(63) POWR, Protections, and Pitfalls: Navigating Colorado’s Expanding Employment Laws in Charter Schools

1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 26 February 2026 ‐ 1 hour

Room: Humboldt Peak

Human Resources & Staff

Colorado has significantly expanded workplace protections through the POWR Act, CRS 22-1-143, and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). These laws impose new compliance obligations on charter schools, including policy adoption, notification, documentation, and in some cases mandatory training.

Attend this workshop to:
- Understand the scope of the POWR Act and how it redefines harassment, discrimination, and record-keeping obligations
- Review CRS 22-1-143 and its specific requirements for school policies, training, and notification
- Explore the broader protections under CADA and their implications for employment practices in charter schools.
- Identify risk areas where leaders often fall out of compliance.
- Gain practical strategies and tools to implement policies that meet legal standards while supporting a positive workplace.

Participants will hear about real-world scenarios drawn from Colorado schools and take part in an interactive exercise to deepen their understanding of the topic.

Speakers

Michelle Olson

Director of HR, Minga Education Group

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Michelle Olson

Director of HR, Minga Education Group

Michelle is passionate about creating workplaces where businesses and employees thrive together. With a BS and Master’s degree in Human Resources and Organizational Management, along with her SHRM-CP certification, she has built a career dedicated to training, coaching, and fostering better workplaces. As the Past President of the Western Colorado Human Resource Association (WCHRA), Michelle remains deeply engaged in staying at the forefront of employment laws and HR best practices.