The Expelled and At-Risk Student Services (EARSS) program provides funding to implement educational and support services to expelled students, students at risk of being expelled, chronically absent and/or habitually truant students. Funds are annually appropriated to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) for the purpose of making grants…

Although research advocates for comprehensive cross-sector youth violence prevention efforts, mobilizing across sectors to translate scientific recommendations into practice has proven challenging. A unifying framework may provide a foundational step toward building a shared understanding of the risk and protective factors that impact youth…

The Foster Care Success Act (House Bill 22-1374) provides funds to both the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to improve the educational attainment of students in out-of-home placement. The Act requires CDE to identify specific goals for its Foster Care Education Program (FCEP) to achieve…

Sexual violence among adolescents is a major concern. This study examined the impact of the peer-led "Sources of Strength" program on gender-based violence and attitudes dismissive of sexual harassment. Twenty high schools in Colorado were randomized to intervention (n = 11) or waitlist control (n = 9); students (N = 6461; 9th-11th…

The School Bullying Prevention and Education Grant (BPEG) program has supported Colorado schools and districts in ending bullying since it was first funded in 2016, after having been created by H.B. 11-1254. Administered by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), as of May 2024, the BPEG program has distributed over $15 million toward this…

Objective: Extreme sport participation and injury rates have increased in recent decades. This study aimed to investigate sub-dimensions of impulsivity and sensation seeking that contribute to participation and injury risk in extreme sports. Participants: Data included cross-sectional survey responses from 7,109 college students (Mage=19.68, SD =…

Cyberbullying has been called a public health concern (Achuthan et al., 2023; Cheng et al., 2023; Patchin et al., 2023) and continues to be an issue that plagues students throughout the country (Hindu et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to investigate the guidance and policy offered by federal legislators, state legislators, and school…

Among all in-school factors that impact student learning, teachers carry the most weight -- but school leaders are not far behind. Decades of research have proven the positive influence principals can have on student achievement, school climate and teaching quality. New evidence suggests that their impact may be even greater than previously…

One of the Colorado Department of Education's (CDE) five strategic plan goals is that "Students graduate high school with knowledge, skills and experience needed for college and career success." Students who attain this goal have the potential for better life outcomes and have choices as they graduate high school. This report provides an…

Schools should be safe places for young people, educators, school staff, and community members, and policies and practices can help create learning environments where kids thrive. Gun violence in U.S. schools has prompted calls for increased school safety measures; however, which policies contribute to safe school environments is often a topic of…

This report examines features of states' expulsion and suspension prevention policies, based on survey responses and interviews with selected states. The results point to the widespread efforts states are making to develop and implement expulsion prevention policies. Features of policies are varied, and include supports for programs (e.g.,…

The use of School Resource Officers (SRO's) has become an increasingly popular strategy in attempting to create safe learning environments on school campuses in the United States. The implementation of SROs saw a significant increase following the school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO on April 20, 1999. As media attention and…

The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic led districts and schools to experiment with new staffing and support structures to meet students' academic, emotional, and physical safety needs. Shortages of teachers and substitute teachers, challenging conditions for student teaching, and early retirements all became pressing issues during this time.…

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the Nation's largest domestic food and nutrition assistance program for Americans with low income. SNAP-Education, commonly referred to as SNAP-Ed, is the nutrition education arm of SNAP benefits. SNAP-Ed aims to help individuals stretch their food budget while also supporting a healthier…

Educational attainment is pivotal in preparing students for success after high school. Research shows that high school graduates are more likely to be employed, earn higher wages, and have better health outcomes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). While gains have been made in Colorado in increasing graduation rates and reducing…