Indy, CSMNG, & CSBJ Education Guide

In a Veteran’s life, each new day presents an opportunity to write the story of their journey. The next chapter in a life story can be one full of hope, health, opportunity, and fulfillment.

The transition from military service can be difficult for any Veteran or Veteran family member. And, whether that transition occurred last week, ten years ago, or 60 years ago, the challenges remain the same.

At nextchapterco.org, Veteran leaders, healthcare professionals, and community partners join in a collaborative team initiative to deliver the best support for the variety of challenges Veterans and their families face as they write their NEXT CHAPTER.

If

or someone you know may be considering

Student debt relief plan hits new hurdle

By Scott Prater | sprater@sixty35media.org

Student borrowers hoping to find some relief from stifling loan payments will keep playing the waiting game as the Supreme Court agreed recently to hear arguments in President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.

The court agreed to take up the matter in February after lower courts issued opposing rulings during the last few weeks.

Judge Mark. T. Pittman, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, ruled Nov. 10 that Biden does not have clear congressional authorization to create a $400 billion student loan forgiveness program. A federal court also declined to reverse the ruling blocking the student debt relief program Nov. 30.

“We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case on our student debt relief plan for middle and working class borrowers this February,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement posted on the White House website Dec. 1. “Th is program is necessary to help over 40 million eligible Americans struggling under the burden of student loan debt recover from the pandemic and move forward with their lives. The program is also legal, supported by careful analysis from administration lawyers. President Biden will keep fighting against efforts to rob middle class families of the relief they need and deserve.”

The plan would forgive up to $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers earning under $125,000 per year, and up to $20,000 in student loans taken out by lower-income Pell Grant recipients. Since mid-October, more than 9 million student borrowers (or their parents) have either applied for student loan forgiveness or accessed information through the studentaid.gov website.

The student loan pause that had been set to expire Dec. 31 has been extended to the end of June 2023, allowing borrowers more time before loan payments resume, and court officials more time to consider arguments.

Student borrowers and their families can get more information about the program and apply for forgiveness through the studentaid. gov website. Biden has touted the site and the application process as an easy task that should take borrowers just a few minutes to complete.

— Ron Smartwood

Borrowers and can simply fi ll in their name, Social Security number, date of birth and contact information. There are no forms to upload and no special log-in to remember. Instructions are available in English and Spanish, and are available in desktop and mobile platforms.

Opponents of the plan include those who have already paid off their student debt and others who contend the program will simply add to the national debt. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated the plan would cost taxpayers $400 billion, with the additional deferment of pay-

Student loan payments will remain paused while the Supreme Court considers the case.

“I am concerned that future students may face the same difficulties.”

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Limbo

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ments and interest accrual on student loans through the end of 2022 setting taxpayers back another $20 billion.

Give the Gift of Space!

This holiday season, give your friends and family the gift of space. Now you, your family, and friends can explore the captivating universe without leaving Earth. Space Foundation’s Discovery Center is the region’s first and only dedicated space, science, and technology center. Located in Colorado Springs, it is an interactive, education-focused destination that advances science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

Space Foundation’s Discovery Center Passport membership provides the opportunity to see spacecraft that allowed the Apollo astronauts to land on the moon, drive robotic rovers to complete mission objectives on simulated Mars terrain, and view Science On a Sphere®, a six-foot diameter spherical

“My commitment when I ran for President of the United States: that if I was elected, I’d make the government work and deliver for the people,” Biden said in a White House briefing Oct. 21. “A simple application process keeps that commitment, just as I’m keeping my commitment to relieve student debt as borrowers recover from the economic crisis caused by the once-

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display that brings Earth, Sun, Moon, planets, and the solar system to life. Experience Discovery Center’s wide variety of space artifacts and interactive exhibits detailing space exploration, future space endeavors, and more. Artifacts and displays will be added to the gallery throughout the year, and a new exhibit will be revealed in the gallery February 2023.

