If you’ve ever texted your child during lunch or counted on them to check in at some point during their day, Adams 12’s new cell phone policy might raise some questions and a few eyebrows. 

Starting this fall, students across all grade levels will face stricter rules regarding the use of phones, smartwatches and earbuds during the school day.

The policy, which took effect on July 1 and will be enforced when school starts in August, bans personal technology devices entirely during the school day, requiring them to be in either off or silent mode for elementary and middle school students.

High school students have a bit more wiggle room. They can use their phones during lunch, passing periods and open periods, but not during class.

District officials say the move is intended to help students focus and reduce disruptions, bullying, and other issues associated with device use in schools.

What students and families need to know

Students are not allowed to record or take photos of others without permission, use phones to cheat or harass someone or leave class to use their devices. Any action that disrupts or violates the district’s student code of conduct may result in disciplinary action.

First-time violations come with a warning. For parents, the third strike might mean an unexpected trip to school to retrieve a phone. After that, suspension is on the table, and students may lose the right to bring their devices altogether.

And don’t expect the district to track down a lost or stolen phone. Students are fully responsible for keeping their devices secure.

Why the change?

District officials said the updated policy was shaped by an extensive community survey conducted earlier this year, which drew nearly 12,000 responses from students, families and staff.

Eighty-one percent of respondents said phones are somewhat or very disruptive to student learning in the classroom, while 75 percent said cell phones contribute to bullying or threatening behavior during the school day. 

More than half (approximately 53 percent) reported that devices were also a problem during unstructured times, such as lunch and passing periods.

At the same time, many families expressed concern about limiting access to phones entirely. 

About 67 percent of survey participants said it was important for students to have access to their phones in the event of an emergency, and 60 percent opposed locking up phones in pouches or lockers.

Support for an all-day ban was strongest among elementary families, with 83 percent in favor. 

That number dropped to 67 percent for middle school students and 54 percent for high schoolers. Still, a majority (66 percent) supported keeping phones out of high school classrooms, even if they didn’t want a full-day ban.

The change also aligns with a new state law. House Bill 25-1135 requires all public schools in Colorado, including charter schools and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, to adopt and post a student communication device policy by July 1, 2026. 

At a minimum, each policy must outline when and where devices are prohibited and include any exceptions. Adams 12’s policy meets those requirements a full year ahead of schedule.

For many parents, the issue isn’t black and white. Some want fewer distractions but still expect their child to be reachable in an emergency. Others worry that uneven enforcement could lead to unnecessary discipline or inequity between classrooms and schools.

Some flexibility still exists

Students who need a phone or other device during the school day for health reasons, a disability or other specific academic support can request an exception. These requests must go through a formal process, either as part of an IEP or 504 plan, or by submitting a written request to school leadership.

District administrators and principals also have the authority to impose additional restrictions as needed.

As the new school year begins, parents are encouraged to review their school’s individual rules, discuss expectations with their students, and contact administrators with any concerns or special circumstances.

The post Phones off, eyes up: Adams 12’s new cell phone rules take effect appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit in coordination with more than 20 other states Monday against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully freezing approximately $80 million in federal education funding intended for Colorado schools.

The freeze, announced June 30 by the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Education, has thrown local school districts, including Jefferson County, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Westminster Public Schools, Weld RE-8 and 27-J Schools, into disarray just weeks before the new academic year begins.

The lawsuit contends that the freeze violates the U.S. Constitution and multiple federal laws by blocking funds that Congress had already appropriated.

Weiser called the move “disruptive and reckless,” saying it forces school leaders to rework budgets, staffing and programming on the fly.

“I have heard directly from Colorado school superintendents how disruptive and reckless this arbitrary freeze of federal funding is to them,” Weiser said. “Schools deserve to be treated fairly, and this administration’s lack of regard for the impact of this lawless decision is appalling.”

Funding pulled with one day’s notice

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes grants by July 1 so states and districts can budget for services that support students and educators.

The funds typically cover programming for English learners, migrant students, after-school and summer learning, teacher training, technology access and school climate initiatives.

Until this year, the money had arrived on schedule.

This summer, state agencies received notice just one day before the new fiscal year that the Department would not be obligating any funds for these programs, despite previously approving state plans.

A June 30 email from the Department stated that decisions had not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for the upcoming academic year due to “a review of the programs’ consistency with, among other things, the President’s priorities.”

According to the lawsuit, this eleventh-hour notification left states without time to address what it calls “a momentous fiscal vacuum.”

The complaint describes the freeze as “unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional,” and states that the Department of Education and OMB have no authority to withhold the congressionally appropriated formula funds for discretionary review.

