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Welcome to the May MOVE!
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week and we are incredibly grateful to all the educators who encourage our charter schools and charter students to be their best! Speaking of best, we’re gearing up to celebrate National Charter Schools Week on Monday. What does your school have planned?
The 2024 Colorado legislative season has come to a close with some fantastic wins for charter schools. Read President Dan Schaller’s breakdown and catch the replay of our post-session re-cap here. Bill Knous writes about the opportunity to provide students access to high-quality summer programming while also building community engagement and enrollment.
If your campus has an update to share, please submit it to us by 12 PM each Thursday.
Year in Review (and What a Year It Was)
With the legislative session having wrapped up earlier this week and the end of the school year right around the corner, now seems like an appropriate time to step back and reflect on the year that was.
While a lot of our focus here at the League tends to be on the Capitol and what we’re able to accomplish there, legislative victories are far from the only ones that the Colorado charter school sector has been able to achieve this school year.
For one, we started the year with a bang by commemorating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Charter Schools Act here in Colorado. Surrounded by many distinguished friends and guests, including Governor Polis, we celebrated all that charter schools have become and accomplished in the three decades since their inception. Now serving over 135,000 students – or 50% more than the largest school district in the state – I think it’s fair to say that the concept has caught on beyond the wildest visions of what many involved at the beginning likely imagined.
Then, in perhaps one of the year’s most underappreciated developments, a compelling analysis of charter performance was released by the well-respected Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University. What was so encouraging about this analysis for those of us here in Colorado is that it showed Colorado charter school students annually gaining 15 more days of learning in reading and 13 more days of learning in math than their non-charter school peers across the state. Those aren’t insignificant differences, and when you add them up over a student’s entire K12 educational career, they start to accumulate into months and years instead of just days.
And all of this is happening in a context where Colorado charters continue to serve higher percentages of students of color and English language learners, both groups that have historically been some of our state’s most underserved. In fact – in one of the year’s other accomplishments – state SPF results released in the fall showed that, on average, students across virtually every historically underserved subgroup are 10 percentage points more likely to be enrolled in a Performance school when attending a charter versus not.
I highlight all of this because I believe the primary reason we are involved in this work is to try and improve educational outcomes and opportunities for our students. So before we ever talk about legislative victories in such areas as funding equity or facilities resources, we should first focus on whether those legislative victories are translating into the results our kids deserve. While I think we can all acknowledge that there’s still plenty of work to do and improvements to be made not only across our schools but across public education in general, the good news is that results such as those highlighted above point to signs of hope and promise across the collective charter school community here in Colorado.
Against this backdrop, the legislative accomplishments we were able to achieve this year take on even more salience, and no year-in-review would be complete without a brief mention of at least a few of the most notable:
- Full mill levy equalization funding for CSI schools, finally accomplishing a goal we set out to attain 7 years ago;
- $66 million in critical charter facilities funds over the next 5 years that could unlock as much as $30 million in additional federal matching funds over that same time period; and
- The decisive defeat of perhaps the most harmful piece of anti-charter legislation we’ve ever seen (HB24-1363), all while demonstrating – via the more than 56,000 emails you sent to legislators in opposition to the bill – the collective strength and power of our community when we unite and speak as one.
Below is a more complete rundown of our legislative victories for the year, but suffice it to say that—despite a very challenging political environment—this session ranked right up there as one of our best on record.
So, it was quite an impressive year for our schools and their students, and I hope you were able to see yourself in these accomplishments as you read through them. They truly reflect the hard work each of you does on a daily basis, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that ongoing commitment and dedication to Colorado’s kids.
Sincerely,
Dan Schaller, President
Colorado League of Charter Schools
Momentous Session for our Schools Concludes with Another League Victory
Today [May 8, 2024] marks the 120th and final day of the 2024 Legislative Session. As policymakers wind down their work at the Capitol, we’re proud to report on another important accomplishment we’ve secured for our schools in the session’s final days.
As we shared in our last legislative update, one of the key components we managed to get embedded in HB1448 (New Public School Finance Formula) is $65.5M in critical charter school facilities funding. These resources are needed not only to offset declining marijuana excise tax revenue and the impact this is having on the state’s Charter School Capital Construction fund but also to position the state favorably to compete later this year for significant federal matching funds that typically only come available once every five years. Read more.