Passport membership starts at $20 for student, $35 for individuals, and $50 for families. Benefits of membership include year-long admission to Space Foundation Discovery Center, two free guest passes annually, admission to Discovery Center programs, special events discounts, members-only events, sneak previews, monthly StarBlast email update, and Association of Science-Technology (ASTC) benefits. A Discovery Center Passport covers admission at over 450 science centers and museums worldwide!

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in-a-lifetime pandemic. Our student loan plan lowers costs for Americans as they recover from the pandemic to give everybody a little more breathing room. I want to be clear who’s going to benefit most: working people, middle-class folks that earn under [$125,000 a year].”

For now, information at studentaid.gov states that since courts are blocking the measure, it is not currently accepting applications. Borrowers who have applied previously are told their applications are being held and that they will be updated on developments in the future. The website also confirms that the U.S. Department of Education has paused loan payments until June 30, 2023. Payments will resume 60 days after June 30, pending the outcome of litigation on the matter and borrowers will be notified before payments restart.

Locally, student aid counselors applaud the program as beneficial to borrowers.

“The passage of the student loan forgiveness program would help thousands of prior Pikes Peak State College students who are struggling with a variety of financial issues, which have been made worse through the pandemic and the inflationary pressure that is affecting everyday purchases needed to survive,” says Ron Smartwood, director of financial aid at Pikes Peak State College. “However, without congressional changes to the federal student loan program and other financial aid programs, I am concerned that future students may face the same difficulties in paying back their student loans after completing college.”

The program, in its current form, only forgives pastissued student loans. There is no mention of forgiveness for future incurred educational debt.

receive a discount of 15% at the Space Foundation Discovery Center Store. It features space-themed gifts for space explorers of any age. Whether you’re shopping for a unique souvenir for yourself or a gift that you won’t find anywhere else, we offer a variety of space and science-related gifts, games, t-shirts, hoodies, snacks, kits, books, and toys. All proceeds from the Discovery Center Store are used to fund the many Space Foundation educational field trips, classes, Discovery Center programs, and exhibits.

To purchase a Passport membership, visit discoverspace.org or stop by 4425

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For additional information, call 719-576-8000.

A 'Promise' of more affordable college

By Lyndsey Rogers

College is notoriously expensive, but Pikes Peak State College helps ease the financial stress for certain high school graduates with its Dakota Promise Program. The program covers the cost of on-campus tuition, textbooks and additional institutional fees, while also offering academic support and guidance.

Currently, the program is offered to graduates of Harrison High School, Sierra High School, Career Readiness Academy, Atlas Prep High School and James Irwin Charter School. Eligible students must attend one of the selected schools for one full academic year, have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and enroll at PPSC within 16 months after graduation.

How does PPSC choose which schools are eligible? They’re chosen largely based on need. “[PPSC] got the information and saw that District 2 had a high free- and reduced-lunch rate, and from there that would be equivalent to a Pell Grant,” said Dre Guy, Dakota Promise coach.

The program itself is funded by a series of federal and state grants along with scholarships — so students do not have to pay back any of the money used.

“The fact that I didn’t have to worry too much about financing my education was a really big deal for me,” says PPSC student and Dakota Promise scholar, Jo Pandolfi.

“Even with scholarships I had received from some of the state’s four-year institutions, the price of education was extremely out of reach for me,” Pandolfi says. “Dakota Promise was a way for me to access education without having to worry about dealing with predatory student loans.”

Students also are provided with assistance and coaching along the way to make the experience of college much smoother.

Robin Schofield, founder and director of PPSC’s first broad-reaching, successful academic coaching programs, says part of the program’s success is in the academic coaching provided to the students.

Coach Guy often helps students redirect their path over the semesters. “It’s a tremendous opportunity whether you do trades or whether it’s an associate degree,” Guy says. “And if that route isn’t working, I’m going to try to do my best to point them in the route they want.”

For Pandolfi, this support has helped him get into the right program. “I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do when I started college,” he says. “As a result, for the rest of the semester I am a geology student, but next semester I’m transferring into radio and television.”

