A bill being considered in Colorado would establish a dedicated early childhood department tasked with building a plan for universal preschool in the state by 2023. Using funds from a new nicotine tax recently approved by voters, the expansion of pre-K in the state would...
Colorado education officials were given approval to pause much of its accountability system this school year by the Biden administration. Instead, the state was told to be prepared to meet federal accountability requirements by 2022. Because of the shift, Colorado officials will not have to...
More young children will have “access to quality early childhood services” thanks to a $34 million federal grant awarded to Colorado late last year. The new federal money represents 90% of the $38 million state officials had requested and “comes via the Preschool Development Grant...
School Transportation News reports that Colorado “has officially repealed legislation passed last year that attempted to better facilitate the transportation of children placed in foster care between school districts.” Despite its initial approval, opponents claim that the law has “introduced unintended consequences.” Under ESSA, “transportation...
Erica Meltzer reports for Chalkbeat Colorado about the Promise to Practice review of Colorado’s ESSA-based school improvement plans. She write about how the state “largely leaves it up to school districts to choose their approach—and it doesn’t levy the same consequences on these schools as...
Six school districts, two associations, and two individuals are “pushing back against a new state law aimed at improving school transportation for students in foster care,” Christie Renick reports for the Chronicle of Social Change. This law (HB 18-1306)—which helps Colorado comply with ESSA’s foster youth transportation provision—allocates nearly...
Chronicle of Social Change’s Christie Renick writes that the Colorado legislature is considering a $2.9 million bill “aimed at improving the educational success of students who are foster youths.” If signed into law, Colorado will be the first state to officially implement a program that conforms to...
Approved State Plans Alabama: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Alaska: Final Plan Approved (5/16/18) Arizona: Final Plan Approved (9/6/17) Arkansas: Final Plan Approved (1/16/18) Colorado: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Connecticut: Final Plan Approved (8/15/17) Delaware: Final Plan Approved (8/2/17) District of Columbia: Final Plan Approved (8/28/17) Georgia:...
In “an effort to keep federal dollars flowing to Colorado classrooms,” the State Board of Education voted recently “to create two quality systems for the state’s schools—the existing one designed in 2009 by state lawmakers, and a new one that meets federal requirements.” After Colorado became...
Despite being asked to resubmit their plan by Thursday, Colorado education officials are “asking for more time to figure out how to meet federal requirements for giving students standardized tests while respecting the rights of parents who don’t want their children to take them.”
