iLearn Collaborative Begins Grassroots Effort with School Districts
iLearn Collaborative Receives First Two Funding Grants
iLearn Collaborative Becomes Independent Non-Profit
iLearn Collaborative Expands Services and Global Reach
Colorado’s Governor Ritter signed House Bill 07-1066 into law on May 23, 2007, which created the opportunity for Colorado to provide statewide supplemental online courses in k-12 education available to districts and schools (Colorado Revised Statute 225119 and 222130).
iLearn Collaborative informally began in 2009 as a grassroots effort of district and school leaders of online learning programs and schools connecting with each other to network and offer support. As districts were starting new online schools and programs, the group provided a way for leaders to share expertise and resources to assist with growing their schools or programs. As the network grew, it became an acknowledged network of Colorado digital learning leaders in k-12 education. The network recognized the need to become a formalized organization and in 2013, Judy Perez started the work to form the organization. As a founder and leader of the network in her role as Director of Online Learning at Jeffco Public Schools, she was approached by local leaders to create an organization to continue and increase its reach and impact in Colorado. With the support of local funding and fiscal agency, iLC was on its way to becoming a 501c3 nonprofit.
By 2013, the management demands and needs of member organizations were sufficient to warrant formal leadership and funding and we received our first grants from the Donnell Kay Foundation and the Gates Family Foundation. Using this funding under Judy Perez’s leadership, we built out the course catalog and capabilities you see today.
In 2015, Senate Bill 16-1222 passed which established a statewide program for supplemental online learning, consulting support to school districts pertaining to district implementation of online and blended learning, and professional development for educators to increase their capacity to use standards, data, and interventions in regular, online, and blended learning classes in school districts, charter schools, and BOCES.
In 2016, iLearn Collaborative formally became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit. iLC continued to grow serving Colorado districts, schools, BOCES, and educators as the acknowledged provider of professional development and leadership support services under Colorado Empowered Learning. Additional growth through word-of-mouth and connected networks, expanded iLC’s reach to other states and internationally, continuing to build our community of education organizations worldwide.
Through SB 16-1222, Supplemental Online Education And Blended Learning Resources, the State of Colorado:
The impact of our unique approach to professional development has earned us substantial recognition. iLearn Collaborative is the only state-subsidized provider of blended professional development in Colorado, we are a Future Ready regional partner, and we are gaining international interest, currently piloting our programs in Latin America.
Our success has been built on the strength, passion, and commitment of our member organizations, and we intend to build on this momentum with your support, amplifying talent, knowledge, and innovation in education to advance the practice of student-centered learning.
District and school transformation happens in the classroom. At iLearn Collaborative (iLC), we support effective communication so teachers understand your vision and the importance of their contributions.
We’re an extension of your team. Your partner in thought and planning. Together, we identify the cause of challenges, tailor an innovative solution, and provide access to the coaching, courses, and content to reach your goals. Together, we make an impact.
Our approach to professional development has resulted in student outcomes that are consistently higher across grade levels, subjects, and modules. The success of our training is recognized on many fronts:
iLC has participated in numerous research projects that include the Aurora Institute, formerly known as the International Association of K12 Online Learning (iNACOL), the Christensen Institute, and the U.S. Department of Education.
All iLC services are based on research focused on school and district leadership and classroom instruction in online, blended, and fully brick-and-mortar educational environments.
iLC supports the U.S. Department of Education’s #GoOpen Initiative and has actively participated in providing Open Educational Resources (OER) to education agencies. We continuously work with other organizations in providing OER to support equity and access in education.
