Applications are accepted on an annual basis.

The deadline for the 2023 designation is November 18, 2022.

Use the official School to Watch Self-Study to facilitate your school’s reflection prior to the application completion process. This self-study rubric contains the criteria of best practices required for being identified as a School to Watch. This rubric can promote staff reflection and support the continuous improvement process for any middle grades school.

(Click to Download)

If after analyzing your school in relation to these criteria, you believe you have the evidence in place to be designated as a School to Watch, we invite you to submit an application following the procedures described below.

Please read through the entire process prior to beginning your application. The National Forum has made recent adjustments to the overall process.

If you have any questions related to the application process, please contact Katie Gustafson, Colorado State Director.

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To be considered for Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch designation, read through the procedures and complete the 4-PART PROCESS of the total application package:

2023 School to Watch Application (Click to Download)

1. Part I – Descriptive Information – Application Writing Team – School Demographics/Characteristics – Additional Information (Complete these 4 documents)
2. Part II – Narrative (1 document)
3. Part III – Recent Changes (1 document)
4. Part IV – Assurances (1 document)
5. Complete the School to Watch Online Rubric/Survey (read below)

Processes for New and Redesignated Schools are embedded in the Directions above.

DO NOT COMPLETE the online rubric unless you are certain you will be applying for the Schools to Watch designation. If you do not complete an application, you will be charged $300 by the University of Illinois/National Forum. If you do submit an application for Schools to Watch – there is NO COST.  If you are curious about the the content of the rubric, please review the Self-Study Rubric – there is no cost to use this resource with your staff.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Your school will need to submit completed documents to both the national and state program. ALL of the documents will be submitting to your state via email. Only 3 of the documents need to be sent to the National program.

• National Submission Process – Digital Upload Form
  • • Application Writing Team
    • School Demographics/Characteristics
    • Application
    • Assurances
• State Submission Process
  • • Email ALL 7 of the documents to Katie Gustafson, State Director, by November 18, 2022.
      • • • 1. Descriptive Information
            2. Application Writing Team
            3. School Demographics/Characteristics
            4. Additional Information
            5. Narrative
            6. Recent Changes
            7. Assurances

You DO NOT need to send a copy of the completed STW Rubric, as we will receive a copy after your school completes it online.

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If you have any questions related to the application process, please contact Katie Gustafson.