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Welcome to the MOVE for September
Dear Melia,
With a new school year underway, this issue is packed with powerful stories, resources, and updates from across the charter community. From our strategic priorities and a recap of the Annual Finance Seminar, to fresh research on student opportunities and fun school features, this issue is full of insights to support the work you do every day.
Plus, don’t miss a new premium partner's (EF) new feature, our community announcements, Great Schools Colorado updates, and upcoming events like the Leadership Summit 2025. New here? Welcome! To update your preferences, just click here.
The Board Corner: Prioritizing Us in the Coming Year
By Nicole Wetzel, League Board Chair
As we gather together once again for a new school year, I have been encouraging my staff to embrace the spirit of “one village on vision,” united in purpose, driven by collaboration, and committed to creating the best possible learning environment for our students. Each of us brings unique strengths and perspectives, and together, we form a community that thrives on shared goals and mutual support. With this collective vision, we can inspire growth, celebrate successes, and overcome challenges side by side.
This spirit also guides how we foster a healthy and dynamic charter school ecosystem. It lies at the heart of the League’s principles, mission, the board’s efforts, and is a cornerstone of our current Strategic Plan.
HOW DO WE ADVANCE A HEALTHY AND DYNAMIC CHARTER SCHOOL ECOSYSTEM?
Dan, the League President, and I regularly talk about how to ensure we’re working toward this section of the Strategic plan — “Priority Two: Policy and Advocacy. Goal 1: Cultivate and advance a healthy and dynamic charter ecosystem within Colorado’s public education system.”
Inside are five strategies:
- Improve the charter authorizing landscape
- Pursue policies that increase charter funding
- Advocate for policies to ensure a more robust and diverse talent pool for our schools
- Influence policymakers and thought leaders
- Engage regularly with key media partners
Those are the five core strategies that Dan and his team are responsible for accomplishing through our work at the legislature, policy work, lobbying, and communications. And those are the items that are on the dashboard and measured by the work of staff.
But partnered with Goal 1 is Goal 2, and this is where we come in. All 261 charter schools in Colorado (and all those coming online in the next several years) have work to do alongside the League.
- Grow and educate our grassroots advocacy network.
- Continue to develop charter school parents, alumni, and educators to climb our ‘ladder of engagement.’
- Create more meaningful connections between the charter school community and elected officials.
I would sum up numbers one and two together: our work is to support our effective and growing League team in expanding the overall grassroots network. Help them help us by connecting parents, teachers, alumni, and community members, training them, and encouraging them to step up and support the entire charter ecosystem. Contact Kyle DeBeer if you’d like to explore ways to share your school’s strength with CLCS Action (the League’s sister 501c4), as my school has done.
That leads us to number three. I saw a great example of this from Steamboat Montessori recently on Facebook. They had State Senator Dylan Roberts visit their school and posted it on Facebook. The more we can create connections between charter schools and elected officials, the more powerful we become at protecting and preserving the precious bipartisan support we have earned.
Please join me in celebrating our schools, telling our stories, and tagging the League. Reach out to our advocacy team at [email protected] to learn about how to create more opportunities like this one to happen and get promoted.
I’d like to thank all of the current board members and especially the board members from the past couple of years who have worked tirelessly to produce this strategic plan and protect and advance our charter school ecosystem.
Have a great September, and I hope to see you at the Leadership Summit,
Nicole Wetzel
League Board Chair,
Chief of Staff, Global Village Academy Collaborative
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Several important updates are shaping the charter landscape this month. First, the FY25 CSP Continuation Cohort awardees have been announced, providing continued support for schools advancing student opportunities across the state. Second, an updated CSP Allowable Cost Guide is now available, offering clearer guidance on budgeting and compliance. Finally, Lumen Impact Group continues to provide tailored coaching to help schools maximize their CSP resources.
Looking ahead, two new schools — East Hills Academy and Spruce Community School — are preparing to open in Colorado Springs D-11 in fall 2026, expanding access through classical and project-based learning models.
Leaders should mark their calendars for upcoming professional learning opportunities, including Technical Assistant offerings, Leadership Summit 2025 (Oct. 10), and the 2026 Annual Charter Schools Conference (Feb. 26–27).
📰 Read the full August GSC newsletter here. Stay connected and subscribe here.
