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Thousands of students in Colorado live in areas with underperforming schools known as 鈥渆ducation deserts.鈥� One state lawmaker wants to make it easier for charter schools to open in these areas 鈥� but the idea wouldn鈥檛 be without controversy. We鈥檒l hear about it on today鈥檚 In The NoCo.

The cuts will enable the state to absorb the rising costs of Medicaid and fully fund K-12 for another year. But they didn鈥檛 eliminate the state鈥檚 structural deficit, which will require ongoing cuts for years to come.

Hundreds of educators and supporters gathered on what was a school day for many to push back on a proposal from Gov. Jared Polis.

District leaders say laying off staff and scaling back programs and maintenance could be ahead as state lawmakers consider pulling back funding to combat state budget hole. Listen to our Morning Edition host Michael Lyle, Jr. discuss this story with The Colorado Sun reporter Erica Breunlin and then read The Colorado Sun story at the link below.

As the Trump administration threatens to defund the U.S. Department of Education, KUNC looks at how federal dollars are spent in northern Colorado school districts.

How did state finances end up in such bad shape, and how far will lawmakers go to get back in balance?

The state is already looking at budget cuts this year and has struggled in the past to increase school funding.

The issue is a lack of funds in the state鈥檚 childcare subsidy program. The program helps low-income families pay for childcare so they can work or attend school. However, it's facing a major budget crunch, and there鈥檚 no certainty that more funding will arrive to support it.

Education 鈥� and how to pay for it 鈥� was a major theme of this year's legislative session, which wrapped up last week with lots of new laws on the books. KUNC's state capitol reporter helps untangle some of the biggest bills, on In The NoCo.

Several local organizations in cities and towns that support Colorado's universal preschool program recently sent a letter to the Governor's office expressing their concern about possible financial cutbacks that could occur within the next two years. Chalkbeat Colorado reporter Ann Schmike joined KUNC's Michael Lyle, Jr. to get more on this story.