Chalkbeat

The first day of school is almost here. If you need help finding free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, clothing, and more, here’s where to get it in the Denver area.

Cell phone policies were due in Colorado schools at the start of the month.

The cost of tuition and fees at a Colorado public university has increased nearly 125% since the Great Recession, a rate far outpacing inflation since 2009. At the state’s two-year colleges, these prices have almost doubled.

The proposed changes come as one such school faces state sanctions and a potential loss of funding after complaints about how it physically restrains students.

Before a ban on cellphones, Jill Haffley said her classroom “was like Vegas.”“The cellphones were lighting up all the time,” said Haffley, who was a teacher for 30 years before being elected to the Colorado Springs School District 11 school board.

Denver students won’t be allowed to use cellphones, smartwatches, or other personal devices during the school day when they return to class this fall.

The Colorado CareerWise program was established in 2016 to help high school students prepare for a career path.

The share of Colorado students who met or exceeded state standards on state math tests rose from last year to this year in nearly every grade. But when it comes to literacy, it’s more of a mixed bag.

Dozens of Colorado districts that have recently started their own online programs or plan to soon, competing for students at a time when enrollment is declining statewide.

Would DPS need to close more schools, she asked at a meeting last week? And when? The answer was yes. And possibly soon.