Local districts scramble to respond

The fallout has been immediate.

Jefferson County Public Schools estimates a $3 million shortfall directly tied to the freeze. Programs supporting multilingual learners, professional development for educators and community engagement are now at risk. Because of federal supplanting rules, the district cannot legally use general fund dollars to fill the gap, even if funding is eventually released.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools also faces budget uncertainty, but Superintendent Chris Gdowski said that, based on careful budget planning, families and staff will not see disruptions this year.

However, he warned that if the federal government does not release the funds soon or cuts them again next year, the district may not be able to sustain the affected programs long term.

According to reporting from KUNC, summer youth enrichment programs offered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver rely on nearly $1 million in federal funding now threatened by the freeze. 

Weld RE-8, a smaller district serving Fort Lupton and surrounding communities, is bracing for the possibility of reducing support staff and postponing student services. 

In 27-J Schools, Superintendent Will Pierce said the district is using contingency funds for the 2025-2026 school year but will have to make adjustments if the funds remain unavailable long-term.

Constitutional clash over spending authority

Weiser emphasized that only Congress has the authority to decide how federal money is spent. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration overstepped by holding back education funds that Congress had already approved and the President had signed into law.

At stake, Weiser said, is not just the money, but the principle that education budgets shouldn’t be used as political leverage.

According to the complaint, the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to control spending. The lawsuit argues that the administration is ignoring its legal obligations by refusing to release money that has already been allocated.

“Yet that is exactly what Defendants are attempting to do here,” the lawsuit states.

Weiser is co-leading the lawsuit with attorneys general from California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The attorneys general of more than a dozen other states, along with the governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, have joined the legal challenge.

Broader impact extends to red states

While the lawsuit was filed by states led by Democratic governors, the impact of the funding freeze is especially severe in Republican-leaning states. Red states are, on average, more dependent on federal education dollars than blue states.

They receive roughly 17% of their public school funding from federal sources, compared to just 11% in states that voted for President Harris. The freeze affects critical programs, including Title I-C for migrant education, Title II-A for professional development, Title III-A for English-learner services and Title IV programs for academic enrichment and after-school activities.

Rural districts in red states are among the hardest hit, with Mississippi, South Dakota, and Arkansas receiving over 22% of their education funding from federal sources.

States like Wyoming and Alabama have already warned of potential teacher layoffs and program cuts. The situation underscores a growing contradiction between political rhetoric about federal overreach and the practical reliance many red states have on federal dollars.

Schools urge swift resolution 

Some districts say they’ll face impossible choices before the first bell rings. The 2025–26 school year begins in a matter of weeks, and many schools are preparing contingency plans in case the funding isn’t restored.

“Our schools need stability and support,” Weiser said. “Instead, they’re being forced to undo months of planning because of a decision that is both unlawful and indifferent to the needs of our students.”

The lawsuit also highlights how essential programs from English learner services to teacher training to adult education and reentry programs are now at risk. 

“The abrupt freeze is wreaking havoc on key teacher training programs as well as programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs,” the complaint states.

A hearing date has not yet been scheduled, but the coalition is asking the court to declare the freeze unlawful and block any attempt to withhold or delay the funding.

The post Colorado sues Trump administration over $80M freeze in school funding appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Thousands of Jeffco students could lose access to language support, counseling and community-based services this school year after the U.S. Department of Education froze key federal funding streams with little warning. 

The decision puts approximately $3 million in planned programming at risk, district leaders said.

Superintendent Tracy Dorland and the Jefferson County school board called the move “late and unexpected,” warning that the district had already budgeted the funds for professional development, English learner support, student engagement and family outreach.

“Failure to release these funds creates significant impacts on our student programming at a time when Jeffco is already drawing on reserves and preparing for substantial reductions in FY 27,” a district spokesperson said.

Because of federal supplanting rules, the district is legally barred from using its general fund to fill the gap, even if the federal funding is restored later.

A district already under strain

Even before the freeze, the district was grappling with a $60 million structural deficit heading into the 2025–26 school year. Despite closing 21 schools and making $20 million in cuts since 2021, the district still faces mounting cost pressures tied to inflation, compensation increases and growing special education needs.

Enrollment declines are expected to further impact funding, with a projected loss of 800 students per year in both 2026–27 and 2027–28. Because Colorado ties K–12 funding to student count, that drop will lead to additional revenue loss and potential staffing reductions.

Colorado ranks 43rd in the nation for per-pupil education funding, a reality that leaves districts like Jeffco especially vulnerable to sudden shifts in federal support.