Membership Renewals
The League is in the middle of its renewal season; thank you to all who have renewed thus far. If you're still in the middle of the process, now is the time to act. Log in to the League's website (as a "finance contact"), view "My Account" in the upper right, then "Organizational Invoices" to view whether your invoices are paid or open. Your connection to the League and to all the schools in the network helps us all move forward together. Thank you!
Learning Opportunities
Elevating Excellence Conference (Brighton): Sept. 17-18
The 2025 Elevating Excellence Conference will take place September 17–18 at the Adams County Government Building in Brighton. Educators and leaders are invited to register now for two days of learning and collaboration.
Prioritizing Mental Health for Charter Schools (Virtual): Sept. 17
Charter schools face unique challenges: tight budgets, high expectations, and the critical need to support educator wellbeing. In this upcoming session, HUB and First Stop Health will share how schools are successfully using virtual mental health care to improve staff wellness, retention, and productivity. You’ll learn why unlimited access matters, see real results from other charter schools, and discover simple ways to integrate this benefit without extra costs or administrative burden. Learn more and register.
Strategic Finance Training (Battlement Mesa): Sept. 25–26
The next Strategic Finance training will take place at the Colorado River BOCES in Battlement Mesa September 25–26. District teams are strongly encouraged to attend, particularly superintendents and CFOs/business managers, as space is limited and past sessions have filled quickly. Early registration and hotel booking are recommended; room blocks are available.
Strategic Finance Training (Monument): Oct. 2-3
Business Managers, CFOs, and Superintendents are invited to attend a free two-day Strategic School Finance training, hosted at Lewis Palmer School District in Monument. Led by experts from CSFP and CDE, the sessions will cover Colorado’s school finance landscape, strategic planning, grant management, budgeting, accounting basics, and audit preparation. District teams are especially encouraged to attend together to maximize collaboration and impact. Register here. For questions, contact Molly Homburger at [email protected].
2025 HUB Colorado Leadership Summit (Denver): Oct. 15
The HUB Colorado Leadership Summit is a one-day event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to share insights, spark ideas, and connect on the issues that matter most to your business. Highlights include keynote speaker Graci Harkema, SHRM & HRCI credit opportunities, a complimentary lunch and networking happy hour, plus a behind-the-scenes tour of Empower Field at Mile High. RSVP today.
Strengthening Behavior & Discipline Systems Community of Practice (Virtual, Ongoing)
CDE is offering interactive sessions designed to help school staff refine behavior and discipline systems, reduce lost learning time, and foster more supportive, equitable schools. Interested participants can connect with Andrea Pulskamp or Nicole Herrera for details.
Get Involved
Share your Trauma-Informed Elementary Classroom Practices
Educators are invited to contribute concrete activities, strategies, or practices that help create safe, inclusive, and empowering classrooms. Submissions are welcome from individual teachers or collaborative teams. For questions, contact Dr. Philip E. Bernhardt, Professor of Secondary Education at MSU Denver, at [email protected].
Share your Expertise at the 2026 Annual Conference
Request for Proposals is open for the Colorado Charter Schools Annual Conference. Submit a session proposal to inspire, educate, and connect with the charter school community. Learn more and apply.
Resources & Grants
Positive Athlete – Now Accepting Nominations
Here's your chance to recognize a high character, high school, student-athlete! Positive Athlete celebrates athletes for their leadership, character, and community impact—not just their athletic ability. Nominate a deserving student today. Grades 9-12, any sport, boys or girls are eligible. The process is free and easy, with all nominees receiving free lifelong access to development resources in addition to being eligible for scholarships.
Cohort Opportunity for Rural School Leaders
Rural school leaders are encouraged to apply for a fully funded, 15-month cohort experience launching in January through Transcend. This program will focus on reimagining school design and expanding career-connected learning.
Curated Collections from OER Colorado
The OERColorado Hub and Microsite continue to provide free, openly licensed resources for Colorado classrooms. Educators can quickly access curated collections aligned to subject areas, Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards.
Artificial Intelligence Resources
CDE’s AI Resources page offers guidance and professional development for schools and educators. Explore instructional resources, AI policy guidance, and general information to better understand how AI can support teaching and learning.
CDE Schools of Choice Updates
Fall 2025 AI Webinar Series
The Fall 2025 AI Webinar Series offers free, one-hour sessions every Wednesday from 4–5 p.m., featuring expert insights and real classroom examples from Colorado educators. Participants will explore how AI can save time, support differentiation, and boost student engagement with practical tools and strategies to implement immediately. View the full lineup and register here.
