
Colorado is facing a budget shortfall. Advocates say that shouldn’t stop progress to boost school funding.
Colorado lawmakers are fully focused on figuring out next year’s budget. But a coalition of advocates say that shouldn’t stop lawmakers from pressing forward in creating a plan to solve long-term K-12 funding woes.

By Chalkbeat

Colorado teachers need help teaching English learners to read. The state wants more training.
Advocates for English learners have raised concerns for years about new reading instruction policies. A new report claims teachers across the U.S. are facing challenges.

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Colorado parents could get refunds on child care waitlist fees under advancing bill
Bill sponsors originally proposed capping child care waitlists fees at $25, but that provision was eliminated.

By Chalkbeat

Lawmakers ordered schools to report data on seclusion. For the most part, it hasn’t happened.
Only 10 of Colorado’s 179 school districts included a separate tally in their annual reviews of how many of their students were secluded last school year. The lack of information makes it impossible to understand the scope of this controversial practice.

By Chalkbeat

Bill to beef up Colorado funding for universal school meals passes first vote
The Healthy School Meals for All program that voters approved in 2022 has cost more than expected and needs new funding to continue.

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The $1 billion in bond projects for Aurora schools will kick off soon, managed with outside help
School districts sometimes hire project management consultants to help oversee large bond projects.

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Colorado lawmakers advance bill that would put guardrails on private equity-backed child care chains
Amendments approved Tuesday removed or reshaped several original provisions of the bill.

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Colorado lawmakers eye Safe2Tell expansion
Colorado legislation would notify schools when students experience an adverse incident outside of school. The designation it would create would help school officials help students facing trauma.

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Civil rights complaint filed against Elizabeth district by former dean who objected to book ban
The civil rights complaint is the first step before a lawsuit can be filed.

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NAEP test results: Colorado’s scores are mostly stable, as gap between low and high performers widens
Colorado has made some progress toward recovery in math, but not as much in reading.

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Colorado school districts push back on plan that state officials say would save $147 million
During a Joint Education Committee meeting, Colorado lawmakers debated the impact of eliminating student enrollment averaging for the purpose of funding schools.

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Districts share plans in case immigration officials show up at schools
Building leaders are directed to gather information from agents including asking for a warrant, and then they must call district legal teams.

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Trump executive orders on immigrants, transgender rights could echo in American schools
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump pledged to use executive power to reshape American society, but his executive orders could face legal challenges.

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Gov. Polis repeats call to change how Colorado calculates student enrollment
In his State of the State speech, the governor reiterated that he wants to change how Colorado calculates student enrollment for state budget purposes. Lawmakers are weighing their options.

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How can higher education help democracy? By boosting civic participation, this group says
A new Complete College America report shows why colleges and universities can help students achieve greater economic success, which in turn can lead to greater engagement in public life.

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Revised Polis budget plan would keep new school funding formula on track for 6-year phase-in period
Gov. Jared Polis has increased his ask for the state’s new funding formula by $35 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

By Chalkbeat