By Melanie Asmar, Chalkbeat Colorado Denver’s first school board in recent history to be backed entirely by the teachers union renewed the district’s contracts with 16 charter schools Thursday, despite some members expressing concerns with the independent public schools. Board President Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán was the only one of seven board members to vote “no” […]
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Posted inEducation, News
School board candidates backed by teachers union leading in Denver, Aurora and Jeffco
By Melanie Asmar, Yesenia Robles and Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat Colorado The union-backed majority on the Denver school board appears poised to consolidate power, as all four candidates endorsed by the teachers union were leading in the ballot count late Tuesday night. If the four win their elections, the board would be unanimously union-backed for the […]
Posted inEducation, News
Five takeaways from Colorado’s school choice enrollment numbers
By Yesenia Robles and Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee Ju, Chalkbeat Colorado Students in Colorado crossed school district boundaries a little more than usual during the pandemic school year, according to enrollment data. Colorado’s open enrollment laws enable students to enroll in any school or district, even if they don’t live within that school’s attendance boundaries — although that choice can […]
Posted inEducation, News
Colorado is more diverse than ever, but its college professors are overwhelmingly white
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado In a state that’s become increasingly diverse, the professors who teach at Colorado’s four-year colleges are overwhelmingly white. Of the 3,500 professors who have tenure, just 15 of them are Black women. Another 38 are Black men. Hispanic students now make up about 20% of the state’s universities. But Hispanic […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, News, Technology
Adams 14 will have no online option for elementary students next year and limited online spots for older kids
By Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat Colorado Citing costs and logistical problems, and after seeing the slow student progress online learners made compared with their peers, Adams 14 officials will limit remote learning next year. Elementary students all will have to return to full-time in-person learning. Students in middle and high school may sign up for one […]
Posted inEducation, News
Denver Public Schools names its sole finalist for superintendent
By Melanie Asmar and Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado The Denver school board whittled the pool of finalists for superintendent of Denver Public Schools from three to one Wednesday when it named Alex Marrero, a school district administrator in suburban New York, the sole finalist for the job. The seven-member board is in active contract negotiations with agreement on […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado effort to significantly reduce student tickets and arrests is withdrawn by sponsors
By Melanie Asmar and Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Thousands of Colorado students are referred to law enforcement each year by principals, teachers, and other school staff, and even more students are ticketed or arrested by police. A bill introduced in the state legislature last month would have dramatically decreased those types of interactions between students and police, […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s 2022 budget boosts K-12 spending, reverses higher ed cuts
By Jason Gonzales and Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado’s $34.1 billion proposed state budget restores deep cuts made last year to K-12 and higher education, provides more money to help students who have traditionally struggled to complete college, and creates a substantial reserve for K-12 schools that could lay the groundwork for future reforms — if […]
Posted inEducation, News
Colorado is aiming to identify dyslexic students early with screening initiative
By Melanie Asmar and Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat Colorado The Denver school district will pilot a screener for dyslexia this fall after years of public outcry from frustrated parents, recommendations by school district working groups, and a delay caused by the pandemic. And Denver’s pilot isn’t the only one. The Boulder Valley School District launched a dyslexia screening pilot […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Gov. Jared Polis signs bill maintaining school funding amid pandemic challenges
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado school districts will get some financial relief under a bill signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis Monday. Under normal conditions, Colorado schools are funded based on enrollment. The legislation approved by Polis ensures Colorado school districts will receive the money they originally expected for the 2020-21 school year […]