Beyond the Classroom: 13 Charter School Teachers to Admire
In recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, we are celebrating thirteen exceptional educators, each of whom hit our radar as a finalist in the Colorado League of Charter Schools’ 2024 Hall of Fame. These dedicated teachers foster a love of learning in a positive environment, mentor students, collaborate with colleagues, and actively participate in their school’s community. Read more about these admirable individuals and their impact on public charter school students.
- Alfredo Beltran Aguirre: Colorado Early Colleges Aurora
- Brooke Barton: Mountain Middle School
- Stephanie Barnett: Vision Charter Academy
- Lori Fisher: Animas High School
- Tara Hedberg: CEC Parker
- Kimi Hanson: Mountain Middle School
- Florian Hild: Loveland Classical Schools
- Kyle Kimmal: Denver Language School
- Emilee Klausner: Cardinal Community Academy
- Shannon Rhodes Peace: Pinnacle Charter School
- Scott Spear: Southwest Open School
- Yacina Tamendjari: STEM School Highlands Ranch
- Lacey Weber: Independence Academy
Raise Your Voice for NCSW
Next week, May 12-18, we are proud to join the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools in celebrating the strength and commitment of charter schools nationwide, including those in Colorado.
Why? Because we are louder together. We are united. We are public schools. We are charter. Mark your calendars, share your stories, and join the fun this National Charter Schools Week (NCSW). Learn more and access a toolkit.
- Monday, May 13: Celebrate this year’s seven national Changemakers, individuals recognized by the National Alliance for raising their voices. PS: One dedicated Colorado charter leader made the list!
- Tuesday, May 14: Read the 2024 Charter Schools Program (CSP) Impact Report, reminding us all of why we fight for our schools and for public funding.
- Wednesday, May 15: Hear from the 2024 Changemakers at an event in Washington, D.C. and learn why they raise their voice for charters. Join the Facebook Livestream at 9AM MT.
- Thursday, May 16: Listen to the first episode in Season 2 of the Get Schooled in Public Education Podcast.
- Friday, May 17: Share far and wide why we raise our voice for charter schools with #CharterLove.
Turning up the Heat on Partnerships (and Potentially Enrollment)
By Bill Knous, Director of Charter School Growth
As the weather heats up, so does the opportunity to build critical community partnerships. Across Colorado charter schools, we have the potential to engage 850,000 students, each of whom deserves access to high-quality summer programming but may still need it. Most existing summer opportunities focus on remediation but lack enrichment, empowerment, and engagement. This is particularly true for middle and high schools. With a few best practices, however, you can boost your school’s community engagement this summer — and potentially your student numbers.
- Community Partnerships: Forge one or two partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, or nonprofits to provide unique summer learning opportunities. This could include internships, mentorship programs, volunteer opportunities, career days or other joint initiatives that offer real-world experience. It might also include single or multi-day workshops focused on STEAM, outdoor education or leadership development.
- Specialized Camps: Organize specialized camps or partner with providers that are focused on topical areas such as coding, robotics, performing arts, creative writing, language immersion, and environmental science. These immersive experiences can attract outside students with interests and talents that align with your school’s mission and vision. Learn more.
Peak to Peak Student Named 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields. The list of honorees includes Siddharth Nareddy, a Peak to Peak Charter School student in Lafayette.
“The 161 high school seniors selected for the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Presidential Scholars represent the best of our nation’s schools and inspire hope in the bright future of this country,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “On behalf of President Biden, I am delighted to celebrate their accomplishments, and encourage these scholars to continue to aim high, lift up others, and embrace opportunities to lead.”
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on academic success, excellence in the arts and in technical education, through essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of two students from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education. Learn more.
In Search of a High-quality Middle School
Boardhawk | May 3
Our youngest daughter just turned eleven. That’s not the part that has me freaked out.
She is growing up faster than I want her to; all of our children did. She does have a little more pre-teen attitude; all of her friends do too. She does fluctuate between me being the coolest dad in the world to me being the most out of touch dad there is because I stress screen time and early bedtime during the school week.
All of that has been expected, and I have felt prepared for it. Thank you to my other four children. The thing that has me freaked out is that SHE IS GOING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL! Yes, 6th grade, and for the first time in forever, I am lost with where we should support her going.
We didn’t participate in the first round of school choice. We weren’t ready to make a decision then. We hadn’t looked at all of the schools in the way that we needed to in order for us to be confident as parents. So much more to look for. So many questions and wondering. So much parental worry about this big choice. Read more.
Will Trump choose an ed-reformer as VP?
