Post Secondary Resources

Here in DCSD we are ramping up our focus on Postsecondary Readiness options for our high school students. Postsecondary readiness programming offers our students with post-high school pathways to careers, college, military service, and continued education or training. You can review all of our Postsecondary Readiness program options for the 2023-2024 school year in this new guide.

2021 Virtual College Fair of Colorado, No Cost to Attend!
Tuesday, September 28 - Thursday, September 30
5:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. nightly

Over 200 colleges and universities across the country will be participating in the 2021 Virtual College Fair of Colorado. Meet with key college admissions representatives and get answers to your questions about college programs and majors, admissions requirements, scholarships, financial aid, the college essay, and more. For more information (including the event schedule) and to register, visit collegefairsdenver.org

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As you know, financial aid can be a big deciding factor for students. We don’t want them to miss an opportunity to receive as much aid as possible, which is why we’re reminding you the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available starting Oct. 1.

We recommend students complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1 to be considered for the most financial aid.

Pass along the important information below to all students you know will benefit!

FAFSA How To:

Create a FSA ID (separate for student and parent).
Fill out the FAFSA, available Oct. 1. Priority deadline is March 1.

Additionally, FAFSA forms can now be completed from mobile devices with the myStudentAid app (tips for using this app can be found here).

Governor Polis Announces Colorado Free Application Days
Institutions received nearly 57,000 applications in last year’s campaign  

DENVER (Oct. 8, 2021) — To  encourage  more Coloradans to continue their education,  Governor Jared Polis  announced  today  that  all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado, as well as several private institutions, will allow students to apply for free from Tuesday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021,  as part of  the  fourth  annual  Colorado Free Application Days.  

“Earning a certificate or degree gives Coloradans the best opportunity to thrive in the profession of their choice,” said Gov. Polis. “Colorado is building back stronger and by eliminating this cost barrier, more Coloradans will have the opportunity to pursue those dreams. We need homegrown Colorado talent and bold ideas to make Colorado better than ever.”  

View Gov. Polis’ announcement in English and Spanish.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) has posted admissions application and fee waiver information in English and Spanish for each participating college and university. The period caps off Colorado Applies Month, a five-week, statewide campaign that encourages high school juniors, seniors,  and adults to  select  an education or training option that’s best for them and apply to that program. This year the program has been extended from one day to three days.

“By extending Colorado Free Application Day to Colorado Free Application Days, we’re giving students even more time to pick their path and make a difference in their future,” said Dr. Angie Paccione, Executive Director of CDHE. “With so many options available, whether you go to college, technical school, attend a university, become an apprentice, or join the military, there’s a program in Colorado that will unlock your potential.” 

The statewide push is designed to increase Colorado’s postsecondary-going and Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  completion rates. Despite being one of the most educated states in the country,  Colorado sends 56%  of  its  high school seniors to a college, university, or certificate program, and  roughly 50%  of students submit a FAFSA application — a major source of financial aid and a key indicator of student success.  

During last year’s campaign, students turned in nearly 57,000 applications,  nearly half of which  came  from  students of color and a third of which came  from  first-generation students.  Statewide, 2020  application submissions were up  23%  compared to  2019.  

Colorado Free Application Day aims to improve access to further education and training, which is becoming increasingly critical for Colorado’s economy and workforce amidst the global pandemic. Research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that nearly 75% of jobs in Colorado require some education beyond high school, yet only 61% of the adult population in Colorado has earned a degree or certificate. 

In response to these workforce demands, the Colorado Department of Higher Education set a goal of reaching 66%  attainment by 2025 in the statewide plan for higher education, Colorado Rises. Increasing postsecondary enrollment and reducing equity gaps - the racial disparities in educational attainment - are priority strategies to  improve access  and  reduce costs  for Coloradans.   

For more information, visit the  Colorado Free Application Day  and  Colorado Applies  Month webpages.  

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Upcoming Virtual Financial Aid & Literacy Events!

Lesa Briggs with K-12 Outreach and Financial Literacy Wellness at CU Denver wants to continue to support high school students and their parents as they begin the admission and financial aid processes. To ensure you are getting the right answers to your financial aid and FAFSA questions, please plan to attend one of the upcoming Virtual Financial Aid & Literacy events. These workshop events are very informative and will be focused on helping with completing the FAFSA application and with navigating the financial aid office process and requirements.

The 2022-23 FAFSA will be available on and after October 1 at https://studentaid.gov for current high school seniors. Please share this link and the upcoming events with your students and parents. Students (and parents) in all stages of the financial aid process will benefit and are welcome to attend.

TO REGISTER, Please select your session HERE. The event’s Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Want to learn how to navigate the college application process?

The University of Pennsylvania is offering a free course walking you through the steps! Click HERE for more info!

How to Trim Your College Application Essay

By Kim Lifton, WOW Writing Workshop

5 Tips to Trim Your College Essay

Recently, I reviewed a student's personal statement for Michigan State University, which requires that each student submit a short essay of up to 400 words from a list of designated topics.

The draft, which he assumed...........

Check out the full article here: http://www.linkforcounselors.com/trim-college-application-essay/

ONLINE COLLEGE FAIRS

You go to an online school, so why not explore online college fairs?

Click HERE for a link to a site that puts on college fairs online and a schedule of upcoming schools, dates, etc.

Questions to Ask a College Rep

Click on the link above for a list of questions to help "break the ice" when meeting with a college rep!

INDEX SCORE MATRIX

College Express

The Ultimate Guide to the College Search: How to Find Your Perfect College Match covers everything your students need to know about finding the right college, including:

When and how to start their college search
What to look for in their schools
Where and how to research colleges
How to make their college list
All the questions they should be asking
Tons of insider tips
Lists of helpful resources
And more!

ZEEMEE

A great resource for students to help build a digital portfolio while working to create a positive digital footprint and identity online.

NACAC

the National Association for College Admission Counseling: an organization of more than 15,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.

Info for Online Colleges in Colorado

This resource contains:

Answers to the most common student questions about scholarships, accreditation, and the prevalence of online education in Colorado
A curated list of the best scholarships available to Colorado students, both distance learners and those interested in a traditional campus education
A detailed description of every accredited online college in Colorado

Interested in Attending a Career or Technical College?

In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies
Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).

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