7 Colorado education issues we’re watching in 2026
Colorado education issues to watch in 2026 include budgetary constraints, declining enrollment, and the fate of Colorado’s first “public Christian school.”
Colorado parents can soon recover child care waitlist and application fees
A state law taking effect in 2026 will allow parents to recoup certain fees paid to child care centers if their kids aren’t offered a seat within six months.
Gov. Jared Polis selects new leader of Colorado’s higher education department
JB Holston will lead the Colorado Department of Higher Education following a career in business and civic leadership. He also advised on a report that recommended merging the department with other workforce functions.
Pueblo District 70 board member resigns in wake of ‘public Christian school’ controversy
Anne Ochs had two more years in her school board term. She submitted her resignation letter Wednesday.
Colorado parents: Here’s what to know about signing up for free preschool for 2026
State officials say parents should be able to fill out the universal preschool application in about five minutes.
Polis all in on Trump’s tax-credit scholarship while other Dem governors wait and see
Polis all in on Trump’s tax-credit scholarship while other Dem governors wait and see
Christian law firm’s search for test case led to religious public school in Colorado, emails suggest
Alliance Defending Freedom approached a Colorado lawyer about starting a school in Colorado to spark a legal test of publicly funded religious education, according to an email authored by the lawyer.
One sales tax for child care passing, one failing
Both measures asked voters for a .25% sales tax increase, the equivalent of 25 cents on every $100 spent.
Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal keeps K-12 funding promises, allows for college tuition increases
After proposing changes to the state’s K-12 funding formula last year, Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal plans to fulfill changes made during this year’s session.
These Colorado schools may have to stop serving universal free meals if 2 ballot measures fail
About 1,800 schools participate in Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, which offers students free breakfast and lunch.
This ‘public Christian school’ opened quietly in Colorado. Now there could be a legal fight.
The school’s Christian affiliation was omitted or downplayed in documents submitted to the state, a BOCES, and a Pueblo area school district.
CU Denver and Aurora partnership highlights growing statewide trend to make admissions easier
Easier admissions policies have started to grow in popularity in Colorado.
Will 24 new paraprofessionals help students in this Colorado school district become better readers?
Less than a quarter of Westminster’s elementary and middle school students are reading and writing at grade level, according to 2025 state literacy test results.
Colorado’s 2026 Teacher of the Year is Greeley social studies teacher Stephen Paulson
Paulson was selected from among 419 applicants.
Colorado to offer a new training for teachers on using the state’s ‘red flag’ gun law
Educators were added to the list of people who can request someone’s guns be temporarily confiscated. But very few have so far.
New Colorado group focuses on student achievement, parent rights. Will it fan culture war flames?
“I don’t think we should be spending taxpayer resources to bring that into our district,” said a District 49 school board member.
