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Welcome back — August MOVE 🍎
Good morning Nora,
This month’s MOVE kicks off the school year with a message from League President Dan Schaller, celebrating student success and highlighting new opportunities for member engagement. You’ll meet three new charter schools opening this fall, hear how one small rural school embraced ASL to support a kindergartner, and learn how advocacy is inspiring the next generation of leaders. Plus, we welcome a new board member, highlight a Digital Safety Summit, and open the call for Annual Conference 2026 workshop proposals.
If your campus has an update to share, please submit it to us by 12 PM each Thursday.
From the President: Our Collective Wins, and Moving Forward Together
I recently saw this datapoint, and it caught my eye. *Among schools that serve a majority Latino population, charter school graduates in Colorado are 1.6 times more likely to matriculate to 4-year institutions after high school than non-charter graduates (44% v. 28%).*
With that piece of good news, welcome back! We can all take heart in the small things, especially when they represent the large things. We look forward to the coming year of working with you on all things that help make this kind of statistic possible for students at all of your schools.
The big thing, and hopefully the biggest thing, we celebrate each day this year is the success of our students. That data point represents one of the many wins that we hear about every week from the over 260 public charter schools in Colorado. Those wins, like you, come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and dimensions.
Please continue to take every opportunity to share your successes with us. This year, we want to help you celebrate by elevating your community and sharing all the great things happening across Colorado’s vibrant charter school community. Send us an email, a picture, a video, or an invitation to come to an event, and we’ll do our best to shout you out or attend ([email protected]).
We’re currently launching our year, just as you are. We’re beginning with member engagement visits around the state, including regional gatherings, town halls, major events, trainings, and new resources for you and your staff.
Advocacy: Our work planning, organizing, and preparing for the legislative session never really ends. You likely know the Governor called a special session, which begins in about a week, and we’ll be there protecting the charter school space as we always do. We’ve already begun work on our policy initiatives for the 2026 legislative session, and we don’t even have to mention the absolutely critical 4-4 vote in the Supreme Court from over the summer. Our sister organization CLCS Action is also coming off a series of big electoral wins in 2024 and 2025. See our collective 2025 advocacy wins here.
Some Headwinds: With all that is going on, though, we have much that is confronting us as a sector—financial headwinds, the last legislative session for Governor Polis, uncertain federal developments, and the always challenging partisan politics confronting us daily at the Colorado State Capitol.
All of those items are even more reasons for us to stick together. Throughout the year, as we celebrate our 32nd year as the League, you will see that we’re leaning into the idea that we are moving Forward Together. Like your community, ours is built to go farther together, and we’re looking forward to the journey with you.
This MOVE newsletter is one of several ways for you to stay in touch and stay connected. You can also sign up for our ACT newsletter to connect to our Legislative and Advocacy efforts. Sign up for our Events Updates or our weekly NEWS to stay up to date on Charter School events or news.
We offer free cohorts and events, such as the Annual Finance Seminar (September 5th), or you can register for the Leadership Summit (October 10th). These events provide opportunities for leaders, business managers, and board members to build deeper connections with each other and League staff.
I am so grateful for each and every one of you, and for all that you do to make your school successful. I know that each of you has a student, a statistic, a staff story, or a special moment that you can share. Please do. We would love to amplify that story or stat, no matter how large or small, and make sure that we are all moving Forward Together.
See you soon,
By Dan Schaller, League President
Celebrating Three New Charters
The League welcomes three new charter schools to Colorado for the 2025-26 school year.
High Rockies Community School (Fairplay). Serving grades K–8, High Rockies offers a hands-on, exploratory learning model where students engage in interdisciplinary projects, outdoor education, and community partnerships that bring learning to life. With both full-time and part-time options, including a Homeschool Enrichment Program, the school embraces multi-age classrooms that encourage collaboration, creativity, and academic growth at or above grade level.
Capstone Academy (Commerce City). This school blends rigorous college-prep academics with a deep commitment to character development and community. Through its signature Moral Focus program, Capstone instills virtues like respect, perseverance, and compassion into everyday learning. The school also elevates expectations with a “no excuses” ethos, encouraging students to make responsible choices, understand consequences, and own their actions all within a nurturing, partnership-driven learning environment.
