charter schools
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‘It’s time to stop turning over schools — and turn over the Denver school board’
It’s time to vote out the Denver Public School board and vote in a new slate committed to kids and community. Since 2005, the DPS leadership has adopted a free-market business model in governing public education. Under the guise of quality control, neighborhood schools serving the most vulnerable populations have been closed, veteran educators have…
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Jeffco school board candidates square off in first public forum
What a different two years makes. The first forum for the five candidates vying for three seats on the Jefferson County Board of Education took place Wednesday night. Everyone was polite and civil and agreed more than they disagreed. But the lines were clearly drawn on several issues, most notably transparency around the district’s budget,…
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Ahead of conservative ALEC conference, protesters rally against ‘school choice’ policies
A few hundred protesters gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to protest school choice policies pushed by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council. Standing on the west steps of the Capitol, activists – led by teachers’ unions – held signs that read, “Vouchers = Theft,” with anti-U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos photos on them. Some…
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Q&A with Colorado’s Ed Jones: Walk a mile (or three) in this former state senator’s shoes
Ed Jones has come a long way since his childhood in Hattiesburg, Miss., in the segregated South of the 1940s. After mustering out of the Army at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs in 1963, he made the city his new home. He would go on to run for office – and win – unheard of…
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Senate Republicans to lead Colorado Springs rally for charter schools Thursday
Republicans in the Colorado legislature are expected to turn out strong Thursday for a lunchtime rally for charter schools in Colorado Springs. A Celebration of Charter School Families begins at 12:30 p.m. at Colorado Springs Early Colleges at 4405 N. Chestnut St. The rally is sponsored by the conservative school choice organization Ready CO and the…
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U.S. Rep. Jared Polis to join crowded Democratic field for Colorado governor
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis announced Sunday that he’s running for governor of Colorado in next year’s election, shaking up an already crowded Democratic primary field. Colorado Politics has learned that Polis plans to launch his campaign Monday with stops up and down the Front Range, including Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver and Boulder. Polis told Colorado Politics in…
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Conservative group Americans for Prosperity launches campaign to promote ‘school choice’ in Colorado
The conservative Americans for Prosperity this week launched a “six-figure school choice ‘It’s Working’” campaign following a politically charged legislative session on the subject. The effort – which runs through July – includes a promoted video, mail, digital and social advertising, according to the organization. Events and “grassroots advocacy” also will accompany the campaign.…
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Noonan: Poor school funding over eight years leads to low four-year state graduation rates
Colorado’s four-year high school graduation rate is bad. That should be no surprise. According to Education Week, Colorado achieved a 77 percent graduation rate in 2016, seventh from the bottom. Neighbor New Mexico has the lowest rate at 69 percent and Nebraska has the second highest rate at 90 percent. It’s interesting that road quality in…