Colorado Elementary School Newsletter Guide for Teachers

Colorado elementary teachers are working within a reading accountability system that has real consequences for students and families through the READ Act. A newsletter that explains these accountability measures clearly, connects them to what families can do at home, and covers the school's CMAS testing calendar gives families the information they need to be active partners in their student's elementary years.

Communicate the READ Act Requirements

Colorado's READ Act requires schools to screen students in K-3 for reading deficiencies using state-approved assessments. Students identified with a significant reading deficiency receive a READ plan -- a formal intervention document. The law has provisions related to 3rd grade promotion for students who do not demonstrate reading proficiency. Your fall newsletter should explain which screening tool your school uses, what parents should expect if their child receives a READ plan, and what the timeline looks like for intervention and progress review. Families who understand this process before their child is screened respond much more constructively than those who first hear about it when a READ plan arrives in their email.

Connect Learning to Colorado Academic Standards

Colorado's Academic Standards cover all core subjects. In your weekly newsletter, translate the relevant standard into a home activity: "We are working on Colorado Standard 3.1.2 for reading, which focuses on identifying main idea and supporting details in informational text. Try asking your child: 'What is this article about, and what are two reasons the author gives?' after they read anything this week." This translation from standard language to family language takes under two minutes and significantly increases family engagement with at-home learning support.

Address CMAS Testing

Colorado's CMAS assessments in ELA and math begin in 3rd grade. Before the spring testing window, your newsletter should cover the test dates, what subjects and grades are being assessed, and what families can do to support their student. Colorado law allows families to opt students out of CMAS, and some families receive information about opt-out that is incomplete or misleading. Your newsletter can provide an accurate description of what opting out means for school accountability data and what it does not mean for the student's grades or promotion decisions.

A Weekly Colorado Elementary Template

Week of [Date] -- [Teacher]'s Class
What we're learning: [ELA and math focus]
READ Act note: [If relevant -- reading skill students are working on]
Try at home: [One specific activity]
Upcoming dates: [Events and CMAS schedule if applicable]
Contact: [Email and best contact time]

Reach Colorado's Spanish-Speaking Communities

Colorado's Greeley area, Pueblo, the San Luis Valley, and parts of the Denver metro area have significant Spanish-speaking family populations in elementary schools. Bilingual liaison staff in many Colorado districts can assist with newsletter translation. For schools without dedicated bilingual support, translating the most action-required sections -- READ plan notices, CMAS testing dates, and important event information -- ensures Spanish-speaking families receive the same critical information as English-speaking families. The Colorado Department of Education has translated family resources available for download.

Cover Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism

Colorado has been working to address chronic absenteeism since its effects on reading development became clear in READ Act data. A newsletter section that explains what chronic absenteeism is (missing 10 percent or more of school days, regardless of reason) and how it affects reading and learning development -- not as a punitive message but as a factual one -- helps families understand why every day at school matters in the early grades. Include information about the attendance support resources your school offers for families experiencing housing instability, illness, or transportation challenges.

Include Colorado's Outdoor and Environmental Education

Colorado has a strong tradition of outdoor and environmental education, and many districts incorporate it into the curriculum through programs like Colorado Outdoor Education Center visits, nature walks, and environmental science projects. When your class engages in outdoor education activities, a newsletter note connecting the activity to Colorado's Academic Standards for science and connecting it to families' own outdoor activities builds authentic home-school connection. "We visited the nature trail behind the school to observe signs of fall -- you might do the same in your neighborhood this weekend" is the kind of place-based connection that resonates in Colorado communities.

Build a Newsletter Archive

Post all newsletters to your class website or your school's parent portal. Colorado's school choice system means some families specifically selected your school and want to stay closely informed. An accessible newsletter archive demonstrates program quality, provides documentation for READ Act communication requirements, and allows families who arrive mid-year to catch up independently without requiring individual teacher briefings.