By Dale Chu, League Board Member
November’s all-but-settled presidential rematch bears many of the trappings of 2020, except that Donald Trump will pick a new running mate. Who will it be? There are dozens of possibilities, though he has sometimes signaled an interest in selecting a woman. Let’s take that as a given, then match it with the Washington Post’s top prospects, and look at five that might fit the bill to speculate on what each might mean for education.
Sure, it’s a parlor game, as policy comes from the Oval Office. But it’s never pointless to scrutinize the VP selection, as it can have considerable effects on the election (think Sarah Palin in 2008). Such scrutiny is further warranted because of both Trump’s and Biden’s ages (Trump will be seventy-eight years old on January 20, 2025). Now to the shortlist.
Community Announcements
Learning Opportunities
Calling all History & Social Studies Teachers: Join the SSEWA 2024 Summer Institute
Center for Asian Studies of CU Boulder is offering a program to promote its South, Southeast, and West Asia (SSEWA) Outreach Program, which aims to help Colorado teachers enhance their curriculum and instruction about the SSEWA regions. With the Paris Olympics fast approaching, this would be a great opportunity to explore and learn more about colonialism and imperialism through the lens of sports and help educators prepare curriculum plans for the coming academic year. We’ll have speakers on cricket, basketball, physical education policies in former colonies, and indigenous sports and physical activities from South and Southeast Asia. Participants will be provided a $500 stipend for attending and submitting a project after the summer institute. Interested faculty members may sign up here.
Practices Improve Learning Experiences & More for Students with Disabilities
The Networked Improvement Community for Students with Disabilities, a group of 10 public charter school networks, worked to reimagine how they serve students furthest from opportunity. Using the tools of improvement science, educators and content experts developed and refined more than 20 evidence-based practices to improve learning experiences, environments, and outcomes for Black and Latinx students with disabilities experiencing poverty. The practices address common challenges schools face in five areas and offer step-by-step instructions, templates, and case studies. Learn more.
Reach Accepting Applications through May 15
Reach University is a job-embedded pathway to a Bachelor’s degree for existing employees who are interested in pursuing a path to becoming a teacher. The coursework is fully remote and takes an average of three years to complete (exact length is dependent on any previously accrued college credits), allowing participants to remain full-time in their current roles, maintaining all their benefits, while also earning a Bachelor’s degree. If your charter school has a staff member who would like to pursue this, they can learn more, attend a virtual information session and apply here. For questions, contact [email protected].
nXu Offers Comprehensive SEL and College & Career Readiness Solution
Help young people connect with who they are, explore who they want to become, and invest in pathways for personal and professional success. nXU’s dynamic, research-based middle and high school curriculum places purpose at the nexus of career exploration, social-emotional practices, positive identity development, and community building. Learn more.
OERColorado Webinar Series | May 14
New to OER? Or Ready for a Deep Dive? Either way our May 2024 OER Webinar Series offers free knowledge for everyone. Openly-licensed Educational Resources (OER) for educators can save schools money and allow teachers the ability to adapt free resources to their classroom context. Open Education is the movement to reduce cost and other barriers to knowledge, making education more accessible to all. CU credit will be available. Want to find out more about OER and Open Education? Register for the upcoming OERColorado webinar series to learn more about OER for Colorado, 9-10:30am MST. Can’t attend live? Register anyway to access the recordings.
CDE Community Learning Meeting | May 23
Recent changes to the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act (1 CCR 301-39) provide greater flexibility to expand the use of and fundability of alternative instructional models. CDE is facilitating a first learning community meeting on Thursday, May 23 from 9:00am-11:30am. This meeting will be hybrid with options for attendance virtually via Zoom and in-person in Englewood, CO. Register here.
Math Instruction Professional Development | June 2024
Elementary, middle school and high school teachers are invited to register for free online professional development in math instruction. The virtual asynchronous sessions will begin in June and will provide participants with practical tools and techniques to engage students, foster deeper understanding and cultivate an engaging learning environment around math. Register here.
Get Your School in its A-GAME
Over the past five years, a bold group of charter school authorizers from across the country have been reflecting on better ways to measure school quality. We have embraced the slogan: Measure What Matters, When It Matters. We now know we can only go so far without YOU at the table. Join these upcoming conversations as we get on our A-GAME together.