Core student supports now at risk

The programs impacted by the freeze are central to Jeffco’s efforts to support its diverse and increasingly high-needs student population. 

In an internal message to staff obtained by the Colorado Trust for Local News, Dorland said the now-frozen funding had been budgeted to cover educator coaching, English as a Second Language and newcomer services, dropout prevention, truancy interventions and community outreach programs.

Dorland called the situation “deeply challenging,” noting in the email that the frozen funds had been budgeted for “essential student services and educator support.” 

“If the funds are not released in the next month, we will be forced to reduce or eliminate some programming that was budgeted and planned for this year,” she said.

Jeffco currently serves more than 4,700 English learners, about 6.4% of its total enrollment, according to data from the Colorado Department of Education.

Dorland noted that the district is seeing an increase in newcomer students, many of whom face language barriers and require both academic and emotional support to thrive. 

The Title III funds now frozen are intended to help districts meet those needs.

Title I funding, which is used to support schools with high poverty rates, is not affected by the freeze. 

But the complementary services funded through Titles II, III, and IV are now in jeopardy, which undermines Jeffco’s capacity to provide wraparound supports that help keep students in school and engaged.

“We are also seeking community partners to help fill critical service gaps, especially for the students and families who rely most on these important services,” Dorland said.

Advocacy and uncertainty

In her message to staff, Dorland described the funding freeze as “a deeply challenging situation that we did not create and cannot fully control,” but said Jeffco was taking action on multiple fronts.

The district is actively advocating for the immediate release of the funds. 

Dorland and the board of education added their names to the Joint Statement From Colorado Education Stakeholders on Withholding of Federal Funds, calling on the U.S. Department of Education to immediately release these congressionally appropriated funds and provide clear, public guidance to state and local education systems.

At the same time, district leaders are reviewing 2025 carryover funds and evaluating the feasibility of continuing some programs temporarily. 

Staffing decisions will follow established collective bargaining agreements, with impacted employees prioritized for reassignment wherever possible.

“Above all, we remain focused on protecting the student experience and minimizing disruption wherever possible,” Dorland said.

With the school year weeks away and no clear federal guidance, Jeffco faces tough choices, district leaders said. They are urging families and community partners to stay informed and, where possible, help advocate for the release of the frozen funds.

The post $3M federal funding freeze threatens Jeffco student services appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

After more than a decade of stops, starts and shifting market conditions, Adams 12 Five Star Schools is moving forward with the $9 million sale of 13.5 acres of surplus land just south of the district’s Educational Support Center in Thornton.

The buyer, McWhinney Real Estate Services, is expected to develop the site into a mixed-use project consistent with the City of Thornton’s vision for the Eastlake light rail corridor. 

Though the deal won’t close until at least early 2027, district leaders and board members said the agreement represents a significant step forward and a long-overdue resolution to what Board Member Courtney Potter described as a “land sale debacle.”

“This land piece has been an ongoing thing as far as my tenure on the board,” said Board President Lori Goldstein during the board’s June 4 meeting. “I’m glad that we have reached a potential agreement with somebody that will develop it into something that will benefit the community.”

Decade of interest

Vice President Amira Assad-Lucas echoed that sentiment, noting the off-and-on nature of the deal and her hope that the land will “finally be put to good use.”

The parcel, located just south of the district’s Educational Support Center and across from RTD’s Eastlake/124th Station, has long been seen as a prime candidate for transit-oriented development.

According to Superintendent Chris Gdowski, district and city officials have explored potential uses for the land for more than a decade.

“There was quite a bit of interest… probably more than 10 years ago,” Gdowski said. “The hope was that you would serve both residents of that area and people commuting to and from (the station) — with some residential, retail, maybe restaurants or coffee shops — a mixed-use development that could really be an economic asset to the region.”

But turning that vision into a deal has been far from simple.

A long and complicated road

The district first went under contract in June 2017 with Century Homes for $5.3 million. The agreement spanned three years but ultimately fell through in June 2020, despite multiple extensions. Adams 12 retained $90,000 in earnest money from the failed sale.

Later that year, the district entered into a second agreement with a group called Koelbel for $5.5 million. That deal also collapsed in 2021, largely due to uncertainty over water availability in the area. 

In the meantime, the district continued to reassess its potential uses for the land. Gdowski said they considered constructing a central kitchen and food warehouse there, but after extensive analysis, the district determined that building the facility elsewhere would be more cost-effective.

“We studied it really intensely within the last year,” Gdowski said. “And we concluded that it would be more costly to build (the kitchen) in this location than where we’re planning to do it. We agree with the city that using it for a school purpose isn’t the best use at this time.”

