 📰 Headlines for the first week of September Five big trends reshaping K-12 and why “back to school” feels different in 2025. Plus, meet school board candidates stepping up across Colorado and explore why middle school brain health is in the spotlight. Finally, one Northern Colorado AP wins a coveted award, CSI schools redefine what's possible and Merit Academy students take on a tiny home project. You have wisdom worth sharing! 💡 Join us in uplifting the charter community by sharing your expertise and experience in a workshop at the 2026 Annual Conference. Submit your session proposal by Sept. 30. 📩 Have news from your campus or community? Share it with us by 12 PM each Thursday for inclusion in the NEWS. 
| 3rd September 2025 |
| Innovation in Action: How CSI Schools Are Redefining What’s Possible |
Charter School Institute
As we look back on the 2024–25 school year, we are proud to share the release of our newest publication, Stories of Impact and Innovation. This collection tells the story of how CSI schools are translating ideas into practice, addressing access gaps, rethinking instruction, and elevating school culture. |
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| 3rd September 2025 |
| More Colorado schools and districts showing progress in state report card |
CPR News
More Colorado schools and districts scored higher in the state’s annual report card, according to preliminary results released Wednesday, with overall trends largely consistent with last year. |
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| 3rd September 2025 |
| Merit Academy Launches Hands-On Tiny Home Construction Program |
The Mountain Jackpot News
Merit Academy, a charter school located in Woodland Park, is launching an exciting Tiny Home construction program for local students. The effort is part of a unique partnership with The Seed & Bean, Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC), and the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs (HBA), the sponsoring CICC chapter for Merit Academy. |
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| 1st September 2025 |
| Charter School AP wins 2024-25 Milken Educator Award |
Milken Family Foundation
The State Board of Education recognized Chris Reynolds at their August board meeting for earning the prestigious Milken Educator Award back in March of this year. Mr. Reynolds is the Assistant Principal at Liberty Common High School in Fort Collins where he also teaches AP Microeconomics. |
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| 1st September 2025 |
| 5 Trends Reshaping K-12 Education Across the U.S. |
The 74
Since 2020, interest in homeschooling, microschooling, and other alternatives to conventional education has soared. Entrepreneurial parents and teachers have been building creative schooling options across the U.S. |
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 BVSD, SVVSD candidates vie for open school board seats
Daily Camera | Sept. 3
The Boulder Valley School District will have one contested school board race in November, while the St. Vrain Valley School District will have two contested races.  Meet Ann Bennett, Rye resident and candidate for Pueblo School District 70 school board
The Pueblo Chieftain | Sept. 3
Ann Bennett has lived out of state and abroad, but her roots are anchored deeply in the Greenhorn Valley. The general contractor is running for the Pueblo County School District 70 school board’s District 5 seat this November. A conversation with DCTA President Rob Gould [Podcast]
Boardhawk | Sept. 2
As a service to our listeners, Boardhawk decided to reach out to the two school board election axes of influence — The Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Denver Families Action to learn more about their process and criteria for endorsing candidates, as well as their funding sources and strategies.  New Vision’s Mallory Clasquin named Charter School Educator of the Year
Loveland Reporter-Herald | Sept. 2
Clasquin started the school’s highly successful Amazing Shake program, a club that teaches “soft skills” like public speaking, eye contact and a proper handshake, in an effort to build confidence among students and help them succeed in professional environments. Jeffco Public Schools talks about navigating federal executive orders on DEI, gender
The Gazette | August 29
Jeffco Public Schools does not expect to make any significant policy changes in response to a flurry of federal executive orders dealing with issues of gender, history as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.  Education Expert Explains how to Pick the Right School for a Child in Colorado
HelloNation | August 29
What factors should parents in Colorado consider when deciding which school is best for their child? In HelloNation, Brent Reckman of The Academy of Charter Schools in Westminster, Colorado, provides detailed guidance for families navigating Colorado school choice. Denver schools chief: Trump administration is weaponizing Title IX and pushing ‘anti-trans agenda’
Chalkbeat | August 29
Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said Friday that the Trump administration is pushing “an anti-trans agenda through the weaponization of Title IX,” a federal law the administration says DPS violated when it converted a girls’ restroom to an all-gender one.   Why Back to School Feels Different this Year
The New Yorker | Sept. 3
Pay cuts for teachers, layoffs for school nurses, lost funding for free breakfasts, depleted resources for kids’ mental health—these are just some of the ways that slashed federal budgets could make schools less safe. Why Are So Few Kids Reading for Pleasure?
The 74 | Sept. 3
Doomscrolling. Poor literacy instruction. Overscheduling. These are some of the reasons cited for a generational decline in students reading for fun.  AI Is Being Used in Schools, but Statewide Guidance Is a Work in Progress
The 74 | Sept. 3
Brayden Morgan says artificial intelligence is here to stay and everyone should embrace it. “We have to adapt. We have to stay up to date,” said the 17-year-old high school senior and student member on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. The ‘Missing Middle’: Kids 6-12 Need a Strategy for Boosting Their Well-Being
The 74 | Sept. 2
Brain development doesn’t take a breather in middle childhood. Neither should support for kids in the 'forgotten years.'  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!  Beyond the Bell by Animas High School [a Podcast]
Animas High School has launched a new 7-episode podcast series, Beyond the Bell, exploring how schools, families, and communities can nurture critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and civic responsibility in the next generation. Each episode features engaging conversations with guests who share ideas and experiences that inspire hope and highlight what’s possible in public education. They invite you to tune in, share with colleagues, and join the conversation!
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
 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. 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
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. Please pass this message along to your parents, share to your social media, and sign up today.  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. E-Learning Series on Attendance (Virtual, Ongoing)
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.
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 by September 30.
RESOURCES & GRANTS
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.  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. 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
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.  New Charter Board Members Must File Oath of Office
Pursuant to C.R.S. 22-30.5-104.9(4), new charter school board members must take, sign, and file an oath of office (requirement can be found here 24-12-101, C.R.S.) no later than 80 days after becoming a member. Submit all oaths to the County Clerk Office of County wherein the person was elected or appointed. Each charter should contact their county office to gather specifics on how that county would like to receive the oaths. Any questions, please contact Janyse Skalla at [email protected]. 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. 2024–25 Innovation Schools Report
The latest Innovation Schools Report highlights how more than 100 Colorado innovation schools are reimagining education with creative approaches to 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 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. 
| 4th September 2025 |
| Hollis + Miller Architects, Inc |
| Hollis + Miller is an integrated design firm 100% committed to education and designing the future of learning environments. |
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