Diversity Endorsement and Community Engagement (DECE)

The Diversity Endorsement and Community Engagement (DECE) project is a federally-funded grant program designed to deliver the University of Colorado Boulder double endorsement MA degree program to K-12 practicing educators. The Double Endorsement MA is a 12-course, 37 credit-hour degree program preparing educators to obtain two K-12 Colorado state endorsements 1) culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) education, and 2) special education generalist (SEG). The DECE project is designed to address the contemporary need of possessing culturally/linguistically diverse and special education knowledge and skills to provide high quality instruction to all learners. The DECE project has a specific focus on guiding scholars to develop, implement, and sustain a Family-Community Engagement model to improve the education of CLD learners and students identified with a disability. Visit the Double Endorsement MA Program site for additional information about the CU Boulder MA degree program completed through the DECE project.

The CE in DECE

The goal for this portion of the degree is for teachers to design and implement as a sustainable model of community engagement that is integrated into their on-going work as teachers. The focus for family community engagement used through the DECE degree is on working with parents, families, students, and educators who represent Culturally and Linguistically Diverse students and students in Special Education. The guiding idea is that more robust connections between schools, families, and communities provide a stronger basis for student success. We are drawing on principles and practices from community organizing (tailored for teachers) as the basic approach. Though there are many models of community organizing, our approach focuses on building relationships with key stakeholders to bring about some change in practices. In this model, we follow the issues that matter to our key stakeholders and build our community engagement around the voices of those most impacted by these realities.