April MOVE from the League

Welcome to the MOVE for April 💐

Happy spring! Great Schools Colorado applications are officially open this morning and there is still time to nominate your favorite charter school teacher for Colorado Teacher of the Year! Then, PLEASE take just two-to-three minutes for our annual member survey. We take your feedback seriously as we continuously work to improve our support, service and advocacy for Colorado’s charter school community.

Discover new resources galore, including session recordings from the annual conference and a new online legal library. Hear from both VP Policy Prateek Dutta and League President Dan Schaller. Plus, an Animas senior talks leadership and the next in our continuing rural food series.

If your campus has an update to share, please submit it to us by 12 PM each Thursday.

Crunch Time at the Capitol

Prateek Dutta, VP Policy

As we enter the final stretch of the legislative session, we want to share a few timely—and encouraging—updates from under the dome. This past week, two important milestones were reached: the School Finance Act passed unanimously out of its first committee, and the state budget cleared both chambers. The confluence of these two developments sets the stage for a promising conclusion to the remainder of this session.

Those of you reading our legislative updates or attending our legislative lunches know the state is grappling with a nearly $1.2 billion budget shortfall. Despite that challenging backdrop, we're proud to report that K–12 education—and charter schools in particular—are in a favorable position with less than a month to go in the session.

That’s no accident. It’s the result of persistent, behind-the-scenes advocacy from the League, strong relationships with legislative champions, and the collective voice of our movement showing up at just the right moments.

Here are a few quick highlights from both the budget and School Finance Act:

Increased Funding for K-12 Education: As currently drafted, the School Finance Act will increase statewide average PPR by nearly $400 per student (3.5%) in the 25-26 school year, adding $256.7 million more in education funding than what was allocated last year.
CSI Mill Levy Equalization: The state budget fully funds the CSI Mill Levy Equalization Fund, continuing Colorado’s commitment to funding all schools equitably. In a budget year where there was nearly $1.2 billion shortfall, we increased the CSI mill levy equalization by over $5 million, a remarkable feat. This means students in CSI charter schools will receive comparable mill levy funding to their peers in district-run schools.
Charter Capital Construction: Although the state contribution will be slightly reduced next year, we remain on track to receive the entirety of our federal match. Taken together, charter schools in Colorado will secure nearly $100 million from state and federal sources for capital construction dollars over the next five years.
Restoring the At-Risk Supplemental: The entire $7 million dollars, which was cut by the Joint Budget Committee, has been restored via an amendment to the School Finance Act. The funding will still be phased out over the next two years as the new funding formula takes effect, but we successfully advocated for a more gradual step down than had been originally adopted.
Protecting Part-Time Enrichment: Part-time enrichment will continue to be funded at .5 PPR. There had been some discussion about cutting this funding in half, but those efforts failed to make their way into either the state budget or the School Finance Act.
Increasing the Cap on the Moral Obligation Program: An additional amendment to the School Finance Act would increase the cap on the Moral Obligation Program—which helps charter schools access low-interest bonds for facilities—by $250 million, bringing the total to $1 billion. This expansion would open the door for more charter schools to finance facilities sustainably and affordably.

While the budget has now passed both the House and the Senate, it’s important to note that the process isn’t quite finished. Because each chamber adopted different amendments, those differences must now be reconciled. A final version will need to pass both chambers again before it can be sent to the governor for signature.

Just as important as the bills that passed are the ones that didn’t. Thanks to early, proactive engagement—and strong relationships with the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker, and key lawmakers from both parties—we successfully helped prevent damaging legislation that could have undermined charter autonomy or added unnecessary bureaucracy for schools.

Efforts resembling last year’s HB 24-1363 or bills to limit the expansion of CSI schools never gained traction, and in many cases, never even made it to the drafting stage. That’s the kind of quiet, behind-the-scenes advocacy that defines our work: stopping bad policy before it becomes a public fight.

We still have a few weeks to go, and nothing is set in stone, but we're pleased to report that charter schools are in a strong position as we head into the final stretch of the session.

If you do not receive our legislative updates, please sign up here. You are also welcome to join the legislative lunch at 12:00 on Fridays. And lastly, please take a look at the Bill Tracker to monitor the bills we are tracking.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our advocacy team—or email me directly at [email protected].

Prateek Dutta, VP of Policy

For the Colorado League of Charter Schools

Where’s the focus on education quality in Colorado?

[From the Denver Gazette | April 4, 2025]

There is no shortage of public discussion about education in Colorado. Media articles, opinion pieces, and social media posts routinely talk about issues ranging from school funding and technology to school meals and safety. While these issues are no doubt important, what is sorely lacking from the public discourse about education right now is an urgent and consistent focus on quality.

