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Once known as the Hate State, Colorado has become more accepting of LGBTQ+ people. Now, heated exchanges over gender identity are playing out in school districts across the state. Some are adopting gender inclusive guidelines, outlining how to support transgender and non-binary students. How and when to involve parents is up for debate.

Backers of a proposed ballot initiative are up against the clock to gather over 100,000 signatures before next week’s deadline. The measure they hope to get on the ballot this November would require schools to inform parents about gender identity issues.

There’s a debate in Fort Collins over whether a tax increase could keep Poudre School District from closing schools. Resident Jeff Lindquist, also a former chief financial officer for a suburban Denver school district, pitched the idea to the PSD Board of Education in April. The district would have to ask voters about the proposed measure in this November's ballot. The Coloradoan's Kelly Lyell joined KUNC's Michael Lyle, Jr. to get more information.

The Poudre School District Board of Directors abandoned plans to consolidate the district by closing several local schools in a unanimous vote Monday night. The reversal comes after months of overwhelming community pushback.

The Poudre School District released an updated set of four scenarios last week outlining plans to consolidate schools to deal with declining enrollment.

Declining enrollment in Larimer County’s Poudre School District is prompting plans to close schools. But the community has been pushing back hard.

The Poudre School District is considering an idea of consolidating some of its schools as figures from the Colorado Department of Education show some of its non-charter schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade declined by 239 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24. The Coloradoan reporter Kelly Lyell joined KUNC "Morning Edition" host Michael Lyle, Jr. to get more on the story.

Students who miss 10% of school days are known as chronically absent. The problem can lead kids down a precarious path and it’s a big issue in Colorado. Reporter and senior editor Leigh Paterson tells us what some schools are doing about it.

Colorado kids are missing a lot of school. Rates of chronic absenteeism across the state have been rising for years. Districts across Northern Colorado are scrambling to get these students back in class.

A controversial proposal to consolidate schools in the Poudre School District was put on hold Tuesday during a board of education meeting in Fort Collins. Officials said they need more time to work with the community on solutions to declining enrollment and funding challenges.