Colorado News
Contentious ‘public Christian school’ board meeting sparks outrage, quick exit
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Source: Chalkbeat Colorado
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Summary: A Pueblo County D70 school board meeting was abruptly adjourned after only five minutes following intense friction over the appointment of a new board member. The conflict centers on Riverstone Academy, a controversial “public Christian school” whose legal standing has sparked religious discrimination lawsuits and divided the local community.
Ex-Cherry Creek superintendent must repay one month’s salary after abrupt resignation
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Source: Denver Gazette
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Summary: Former Superintendent Chris Smith is being required to return a portion of his salary after failing to provide the contractually mandated three-month notice before his sudden departure. The resignation followed serious allegations of a “toxic culture” involving Smith and his wife, the district’s former HR chief, both of whom have since left their roles.
National Perspectives
Trump talks up AI in State of the Union, but not much else about education
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Source: Education Week
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Summary: In his recent address to Congress, President Trump highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in the future of the American workforce while largely ignoring traditional K-12 policy priorities. The omission has left education advocates searching for clarity on the administration’s stance toward federal school funding and school choice initiatives for the coming year.
Are students really learning? How to check for understanding
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Source: Education Week
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Summary: Education experts are calling for a shift away from passive classroom checks like “Does everyone understand?” in favor of more active, data-driven assessment strategies. The report suggests that high-signal pedagogical shifts, such as real-time digital polling and peer-to-peer explanations, are essential for identifying learning gaps before they become systemic failures.
Commentaries (Published Feb 26)
No Adult Left Behind: The Politics of Education
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Source: Chalkbeat
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Summary: This piece explores how school board politics are often driven by adult-centric labor and taxpayer interests rather than student academic achievement. It argues that meaningful reform requires changing the political incentives that currently reward “culture war” grandstanding over educational quality.
Banning cellphone use in classrooms is paying off, group says
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Source: ConsumerAffairs (National Policy Report)
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Summary: A new report highlights that “bell-to-bell” cellphone bans have increased from 60% to 74% of schools in the last year, leading to improved face-to-face social interaction. However, researchers warn that school-issued laptops are emerging as the next significant digital distraction that current policies fail to address.