MOVE Articles

As we enter the final stretch of the legislative session, we want to share a few timely—and encouraging—updates from under the dome.

There is no shortage of public discussion about education in Colorado. Media articles, opinion pieces and social media posts routinely talk about issues ranging from school funding and technology to school meals and safety. While these issues are no doubt important, what is sorely lacking from the public discourse about education right now is an urgent and consistent focus on quality.

It was great to see so many of you at our annual conference a couple of weeks ago. Over 30 years after the creation of charter schools in Colorado, it was one of our most well-attended conferences ever, which speaks to the energy and enthusiasm that continue to drive and define our collective work on behalf of Colorado kids.

If ever there was a time when quality needed to be front and center in our dialogue and decision-making about education, it is now.

We can say quality in numerous ways in the world of education. We can talk about measurements and assessments. We can talk about qualitative and quantitative data. We can also look at a number of different factors including school climate and performance and student outcomes and engagement.

We are celebrating an extraordinary year for Colorado charter schools with record-breaking achievements, but we must stay vigilant for the challenges that lie ahead, says League President Dan Schaller.

The outcome of the race made one thing clear: Charter school families are a political force to be reckoned with. 

Today, the Leadership Summit is happening at the Gaylord of the Rockies. I can’t wait to see so many of you there. If you can’t make it, we’ll miss you. Our theme this year is Catalysts, and as the vice chair of the League’s board of directors and chief of staff at Global Village Academy (GVA) Collaborative, I see this idea of catalysts everywhere I go. 

While publicly addressing falsehoods can sometimes amplify them, allowing misinformation to spread unchecked is perhaps more harmful. It’s for that reason that I aim to set the record straight.

I wanted to start today with a couple of thank yous. First, to David Singer, our board chair, for his article last month on why the charter school community is so important.

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! In this August edition of the League’s MOVE, I want to thank you for everything you and your communities do to launch a positive, healthy, and successful school year.