Coaches also help students find the resources to help them be successful in their classes, like tutoring and student services. But ultimately, it is up to the student to be motivated to get through

each course.

“You have to want it. If you don’t want it, my help isn’t going to make you want it, and you aren’t going to push yourself. You have to find your ‘why,’ and once you find your ‘why,’ you’ll be good,” says Guy.

To stay in the program, students must maintain a 67 percent class-completion rate and a 2.0 GPA, and must complete a minimum of 24 credits each academic year. And there’s no taking any fall or spring semesters off while enrolled. Following these criteria can keep the student in the program for up to three academic years.

Currently, there are around 200 students with Dakota Promise Program scholarships, commonly studying nursing, dental, surgical technology, and other medical-related fields. Another common degree focus is business.

After the program, Dakota Promise students can then choose to transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree, if the program is not available at PPSC. Students who complete a two-year degree are statistically much more likely to attend a four-year university program.

“It was great to know that I had space

to explore different degree paths without penalty and that once I did get my associate degree, I had the opportunity to transfer to a four-year to continue my education,” says Pandolfi.

“Every step in higher education absolutely changes a family’s trajectory for generations,” says Schofield. “There is plenty of data that shows a two-year degree vastly improves a family’s economic prosperity.”

“And most community college students nationwide stay in their community, which means more local employment opportunities can be filled, providing a local community with increased growth.”

As the program continues, PPSC plans to extend the promise to Mitchell High School, and more schools in the future.

“I love students being able to have the opportunity, as long as they are ready for college — to have [higher education] covered while getting scholarships and grants because they are the future,” says Guy.

“The Dakota Promise is helpful,” says Pandolfi. “I think it has provided a lot of students with the chance to get an education that they may not have been able to get otherwise.”

“The fact that I didn’t have to worry too much about financing my education was a really big deal.”

— Jo Pandolfi

Dre Guy is a Dakota Promise coach at Pikes Peak State College. Dakota Promise helps eligible students pay for higher education.

Courtesy PPSC

Courtesy PPSC

Pikes Peak State College

The new name for what has been Pikes Peak Community College for about a half century suggests something bigger, something more ambitious, more ... significant.

The college hopes to live up to that. It’s certainly true that the college has outgrown the name in many respects. For instance, it’s now offering three bachelor’s degrees, and it plans to add more soon. PPSC has been ranked among the best in the country for military students and their families. The nursing program consistently ranks among the best in the nation.

PPSC is continually expanding its programs to address critical workforce needs. One example is the new Center for Healthcare Education & Simulation, which houses classrooms for nursing and allied health programs as well as a state of the art, interdisciplinary simulation lab.

The college continues to grow the thriving Downtown art scene with its new Studio West building on the Downtown Campus. It houses a modernized art gallery as well as a black box theatre, dance rehearsal, and performance space. The Downtown Campus also has been renovated, with a new Learning Commons, and it will soon be home to the college’s computer sciences classes.

But as PPSC expands in size and vision, it’s important to remind the community of what does not change with the new name. PPSC remains open admission, meaning that whatever grades someone received in high school or at another college, they are accepted at PPSC, and they will get the support they need to succeed. The cost also remains affordable, a fraction of what students would pay at most four-year institutions. That’s why PPSC students graduate and move into the workforce with little or no debt.

Another thing that will not change is the college’s commitment to two-year degrees and short-term certificates. PPSC is still a launching point for those

transferring to achieve higher degrees as well as those who want the fastest, most efficient route to rewarding careers.

Pikes Peak State College also remains fiercely dedicated to making every student feel a sense of belonging. The college is proud to be an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, with nearly a quarter of its student body identifying as having a Hispanic heritage. That’s not surprising, considering PPSC remains the largest and most diverse college in the Pikes Peak region.

Yes, the college has changed its name. But the college’s vision has changed by only one letter: “Students Succeed at PPSC.”