With that decision made and real estate values on the rise, the district began searching for another buyer that aligned with Thornton’s development goals and offered a price that reflected the property’s appreciated market value.

A new deal

McWhinney Real Estate Services emerged as the buyer this spring with a $9 million offer, a notable jump from the district’s previous contracts. 

The proceeds will serve as a cushion as the district launches its $830 million bond-funded construction program.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty about tariffs and what that might mean in terms of completing our projects,” Gdowski said. “There’s also labor uncertainty, with immigration enforcement potentially reducing the labor supply in construction. Having $9 million that would help us hedge against inflationary costs for the bond program would be helpful.”

If construction costs remain stable, the district may redirect the funds toward other capital needs that didn’t make the final bond package, including items such as HVAC replacements or new buses.

Board members praised staff and real estate professionals for their due diligence in vetting the offer. 

“Everyone really worked hard to get us the most accurate information and be as transparent as possible,” said Potter. “I’m really glad to see that we can finally move forward and close this chapter.”

The post Adams 12 approves $9M sale of surplus land near Eastlake Station appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

On a sunny summer afternoon in Brighton, Will Pierce leaned back in his chair and began speaking about the district he leads with an easy smile and a clear sense of purpose. 

“I think we might be the district that can actually do this thing,” he said.

Pierce is referring to the ambitious and systemic goal of transforming public education so that it works for every student, particularly those who have been historically left behind due to poverty, language barriers or other challenges.

It’s the word “every” that stands out to him, and it’s grounded in the district’s mission statement: “27J Schools, in partnership with parents and community, empowers every student today to take control of their future tomorrow.”

“When you say ‘every student,’ it raises the bar,” Pierce said. “It forces us to ask who might be left out and what gaps we still need to close.”

The district uses the mission as a kind of strategic tension and a standard to evaluate whether its practices and outcomes align with its core purpose. 

“We want the mission to continue to be more true now than it was before, both in the outcomes that we achieve and in the practices that we see in our classrooms every day,” Pierce said.

To help guide that alignment, 27J revised its core values into what Pierce calls the district’s four pillars: Believe, Integrity, All In and Compassion. 

He describes the pillars as more than words. Rather, they are a daily standard for how the district operates and what it expects from students, staff and leadership alike.

Acknowledging that “believe” sounds like “believe in Santa,” Pierce clarified it’s more than that.

“Believe means seeing the potential in every student, and seeing every person as capable,” he said. “If you’re going to say you believe in something, then you also need the integrity to hold up a mirror and ask, ‘Are we actually doing it?'”

Budget strategy and hard truths

Despite the district’s ambitions, Pierce holds no illusions about the scale of the challenge. 

“Even with the additional funding brought by the mill levy override that voters approved in 2022, we’re still about $800 per student below the state average. Multiply that by 25,000 students, and the funding gap becomes clear,” Pierce said.

This spring, the district approved a five-year budget that includes a planned drawdown of the general fund reserve. That plan helps leaders clearly explain the stakes to the public.

“If we don’t bring in more revenue, we will have to make cuts. Our community deserves to know that ahead of time,” Pierce said.

Pierce emphasized the importance of transparency and realism, without resorting to excuses. 

“Leaders sometimes say, ‘We’re broke,’ but once you start using that language, it becomes an excuse not to be excellent. And students don’t care about excuses.”

That same mindset is shaping the district’s response to a recent federal funding freeze affecting several key grants. The status of whether those grants will come through is unclear, but they are currently on hold.

“We’re looking at just under a million dollars at risk,” he said. “Thankfully, we had contingency funds to carry us through this year. But beyond that, we’ll need to adjust.”

But his biggest concern involves a potential cut to Medicaid reimbursements tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said he called the Governor’s office to express concern about the potential impact of such a cut on special education services across the district.

“That one is different. It’s over $5 million and directly impacts special education services. That would be devastating. These are real kids, with real needs, who rely on those supports.”

Doing the most with what’s available

While many districts used pandemic relief funds to expand tutoring and summer programs, 27J prioritized its classrooms.

“We’re a district that has to focus on core instruction,” Pierce said. “We don’t have the resources for extras, so we focus on making every minute of classroom time matter.”

Each grade level and content area has clear learning goals, not just in reading and math, but also in science, social studies and career readiness.

He emphasized the need for innovation, even when it challenges outdated accountability systems.

“We have dashboards and internal measures to track growth,” he said. “But if you’re only focused on the state test, you’re going to stay the same. And we need to move forward.”

One publicly available dashboard reflects the outcomes families care about most: safety, connection and engagement.

“When we asked parents what mattered most, no one said ‘test scores.’ They said, ‘I want my child to feel seen. I want them to like school. I want them to want to go.'”

