The Denver Post – Jessica Fender

“Federal Race to the Top evaluators marked down Colorado most when it came to how educators are evaluated despite the rancorous fight during the last days of the legislative session that led to sweeping reforms to teacher job protections.”(more)

The Denver Post – Monte Whaley

“Which is precisely the idea behind Adams 12 Five Star Schools’ new Magnet Lab STEM School, which opened its doors to more than 200 students Wednesday. Officials said this is the first K-8 STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) magnet school in Colorado. Its most unique feature is that local business and technology experts worked with the district to design its hands-on, science-based curriculum. The whole idea is to restock America’s dwindling supply of scientists and innovators, said principal Penelope Eucker.”(more)

The Denver Post – Jeremy P. Meyer

“Today’s release will be much more subdued, with no governor or education commissioner appearing behind a lectern at the downtown headquarters of the Colorado Department of Education — an indication the state is shifting its focus from CSAP to a much broader look at schools through its performance reports, set for release later this year.”(more)

New York Times – Gretchen Morgenson

“In the spring of 2008, the Denver public school system needed to plug a $400 million hole in its pension fund. Bankers at JPMorgan Chase offered what seemed to be a perfect solution.”(more)

The Denver Post – Colleen O’Conner

“Colorado is one of 19 finalists in the second phase of the federal “Race to the Top” competition, and independent observers say the state has a good chance of being among the 10 to 15 winners, who will be announced in September.”(more)

Denver Post – Brittany Anas

“The University of Colorado at Boulder student estimates that she studies 28 to 30 hours a week, fitting two part-time jobs and her studying schedule together like a jigsaw puzzle. Her nose is buried in the books for more time than her peers at CU, according to a new study raising concerns that undergraduates on the Boulder campus, on average, are only spending 11 to 15 hours a week preparing for their courses.”(more)

The Denver Post – Jeremy P. Meyer

“In an attempt to get more students to learn in English, the Denver Public Schools district is using federal stimulus money for a four-week summer-school academy for 3,500 first- to eighth-grade pupils. The English Language Acquisition Academy also is educating teachers. About 90 teachers hired this spring are working alongside master teachers to learn how to reach the students who have some of the biggest academic challenges in the district.”(more)

Denver Post – Tom McGhee

“Colorado State University will cut tuition for some middle- and low- income students to try to make undergraduate education more accessible.”(more)

Denver Post – Karen Auge

“Cooking from scratch for thousands of kids every day isn’t how it’s done now in most Colorado schools — or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter. But there’s a movement, slowly gaining momentum, to change that.”(more)

The Denver Post – Jeremy P. Meyer

“Colorado may be in better shape to win a competitive Race to the Top education grant, even though it has lost the support of teachers unions and some school districts.”(more)