EDUCATION TASK FORCE

PURPOSE: To promote the collective actions necessary to advance equity and justice in Colorado’s public education systems and policies as aligned with League positions.

The Education Task Force has been created and maintained to inform and engage members across the state to promote collective actions around public education as aligned with  stated League positions. By increasing the understanding and importance of Colorado’s educational systems and policies through study and presentations, the Education Task Force will influence public policy and legislation at all levels through advocacy, while speaking with one League voice. 

The Education Task Force coordinates with local Leagues and other organizations advocating for policies in the education arena. The Task Force organizes webinars, workshops and presentations on major topics of interest and promotes justice and equity in education through advocacy at all levels of government. The Education Task Force is closely aligned with the efforts of the LWVCO Legislative Action Committee and the LWVUS to ensure cohesion.

1. ORGANIZE small groups based on members' interests in topics like vouchers, TABOR, Department of Education, impacts and charter schools.
   
   
2. SHARE insights and notes form the Network for Public Education conference in April.
   
   
3. FOLLOW UP on letter sent to the State Board of Education regarding meeting minutes and transparency.
   
   
4. RECRUIT volunteers for an observer core to monitor Colorado State Board of Education meetings.
   
   
5. PRESENT Senate Bill 153 (public school financing reporting requirements) at the Legislative Action Committee meeting on Friday.
   
   
6. CHECK who was sent the letter regarding meeting minutes was sent to and ensure State Board members receive it.
   
   
7. Education Task Force members to REVIEW the 1241 Accountability Task Force recommendations shared.
   
   
8. CONTACT News Access and Literacy Chair regarding transparency issues with the State Board of Education.
   
   
9. FOLLOW UP with State Board members if they are not responsive to letter about meeting minutes.
   
   
10. INVESTIGATE possibility to recreating Board Notes at the State Board of education that was previously done.

Board Meeting Agendas:

CO State Board Agendas

If you require special accommodations or need more information, please contact the state board office at state.board@cde.state.co.us.

To request translation and/or interpretation for public in-person meetings and/or materials, please email state.board@cde.state.co.us. Please send all requests for interpreters to the state board within 48 hours before the meeting.

The CSBE holds special meetings between their regularly scheduled monthly meetings! Check their webpage for upcoming special meetings, so you can watch them live or the videos of the meetings.

School Board Observer Corps
We need League Observers for the Colorado Board of Education Meetings!

Observers will take notes of all or part of the proceedings for posting below. To volunteer to join the LWVCO Colorado Board of Education Observer Corps, click here: 

Volunteer for the Colorado State Board of Education Observer Corps 

We also encourage League Observers to attend their local school board meetings and take notes to share.
For more information about Observer Corps, click here.

Watch Live Board Meetings

Colorado Department of Education
Colorado Department of Education


2025 State Accountability Report
1241: Accountability, Accreditation, Student Performance, and Resource Inequity Task Force Report


2025 School Finance Adequacy Studies
SB 23-287 School Finance Adequacy Studies


Colorado State Standards - Social Studies
CO State Standards: Social Studies


Colorado General Assembly Education Committees (2025):
Colorado House Education Committee
Colorado Senate Education Committee
Colorado Youth Advisory Council Committee
Colorado Legislative Council

League Partners' Offerings
Great Education Colorado Presentation - A Real Life Cautionary Tale in Arizona

Fourteen states have taken up a challenge to significantly reduce the rate at which children miss a lot of school, responding to a recent call from a bipartisan coalition for states to prioritize school attendance.

Some of the states making the pledge have had among the highest rates of chronic absenteeism in recent years, such as Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado.

By Kalyn Belsha
Chalkbeat, September 9, 2024

14 states pledge to cut chronic absenteeism rates by half over 5 years

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood revised the way it enrolls students with disabilities in universal preschool amid complaints from districts and providers. Is it working?

By Erica Breunlin
The Colorado Sun, July 19, 2024

Struggles to place kids with disabilities in right preschools forces Colorado to change enrollment

Two new research papers released Wednesday attempt to isolate the effects of federal relief spending on student test scores.
Both analyses, which were conducted independently, find that spending under the relief programs known as ESSER improved test scores in reading and math, and that the improvements were in line with other research showing that more spending boosts student achievement.

By Erica Meltzer
Chalkbeat, June 25, 2024

Federal COVID relief dollars improved student test scores, two new studies find

Most teachers say their schools are good places to work and learn.
Still, they crave more time for planning and more support in helping students who have lived through trauma.

