Some state lawmakers in Denver are using the term 鈥渆ducation deserts鈥� to sound the alarm around underperforming schools. It refers to a ZIP code where at least two-thirds of the students attend a school with subpar math and reading scores. One estimate says about 123,000 public school students in Colorado fall into this category.
Some Democratic lawmakers have recently : Colorado Senate President James Coleman 鈥� along with support from Governor Jared Polis 鈥� want to make it easier for charter schools to open in education deserts. They say the status quo isn鈥檛 working, and the state in the effort to boost academic success.
And here鈥檚 the unprecedented part: Coleman wants to introduce a bill that would let those charter schools bypass getting approval from local school boards, which traditionally can endorse or torpedo a new charter school.
covers education for The Colorado Sun. She joined Erin O'Toole to talk about Coleman鈥檚 proposal, and the seismic impact it could have on Colorado鈥檚 public school system.
