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Tag: Lindsay Datko

Drake Middle School removed “America, Reloading.” Then another poem fight started.
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Drake Middle School removed “America, Reloading.” Then another poem fight started.

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Drake Middle School parents were told last year that students could write spoken-word poems about politics or divisive issues if they personally chose those topics. This spring, one DMS student wrote a pro-life poem about abortion. School officials told the student she could turn the poem in for credit, but could not read it aloud in class. Parents had already spent more than a year warning DMS and Jeffco leaders about the school’s SLAM poetry unit before the story spread nationally. Parents objected to SLAM poetry unit in 2025 Parents began emailing DMS leadership in 2025 after students watched “America, Reloading” and “The Star Spanglish Banner” in class. One email sent to teacher Tanisha Lee and DMS principal Jill Kline des...
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Federal civil rights office finds Jeffco schools violated Title IX, gives district 10 days to comply
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Federal civil rights office finds Jeffco schools violated Title IX, gives district 10 days to comply

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Girls in Jefferson County Public Schools have been sharing bathrooms, locker rooms, overnight accommodations and sports rosters with male students—and the federal government just said that has to stop. The feds ruled Friday that Jeffco violated Title IX. Colorado’s second-largest school district, serving 74,200 students, has 10 days to comply or face enforcement action—including potential loss of federal funding.  OCR received athletic rosters directly from Jeffco confirming that male students occupy 61 positions on girls' sports teams across the district. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said the investigation found the district violated Title IX protections for female students. "Today's findings reveal sweeping ...
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What schools won’t say: The furry behavior Colorado families keep reporting
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories

What schools won’t say: The furry behavior Colorado families keep reporting

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Rumors about students dressing as animals and disrupting classrooms have circulated throughout Colorado for years, sparking political fights, school board blowback and media denials. Some say the “furries in schools” narrative is a hoax pushed by conservative figures. But school records, parent testimony and disciplinary documents tell a more complicated story. First signs: When parents spoke up and were ignored The saga gained momentum in 2022 when more than two dozen parents in Jefferson County bombarded school officials with concerns. Darlene Edwards, a mother whose 14-year-old autistic son attended a local middle school, told CBS Colorado her son returned home upset, describing classmates in animal costumes scratching,...
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Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice An alarming report released by Jeffco Kids First, a grassroots advocacy group led by teacher turned activist Lindsay Datko, has exposed 33 cases of sexual abuse and misconduct by staff in Jefferson County Public Schools since 2022. The article “33 Documented Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Cases in Jeffco Schools” presents a disturbing image of a district with systemic failures.  The data reveals a pattern of misconduct going unreported to the Colorado Department of Education. The scope of abuse: 33 cases and counting Superintendent Tracy Dorland has received pushback regarding the handling of these incidents, with critics citing inadequate communication and insufficient safety protocols. The report documents six ar...
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