Chalkbeat

Chalkbeat Colorado shares a few of the educational topics they plan to follow and cover in the new year.

The agreement marks the end of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s involvement in a federal lawsuit spearheaded last spring by the 27,000-student District 49 near Colorado Springs. The lawsuit will continue with other defendants, including Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and officials from the Colorado Civil Rights Division.

Angie Paccione has led the Colorado Department of Higher Education as its executive director since 2019, when Gov. Jared Polis took office. Colorado’s higher education department provides support to campuses and develops statewide policies.

The Denver Public Schools Foundation is using a fund to buy grocery gift cards for families affected by the delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, payments and to help stock school food pantries, which have reportedly seen an uptick in visitors.

The money comes as part of the governor’s proposal that includes a small budget increase for the state’s universal preschool program.

The federal government provided Colorado more than $6 million annually to use on educational programs like the one offered in the 600-student school district located in the San Luis Valley.

If passed, Proposition MM would raise up to $95-million toward providing free breakfast and lunch to students.

Colorado does not have any HBCUs or tribal colleges. It has 14 public MSIs, six of which receive federal grant funding. The decision means schools won’t get the money promised to them starting in October.

Kiran Herz and Jaiden Hwang, two high school seniors from Colorado, are advocating for a law that would guarantee automatic admission to state universities for students in the top 10% of their class. They hope to reduce the stress of the college admissions process and make higher education more accessible.

A coalition of liberal groups are proposing a new tax measure to add additional funding for K through 12 schools and higher education. The measure would be in the November 2026 ballot. Melanie Asmar, Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat Colorado, discussed this with KUNC's Desmond O'Boyle.