More about PPSC:

• Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, PPSC offers associate degrees, certifications in career and technical fields and three bachelors’ degrees. With three campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 16,000 students annually.

• Our average class size is 14.

• Our students: military affiliated 31%, first generation college students 54%, minorities 41%

• We offer transferrable credits to UCCS, CSU, Regis and many other four-year colleges and universities throughout the nation.

• PPSC contributes $390.3 million to the local economy.

• PPSC students receive a rate of return of 13% on the money they invest in tuition.

• PPSC awards more than $1 million in scholarships annually. Most students who apply for scholarships or financial aid get assistance.

Are free meals coming to your school?

By Ann Schimke | Chalkbeat Colorado

Many Colorado school districts, including Jeffco, Cherry Creek, Aurora, and Adams 12, plan to offer free school meals to all students starting in the fall of 2023 through a new state program funded with a voter-approved tax measure affecting high earners.

Of two dozen districts surveyed by

Chalkbeat, 16 plan to offer universal free meals next year. But some districts remain undecided, including two of Colorado’s largest districts — Denver and Douglas County.

Brehan Riley, director of school nutrition at the Colorado Department of Education, says of school district officials, “There seems to be a lot of interest, but people are still unsure. They want to understand it a little bit better.”

Called Healthy School Meals for All, the program is meant to ensure students are getting the nutritional fuel they need to learn and eliminate the stigma that sometimes comes with the current income-based method for doling out free meals.

The initiative comes on the heels of two school years where the federal government waived income eligibility requirements for federally subsidized meals, allowing schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. The waivers expired this fall, but lawmakers and advocates found a way to bring back the free meals for next year by asking Colorado voters to approve new funding through Proposition FF.

Voters said yes.

The measure will generate more than $100 million a year by reducing income tax deductions available to households earning $300,000 or more.

Many district officials are enthusiastic about the prospect of feeding more students as they did during the fi rst two years of the pandemic. When school meals were free under the waivers, Boulder Valley officials saw a 40 percent increase in students eating school meals, District 27J saw a 20-30 percent increase, and Aurora saw a 7-10 percent increase.

Beth Wallace, Jeffco’s executive director of food and nutrition services, says her district saw a 30 percent increase in students eating school meals during the pandemic.

“We reach those families that just need that extra help.” she says. “They may not qualify for free and reduced [meals], but they’re working families that struggle to make all the ends meet.”

She’s had parents tell her they only allow their children to eat school meals twice a week when favorite foods are offered because they can’t afford to pay for the meals every day.

“I’m just so excited to reach those families,” she says.

Wallace also says even though there’s not supposed to be any way for students to tell who gets free school meals under the current system, some students pick up on clues. When her own son was younger, she encouraged him to eat breakfast at school, but he refused, saying “Mom, I’m not eating breakfast. That’s for the free kids.”

Some advocates say the stigma affects parents, too.

“In small communities, you know

people working at the school and you may not want to say, ‘We need this help,’ ” says Ashley Wheeland, director of public policy for the nonprofit Hunger Free Colorado.

To participate in the universal free meals program, Colorado school districts will have to maximize the amount of federal meal dollars they get by applying for a program called Community Eligibility Provision. The national program helps cover the cost of universal free meals at schools with large proportions of students whose families receive certain types of government benefits such as food assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Families at those schools don’t have to fill out applications for free or reduced price meals.

Currently, 107 Colorado schools in 26 districts offer universal free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision, according to the state education department. In districts like Harrison District 2 and Pueblo 60, which participate districtwide, little will change next year. The districts will continue to offer free meals to all students.

But even Colorado schools that don’t qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision program will be able to offer free meals to all students next year because they’ll be able to tap into proceeds from Proposition FF. Families will still have to fi ll out applications for free and reduced price meals.

Some district officials say they worry about confusion for families who have to

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fill out a meal application for one child but not for a sibling who attends a school eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision.

“You can see how a parent would be like, ‘I don’t get it,’” Riley says.