The Sunflower School (Aurora). Offering tuition-free education for kindergarten and above, The Sunflower School is rooted in authentic Montessori principles, nurturing curiosity and creativity through hands-on learning and a child-led approach. This fall, The Sunflower School will serve 54 students aged 3–9 in mixed-age classrooms where every child’s voice is valued. With flexible tuition options for early childhood programs and support through Universal Preschool funding, The Sunflower School is committed to reducing barriers and making high-quality Montessori education accessible to all families.
How a Small Colorado School Embraced ASL for one Student, Enriching All
Alta Vista Charter School, a K-6 institution nestled in the rural southeastern Colorado town of Lamar, serves a close-knit community of just 131 students. One year ago, the arrival of a new kindergartner presented the school with an uncharted but ultimately transformative journey into the world of American Sign Language (ASL). Now, as Ash moves on to first grade, an entire community is ready to support him.
Talara Coen, the school administrator, admits there was some initial trepidation heading into his kindergarten year. Even though he had attended a district preschool, the unknown loomed large with Ash, she admits. “We weren't sure of the severity of his hearing loss, how we would communicate effectively, how to make sure he felt included, and how difficult it would be to support him academically and socially.”
Adding to the apprehension was a natural concern about student acceptance, even at a school whose mission includes excellence in character. “As always, though, explains Coen, “The unknown is worse in our minds than reality! The opposite is what happened, and it's been amazing.”
In fact, this delightful young student is teaching an entire community.
| Read more |
From Advocate to Intern: How One Student Discovered Public Policy
What do a charter school advocacy day, a state representative, and a governor have in common? They all played a part in helping one recent graduate from The Academy discover her passion.
For Madeleine Hahs, a 2025 graduate of The Academy in Westminster, a passion for politics and public service wasn't something she was born with, but rather something she discovered after a 2024 visit to the Colorado State Capitol for Charter School Advocacy Day. Now, following two advocacy days and a pivotal internship, Madeleine is on a path to make a real impact on her community and state.
Stepping into the Colorado Capitol for the first time was a revelation, she says. “After many years of not knowing where I wanted to go in life or who I wanted to be, it clicked. I loved leading and politics.”
| Read more |
League Welcomes New Board Member, Rob Daugherty
The Colorado League of Charter Schools is pleased to welcome Rob Daugherty as a new Member to our Board of Directors. Rob currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of James Irwin Charter Schools, where he has been a driving force for excellence and innovation in education for nearly two decades. From his early years as dean of students and lead math teacher to founding principal of Power Technical and now CEO, Rob has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership and a deep commitment to student success.
Before entering education, Rob built a diverse career in engineering, manufacturing, and construction, and proudly served in the Colorado Army National Guard. His unique blend of business acumen, operational expertise, and educational leadership makes him a valuable guide as the League continues to advance quality public charter education across Colorado. Rob and his wife, Gina, are proud parents of two James Irwin graduates. We look forward to his bringing his dedication and perspective to the League’s mission.
Mariana del Hierro on Running for DPS Board (Podcast)
Mariana del Hierro, a Denver Public Schools parent and nonprofit executive, is running for the District 2 school board seat representing southwest Denver. Raised on the Texas-Mexico border and a first-generation college graduate, del Hierro now leads Re:Vision, a nationally recognized nonprofit addressing food insecurity and economic injustice in southwest Denver.
In this episode of the Boardhawk podcast, she talks with hosts Alexis Menocal Harrigan and Alan Gottlieb about how being the parent of a Latino DPS student shapes her passion for public service, her perspective on the district’s academic performance, and her commitment to accessibility if elected.
| Listen now |
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School Board Candidates are Collecting Signatures
On August 6, School board candidates began gathering signatures to qualify for the November ballot. As they knock on doors or attend community events, remember, you have the opportunity to ask where they stand on charter schools and other issues important to you. If you connect with a candidate, share your experience with us at [email protected] so we can amplify the voices of Colorado’s charter families.
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
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Digital Safety Summit (Denver): Sept. 20
Don't miss the first-ever Digital Safety Summit, taking place on September 20th at the University of Denver! This first-of-its-kind national conference is designed for anyone who cares about protecting teens in today’s online world, including parents, educators, counselors, school resource officers, law enforcement, and community leaders.