Relationships matter

That same student-first mindset guides how 27J addresses chronic absenteeism, which occurs when students are absent for more than 10% of the school year.

“We don’t focus on chasing kids down for attendance. We focus on understanding why they’re not showing up,” Pierce said. “Do they feel safe? Do they think someone cares that they’re there? That’s what we’re trying to address.”

Instead of punishment, the district prioritizes trust, family outreach and a stronger school culture.

“We removed cell phones during the school day so students would engage more with each other. And we’re working to make school more engaging, so kids want to be there.”

A district that does what it says

According to Pierce, what sets 27J apart is its commitment to follow through.

“We’re not promoting a vision we can’t deliver. We’re doing the work first,” he said. “I’ve worked in places where the words didn’t match the actions. That’s not how we lead here.”

The district continues to evolve with its growing student population and shifting identity.

“We used to be a small agricultural district. Even as we’ve grown, we’ve tried to keep that close-knit, family feel and that culture of care.”

“Think about a kindergartner walking into school for the first time. Maybe they don’t speak English yet, or maybe they’ve never had a book read to them. They’re already starting behind. And if we’re not careful, that student gets labeled,” Pierce said. “Teachers may start to see them as less capable, and the student starts to believe it, too.”

Such early labeling can shape a student’s trajectory, leading to lowered expectations, missed opportunities and diminished confidence. Educators and leaders across 27J are working to disrupt that cycle.

Pierce believes 27J can change that.

“We’re starting to see it. Kids are beginning to believe in themselves, and teachers are believing in them, too. That’s the work. And if any district can do it, I think it’s us.”

The post Will Pierce’s mission to transform 27J Schools appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

On just his fifth day as superintendent, Justin Ralston cracked a joke about still learning his way around the district office.

But when it came to his vision for how to best serve the 2,500 students of Weld Re-8, Ralston was ready to get down to business.

His approach is both personal and bold: meet every student and family where they are, listen first and lead with love.

Ralston, a first-generation college graduate from a four-stoplight town in Indiana, brings a deep sense of empathy and global perspective to the role. His path to Weld RE-8 includes years as a teacher and principal in Washington, D.C., and most notably, a formative period spent in East Africa, where he worked in refugee camps and taught children displaced by war.

“I still remember one boy who had been featured on the cover of a magazine carrying an AK-47,” Ralston said. “We sat together and I helped him write a capital A for the first time. Despite everything he’d seen, he just wanted to learn. That’s stuck with me, that every child, no matter their story, deserves a shot.”

A district in transition

Ralston’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment for the district. Weld RE-8, which serves the Fort Lupton area and surrounding rural communities, has faced two consecutive failures at the ballot box: a $70 million bond and a $4 million mill levy override, both rejected by voters in 2023.

The district is also bracing for the potential loss of federal education funds that support professional development, migrant students and after-school programs.

Against this backdrop, Ralston isn’t promising quick fixes. Instead, he’s inviting the community into the process.

He’s launched a 16-stop listening tour with informal meetups at places like Santiago’s and Holy Stromboli, along with a digital tool on the district’s website called “Ask Superintendent Ralston,” where anyone can submit questions directly.

“I’m not coming in with an agenda,” he said. “My job is to listen, to understand where we’re doing well and where we’re falling short, and then to co-create a plan together.”

In the meantime, he’s making himself available to every corner of the community.

Ralston is committed to holding one-on-one meetings with any staff member who asks by the end of October. He’s also launching student superintendent cabinets at every school, a practice he started in his previous district, where middle and high school students set the agenda and helped shape policy.

“If students are asking for something, we better listen and then show them their voice leads to real change,” he said.

Equity through a social work lens

Ralston’s grounding in social work, a field in which he holds a master’s degree from Howard University, shapes how he views equity.

He spoke about the importance of noticing who is left out of a policy or classroom and working backward to include them.

“The first thing I’m going to do is look for who’s left out, who’s disengaged, who might be struggling with language access or something else, and then try to understand the why without placing blame,” he said. “There’s always a reason, and we have to figure that out in order to do better.”

As a former special education teacher, Ralston said he’s also especially attuned to marginalized students.

That’s a pressing concern in Fort Lupton, where roughly 70% of students identify as Hispanic and many come from migrant or bilingual households.

Weld RE-8 has reaffirmed its policy to deny ICE access to schools without a court order, a stance Ralston said he fully supports.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe this community was ready to support every student,” he said. “My job is to make sure kids are safe and learning. Period.”

First steps and tough questions

In his first week, he has already walked through facilities, met with new hires and begun responding to community questions. But he acknowledges the challenges ahead.

