News Reports
Colorado News
The Colorado Sun: Governor Proposes Changing Vehicle Tax to Fill Budget Hole, Sparking K-12 Fear Gov. Jared Polis has proposed a plan to sweep “Specific Ownership Tax” revenue from vehicle registrations into the state’s general school funding formula to help address a massive budget shortfall. District leaders, including Denver Public Schools’ CFO Chuck Carpenter, warned this morning that the move effectively cuts tens of millions in local funding that districts “are due by law,” potentially leading to staff layoffs. https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/23/colorado-school-funding-cuts-specific-ownership-tax-polis/
CPR News: Bill to Seal Children’s Name-Change Records Advances After Veto Threat Colorado lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 26-018 this morning after removing a controversial provision that would have influenced child custody based on a parent’s affirmation of gender identity. The remaining bill, which moves forward today, requires courts to automatically suppress name-change records for minors to prevent students from being “outed” in their school communities. https://www.cpr.org/2026/02/23/colorado-transgender-children-name-change-records-bill-moves-forward/
National News
The Washington Post: One in 10 Undergrads is Now a High School Student New federal data released this morning shows dual enrollment is the primary driver of undergraduate growth, with 2.8 million high schoolers now enrolled in college courses. The report highlights a 12.7% increase in participation, putting immense pressure on school districts to fund these courses while maintaining traditional K-12 offerings. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/02/23/dual-enrollment-high-school/
Commentary & Opinion
Colorado Perspectives
The Denver Gazette (Editorial): Keep Colorado’s Public Business Public The Gazette Editorial Board issued a sharp critique this morning of the state legislature’s attempts to hide key deliberations. They are calling for public support of a new constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right to know the affairs of all levels of state and local government, specifically targeting “vague” school board agendas and closed-door sessions. https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/02/23/editorial-keep-colorados-public-business-public/