Posted inColoradans, Education, News

Polis defends lowering preschool teacher requirements, says it’s “small piece” of state’s expansion plan 

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis this week defended recent cuts to hiring requirements for preschool teachers, rejecting criticism from advocates who fear they could erode the quality of a preschool education just as the state prepares to roll out a major expansion. Polis argued that rather than lowering the bar for early childhood educators, the new […]

Posted inColoradans, Education, News

Colorado is lowering teacher qualifications amid staff shortage a year before expanding preschool access

Tens of thousands of Colorado children will be eligible to enroll in the state’s expanded preschool program come fall of 2023, but as an educator shortage has swelled to “crisis” levels, pressure is mounting to find enough teachers to staff classrooms. One solution the state implemented in December: lowering the bar on credentials to become […]

Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government

What exactly is Colorado’s new early childhood department? We’ve got answers.

Colorado’s new state early childhood agency aims to ease the burden facing families and child care providers by shifting it onto the shoulders of government. That vision is a key part of the state’s recently released draft plan for the new agency, which will launch in July, just over a year after it was proposed by a group […]