Editor’s note: In this era of a badly fractured media landscape, it can be challenging to find specialized news of any type in one convenient location. Boardhawk is hoping to solve that problem for people interested in Colorado education news and commentary, with a smattering of national news and commentary thrown in for good measure. Please let us know if you find this useful.
Colorado Education News – February 9, 2026
How Two State Programs Aim to Address Affordable Housing for Colorado Teachers Colorado lawmakers are advancing a dual-track strategy to combat the educator housing crisis, headlined by the proposed $1.2 billion “BETER” program. This initiative allows school districts to use interest from the state’s public school fund to build rental housing for staff on district land, while a separate $50 million pilot program provides rural teachers with low-interest mortgages and no down payment. Read more at The Colorado Sun
HOME Act (HB26-1001) Clears Colorado House, Moves to Senate The “Housing Opportunities Made Easier” (HOME) Act passed its final reading in the Colorado House today on a 35-24 vote. The legislation, which empowers school districts to bypass local zoning hurdles to build affordable workforce housing on their own parcels, now moves to the Senate amid ongoing debate over state intervention in local land-use authority. Read more at Colorado Politics
Colorado Bill to Expand Seal of Biliteracy Moves Forward House Bill 26-1028 passed a key committee vote today, aiming to modernize how Colorado recognizes bilingual students. The measure would create a new “Bilingualism” endorsement and expand qualifying criteria to ensure students in rural and majority-minority districts can access these credentials for college and career advancement. Read more at Sentinel Colorado
Colorado Opinion & Commentary
Empowering Parents Through Educational Choice Columnist Stephanie Hancock argues that Colorado’s entry into the federal tax credit scholarship program is a landmark win for parental agency and workforce readiness. She contends that by breaking the “one-size-fits-all” model, the state is finally allowing funding to follow students to the environments that best serve their unique literacy and developmental needs. Read the full commentary at The Denver Gazette
National Education News
Inclusive Classrooms: Why Nashville’s Model Benefits All Students A new report from Education Week highlights how the Nashville district successfully dismantled segregated classrooms for students with disabilities. The analysis shows that meaningful inclusion in general education settings leads to higher expectations and richer learning experiences for all students, not just those with individualized education programs (IEPs). Read more at Education Week
Adults Favor Strict Age Restrictions for Social Media and AI A new national survey released today by Common Sense Media finds that 6 in 10 adults support age verification requirements for social media and gaming platforms. The report underscores a growing bipartisan consensus among parents and educators to implement safeguards for children’s privacy and data security in the face of rapidly advancing AI technologies. Read more at Education Week
National Opinion & Commentary
10 Policy Recommendations to Address Cellphone Use in Schools The Center for American Progress has released a comprehensive framework for districts looking to manage or restrict mobile device use in classrooms. The report argues that while bans can reduce immediate distractions, they must be paired with digital citizenship curricula and family training to address the root causes of screen dependency. Read the full commentary at Center for American Progress
How Can Educators Teach in These Turbulent Times? Opinion contributor Larry Ferlazzo explores the challenges of maintaining a neutral and supportive classroom environment during periods of intense national political and social unrest. He suggests that focusing on critical thinking and civic engagement allows students to process complex events while staying grounded in their academic work. Read the full commentary at Education Week