The idea, she says, is that both schools are maximizing the federal dollars they’re bringing in for meals, but they’re using two different mechanisms to do it.

Besides trepidation about bureaucratic details, some school food service leaders say they’re worried about staff shortages, supply chain disruptions, and the need for new equipment to accommodate increased meal demand.

Wallace, in Jeffco, says having enough food storage space and cooking capacity is always a concern, but she’s confident the district can make it work because they managed during the pandemic when more students were eating school meals.

She says that with greater meal volume, districts can get better food prices. That can mean a fruit choice like strawberries for more weeks in the school year, even if prices rise a bit.

Riley says under the universal meals program, districts will also be able to jettison the administrative hassle of trying to collect unpaid meal debt — charges incurred when students eat school meals but aren’t eligible for free meals and don’t have money to pay for them. Since the pandemic waivers expired, she says she’s heard from school nutrition leaders that meal debt is rising again.

Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat, covering early childhood issues and early literacy. Contact Ann at aschimke@chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering public education.

Bring their lesson plans to li fe

Bring their lesson plans to li fe

At Thrive Homeschool Academy, we believe education is more than academics. Here, your student can attend once-aweek classes alongside other home-schooled students and par ticipate in after-school and extracurricular activities like Ar t, Technology, Yearbook and String Orchestra

Elevate their learning beyond the books.

At Thrive Homeschool Academy, we believe education is more than academics Here, your student can attend once-aweek classes alongside other home-schooled students and par ticipate in after-school and extracurricular activities like Ar t, Technology, Yearbook and String Orchestra

Elevate their learning beyond the books.

Get star ted at hsd2.org/THSA.

Get star ted at hsd2.org/THSA.

“We reach those families that just need that extra help.”

— Beth Wallace

Kae Petrin and Ann Schimke

Six Things to Consider When Helping Your Student Choose a College

With nearly 3,000 four-year post-secondary educational institutions in the U.S., the task of helping your student choose a college where they’ll get to explore their interests and be set up for success after graduation can be daunting. Luckily, knowing what qualities to look for at a university can help narrow down options and make finding a place that supports their academic, personal and career goals much easier. Here are some helpful things to consider when assisting your student with their university discovery process.

1. Academic Offerings

The ultimate goal of attending a college or university is, of course, earning a degree. While some students know early on what academic program(s) they’d like to pursue and are set on a specific career path, other students aren’t as certain and want the option to explore different areas of interest, or perhaps even enroll as an undeclared student, before settling on a certain program.

If your student has a specific career of choice or field of study in mind, it can be helpful to consider institutions that specialize in those areas to ensure they’ll take career-focused coursework, have the chance to form networking connections in their industry, and have the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in a specific career.

If your student isn’t sure what major they’d like to pursue, or if they have several options in mind, considering a university that offers a wide breadth of programs to choose from can help them explore several different options before committing to a major. In addition, universities that offer “Exploratory Programs” for students who don’t declare a major upon enrollment can take the pressure off students and allow them time to explore their interests before starting down a specific path. These programs also frequently pair students with empathetic, knowledgeable and well-rounded advisors who can help students consider their future goals as well as their personal and academic strengths to help them identify which areas of study would be a good match.

Finally, look for universities that put your student and their college experience first. When students feel valued as an individual and not just a number, they’re more likely to be confident in the pursuit of their degree, ask questions and request help when needed, form authentic connections with faculty, peers and mentors, and be inspired to find their purpose both while attending that university as well as the years that follow.

2. Student Support Programs

Making the jump from high school to college can be challenging, which is why it’s important to look for universities that offer student support services created to help students succeed for the entire duration of their college experience. When looking at universities, try to learn more about their mental and physical health resources, tutoring and supplemental instruction, safety and security resources, disability services, and any other programs you believe will help your child adjust to adulthood while pursuing their education fulltime.

As a special consideration for first-year students, some universities even offer peer-to-peer mentorship programs where every incoming first-year student is paired with an upper-class student to help them navigate their first semester of college. After helping them through any initial adjustments or challenges new students may encounter, these mentors remain available to answer questions and serve as a support system as needed throughout the duration of the academic year.