By Erica Breulin
Colorado Sun, May 1, 2024

How are Colorado teachers feeling these days? Good, state survey suggests.

This article's focus is the academic performance results of Colorado innovation school and innovation school zones.
The reporter shares a report that compares assessment results of innovation schools, charter schools, and district run schools - all public schools.

By Erica Breunlin
Colorado Sun, December 6, 2023

15 years after Colorado paved way for a new kind of school, students are falling short

Colorado Republicans urge continued fight against ‘woke agenda’ in education

By Suzie Glassman
Colorado Newsline, December 2, 2023

See the suggested legislation from the Colorado Youth Advisory Council Interim Committee's proposed legislation for 2024 on this topic.
Bills for Consideration

Civics Is the Latest Education Battleground
Virginia, Florida and South Dakota have new standards that focus on patriotism, Christianity and anti-communism.
But debating current events? That’s discouraged.

By Dana Goldstein
New York Times, November 30, 2023

How school boards became one of democracy’s front lines

By Lexi Lonas
The Hill, November 26, 2023
This article offers a historical examination of local school boards.

Fourth graders in Eagle County take on Colorado River water policy

By Shannon Mullane
Colorado Sun, November 24, 2023
Excellent example of very relevant problem-based learning!

STOP Moms For Liberty

By Peter Greene
Forbes, November 3, 2023

Berthoud teacher named Colorado’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

By Ann Schimke
Chalkbeat Colorado, October 27, 2023

Garfield County residents rallied against American Birthright social studies standards

By Jenny Brundin
Colorado Public Radio, October 27, 2023

Moms for Liberty: Where are they, and are they winning?

By Sana Sinha, Nicholas Zerbino, Jon Valant, & Rachel M. Perera
Brookings Governance Studies, October 10, 2023

Woodland Park teachers criticize conservative board that made sweeping changes

By Erica Breunlin
Colorado Sun, October 5. 2023

Chronic Absenteeism Remains High

By Erica Meltzer

Chalkbeat Colorado, October 4, 3023

Absenteeism remains high, with 31% of Colorado students missing too much school last year

Partnerships with Parents Are Key to Solving Heightened Polarization in Schools

By Ashley Woo & Melissa Kay Diliberti
Brookings, Aug 10, 2023

Book removals may have violated student civil rights, Education Dept. says

[The Georgia ruling, although less far-reaching in its implications, is “a quiet shot over the bow against school districts that egregiously and without due process remove books from library shelves,” said Bruce Fuller, who studies education policy at the University of California at Berkeley’s School of Education. “When students are struggling with these issues of identity, and you ban books that are speaking to these kids, that does appear to violate the spirit of the letter of the civil rights law.”]

Washington Post, May 22, 2023

Book Removals and Children's Civil Rights

The American Library Association's Views on Banned Books
This segment was aired on Amanpour & Company on May 1, 2023

Banned Books in School and Public Libraries

Gaslighting Americans about public schools: The truth about ‘A Nation at Risk’

Confused about how Colorado public schools are financed? You are not alone!
This fact sheet from The Bell Policy Center explains this complex issue in understandable language.

The Bell Policy Center 2023
In the Know: School Finance

This detailed article brings together perspectives regarding school safety measures, gun violence in schools, and student mental health support.
The Colorado Sun, April 5, 2023

Do school-based police officers make high schools safer? It depends on how you measure.

This article discusses the issues related to school shootings across the US.
Chalkbeat, April 5, 2023

With more shootings and guns on campus, schools walk a fine line in response

Getting to "Yes" on Civics Education

Opinion by Glenn C. Altschuler and David Wippman
The Hill, March 19, 2023

Information about California's Age-Appropriate Digital Code Legislation
Online protection for children
CA Age-Appropriate Digital Code

The Age Appropriate Design Code: How it Works
AADC: How It Works

California AADC Legislation - 5Rights' Model
California AADC Legislation

The racist idea that changed American education:

How a landmark Supreme Court decision was shaped by the racist idea that poor children can't learn.

Nov 21, 2022

NEPC - National Education Policy Center at CU Boulder

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces high-quality information in support of democratic deliberation about education policy. 

We publish original research, policy briefs, and expert third-party reviews of think tank reports. NEPC publications are written in accessible language and are intended for a broad audience that includes academic experts, policymakers, the media, and the general public.

NEPC Newsletter

Five Charts That Show How Partisan Strife Is Impacting Public Schools