Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Homeschool

New Federal Tax Credit Could Expand Colorado School Choice Options
The Colorado Sun, Approved, Commentary, State

New Federal Tax Credit Could Expand Colorado School Choice Options

By Brenda Dickhoner | Commentary, The Colorado Sun State lawmakers made the right move to postpone legislation that would have created barriers for the program. Colorado lawmakers have been working to close a budget gap of more than $1.5 billion, and programs that students and families rely on are under pressure. At the same time, a new federal tax credit gives Colorado a chance to bring substantial philanthropic dollars into education without drawing from the state’s general fund. The Education Freedom Tax Credit allows taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for charitable contributions to scholarship-granting organizations that support K-12 students. Essentially, the program encourages private giving to step in where public fun...
“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public schools must allow parents to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs, BJ and Brecken Jones sat quietly in their living room—stunned, relieved and vindicated. “For years, we were treated like extremists for simply protecting our kids,” BJ said. “Now the Supreme Court says we were right all along.” For this Boulder County family, Mahmoud v. Taylor wasn’t just a legal case—it was a mirror.  Reading the Court’s opinion, BJ and Brecken saw their own experience reflected almost line for line. What they didn’t expect was that their quiet effort to opt out—rejected by school officials, scorned by activists and ultimately buried in district archi...
Rural Colorado school districts that once served students online could see brunt of major state budget cuts
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Rural Colorado school districts that once served students online could see brunt of major state budget cuts

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun As Colorado lawmakers try to solve a state budget crisis, Gov. Jared Polis’ office is advocating for a new set of changes to student averaging that would significantly impact a handful of rural school districts and charter schools that found a lifeline for their budgets by enrolling online homeschool students. Vilas School District RE-5, in far southeastern Colorado, along with Plainview School District Re-2, about 100 miles to the north, and three Colorado Early Colleges campuses in recent years ran online enrichment programs for homeschool students with help from an outside vendor. Those programs — which the districts and charter schools no longer operate — emerged during the pandemic, when the Colorado Department of Education relaxed rules a...
Wave of Hope Learning Centers to open Greeley location for homeschool families 
Approved, Greeley Tribune, Local

Wave of Hope Learning Centers to open Greeley location for homeschool families 

By Morgan Mckenzie | Greeley Tribune The Wave of Hope Learning Centers has opened enrollment for its Greeley site for a unique educational enrichment partnership with homeschool families. The Wave of Hope Learning Centers, an educational nonprofit, supports homeschooled families with a learning cooperative experience and enrichment program, according to Tonya Van Beber, executive director of Wave of Hope Learning Centers. The center uses hands-on experience, problem-solving, creativity, ethical leadership and more to showcase what Weld County has to offer for students’ bright futures. “This is a phenomenal place to live,” Van Beber said. “I’ve been all over the world, and this is definitely my home. And I’d love to be able to give back to it.” READ THE FULL STORY AT GREELEY TRI...

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