Charter School Capital Construction (CSCC) Program Expenditure & Eligibility Report
All charter schools eligible for Charter School Capital Construction(CSCC) funding are required to complete the Charter School Capital Construction Report (CSCC-01) each year. This online report, due October 31st, is used to determine eligibility and establish funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year. Please click HERE to complete this year’s required form.
CACSA Authorizer Summit
On Aug. 28, Lindsey Jaeckel presented a CDE update to the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers membership at their quarterly in-person meeting. You can view the full presentation here.
Preliminary Charter School Waiver Review
Authorizers and charter schools are welcome to provide draft Rationale and Replacement Plans (RRP) of state waivers from statute or board rule for an early review and feedback. Please email them to Janyse Skalla at [email protected]
Authorizer Assurances for Online Schools and Programs
CDE reminds authorizers to review and update online school and program assurances by Saturday, September 20. Register for the SDOL program. Register for the MDOL program. Any changes to attendance procedures must be submitted through the provided links. Contact information updates should be emailed directly to Alex Schroeder.
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Evergreen High School shooter dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound, one student remains in critical condition
CPR News | September 10
The student who opened fire Wednesday at Evergreen High School, injuring two other students, died Wednesday night of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said
New Mexico to become the first state to offer universal child care
NBC | September 10
New Mexico will become the first state in the country to begin offering free universal child care, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced.
Are Kids Making Progress in Reading? It All Depends on How You Measure It
The 74 | September 10
Different literacy tests evaluate different things. It may not be a question of gains vs. declines, but of decoding vs. comprehension.
A KY Supreme Court ruling could finally bring public charter schools to our kids
Courier Journal | September 10
When the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 9 in 2022, we took a step toward delivering real education options to families seeking more from their public schools.
Denver-based DSST charter network to open two more schools in growing eastern part of Aurora
Chalkbeat | September 9
Homegrown Denver charter network DSST is expanding its footprint in neighboring Aurora, where a housing boom in the eastern part of the city is creating a need for more schools.
NAEP scores for class of 2024 show major declines, with fewer students college ready
Chalkbeat | September 8
Students from the class of 2024 had historically low scores on a major national test administered just months before they graduated.
Taking Swift Action to Ensure Easy Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Coloradans this Fall
Governor Polis | September 8
Colorado leaders are moving quickly to make sure everyone has easy access to COVID-19 vaccines this fall.
NAEP scores in 8th grade science drop, gender gap returns
Chalkbeat | September 8
American eighth graders posted their lowest science scores since 2009 on a major national test, one more indication of the hit that learning took during the pandemic.
A researcher’s view on using AI to become a better writer
Hechinger Report | September 8
Writing can be hard, equal parts heavy lifting and drudgery. No wonder so many students are turning to the time-saving allure of ChatGPT, which can crank out entire papers in seconds.
*Will Donald Trump be remembered as an education president?
Fordham Institute | September 4
Last month, Education Secretary Linda McMahon expressed hope that Donald Trump will be remembered as an “education president,” arguing that “sending education back to the states” warrants that distinction.
Trump administration axes federal Blue Ribbon program that recognized high-achieving schools
Chalkbeat | September 4
The Trump administration won’t be handing out any blue ribbons to schools this year.
*Featured League staff or board member
Opening the World through Education
Every one of our middle and high school tours has this in common: they expand students’ perspectives and set them up for success in an interconnected world. For more than 60 years, EF has been opening the world through education—helping educators find the perfect destination and itinerary that spark confidence, cultural understanding, and lifelong skills in their students.
By blending classroom, digital, and hands-on learning with immersive travel experiences, EF partners with schools to create life-changing opportunities. And with a dedicated local presence here in Colorado, our team is ready to support you in person and at League events—making sure you and your community feel confident every step of the way. Everything we do ripples outward—transforming students, communities, and ultimately the world.
Tour Collection Spotlight
International STEM Collection. Explore how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math shape the world around us. Students tackle global challenges with creativity and critical thinking, discovering diverse ways of problem-solving and innovation.
America’s 250th Birthday Collection. Celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 with tours that bring history to life. Students connect with the people, places, and stories that shaped America—deepening their understanding of the past while reflecting on their role in building the future.
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