3. Ways to Get Involved on Campus

While academics are a large part of attending a university, it’s also a transformative time of personal growth that can be aided by pursuing extracurricular opportunities.

Nearly every university has a wide range of clubs, organizations, academic societies and volunteering opportunities. When considering a university, check out their list of clubs and organizations to see if there will be ways for your student to get involved, meet new friends and explore their passions outside of the classroom. Joining a club is also a great way to add balance to the rigor of coursework and being a fulltime student.

For students who love physical activity, getting involved with sports can be a great way to focus on physical health while forming friendships. Many universities offer NCAA and NAIA athletic teams for high school athletes hoping to take their game to the next level, but if these highly competitive teams aren’t on your child’s radar, club, intramural and other sports teams are a great way to pursue athletic hobbies beyond high school. Some universities even offer specialized

sports programs, such as the Mountain Sports program at Western Colorado University, where students have the unique opportunity to engage in collegiate trail running, rock climbing, several disciplines of skiing and snowboarding, and mountain biking, all while exploring the unique mountainous landscape that surrounds the university.

4. Faculty and Class Sizes

It goes without saying that having dedicated, passionate faculty are key in helping students have a positive learning experience and becoming knowledgeable in their field of study. When looking at a university’s faculty in general and within a specific program, consider how many faculty have their terminal degrees as well as what percentage of classes are taught by faculty as opposed to teaching assistants. When visiting a college campus, some faculty are even open to meeting with students and their families one-on-one by appointment to share information about the program(s) they teach in.

In addition to learning about university faculty, it’s a great idea to consider your child’s learning style to determine what academic setting is most conducive to their success. If your child learns best in small classes and benefits from personalized attention, look for universities with a low student-to-faculty ratio to ensure small class sizes and a learning environment that promotes asking individual questions and forming relationships where professors can serve as mentors.

5. Career Preparation Opportunities

Landing a job is more than just having a degree and great grades, and a first job hunt can sometimes present unexpected difficulties. A university that offers empathetic, knowledgeable and encouraging career success advisors can help students bridge the gap between being a student and being a professional. Look for universities that help with resume writing, mock interviews, career fairs, networking opportunities, alumni mentorship opportunities and one-on-one guidance for students who want it.

In addition to specific career success initiatives, look for universities that offer abundant hands-on learning opportunities. While classroom knowledge is a must in many industries, it can only go so far in a world that values hard skills and realworld experience. Universities that promote internship experience before graduation will not only aid your student in improving their practical skills but will also help them bolster their resume and gain valuable industry contacts and references before setting out to find a full-time position after graduation.

6. Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

At its core, a college degree is an investment that can help students pursue their dream careers and become financially successful after graduation. While the price of this investment can sometimes act as a deterrent, it’s important to note that many institutions offer financial aid and scholarship opportunities to help offset the costs of earning a degree. When looking at a university, consider what percentage of their students receive aid, student loan default rates, tuition discount programs such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and Central Plains (CP) programs, work study opportunities, grants, loans, and any other funding students can apply for to decrease the costs of earning a degree. When seriously considering a particular university, it can be helpful to set up a meeting between yourself, your student and the university’s financial aid office to determine what tuition costs would be, as well as what specific opportunities may be available to your student both as a first-year student as well as throughout the remainder of their enrollment.

While choosing a college isn’t an easy task for most, there are certain things to look for at universities that make them stand out from other institutions and offer a personalized education to set your student up for success.

Western Colorado University is proud to provide all the above aspects and more to our 3,000+ intellectually curious learners in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Our university offers over 110 academic programs, access to 2,000,000 acres of public land, a 16:1 student to faculty ratio, career preparation, two unique Partnership Programs with the University of Colorado Boulder, 50+ clubs and organizations, abundant scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and much more. Western is a place where students are encouraged to explore their passions inside and outside the classroom, get involved in the community, set and exceed their goals, and earn a degree that allows them to pursue a career they’re passionate about. Go to western.edu/visit to find out how you and your child can see our beautiful and welcoming campus for yourselves and start your academic adventure today!