The truth is that our schools are in crisis. The latest National Assessment for Educational Progress test results — known less formally as “the Nation’s Report Card” — were released last month, and they can only serve as a wake-up call for families and policymakers. The average student in our country remains nearly half a grade level behind in math and reading compared to pre-pandemic levels — and those pre-pandemic levels were nothing to brag about. If ever there were a time when quality must be front and center in the dialogue and decision-making about education in our state, it is now. [read more]

🍲 Rural School Food Series: A Wash of Change at KQA

By Kim Daly

At Knowledge Quest Academy (KQA), a steadfast commitment to student wellness and nutrition is driving transformative change. Among the most impactful advancements is the planned addition of a commercial dishwasher.

It's a move that will significantly enhance the school’s meal program while supporting environmental sustainability.

Currently, KQA serves breakfast and lunch to approximately 83% of its student population each day. However, meals are served on Styrofoam trays, generating a considerable amount of waste. The school has been offered reusable trays and silverware, but without a dishwasher, the transition to a more sustainable model is unattainable. The introduction of a commercial dishwasher will not only reduce waste but also allow the school to increase its scratch cooking.

This year, three of our Charter Champions are graduating high school and heading into the next phase of their lives. To celebrate, we're catching up with each of them to discover what their training has provided, and what's next for both life and leadership.

What specific skills or knowledge did you acquire as a Charter Champion that you find most valuable?

Advocacy training was particularly valuable for me because it expanded my knowledge of charter schools. I've been attending a charter school for four years, but it took until I became a charter champion for me to understand how they work.

Learning about the fundamentals of charter schools, how they differ from typical public schools, where their funding comes from, and what makes them unique was incredibly interesting to me. Aside from learning about my own school, I also learned general skills about advocacy. After seeing the power of advocacy at Advocacy Day up in Denver, it struck me just how important knowing how to speak up for yourself and your causes is.

Learn more about Cassidy

▶️ Watch now: Annual Conference Sessions

Maggie Jackson keynote Vimeo screenshot.png

Relive the best moments from the Annual Conference. All recordings from the event are now live on our website. Log in to watch Maggie Jackson’s keynote on embracing uncertainty and Dr. Steve Perry’s address on dismantling barriers and redefining what is possible.

You’ll also find each Hall of Fame speech, as well as recorded solution sessions packed with practical takeaways and innovative ideas. And don’t forget to browse our full photo gallery, capturing the energy, connection, and momentum that defined this year’s event.

Watch now

📚 New Online Resource: Legal Library

New to the website's resources section, the Legal Library offers legal and policy overviews covering timely and critical issues affecting education. The newest edition overviews the topic most recently in the news, DEI. With the administration saying on April 3 they would withhold funds if schools are using DEI (news article) Eric Hall wrote an overview of the topic here.

All the overviews listed on our resource page – authored by Eric Hall of Sparks Willson P.C. – offer valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers navigating current events. Titles include:

✅ Member Survey Extended through Monday

If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete our 2024–25 Member Survey. Your feedback is crucial in helping us better support, serve, and advocate for Colorado’s charter school community.

The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to Monday, April 14. The survey takes less than five minutes, and all responses are confidential.

As a thank you for participating:

School and Network Leaders & Business Managers who complete the survey and provide their email will receive a $10 Starbucks eGift card.
All other participants will be entered into a drawing for two $25 gift cards.

Take now

10th April 2025

Our last Town Hall of the school year is coming up

🏛️ The last Town Hall of the school year is on May 16 at 10AM—don't miss it!

Bill Knous, Senior Director of School Quality and Growth

Bill brings diverse leadership experience to his work, including a strong focus on community engagement, student recruitment, and building high-performing teams. He supports school leaders across the state and is committed to expanding access to quality education for all students.

A Denver native and DPS graduate, Bill previously served as a School Director at DSST: Public Schools and as Secondary Principal at Colegio Granadino in Colombia. He holds degrees from the University of Wyoming and Villanova University, completed the National Principals Fellowship, and co-founded the education startup Gran Via Education. Fluent in Spanish, Bill is an avid reader and passionate Denver sports fan.

Bill also facilitates our LAUNCH Cohort, a group geared towards charter school founders who are approximately 18 months from launch with an approved charter application or clear pathway to authorization. Connect with Bill at the next LAUNCH Cohort meeting on Tuesday, April 15th from 11:30am–1:00pm.

Great Schools Colorado New Grant Cycle Underway

The competition for the Continuation Grant kicked off on April 4 for six identified schools, while new grant opportunities open for new and expanding schools today, April 11. For more information, please visit the Great Schools Colorado website. A technical assistance webinar will be held this morning April 11 at 8:30 am. The recording will be posted to the the website following the meeting if you are unable to attend.