The district’s largest high school, Fort Lupton High, requires significant repairs, including roofs, HVAC systems and an updated kitchen, but lacks a clear funding source.

Ralston praised the custodial and maintenance teams for keeping the schools among the cleanest and best-maintained he has seen, despite the challenges. While he said he’s not aware of any immediate safety hazards, he emphasized that safety is the district’s top priority. 

As part of his entry plan, Ralston is working with staff to review district protocols, align with Colorado law and strengthen coordination with local police. 

“We’re making sure systems and structures are in place from day one,” he said.

Two of the five principals are new. So is the COO and the Director of Exceptional Student Services, which includes special education.

And the board made the difficult decision this spring to delay another bond attempt while it rebuilds public trust.

Ralston also acknowledged the importance of immersing himself in the fabric of the community he serves.

“I plan to live in the district, send my kids to these schools, and be fully accountable. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.”

Looking forward: A community-centered vision

Ultimately, Ralston hopes to shift the narrative around public education in Weld RE-8 not just by boosting test scores, but by rebuilding relationships.

“Success isn’t only what we measure in proficiency rates,” he said. “It’s what people say at the diner or in the bleachers. Do they feel the district is part of them? Do they feel heard?”

Asked what he wants people to say a year from now, Ralston didn’t hesitate.

“That our kids were loved. That they were challenged. And that they were prepared. Love comes first for me, that’s where everything starts.”

The post New superintendent brings global experience and local commitment to Weld RE-8 appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is facing the potential loss of nearly $3 million in federal education funding after the U.S. Department of Education announced a freeze on key grants intended to support the 2025–26 school year. 

Superintendent Chris Gdowski said the district is working to protect critical programs and vulnerable students, at least for the coming school year, as the Trump administration’s decision to halt $71 million in federal education grants to Colorado ripples across the state.

“We had a good, solid plan A in place to deal with these kinds of potentialities that should allow us to manage for this next year,” Gdowski said. “But it just makes the following year more difficult, because those funds are spent, and you might be without those funds for a lot more years down the road.”

Where the cuts hit

According to Gdowski, the federal freeze affects four major funding streams for Adams 12, totaling just shy of $3 million. The district had planned to use these dollars for teacher training, support for English learners, academic enrichment and after-school programs serving hundreds of low-income students.

The largest chunk, $1.15 million, was earmarked for educator professional development, specifically to support a new middle school literacy curriculum. 

Another $511,000 was allocated for services to support the district’s English language learners, who make up 16–18% of Adams 12’s 34,000 students. 

“Supporting them is an important legal requirement,” Gdowski said, emphasizing that many students need help developing English reading, writing and speaking skills because it’s not the primary language spoken at home.

Title IV funds, approximately $463,000, were allocated for technology, gifted and talented programs and STEM learning resources to help close academic gaps and accelerate the progress of advanced students.

Perhaps most visibly, $852,000 in 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding is now in limbo. That money supports after-school and summer enrichment for roughly 800 students at the district’s six Title I schools.

Gdowski explained that these are programs that do not just provide academic help but also help pay for support for robotics, sports and healthy snacks for children who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

“There’s lots of work that we have planned for this coming year that’ll be essential to continue, even if these funds don’t make their way to us,” Gdowski explained. “We believe that we need to move forward with these initiatives, regardless of the funding uncertainty.”

Short-term planning, long-term uncertainty

While the freeze does not currently affect Title I funding for high-poverty schools or funding for special education, the loss of these other federal streams could have a ripple effect throughout the district. 

“We did worry that there might be a reduction in some federal funds,” Gdowski said. “We had a fairly high level of confidence that Title I and IDEA funds (IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) would not be reduced. And so we set aside some money as part of the budget plan that if these things were reduced, we could sustain the programs at least for the 25–26 school year.”

That means families and staff will not see disruptions this year. 

“We’re going to be able to deliver to our families what we committed to them to do in the spring,” he said. “And we’re going to be able to do that with the staff that we hired and not make layoffs.”

But if the federal government does not release the funds or cuts them again next year, the programs may not be sustainable. 

“If the government withholds these funds for the entire school year, and cuts them for the 26–27 school year, it will place further strain on our already limited resources,” Gdowski said.

Other vulnerabilities: Medicaid and the state budget

Gdowski warned that Medicaid reimbursements could also be in jeopardy. Adams 12 receives between $6 and $8 million in Medicaid funding, which helps pay for more than 80 employees who serve students with disabilities.