Colorado changes how schools are rated

By Yosenia Robles | Chalkbeat Colorado

Colorado is changing how it rates the academic performance of schools to include how many students are on track to reach proficiency and to reward high schools where students meet tougher graduation requirements.

Next year, these measures will be used to provide more information about schools. They’ll be incorporated into school ratings and used for school accountability starting in 2024.

The changes have been planned for several years but were delayed because of pandemic disruptions and a pause in testing due to the emergence of COVID.

A similar measure tracking how likely English learners are to reach a higher level of English proficiency within a certain amount of time is already included in ratings.

Colorado’s school rating system uses test scores — and other measures such as graduation rates, in the case of high schools — to place schools in one of four tiers. Schools in the lowest two tiers can get extra help to improve, but if they receive low ratings for five years or more, the State Board of Education has to step in to require more significant changes.

The state board approved the plan in November to start rolling out these changes, but asked the state to hold off on changing performance targets this year.

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The board wanted to keep expectations high, said Lisa Medler, the state’s executive director of accountability and continuous improvement.

While the state board is moving ahead with some changes to ratings, the entire accountability system could see a much bigger overhaul. An audit to determine if the system is meeting its goals of improving education across the state is due later this month.

“It’s been a little bit of a hard thing to account for,” Medler said. “Our plan has been to keep moving things forward.”

In 2024, barring other drastic changes to the accountability system, the state’s current plan calls for the new on-track growth measure to count for 10 percent of an elementary or middle school’s rating.

Currently, elementary and middle school ratings consist of two measures: achievement, or how well students score on standardized tests; and growth, or how much progress students made compared to other students with similar scores in the past.

The new on-track growth measure is meant to account for whether students are making progress fast enough to get them to proficiency within a certain amount of time. Some experts have argued that even with what may be considered high growth, some students are so far behind, they may not be on track to catch up.

OUR FUTURE

The state last changed the percentage of points el-

BEGINS HERE

ementary and middle schools needed to earn to be considered in the highest tier of performance in 2019. The state had the option of lowering those scores, given how much lower schools across the state are performing after COVID disruptions, or could have also raised them, but opted to keep them the same for now.

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Harrison School District Two is Making a Splash

Colorado’s 2023 Superintendent of the Year has been selected. Congratulations to Dr. Wendy Birhanzel, Superintendent of Harrison School District Two. She was selected for her innovative and maverick approach to serving more than 12,000 students in the District’s schools, including an online school, one homeschool academy, and three charter school systems in addition to our 18 traditional schools.

Dr. Birhanzel believes that choice is important to families, and she knows D2 has an option for every student to reach their full potential and find the support they and their families are looking for. “D2 is outperforming Colorado districts with similar demographics, while special populations and minority populations are also outperforming their peers locally”, stated Dr. Birhanzel. She proudly announces that “D2 students have returned to pre-pandemic reading levels, and we are tracking for the same in math this year.”

Get to know District 2

• Diversity is our strength, and we embrace every student and family as part of our D2 community so that your student gains a real-world experience in a supportive setting.

• Our schools are community hubs where you can participate in activities and offerings with our community partners without leaving your neighborhood.

• All D2 Kindergarten through 5th-grade students have the opportunity to engage in fun and exciting programming before and after school on every regularly scheduled school day at absolutely no charge to families. D2 staff and Out-of-School Time program experts from the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, Early Connections Learning Centers, and the City of Colorado Springs collaborated to create and implement a plan to meet the needs of families from throughout the region.

• Additionally, our 4th and 5th graders had an opportunity to play basketball through our partnership with Hillside Connection. In the Spring, we will partner with the YMCA to provide soccer for our 4th and 5th grade students.

