 6/4/2024
Additional Learning about Communities of Practice:
- Co-Creating Your Communities of Practice Toolkit - Organizational Development in Higher Education, United Kingdom
- Communities of Practice Guide - Communities of Practice Network
- Communities of Practice Toolkit - UC Davis School of Medicine
Examples from other Communities of Practice:
- Planning for Communities of Practice: A Guide for Model Systems Grantees Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center
- DEC Communities of Practice Division of Early Childhood, Council for Exceptional Children
Join the CoP Listserve
To subscribe to the EDI CoP Listserv, please follow the directions below.
The purpose of this Community of Practice is to facilitate connections, awareness, and access to information, learning opportunities, and resources that will improve the lives of students with disabilities and benefit the families, communities, and professionals who support them. Sharing of information is encouraged; however, it is at the discretion of the CDE what information will be posted. This service is chat-free and does not include advertisements from vendors or contract-based companies. To subscribe to the EDI CoP Listserv, please follow the directions below.
To subscribe to the EDI CoP listserv:
- Open a new email.
- In the “To” field, type the email and send the message EDI-COP-subscribe-request@cdelist.cde.state.co.us
- Once added, you will receive a confirmation email.
- If you have a problem, email Michael Ramirez at ramirez_m@cde.state.co.us.
To unsubscribe from the EDI CoP listserv
- Open a new email.
- In the “To” field, type the email EDI-COP-signoff-request@CDELIST.CDE.STATE.CO.US
- In the body of the message write, “unsubscribe EDI-COP” and send the message
- You will automatically be unsubscribed.
Disclaimer: A variety of learning opportunities, information, and resources are provided on this listserv. These materials do not represent an exhaustive list, nor are they required or endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The identification or description is to provide information and resources and does not constitute CDE's endorsement. Every effort has been made to identify the citation for the resource; please maintain the citation and/or authorship when adapting or modifying these materials.
For more information, please contact:
Tanni Anthony,
Director
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647