The cohort held its second session on April 8, where we explored the allowable use of funds for the Great Schools Colorado (CSP) sub-grantees. This session provided an in-depth look at fund allocation to help charter schools maximize resources while staying compliant. Watch the recording here.

Stay connected

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Learning Opportunities

Interdisciplinary Additive Manufacturing Research Experience for Teachers (IAM-RET)
Spend six weeks full-time at the Mines campus in Golden, CO, doing hands-on 3D printing research with metals, ceramics, and polymers. Earn a $7K stipend, develop curriculum, and receive 3D printing supplies for your classroom. Visit the IAM-RET website for details.

Teach Plus Colorado Teaching Policy Fellowship
The Teach Plus Colorado Fellowship empowers educators to influence education policy while staying in the classroom through a 10-month program beginning summer 2025. Learn more at the info session on Tuesday, April 15, from 6–7 PM and apply by May 2.

Evidence-Informed Strategies for Math Instruction
CDE’s free, self-paced math course is now accepting interest forms for its third cohort. Designed for K–12 educators, it offers 14 modules, school-wide facilitation guides, and optional graduate credit—complete the form for priority registration.

Webinar: Trauma-Informed Practices in Arts Education (April 21)
Join CDE’s Arts team on April 21 from 1:00–2:30 PM for a webinar on Trauma-Informed Practices in arts classrooms. Learn strategies to create inclusive, supportive spaces in music, dance, drama, and visual arts—register here.

Webinar: The Importance of Building Trusting Relationships with Youth (April 23)
Join Project AWARE virtually from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 to learn strategies adults can use to develop healthy and meaningful connections with youth. Details here.

Get Involved

Apply Now: Recognize Colorado’s Next Teacher of the Year
This prestigious program recognizes an exceptional educator who will serve as an advocate for teachers and students across the state. Any teacher may apply, and applications are due by Wednesday, April 23.

Submit Your Promising Partnership Practices Year-round
SACPIE and CDE are collecting standout partnership practices for the eleventh annual Promising Partnership Practices—Colorado book. Schools, districts, and educational organizations are encouraged to submit their initiatives year-round to highlight innovative collaborations for student success.

Attend the League's next Regional Gathering: April 16 in Loveland
Our Regional Gatherings bring together charter leaders from across the state to connect with peers, engage with League staff, and discuss state-level and policy efforts. Drinks and appetizers are on us. Join one or sign up for multiple to strengthen your connections. Join us in Loveland on April 16.

Join Today’s Legislative Lunch
Join our free, virtual Legislative Lunches every Friday from 12:00–12:30 PM for quick updates on education policy and charter school issues. Stay informed on key developments at the state Capitol throughout the legislative session.

Find a Learning Community
Enhance your professional growth with our ten specialized Learning Communities. From board chairs to marketing professionals, these opportunities will help you collaborate, learn, and strengthen the charter school community.

Resources & Grants

Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant
Boost literacy for Colorado's children (birth-12th grade), especially children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities. Apply for the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant by May 1st at 4 p.m.

Free Girls’ Leadership Curriculum
Lean In Girls is a free, evidence-based leadership curriculum for girls ages 11–15, designed to build confidence, reframe failure, and inspire bold leadership. With 15 one-hour sessions, it’s easy to implement in after-school programs, advisory, or enrichment periods. Learn more or join an info session to see how schools nationwide are empowering girls to lead with confidence!

Support for Rural LEAs and BOCES
Register to join the first ESEA Office Hours session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 10. This new series will focus on rural needs, discuss federal funding opportunities, share strategies, and provide just-in-time support for busy administrators. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Immigration Resources for School Leaders
In response to requests, the League has compiled a list of immigration-related resources to help schools navigate regulations and rights. Access the resources here, including details on how to view the recorded webinar.

Free K-12 Math Resources
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has released free K-12 math resources to improve student proficiency. Developed with educators and institutions, these toolkits offer research-based materials, assessments, and activities to address declining math scores.

CDE Updates

CDE's Response to April 3 Title VI Certification Request
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) will not collect or submit signed copies of the April 3 Title VI certification, as it was not approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act and lacks legal clarity. CDE remains committed to Title VI compliance and will submit the most recent OMB-approved civil rights assurances. Read the full announcement here.

CDE Statement on DHS Directive Change Regarding Sensitive Locations and Protected Areas
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is aware of the recent DHS directive rescinding the designation of schools as “sensitive locations” for federal immigration activities. CDE remains committed to ensuring all students, regardless of immigration status, have access to a safe learning environment and encourages school leaders to review federal resources to support immigrant students and their families.

4th April 2025

EF Tours

For over 55 years, EF has been working to bring learning to life through educational travel.

