News Reports
Colorado News
Sentinel Colorado (via Chalkbeat Colorado): Colorado lawmakers push to shorten standardized testing time for students
A bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers wants to reduce the time students in grades 3–8 spend on CMAS math and reading tests, noting that younger students currently sit for far longer exams than high schoolers taking the PSAT and SAT. The bill would create a review committee to explore options for shorter tests that still meet federal requirements, amid broader debate over Colorado’s school accountability system and how much standardized testing is necessary.
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KUNC: Schools are hiring as enrollment falls. Is that a problem — or a choice?
As student enrollment declines in Colorado and nationwide, many districts are nonetheless adding staff, raising concerns about whether school systems are building sustainable budgets or overextending themselves. The story explains how under-enrolled schools, temporary COVID relief money, and uneven regional enrollment drops complicate staffing decisions and could create financial strain as funding tied to student counts tightens.
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Commentary & Opinion
National Perspectives
Education Week (Opinion): AI Isn’t the Real Threat to Special Education
In a letter to the editor, a special education advocate argues that the real danger to special education is not generative AI but chronic understaffing, overwhelming caseloads, and paperwork that already push teachers out of the field. She maintains that, with clear governance and ethical guidelines, AI tools could streamline routine documentation and help educators and parents better understand data, freeing more time for direct support to students.
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