Author: Erica Meltzer CHALKBEAT COLORADO
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Here’s what Democratic control of Colorado government means for education
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The Colorado legislature convenes Friday with Democratic majorities in both chambers and a Democratic governor-elect who made education a key part of his campaign. That doesn’t mean 2019 is going to be one extended round of kumbaya. Democratic lawmakers don’t necessarily share incoming governor Jared Polis’ education priorities, which include funding full-day kindergarten, nor do…
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Lawmakers pledge to ‘put some legs’ on new Colorado education plan
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With just a few weeks left in office, Gov. John Hickenlooper has unveiled an educational blueprint for Colorado that he hopes his successor, Gov.-elect Jared Polis, will take to heart. The proposals range from increasing teacher pay and making training opportunities more relevant to the classroom to forging partnerships between business and education. They urge…
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Denver judge blocks school transportation provision added to Colorado law
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A Denver judge has struck down a provision of a bill related to the education of youth in foster care that would have removed barriers to transportation for all students. The transportation provision was an amendment added by Republican lawmakers late in the 2018 session. Soon after the bill was signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper,…
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State ratings identify 163 Colorado schools in need of improvement
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More than 160 Colorado schools received one of the state’s two lowest ratings, making them eligible for additional assistance but also vulnerable to intervention if they don’t improve student performance. The watch list comprises 9 percent of Colorado’s 1,800 schools and educate roughly 74,000 students, or 8.5 percent or the state’s almost 900,000 students. That…
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Lack of transportation, conflicting deadlines put school choice out of reach for some, study finds
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More Colorado students use school choice to opt into traditional district-run schools than use it to attend charter schools. Those who do so are more likely to be white and middle- or upper-class than their peers. And transportation continues to be a barrier for students who want to go somewhere other than their neighborhood school.…
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Here’s what Colorado educators want Jared Polis to know about their schools
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We asked Colorado educators to tell us what they want governor-elect Jared Polis to know about their jobs, their schools, and their students as he sets his education agenda, and they had a lot to say. More than 100 teachers, administrators, counselors, and paraprofessionals responded to our request. Some of the letters we received were…
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‘What are we supposed to feel here?’ Education reformers look for answers in Colo. amid a blue wave
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Democrats flipped statehouses, won governorships and gained control of the House this month, even as a handful of the most high-profile contests slipped from their grasp. But the blue wave swept in a number of politicians who campaigned against key elements of the education reform agenda, including charter schools and test-based accountability for schools and…
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Colorado lawmakers think they can still find a school finance fix
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Two years ago, Colorado lawmakers established a special committee to dig deep into the state’s complex school finance problems and propose legislation to fix at least some of them. Near the end of their tenure, instead of proposing solutions, lawmakers are asking for more time. If a majority of legislators agree to keep the committee…
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Colorado lawmakers think they can still find a school finance fix
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Two years ago, Colorado lawmakers established a special committee to dig deep into the state’s complex school finance problems and propose legislation to fix at least some of them. Near the end of their tenure, instead of proposing solutions, lawmakers are asking for more time. If a majority of legislators agree to keep the committee…
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Report: Colorado takes a hands-off approach when schools don’t serve students well
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When Colorado schools don’t do a good job educating certain groups of students – like students of color or those learning English – state education officials can suggest ways to improve student performance and help districts find funding for new programs and training. But Colorado largely leaves it up to school districts to choose their…