Developing Comprehensive Training for Colorado’s Expulsion Hearing Officers

Colorado Department of Education

Industry

State Education

Services

Curriculum Development, Content Creation and Instructional Design, Quality Assurance, Technical Integration

Testimonial

eLearning was a great partner throughout this process. They brought structure to the development process that ensured consistency and included built in flexibility for different modules where we needed to have additional input or review of content. The process enabled us to engage with experts and stakeholders across Colorado throughout, meet our requirements, and ensure that we made updates and changes to match the feedback. The end products have been received well and provide multiple options for us to share information with audiences.

Johann Liljengren

Director, Dropout Prevention & Student Re-engagement

Client Overview

The Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) role is to improve student outcomes and ensure students and families across Colorado have access to high-quality schools. CDE does this by serving local education agencies, providing guidance based on policy and legislation, and elevating the experiences of local education agencies and students. During the 2023 legislative session, Colorado passed House Bill 23-1291, which mandates new procedures and training requirements for expulsion hearing officers. The bill requires an online training program for these individuals, covering various topics, including trauma-informed practices, child and adolescent brain development, and state and federal laws related to student discipline. To comply with this legislation, CDE’s Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement Office developed this training, collaborating with various offices and initiatives related to school discipline and behavior.

Services Provided

CDE engaged eLearningDOC to develop two comprehensive online training courses, each equivalent to five hours. These courses are designed to train expulsion hearing officers and school administrators on critical topics required by the Colorado Revised Statutes. The first course targets expulsion hearing officers, focusing on child and adolescent brain development, trauma-informed practices, positive discipline, restorative justice, alternatives to expulsion, and understanding conflict and bias in disciplinary decisions. The second course, aimed at school administrators, covers similar content to support a cohesive understanding of these critical areas.

Key Components of the Training Development:

Curriculum Development and Content Creation: eLearningDOC collaborated with CDE to develop a detailed curriculum based on provided outlines, objectives, and resources for each module. The curriculum covered essential topics such as child and adolescent brain development, trauma-informed practices, positive discipline, restorative justice, and legal frameworks governing student discipline.
Design: eLearningDOC was responsible for writing, copy-editing, and designing the training materials, ensuring they were engaging and accessible. An iterative process was used to achieve the perfect design to meet the client’s needs. This included developing visual/graphic design, knowledge checks, assessment questions, real-life scenarios, and providing a multi-modal learning experience.
Quality Assurance: The training materials underwent rigorous quality assurance processes to ensure accuracy, legal compliance, and accessibility. eLearningDOC also incorporated feedback from CDE and other stakeholders throughout the development process and collaborated with CDE’s legal team.
Technical Integration: The courses were designed to be compatible with Moodle, the learning management system (LMS) used by CDE, and were exportable in the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) format to ensure flexibility and ease of use.
Instructor-Led and Self-Paced Learning: The training included a blend of self-paced online modules and options for instructor-led sessions, catering to various learning preferences and schedules. Additional services such as custom video production and IT support were also offered if needed.

Highlights and Results

Enhanced Understanding: The training provided a comprehensive overview of critical topics, improving the knowledge and skills of expulsion hearing officers and school administrators. This education is crucial for fostering fair and informed disciplinary practices.
Compliance and Consistency: The development and deployment of these courses ensured that all expulsion hearing officers in Colorado received standardized training, as required by state law, promoting consistency in handling disciplinary matters.
Flexible and Accessible Learning: The training was designed to be accessible to a diverse audience, with materials available online and compatible with various learning management systems. This flexibility allowed participants to complete the training at their own pace.
Long-Term Impact: By educating key personnel on best practices in discipline and behavior, the training aims to create a more supportive and equitable school environment, reducing dropout rates and improving student engagement.

Conclusion

CDE’s collaboration with eLearningDOC has been instrumental in developing a robust online training program for expulsion hearing officers and school administrators. This initiative underscores CDE’s commitment to fair and effective disciplinary practices in Colorado schools. The comprehensive training ensures that all involved parties are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle disciplinary issues with sensitivity and fairness. As we look forward to continued collaboration, we are confident that these efforts will have a lasting positive impact on the school climate and student outcomes across the state.