 📰 Headlines shaping charter schools this week Charter schools are shining brightly this week. Locally, Woodland Park renews its long-term commitment to Merit Academy, and Aurora’s mayor celebrates the Lotus School for Excellence on opening day. Across Colorado, charter schools again lead the way in the U.S. News and World Report rankings with 6 of 10 top spots. Legislators returned to a special session yesterday, and the League's advocacy team is there for you. PS: Submit a workshop session proposal to inspire, educate, and connect at the 2026 Annual Conference. 📩 Have news from your campus or community? Share it with us by 12 PM each Thursday for inclusion in the NEWS. 
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| 19th August 2025 |
| Woodland Park Board approves 30-year charter contract extension with Merit Academy |
| KOAA
On August 13, the Woodland Park School District Board of Education approved a
30-year contract extension with Merit Academy, the district’s existing charter school, during a board meeting.
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| 19th August 2025 |
| Teachers Union Lawsuits in 5 States Challenge Private School Vouchers |
The 74
Across the country, teachers unions have been challenging the constitutionality of their states’ private school voucher programs in court. And in at least two cases, they’ve won. |
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| 17th August 2025 |
| Microschools are growing in popularity, but state regulations haven’t caught up |
Columbian
When Siri Fiske founded the Mysa Microschool in Washington, D.C., in 2016, there wasn’t a widely accepted term for her small, one-room schoolhouse model. |
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| 15th August 2025 |
| Aurora mayor recognizes achievements of Lotus School for Excellence |
CBS News
Not every school gets a visit from its city's mayor on its first day of school, but the Lotus School for Excellence in Aurora did on Tuesday. |
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 Colorado lawmakers return to Capitol to fix budget as they tangle over Trump tax bill — and solutions
Denver Post | August 21
The Colorado Capitol will return to a bustle Thursday as lawmakers flock back months early for a special session on the budget that no one wanted.  Boardhawk Podcast episode 18: Featuring Jeremy Harris, northeast Denver (District 4) school board candidate
Boardhawk | August 21
Jeremy Harris is one of four candidates vying for the Denver school board seat currently held by Michelle Quattlebaum, who is running for reelection. Best public middle schools in Colorado
GJ Sentinel | August 19
Stacker compiled a list of the best public middle schools in Colorado using data from the Niche. Niche uses five weighted factors for its rankings: academics grade, teachers grade, district overall grade, culture & diversity grade, and parent / student surveys. These Colorado high schools rank as some of best in country: U.S. News & World Report
FOX31 | August 19
Some high schools in Colorado are considered to have some of the best education in the country, based on a new report. USNWR 2025 High School Rankings Release
The League | August 21
Charter schools are leading the way in Colorado—claiming six of the state’s top 10 spots in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report “Best High Schools” rankings.  Five vaccinations required for Colorado K-12 students
Durango Herald | August 18
With the school year underway in La Plata County, hallways are filling with students – and the germs that come with them.  The Role of High-Impact Tutoring for States and School Districts
ECS | August 19
Without federal emergency education funds, states likely will play a larger role in supporting high-impact tutoring in schools. State leaders may wonder why and how they can continue supporting student learning through high-impact tutoring — especially as the funding landscape is uncertain.  The Race to Redefine the High School Learning Experience Is On
The 74 | August 19
In a few short weeks, Aldine Independent School District in Texas will welcome a new cohort of ninth graders to the HEAL high school programs — one of the biggest career-technical education experiments underway in the state and just one of many that the Houston-area district is implementing to ensure its graduates are equipped with real-world skills. Judge Tells Trump Admin. to Restore Some Education Research Programs
EdWeek | August 18
The Trump administration must restore two sets of centers that help state education departments and schools with improvement strategies and the use of education research, after two companies involved in the programs sued over the abrupt cancellations of their contracts earlier this year. New Book Charts Microschool Founders’ Paths to Independence
The 74 | August 18
On March 11, 2020, the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Kerry McDonald wrote in her Forbes column that we were witnessing “the world’s homeschooling moment.” Trump Can’t Require Schools to Certify They Won’t Use DEI, Judge Says
EdWeek | August 15
The Trump administration ran “into serious constitutional problems” by asking states to certify their school districts don’t use diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, a federal judge ruled this week.  Uber for students: HopSkipDrive rideshare service looks to expand alongside school choice
Chalkbeat | August 15
When Melissa Zivicki’s local public school district offered a personalized ride service to transport her son to a private school for an individualized education program, she was initially skeptical. Support for Phone Bans in Schools Is Growing, but Is It Enough to Help Kids?