“We’re not quite sure where we’re going to land with Medicaid,” he said. “I’ve had others say the Medicaid funding that the bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) affects is only for adult Medicaid services, and they don’t feel like it will necessarily reduce funding for students and for children in our care.”

Gdowski also flagged another issue the district is watching closely. 

A special legislative session could take place in August to address state-level revenue concerns. 

“There may be some implications from the big, beautiful bill… that may reduce some of the state revenues,” he said. “It may also have impacts for Medicaid and some of their obligations.”

Advocacy and response

Adams 12 is not a party to any lawsuits over the freeze. 

Still, Gdowski said the district is actively lobbying Colorado’s congressional delegation, including Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Brittany Pettersen and Gabe Evans, to push the Department of Education for a quick resolution. 

“We feel like using political channels…is the fastest and best way,” Gdowski said, noting that legal battles could drag on for years.

So far, the district hasn’t fielded a flood of questions from parents, which Gdowski noted is likely a result of the timing, as many families are focused on summer holidays rather than the upcoming school year. 

Adams 12 plans to communicate first with staff in affected programs, assuring them that jobs and services are secure for now, before reaching out to families as the start of school approaches.

The post Adams 12 schools work to shield students from federal grant freeze appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Starting July 1, families in  Jefferson, Adams and Weld counties can apply for free and reduced-price school meals for the upcoming 2025–26 school year. 

While many schools in the area now offer free meals through Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, the state still requires all families to complete the household income form.

And it’s not just about meals.

The household income form helps determine how much state and federal funding a school district receives for programs that support low-income students, including Title I services, fee waivers and grant eligibility.

State education officials encourage all families to complete the application, regardless of whether their child attends a school that offers universal free meals.

“When families fill out this application, they help unlock essential funding that supports students and schools across Colorado,” said Education Commissioner Susana Córdova. “Strong participation from families makes a real difference.”

Families should apply if they have experienced a recent drop in income, receive SNAP, TANF or Medicaid, have children in foster care or Head Start or face housing instability.

Submitting the form can have a significant impact, even in schools that provide meals to all students.

How to apply

Families can find applications online or through local schools and only need to complete one per household.

The state says the form is confidential and doesn’t ask about immigration or citizenship status. It typically requires household income information, the last four digits of a Social Security number (or a note if none is available) and a signature.

Household size and income determine eligibility. For example, a family of four earning $41,795 or less qualifies for free meals, while those earning up to $59,478 qualify for reduced-price meals.

The Colorado Department of Education, as well as district nutrition services departments, provide a comprehensive eligibility chart.

Beyond meals, qualifying families may also receive discounts on internet, testing fees and other student services. Foster children automatically qualify for free meals and students experiencing homelessness or enrolled in Head Start may also qualify.

Families can submit applications at any time during the school year, especially if a household’s situation changes, such as a job loss or a change in family size. Those who receive public assistance can include a case number to expedite the automatic eligibility process.

State officials note that families who receive a letter from their district stating that a child qualifies may not need to apply unless the notice omits the child’s name.

Eligibility lasts through the school year and extends 30 days into the next.

Officials warn that some families may end up paying full price for meals if their school does not participate in the universal free meals program and if eligibility expires.

The Healthy School Meals for All program currently has funding through December 2025. State officials say voters may be asked to approve additional funding through a ballot measure later this year to continue the program beyond that date.

More information is available through district nutrition services pages or on the Colorado Department of Education’s website.

The post State updates eligibility rules for free and reduced-price school meals appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Jefferson County Public Library workers say a proposed dress code policy under negotiation would bar them from wearing Pride pins, DEI-themed shirts or other visible signs of support for marginalized communities, despite the library’s public celebration of diversity.

The proposed change comes as staff are negotiating their first-ever union contract. In March 2024, JCPL employees voted to unionize, forming the Jefferson County Library Workers Union under Colorado’s new collective bargaining law. Contract talks have been underway since the vote.

At issue is the library’s current dress code, which allows staff to wear business casual attire and include limited adornments on lanyards, such as pronoun buttons and two additional pieces. 

The policy also states apparel should be “free of slogans/wording other than JCPL or County-sponsored items.”

Union members say they had hoped to clarify and expand this policy to explicitly allow supportive t-shirts and buttons tied to library events, such as Pride Month, Black History Month or Banned Books Week. 

Instead, management has proposed further tightening restrictions, eliminating all visual messaging, including buttons and other visual elements.

Williams said management has cited safety concerns, arguing that visible political messaging could lead to verbal altercations. For instance, a patron might yell at a staff member for wearing a Pride button.

Williams said she’s unaware of any prior incidents involving apparel, and noted the library’s public-facing code of conduct already addresses verbal harassment.

