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 […]
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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 […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Children of color are much more likely to face harsh school discipline. A Colorado bill seeks to change that.
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado school districts would have to reduce suspensions and set higher standards for school resource officers under a state bill introduced Friday that takes aim at what’s called the school-to-prison pipeline. The bill also bans the use of handcuffs on elementary school students. Children of color and those with disabilities […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, News, Politics and Government
Colorado plan to scale back CMAS testing moves forward. Kids would test in literacy or math, but not both.
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado A proposal to significantly scale back Colorado’s standardized school testing this year cleared its first hurdle Friday after proponents and opponents came together in an overwhelming show of support. The bill cleared the House Education Committee with a bipartisan 8-1 vote after sponsors decided not to pursue their original proposal […]
Posted inColoradans, Education, News, Politics and Government
Indigenous students say they need more from Colorado universities. An in-state tuition bill is a first step.
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Indigenous students with historical ties to Colorado could soon get in-state tuition at public colleges under a proposal that recently cleared its first legislative hurdle. Student advocates say the bill is part of a broader push on how Colorado schools need to address injustice against Indigenous people and ensure all […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado universities and colleges could face more cuts if state doesn’t restore funding, leaders say
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Fearful of extensive layoffs and potentially deep cuts to student services, leaders of Colorado’s public colleges and universities are pressing lawmakers to restore $493 million the state chopped off their budgets last year. The academic leaders are campaigning as if the health, and perhaps existence, of their campuses are at […]
Posted inNews
Schools must still give standardized tests this year, Biden administration says
By Matt Barnum, Chalkbeat The Biden administration said Monday that states must administer federally required standardized tests this year, but schools won’t be held accountable for the results — and states could give shorter, remote, or delayed versions of the exams. It’s the first high-stakes decision for the new administration’s Department of Education, coming even before […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
As Colorado legislature reconvenes, leaders pledge funds for K-12, higher education
By Jason Gonzales and Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado lawmakers returned to work Tuesday with Democratic leaders pledging to restore cuts made to K-12 and higher education during the early months of the pandemic last year and to invest more in education. “The uphill recovery and the many daunting tasks before us may be mighty, […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Education, Energy, Environment, News
In rural Colorado, one town is looking to its community college to help survive the end of coal
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Even in the dark of night, chalky smoke from the coal power plant looms over Craig. For generations, coal has been a constant in this northwestern Colorado city. But by 2030, the Craig Station stacks will go quiet as Colorado shifts to renewable energy. Coal has fueled not only Colorado’s […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Education, News
Colorado needs more skilled workers. But the state provides little help to adults trying to earn a college degree.
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Victoria Browning felt trapped. To support her two young children, she worked full time caring for elderly people, earning $14 an hour. Every week was a struggle. So she enrolled at Concorde Career College Aurora Campus to get a shot at a better-paying job. Instead, she ended up with thousands […]