School Turnaround Leadership Development Program
The School Turnaround Leadership Development Program funds evidence-based leadership training for educators in Colorado’s lowest-performing schools to drive rapid, sustainable school improvement.
Funder: Colorado Department of Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026: Full application submission deadline (projected) | May 2027: Final participant roster/confirmation of STLD participants deadline (projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards up to $150,000 per school (based on provider/program and team size); total program funding ~$6–7M/year; multi-year awards possible.
Summary: Supports leadership development for educators in Colorado’s lowest-performing schools to drive rapid school improvement.
Key Information: Applicants must select a provider from the CDE Advisory List; funding covers program costs and may include travel.
Description
The School Turnaround Leadership Development Program (STLD) is a key initiative of the Colorado Department of Education aimed at boosting student achievement in the state’s lowest-performing schools and districts. The program provides grants to support the identification, training, and development of school and district leaders who are positioned to drive rapid improvement in schools identified for Priority Improvement, Turnaround, or On Watch status. Funding supports participation in high-quality leadership development programs delivered by vetted providers, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practices, strategic school leadership, and alignment with broader district and state improvement efforts.
STLD is one of several support routes offered under Colorado’s School Transformation Grant (STG) program, which also funds educator professional development, instructional transformation, and school redesign. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing for individual, team, or district-level participation, and can be combined with other CDE supports where appropriate.