“They’re saying it will make library workers safer,” Williams said. “But what keeps us safe is enforcing the code of conduct, not telling us not to wear a button.”

Staff raise concerns over free expression

Williams and union staff believe the issue goes beyond a few slogans.

“This isn’t just about a dress code,” said librarian Katherine Williams, a member of the union’s bargaining team. “This is the canary in the coal mine.”

JCPL leadership declined to answer specific questions, citing the ongoing collective bargaining process. 

Executive Director Donna Walker emphasized the library’s public-facing commitment to equity.

“JCPL remains unwavering in its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we will not restrict or diminish our support for these efforts,” Walker said.

JCPL also highlighted its continued support for LGBTQ+ communities with a robust lineup of Pride Month programming in June, including author talks, book displays, film screenings and family-friendly events across multiple branches.

But union members say that’s not what’s playing out behind the scenes.

“How can the library present itself externally as radically welcoming, while internally telling staff they’re not allowed to express the same kind of support?” asked staff member Katy Conway during public comment at a June 18 board meeting.

That meeting, according to Williams, drew more than 50 attendees, including over 40 patrons who spoke out against the proposal.

“This proposed policy is not neutral,” staff member Anna Sparlin told the board. “It’s going to be a nightmare to enforce, and it throws our most vulnerable staff and patrons under the bus.”

Williams also pointed to what she described as a double standard. While management seeks to ban symbolic support for marginalized groups, the library has declined to implement a county statute that would prohibit the open carry of firearms in library facilities.

“If management views signs of support for marginalized communities as ‘offensive’ or a safety concern while simultaneously refusing to implement a county statute that would prohibit open carry of firearms in libraries, we are forced to ask: whose safety really matters?” she said

While the dress code issue hasn’t derailed broader negotiations, staff said it reflects larger concerns about creeping restrictions on library programming and materials.

“Public libraries exist to serve everyone,” Williams said. “But that only works when staff are empowered to reflect the values of equity, safety and inclusion that our communities need and deserve.”

The post Jeffco library staff say dress code proposal silences support for marginalized groups appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

A new $10 million North Transportation Terminal in 27J Schools is nearly ready to open, offering critical space and resources to support the district’s growing enrollment and specialized transportation needs.

The terminal, funded by the district’s $515 million bond approved in 2021, is set to provide much-needed space and resources for the transportation department as 27J continues to buck statewide trends of declining enrollment.

While many Colorado districts are consolidating or closing schools due to shrinking student numbers, 27J stands out for its steady growth. 

With approximately 23,000 students enrolled across district and charter schools, 27J will soon complete construction of its sixth middle school, Talon Ridge, is building a new high school, and is considering additional elementary schools to accommodate families moving into the area. 

Kevin Denke, communications manager for the district, said the new transportation terminal is a direct response to that continued growth.

“This building is really a product of that continued growth, especially within our transportation department,” Denke said. “It gives them breathing room.”

Key features and staffing

Located on the north end of the district, the terminal will not replace 27J’s existing transportation hub on the south side but will expand operations to accommodate increasing demands. It includes maintenance bays, office space, break rooms and a large training area for paraeducators and bus drivers.

According to district materials, the terminal will house between 70 and 75 drivers and paraprofessionals, four Fleet Department staff, and 11 to 12 Operations employees. 

The building features seven offices, a dispatch center, a dedicated training room for comprehensive staff training and multiple break rooms. 

Along with 37 full-size buses and two service trucks, the new site will house 20 of the district’s smaller buses, which are used to transport students with special needs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 27J has seen about 10% annual growth in specialized transportation services, including those for ‘medically fragile students’ – children with chronic, life-threatening health conditions requiring ongoing medical management and monitoring.

The terminal also features a new automated bus wash system and dedicated laundry facilities for staff equipment. Crews recently finished installing furniture and are finalizing office setups ahead of the building’s opening.

According to Denke, the new site will enable more efficient routing and maintenance, reducing mileage and operational costs while improving service for families across the district’s vast boundaries.

Ongoing staffing and operational challenges

Despite the new facility, 27J faces the same hiring challenges as many districts, particularly for transportation and nutrition services. 

Denke said the district is holding regular hiring fairs to recruit more drivers and support staff to meet demand.

With furniture now delivered and offices set up, the North Transportation Terminal is expected to be operational by July, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for early August.

As 27J prepares for another school year, the terminal stands as a tangible sign of the district’s forward momentum.

“This is just one piece of the puzzle,” Denke said. “We’re building not just for today but for where we know the district is going.”

The post Brighton’s 27J new $10 million transportation hub nears completion appeared first on Colorado Community Media.