Keynote presenters include national child-exploitation prevention experts like The Exodus Road, Bark, Common Sense Media, and Thorn, as well as YouTuber Justin Stuart and author Jonathan Mckee. Together, we'll address topics of online exploitation, digital wellbeing, and how adults can engage children with both confidence and compassion on topics related to our digital world.
The 2025 Digital Safety Summit will fuel a nationwide conversation that is forward-focused on how to keep kids safe online. Please pass this message along to your parents, share to your social media, and sign up today at digitalsafetysummit.org.
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Professional Development: E-Learning Series on Attendance
CDE is partnering with Attendance Works for a three-part virtual training this fall designed to help schools reduce chronic absenteeism. Educators will gain evidence-based strategies, learn which attendance measures to monitor, and collaborate with peers across Colorado to strengthen student engagement. Learn more and register.
2025 Annual Finance Seminar: Your Fall Briefing on School Finance
Join charter business managers and operations leaders from across Colorado for a full day of updates, training, and connection at the 2025 Annual Finance Seminar. Hosted by the League, this free event offers both in-person and virtual participation. Expect funding and compliance insights, expert-led sessions, and networking to launch the year with clarity.
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 at discounted rates until August 15.
Get Involved
Share your Expertise at the 2026 Annual Conference
Request for Proposals open at noon today 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
Youth Sports Giving Day Returns this September
The Daniels Fund invites Colorado youth sports nonprofits to join the second annual Youth Sports Giving Day, running from September 3–17. Participating organizations on ColoradoGives.org are eligible for dollar-for-dollar matching on the first $1 million raised, plus additional incentive funds. Don’t miss the launch event at Coors Field on September 3—register by August 25 to enter the drawing to throw the first pitch! Learn more and register.
Tools for Multilingual Learners
CDE released a new resource to support linguistically responsive, data-based instruction for multilingual learners. The webpage walks teams through Like-Peer Comparisons to support RTI, reading interventions, and more.
CDE Updates
Accountability Report
Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We’ve got a lot to cover. As always, please reach out if you have any questions or need assistance on any of the items included in this communication. Read more.
Free training for K-12 science teachers
CDE is offering free training for K–12 science teachers this fall, both in-person and online. These sessions support standards-based, real-world science instruction and offer license renewal credit. Trainings run through October in locations across the state. Learn more and register.
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Overregulated charter schools: Fact or fiction?
Fordham Institute | August 14
Earlier this summer, Education Next published a post by EdChoice’s Robert Enlow and Michael Q. McShane, “School Choice Should Take the Road Less Traveled.” It was not my favorite take, to say the least.
Exclusive Poll: As Support for Schools Plummets, Americans Resist Closing Education Department
The 74 | August 14
Americans’ confidence in its public schools is at an all-time low, with just 13% grading them an A or a B, according to this year’s PDK Poll. That’s down from 19% in 2019 and 26% in 2004.
An Ed Tech Insider Pleads for More Equitable Tools
The 74 | August 12
As much as anyone writing about education technology today, Anne Trumbore has had a front-row seat for its development.
Colorado to Offer $10.7 Million in Charter School Revenue Bonds
Trading View | August 11
The Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority is offering $10.7 million in charter school revenue bonds to support the acquisition and construction of a new educational facility in Fort Collins.
Public School Enrollment Is Declining — But Not Everywhere, or for All Students
The 74 | August 11
Between fall 2019 and fall 2023, public school enrollment fell from 50.8 million to 49.5 million, a loss of more than 1.2 million students, or 2.5%.
Despite Court Order, Education Department’s Civil Rights Staff Still On Leave
The 74 | August 11
It’s been more than a month and a half since a federal judge ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to put Office for Civil Rights staff back to work. But so far, none of the 276 fired employees are back on the job.
Trump’s Call to Remove Undocumented from Census Could Impact Education Funding
The 74 | August 8
President Donald Trump has proposed removing undocumented people from an upcoming U.S. Census, a move that while difficult to execute could dramatically reduce school funding in some states, experts say.
School Choice: Nonprofits in Blue States See Opportunity in Federal Tax Credit
The 74 | August 6
For 27 years, the BASIC Fund, a nonprofit, has awarded scholarships to help families in nine Bay Area counties in California to send their children to private school. CEO Rachel Elginsmith likes to collect testimonials from parents about what the financial assistance means to them.
*Featured League Staff or Board Member
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ACT (May 21, 2025)
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (May 8, 2025)
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