Colorado’s K-12 education department won’t comply with Trump’s DEI order
Denver Post | April 10
Colorado will not comply with a federal order to certify that the state’s K-12 school districts are following civil rights law and eliminating what the Trump administration says are illegal diversity, equity and inclusion practices, Education Commissioner Susana Córdova said Thursday.

SHIFT Chronicles: What we learned during Advocacy Day at the State Capitol
Boardhawk | April 10
Advocacy Day was a powerful opportunity for our community to engage with the legislative process, learn about policymaking, and advocate for justice for all children across Colorado.

Opponents of religious charter school: St. Isidore poses threat to all public charters
Tulsa World | April 9
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools was among 76 organizations from within the charter school movement — including charter school authorizers or sponsors, school leaders and parents — that submitted briefs this week in favor of the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s 2024 decision to deny the opening of St. Isidore, a proposed Catholic charter school.

The NAEP Test ‘Absolutely’ Needs to Stay, Linda McMahon Says. The Education Department? Not So Much
The 74 | April 8
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Tuesday told a crowd of educators, tech executives and investors that public education in America is unsustainable, suggesting that the nation’s low literacy and math scores show it has “gotten to a point that we just can’t keep going along doing what we’re doing.”

Colorado bill seeks to protect student records and limit immigration enforcement on school grounds
Chalkbeat | April 8
Colorado lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill Tuesday that seeks to curtail cooperation and the release of records to federal immigration enforcement officials, including public schools, colleges and universities, and child care centers.

‘Chainsaw Approach’ to Budget Cuts Leaves Military Families as Collateral Damage
The 74 | April 8
Collateral damage is primarily a military term, and it is perhaps the best way to describe what some families of America’s service members have become in the face of Elon Musk and the Trump administration’s chainsaw approach to cutting government spending.

Flagstaff Academy Dragon Bots Robotics Team Shines in VEX IQ Competitions
Flagstaff Academy | April 8
The Flagstaff Academy Charter School girls’ 4th-grade robotics team, known as the Dragon Bots, is making waves across the country with their impressive performance in VEX IQ Competitive Robotics tournaments.

The big deal facing charter schools
Politico | April 7
The Supreme Court this month will hear arguments over a religious charter school that has blurred the lines between church and state.

Where’s the focus on education quality in Colorado?*
The Denver Gazette | April 4
There is no shortage of public discussion about education in Colorado. Media articles, opinion pieces and social media posts routinely talk about issues ranging from school funding and technology to school meals and safety.

DOE Launches Title IX Investigations Team
U.S Department of Education | April 4
The US Department of Education (ED) shared a press release on Friday, April 4 announcing the launch of the “Title IX Special Investigations Team.” The team includes representatives from both ED and the US Department of Justice.

Hundreds of millions of federal dollars for Colorado schools at risk amid Trump DEI threats
Chalkbeat | April 4
About $800 million dollars in federal funding, or roughly 10% of Colorado’s K-12 education budget this year, could be at risk related to the latest demand from the Trump administration.

Re-committing to fostering joy in Colorado classrooms
Boardhawk | April 4
Colorado educators are watching from halfway across the country as funding for children’s health care is slashed, the U.S. Department of Education is being dismantled, DOGE eliminates educational research, and NAEP scores show academic regression.

*Featured League Staff or Board Member

10 April 2025

Regional Gathering: Denver South

Join your Denver South Charter School leaders for a League Hosted Happy Hour.

Regional Gatherings, Parker

10 April 2025

Title IX Training: Decision Maker

Updated training for effective decisions associated with Title IX complaints.

Title IX, Hybrid

11 April 2025

Legislative Lunches

A cohort for charter school leaders and board members who wish to stay updated on happenings at the State Capitol as they relate to education and the charter school sector. Meets weekly during the legislative session.

Policy Calls, Virtual

16 April 2025

Regional Gathering: Northern Colorado

Join your Northern Colorado Charter School leaders for a League Hosted Happy Hour.

Regional Gatherings, Loveland

12th February 2025

Stewards of Children Training

In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, we invite you to attend Stewards of Children, a live, virtual training on practical strategies to prevent child sexual abuse. This free, evidence-informed training is offered by Illuminate Colorado and is open to anyone interested in creating safer environments for children.

Register Today for the Upcoming Project AWARE Opportunities!

10th April 2025

Register today for our Neuroplasticity Community of Practice Sessions, Educator Wellbeing Retreat, and Lunch + Learn on building trusting relationships with youth.

10th December 2024

Culinary Arts on Wheels: Career Education in Action

Learn how Twin Rivers Unified is taking career education to the next level with a culinary arts food truck! This innovative program gives students hands-on experience in cooking and business management, preparing them for future careers.