- Many parents of Denver fifth-graders are scrambling now to get their kids into the best schools – -wherever they are in the district. It often means overlooking the school down the block.
- A new report shows that Denver’s nationally recognized school discipline policy still isn’t making the grade. Minorities aren’t being treated fairly and too many schools are calling in police when the policy says they shouldn’t. CPR education reporter Jenny Brundin looks at the problems the report finds, and the bright spots.
- Its crunch time for parents of fifth graders. They’re already knee-deep in choosing a middle school for next year.
- Lt. Governor Joe Garcia wants to start a movement –a social movement aimed at improving reading skills in Colorado’s young children. Why? A third of the state’s third-graders can’t read like they’re supposed to. Garcia says to start that movement you need to first find out what’s working and what’s not.
- The Colorado board of education will vote this afternoon on a set of rules to guide a ground-breaking change in how public school teachers are evaluated. The new law stirred up controversy last year but reactions to the new rules have generally been positive. Here’s a transcript of CPR education reporter Jenny Brundin’s story.
- Proposition 103 — the nation’s only statewide tax vote on the November ballot -– was soundly defeated last night, by 64 percent to 36 percent. Voters across the state said no to raising sales and income taxes to boost money for schools and colleges. Here’s CPR education reporter Jenny Brundin’s story.
- In school districts across the state, voters are being asked to spend more on their local schools – to build new schools or renovate old ones, or to raise money for teachers and programs that have been cut because state funding has dropped off in recent years.
- It’s the only statewide measure on the November’s ballot. But so far, Proposition 103’s been a low-key campaign relying exclusively on grassroots activism on both sides. The measure aims to raise $3 billion dollars for public schools and colleges.
- There’s just one statewide measure on the November ballot. It’s Proposition 103. And it aims to raise $3 billion for public schools. It does that by raising the state income and state sales taxes to what they were in 1999. State Sen. Rollie Heath, a Democrat, is the driving force behind Prop 103.
- Denver’s school district has captured the national spotlight for reforms like closing schools and reopening them with bold turnaround plans. The changes didn’t come easily. It took rancorous debate and a slim majority vote on Denver’s seven-member school board.
- For a young person, reciting Shakespeare is a lofty challenge: the language is at times beautiful and subtle, at times dangerous and passionate. On Sunday, students from across the state competed to recite Shakespeare’s words with feeling and clarity.
- More and more kids in the state are choosing online schools. And when they do, they’re going on your dime. Just like you pay for the public school down the street, you pay for these virtual campuses. But are they a good investment of tax dollars?
- As competition increases between schools to attract students, the pressure is on for principals to raise test scores and retain good teachers. Yesterday, we spent time with principal Peter Sherman as he got ready for the new school year. The 9-year principal is fresh off a training fellowship.
- As pressure builds for school reform, the spotlight is shining brightly on principals. A good one can raise test scores and retain families and good teachers. Today we’ll visit with one principal who has made great strides. But Peter Sherman’s not resting yet.
- Coloradans marked the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at several events across the state. Colorado Public Radio Reporters Pat Mack and Jenny Brundin attended two of the largest gatherings and have this report. Here are the transcripts of their reports. [Photos: Pat Mack and Jenny Brundin/CPR] Reporter: I’m Pat Mack.
- On 9/11, all over Colorado, classroom teachers scrambled for how to react to the day’s horrifying events. In fact, they’re still trying to figure it out today. For one student, just watching how his veteran teacher responded that day would have a lasting impact on his own future.