• D2 believes that students deserve extracurricular, athletic, and activity opportunities at no cost to their families – especially in these economic times. Are you worried about the rising costs of these opportunities for your student? Join D2 and access these activities at no cost to your family.

• Education is the key to success and helps individuals achieve better career opportunities and personal growth. As part of our efforts to serve our families and remove barriers, D2 now also offers free Adult Basic Education, a General Educational Development (GED) class that covers reading, math, science, and social studies, and English as Second Language classes. A career navigator is available, along with a workforce development team and life coaches. The hours of the adult learning classes coincide with the D2 school schedule, so families with schoolaged children interested in taking the adult learning classes can attend class while their kids are in school.

• Giving back to our community is also part of our vision. We have our teacher cadet program and staff to teacher career path. Both programs ensure that our talented students and staff can grow and give back to our community.

Choice and Open Enrollment are in full swing! You can learn more about this process or visit a D2 campus by calling the Student Support Department at 719-579-2554. Follow the District and D2 schools on Facebook for updates on these and other initiatives.

When the measure starts counting towards scores, achievement scores on state tests will account for 35 percent of school ratings, down from 40 percent, and the existing growth measure will account for 55 percent, down from 60 percent, with the new on-track measure accounting for the rest of the rating.

The new on-track growth measure is likely to be ready for elementary and middle schools but may not be available for high schools until a year later.

For high schools, one of the measures that will be added for information in 2023 and for points in 2024 will reward schools where students meet higher requirements than the state minimums to graduate.

Another new measure will look at the rates of students who pass advanced courses in subjects other than English or math, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or concurrent enrollment classes. The state is still working out how to defi ne what classes are not English or math and whether the list considered will be limited.

Lisa Medler

will be included in the count. Previously, only students enrolling in college or trade school had been considered as pursuing a postsecondary option.

Another change to the high school ratings in 2023, also prompted by lawmakers, will be that when the state considers how many students move on to postsecondary education, students enlisting in the military

These changes fall into a category unique to high schools called postsecondary and workforce readiness that make up 35 percent of a high school’s score.

The inclusions of the measures give schools more

ways to show positive student outcomes.

Yesenia Robles is a reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado covering K-12 school districts and multilingual education. Contact Yesenia at yrobles@chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering public education.

WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

“It’s been a little bit of a hard thing to account for.”

—

The Vanguard School

The Vanguard School is a tuition-free, K-12 public charter school serving students from across the Pikes Peak Region. Founded in 1995 by parents seeking a rigorous academic curriculum and strong character education for their children, Vanguard provides excellence in education in a safe, structured environment by adhering to our mission statement: The mission of The Vanguard School is to help guide students in development of their character and academic potential through academically rigorous, content-rich educational programs. Vanguard students develop lifelong habits of excellence in virtue and intellect, allowing them to prosper as classically educated individuals advancing a free society.

At The Vanguard School, education is not simply the means to the end of career fulfillment; it is the integral and challenging path to a life lived well. A classical education is about learning from the collective wisdom of our past. We treat history and literature as an ongoing story of which we are a part. This story reveals truth, beauty, and goodness in our world and how we can participate as human beings. Our school’s enduring, nationally acclaimed program prepares graduates for advanced education, meaningful contributions to society, and a life of purpose.

A Vanguard education is not easy. We often take our students to the “edge of struggle” because we know this is where the most growth happens, and the best work gets done. Vanguard students often go on to be immensely successful in higher education and beyond, but often, even more students go on to live life well, even when circumstances do not go according to plan. The skills they learn here equip them to maximize successes and to persevere through setbacks. Ultimately, Vanguard students are prepared to face each opportunity and obstacle as a learning experience.

To learn more about The Vanguard School, visit our website, www.TheVanguardSchool.com, email us at info@TheVanguardSchool.com, or call us at (719) 471-1999. To schedule a tour, please call Vanguard’s Enrollment Office at (719) 471-1999 x101. We accept applications on an ongoing basis and are currently enrolling students for the 2022-2023 school year.