This and That
Type A Electric Bus for Sale or Lease
Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette has a Type A (small) bus it is looking to re-lease or sell through its partnership with Highland Electric Fleets. This is a 2023 Chevrolet 4500 Chassis Collins Bus with capacity for 18. It is nearly new with only 948 miles on it. Because of its seating capacity, it does require a driver with a Commercial Driver's License. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Jennifer Douglas at Peak to Peak Charter School at 303-453-4611 or [email protected].
Government Instrumentality for ERTC in Colorado Charter Schools
In response to ongoing inquiries, the League sought an additional legal opinion on Colorado charter schools' eligibility for the federal Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program. Conducted by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, this opinion differs from previous ones. While schools are encouraged to consult their attorneys before acting, it's essential to note that the ERTC program is currently on hold at the federal level, pending legislation such as the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. If passed, claims made after January 31, 2024, would not be allowed. This update aims to provide transparency and guidance to our members amid evolving legal and legislative landscapes. Check out the full legal response here.
CDE Updates
Nominate an Exceptional Teacher for the 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year
Do you know an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled K-12 teacher? Nominate them to apply for the 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year award by Monday, May 20. The selected teacher will represent the entire profession in the state and automatically become Colorado’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Program.
Informational CMAS Science & AEC Performance Framework Results Now Live
The 2023 informational performance framework reports containing 2023 CMAS Science for all districts and attendance/truancy results for Alternative Education Campuses have been provided to district accountability contacts via Syncplicity. For questions related to Syncplicity, training, or support, email [email protected].
League News & Events
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Top News
Charter Schools Among the Top Public High Schools in the Nation
National Alliance | May 3
The top two public high schools in the nation are charter schools. U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) released the 2023-2024 rankings of the best public high schools in the country. Twenty charter schools are recognized in the top 100 schools. Read more.
The Los Angeles Charter School Wars Are Headed To Court. Here’s What’s At Stake
The 74 | May 8
The California Charter Schools Association last month filed a lawsuit against LA Unified over its controversial new policy barring charters from using classrooms in certain district school buildings. Read more.
State leaders show new trust in Adams 14’s plan for improving its schools
Chalkbeat | May 8
Colorado’s State Board of Education voted Wednesday afternoon to allow Adams 14 to continue its improvement work with a partial outside manager — a sign that the state trusts the progress being made by the long-struggling school district. Read more.
Northeast Denver Innovation Zone to dissolve, reverting two middle schools to district control
Chalkbeat | May 7
The Northeast Denver Innovation Zone, an independent nonprofit organization that oversees three semi-autonomous Denver public schools, will dissolve as of June 30, according to a letter signed by the zone’s board of directors. Read more.
Pine Bluff’s Friendship Schools Bring Hope to the City ‘No One Wanted to Touch’
The 74 | May 7
Passersby can be forgiven for mistaking Friendship Aspire Academy for a place of worship: One of the elementary school’s main buildings is actually a repurposed church, a towering, ‘60s-era cast concrete sanctuary complete with a pipe organ tucked into an old choir loft. Read more.
Study finds segregation increasing in large districts — and school choice is a factor
Chalkbeat | May 6
Over the last three decades, school segregation has been increasing — and it has increased the most within the large school districts that enroll many of the nation’s students of color. Read more.
Kids, Screen Time & Despair: An Expert in the Economics of Happiness Echoes Psychologists’ Warnings About Tech
The 74 | May 6
Economist David Blanchflower’s new paper uses surveys from the past 15 years to show a pronounced increase in sadness affecting 14- to 24-year-olds. Read more.
Colorado lawmakers reach last-minute bipartisan property tax deal that averts cuts to K-12 funding
The Colorado Sun | May 6
Colorado’s property tax code would be reimagined — with long-term rate cuts for homeowners and businesses and a local revenue cap — under a fiercely negotiated, last-minute bipartisan bill introduced in the legislature Monday that aims to provide tax relief while protecting funding for K-12 schools. Read more.
ChatGPT is transforming Colorado education, for better and worse. Experts say maybe that’s a good thing.
Denver Post | May 5
Amber Wilson is rethinking how her classroom at Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School will operate next year, in large part because of the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT. Her English courses will feature more in-class assignments and less homework. Read more (paywall).
Health & Wellness
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Recent League Newsletters
- NEWS (May 3, 2024)
- MOVE (April 12, 2024)
- LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (April 26, 2024)
- LEGISLATIVE UPDATE SPECIAL REPORT (May 8, 2024)
- CONNECT COHORT (May 8, 2024)
- ACT (April 22, 2024)
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