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How Durango’s school board kept a charter school out by prioritizing DEI over parents
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

How Durango’s school board kept a charter school out by prioritizing DEI over parents

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Ascent Classical Academy seemed to have the community support, the resources and the experience to launch another successful charter school in Colorado. Parents in Durango seemed to want the option. More than 600 families signed letters of intent, but the Durango School Board said no in 2022. This wasn’t a decision based on academic concerns, some say. The school board, backed by a mobilized teachers’ union, rejected Ascent on ideological grounds, blocking an alternative educational model that didn’t align with its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) priorities. The Durango school board rejected Ascent twice, despite the Colorado State Board of Education’s original ruling in the charter school’s favor. The official r...
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CSU-Pueblo president resigns position amid board investigation that found he violated policy
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Approved, Fox21, Local

CSU-Pueblo president resigns position amid board investigation that found he violated policy

By Norishka Pachot | KXRM-TV Fox 21 News The Colorado State University (CSU) System announced on Friday, Jan. 31 that it accepted CSU Pueblo President Armando Valdez’s resignation effective immediately after he was found to have violated policy. According to a statement, CSU performed an independent investigation and was found to have violated a university policy. “While Mr. Valdez disagrees with the conclusions of that investigation, he recognizes that it has caused him to lose the confidence of the Board of Governors and CSU System leadership,” CSU wrote. “As a result, to allow the university to move forward, he resigned his role.” READ THE FULL STORY AT KXRM-TV FOX 21 NEWS
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Why Colorado Mesa University’s president decided to stand alone when it comes to higher ed funding
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Approved, Chalkbeat Colorado, State

Why Colorado Mesa University’s president decided to stand alone when it comes to higher ed funding

By Jason Gonzales | Chalkbeat Colorado After four years on the job, Colorado Mesa University President John Marshall felt he needed to break ranks. Colorado higher education leaders have made it a tradition to sign a letter stating how much more money they need beyond the governor’s November request, including this year. The unified financial requests have led to far more money for all colleges and universities in recent years. But Marshall said he couldn’t sign onto this year’s letter for the sake of the students he serves. He hopes his absent signature sparks a conversation about the challenges the Grand Junction school has faced — not a disagreement that Colorado universities need more state funding. READ THE FULL STORY AT CHALKBEAT COLORADO
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Durango school board doubles down on DEI and keeps their LGBTQ+ and BLM flags raised
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Durango school board doubles down on DEI and keeps their LGBTQ+ and BLM flags raised

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice "Flags do not harm kids. Hateful words and hateful people harm children." This was the message delivered by Terry Kopack, a local parent, during the Jan. 28 Durango 9-R School Board meeting, where school board members voted unanimously to approve two resolutions supporting LGBTQIA2S+ and IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Color) students, staff and community members. A public comment session preceded the board’s vote, with all speakers voicing support for the proposed resolutions. The board limited public comments to 10 speakers, before moving into discussion and voting on the resolutions. Among those who spoke, one mother took direct aim at the Colorado GOP.  “I want the Colorado Republican Party to open their...
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Whooping cough outbreak at Colorado Springs middle school confirmed by health department
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Approved, gazette.com, Local

Whooping cough outbreak at Colorado Springs middle school confirmed by health department

By Mackenzie Bodell | The Gazette Jenkins Middle School families with children in the seventh grade received a notice from El Paso County Public Health this week confirming a whooping cough, or pertussis, outbreak.  An outbreak is considered to be two or more individuals testing positive for the illness, according to a health spokesperson. Officials were not able to say how many cases of the respiratory illness have been reported so far. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Four things to know about school choice enrollment in Colorado
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Approved, gazette.com, State

Four things to know about school choice enrollment in Colorado

By Eric Young | The Gazette Colorado families are able to attend any public school in the state for free, regardless of where they live through open enrollment. The application process for school choice is now underway for the 2025-2026 school year in El Paso County and here are four things families should know when applying. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Colorado school districts push back on plan that state officials say would save $147 million
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Approved, Chalkbeat Colorado, State

Colorado school districts push back on plan that state officials say would save $147 million

By Jason Gonzales | Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado would save $147 million next year by using a single-year student count for the purposes of calculating how to fund schools, according to the state’s budget director. Colorado funds its school districts per student, and Gov. Jared Polis has proposed using a single-year student count rather than a multi-year average to help balance a $1 billion shortfall. Because Colorado’s enrollment is declining, using a single-year count would cost less. But school district officials pushed back during a legislative hearing Thursday, saying the maneuver would amount to Colorado once again balancing its budget on the backs of students. READ THE FULL STORY AT CHALKBEAT COLORADO
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Public school enrollment is on the decline. How is your local school district changing?
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Public school enrollment is on the decline. How is your local school district changing?

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun Most Colorado school districts are continuing to count fewer students in their classrooms, propelling a statewide trend of declining enrollment. Total state enrollment in preschool through high school this school year fell by a modest 399 kids — from 881,464 students during fall 2023 to 881,065 students last fall, state data shows. Education leaders attribute decreasing student counts across both the state and country to a mix of factors, primarily declining birth rates and increasing housing costs. Four of the Colorado’s 10 largest districts saw a notable year-over-year decrease in students: Jeffco Public Schools, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Poudre School District and Boulder Valley School District. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO ...
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D-38 superintendent steps down after less than a year on the job
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Approved, gazette.com, Local

D-38 superintendent steps down after less than a year on the job

By Eric Young | The Gazette After less than a year on the job, Lewis-Palmer D-38’s leader is stepping down. The school district’s board of education unanimously accepted Dr. Stacie Datteri’s resignation letter Tuesday night during its regular meeting. In an official statement sent out to families and staff, board president Tiffiney Upchurch stated that they mutually agreed to part ways after Datteri expressed, “that some working relationships hadn't developed as she had hoped.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Jeffco Schools admins respond to ‘crisis at hand’ of chief’s death during child porn investigation
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Jeffco Schools admins respond to ‘crisis at hand’ of chief’s death during child porn investigation

By Heather Willard | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News The Jefferson County Public Schools administration said Tuesday it is “grappling” with the death of the district’s former chief of schools, who was under investigation for child pornography. At the same time, administrators said they are working to strengthen student safety. Jeffco Board of Education President Mary Parker released a letter Tuesday about recent board actions regarding the investigation’s circumstances. She noted that the board met for a retreat on Jan. 7 to allow board members “to be able to publicly face the crisis at hand.” READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
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