The 74 | August 14
New York City educators Vincent Corletta and Meghan Leston both chuckled when they were asked what it was like to teach in schools without cellphone restrictions. How one state revamped high school to reflect reality: Not everyone goes to college
Hechinger Report | August 12
The numbers were discouraging, and in some cases getting worse. Nearly 30 percent of Indiana’s high schoolers were chronically absent in 2022. “Equitable” Grading Through the Eyes of Teachers
Fordham Institute | August 8
Grading policies have long been debated in American schools, but only recently have “equitable” reforms taken center stage.   League board member appointed to PIE Network Board
The League congratulates Karega Rausch, President & CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers and a valued member of the Colorado League of Charter Schools’ Board, on his recent appointment to the PIE Network Board of Directors. PIE Network unites advocacy leaders from across the country, and Karega’s expertise and leadership will help strengthen efforts to advance opportunities for students nationwide. 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 renewal season. Thank you to all who have so far renewed their membership. If you're still in the middle of the process, this is the perfect month to take care of the details. 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. Need help? Email [email protected]. Thank you! Legislative Update: The Special Session opened yesterday at the Capitol, where lawmakers began work on closing an $800 million budget gap caused by changes to the federal tax law. They will also revisit the artificial intelligence legislation passed in 2024. Our League team is closely engaged at the Capitol. We are monitoring every development and ensuring that the interests of charter schools remain protected. We will keep you informed with timely updates as the session unfolds. Read our announcement.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
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. 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. 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.  Digital Safety Summit (Denver): Sept. 20
Don't miss the first-ever Digital Safety Summit, taking place on September 20th at Denver University! 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.
GET INVOLVED
 2025 HUB Colorado Leadership Summit
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.  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 by September 30.
RESOURCES & GRANTS
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. 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
 Executive Director Update
CDE’s search for a new executive director, delayed by a summer hiring freeze, is moving forward. The incoming leader will play a key role in supporting authorizers, school leaders, and innovative approaches across Colorado. More details will be shared in the coming month. Charter School Facility Assistance Program
The Charter School Office has completed the 2024–25 FA Program application cycle, allocating $9.4 million to 136 schools statewide. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education approved CDE’s weighted lottery plan, which will be included in the 2025–26 RFA this fall. 2024–25 Innovation Schools Report
The latest Innovation Schools Report is now available! The report highlights how more than 100 Colorado innovation schools are reimagining education with creative approaches to teaching and learning. 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. 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.   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, the Annual Finance Seminar (Sept. 5), 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. 
| 21st August 2025 |
| Umpqua Bank |
| As a trusted supporter of charter schools, Umpqua Bank brings tailored financial solutions and a people-first approach to education communities. |
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| 28 August 2025 |
| Regional Gathering: Douglas County |
| Join your Douglas County Colorado Charter School leaders for a League Hosted Happy Hour. |
| Regional Gatherings, Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse, Castle Rock |
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| 5 September 2025 |
| Annual Finance Seminar |
| Join charter school business and operations leaders for essential updates, expert-led training, and peer connections to kick off the year with clarity and confidence. |
| Seminars, Webinars, Convenings, Lowry Conference Center |
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| 25 September 2025 |
| Regional Gathering: Colorado Springs |
| Join your Colorado Springs Colorado Charter School leaders for a League Hosted Happy Hour. |
| Regional Gatherings, Colorado Springs TBD |
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| 10 October 2025 |
| 2025 Leadership Summit |
| Join us this fall for the 2025 Leadership Summit—an exclusive, one-day event designed to inspire, connect, and empower Colorado’s charter school leaders. |
| Major events |
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