Colorado education news, February 12

Colorado News Reports

Denver promised to expand and diversify its elite public arts school. It hasn’t happened yet. A major investigation published this morning reveals that Denver Public Schools has quietly retreated from a $40 million plan to expand the Denver School of the Arts (DSA). While the district purchased a new campus five years ago to increase enrollment and diversify the student body, ballooning renovation costs and shifting board priorities have stalled the project.
Student-led ‘Day of Action’ at the Capitol pushes for stricter illegal firearm regulations Over 100 students from across the metro area rallied at the State Capitol yesterday to support a legislative ban on “ghost guns.” Organized by the student wing of Everytown for Gun Safety, the advocates met with lawmakers to argue that untraceable firearms pose a unique threat to school safety and require urgent state intervention.

Grade inflation and remedial math: A new debate over selective college admissions A new national analysis examines how grade inflation in K-12 schools is complicating admissions at selective universities. The report highlights data from UC San Diego showing a surge in students arriving with high GPAs but lacking proficiency in foundational math, forcing a debate on whether elite institutions must revert to standardized testing to accurately gauge readiness.

New federal guidance clarifies rules for prayer and religious expression in schools The U.S. Department of Education released updated guidance this morning regarding religious activity in public schools. The document clarifies that while school-sponsored prayer remains unconstitutional, students and teachers have the right to engage in private, non-disruptive prayer and religious expression during the school day.

Opinion: Colorado Must Reaffirm Vaccine Guidelines Amid Federal Shifts (The Colorado Sun) Dr. Edwin J. Asturias argues for the passage of Senate Bill 32 to stabilize state immunization standards for students after the federal government recently removed universal childhood recommendations for several diseases.