°µºÚ±¬ÁÏ

Schools around Colorado are calling off classes on Thursday as teachers head to the State Capitol for a rally over budget cuts.

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.

Dozens of child care centers on the Front Range are associated with or owned by private equity or venture capital firms. That's making some wonder whether these types of centers are helping or hurting the state's preschool system.

A new school year is underway, yet students and families still don’t have access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. Applications usually are accepted beginning October 1, but the Department of Education is blaming technical issues on the reason for the delay. Chalkbeat Colorado Reporter Jason Gonzales said the agency would run tests for a limited set of students and institutions before circulating it to the public in December.

Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a state mandate that requires middle and high schools to provide free period products in girls' bathrooms by 2028. The Colorado Sun Reporter Tatiana Flowers joined KUNC's Michael Lyle, Jr. to get more on this story.

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.

Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation last week that commits millions in state funding to several higher education projects intended to boost Colorado's healthcare workforce. Among them is the University of Northern Colorado, which is getting $127 million towards a new college of osteopathic medicine.

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