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
iLearn Collaborative informally began in 2009 as a grassroots effort to start a dialogue between districts who were building online schools and blended learning programs.
This grassroots effort was fueled by Colorado’s Governor Ritter signing House Bill 071066 into law on May 23, 2007, which created two programs related to online learning (Colorado Revised Statute 225119 and 222130).
C.R.S. 225119 establishes 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.
Through the enactment of the supplemental online education and blended learning education services legislation, the State of Colorado expects to:
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 2016, we founded iLearn Collaborative and formally became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit. In 2023, we planted more roots nationally and internationally, continuing to build our community of member organizations worldwide.
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.
