State
Follow the latest K-12 education developments across Colorado, including news from school districts, the state education agency, associations and education organizations.
Last updated: October 5, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 13 Colorado stories over the last 30 days, from 3 organizations. The most frequent themes are School Districts, Teacher Workforce and Artificial Intelligence.
Colorado's chronic absenteeism rate fell to 27.5% in 2025-26, its lowest level in four years. State education data show attendance rose slightly to 91.5%, up from 91.4% a year earlier.
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District 49 will oversee the online schools for 2026-27 after Education reEnvisioned BOCES dissolved. The schools enrolled 4,707 students last year; teachers and student supports will remain in place.
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Colorado released spring 2026 assessment data showing gains in elementary math and literacy across many student groups. Achievement gaps persisted, and middle school English language arts scores declined.
Colorado education officials announced $23.8 million in two noncompetitive grants to help schools buy locally grown ingredients, prepare meals from scratch and raise pay for nutrition workers.
2027 Teacher of the Year Finalist
2027 Teacher of the Year Finalist
2027 Teacher of the Year Finalist
State and district education leaders are making appointments and involving teachers and students in governance: Florida named a new education commissioner, New York City appointed an early childhood deputy chancellor, Missouri added its first active classroom teacher to the state board, and Illinois selected a student advisory council. Technology policies differ across jurisdictions, with New York City announcing a generative AI moratorium while Illinois issued nonbinding AI guidance and Connecticut recommended bell-to-bell limits on personal devices without a statewide mandate. Illinois increased school funding and awarded teacher recruitment and retention grants, while New York City expanded pre-K special education and Mississippi began implementing statewide math and adolescent literacy initiatives for 2026–27. Maryland reported a four-year decline in chronic absenteeism.
States are funding educator recruitment and preparation and changing certification pathways: Kansas received an $8.4 million federal educator-pipeline grant, while Illinois allocated $15 million for recruitment and retention in 100 districts accounting for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies. Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to reduce certification barriers for eligible out-of-state teachers, and Connecticut opened registration for a free six-week paraeducator preparation academy. Teacher recognition programs also progressed from regional selections to finalists and statewide winners in Missouri and Iowa, while Colorado announced finalists and Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, New York and Florida named 2027 Teachers of the Year.
Chronic absenteeism declined in Maryland, Connecticut and Colorado, with Maryland reporting a four-year decline. Connecticut’s rate fell to 16.4% in 2025–26 from 23.7% in 2021–22, while Colorado’s fell to 27.5%, its lowest level in four years, as attendance edged up to 91.5% from 91.4% a year earlier. Colorado education officials also partnered with the Denver Broncos Foundation and Attendance Works to launch a 53-school network offering training and resources to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.
Connecticut is expanding K–3 reading interventions and educator coaching through a five-year, $10 million grant covering 75 elementary schools, while Massachusetts is continuing early literacy tutoring funding for 338 schools and awarded nearly $25 million for literacy instruction. Nine Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs received accreditation aligned with structured literacy standards, and Mississippi designated science-of-reading schools and is implementing a statewide adolescent literacy initiative for 2026–27. Indiana reported its fifth consecutive year of rising literacy rates, while Colorado reported elementary literacy gains alongside persistent achievement gaps and declining middle school English language arts scores. In Maine, the number of students earning biliteracy recognition rose 18 percent, and the number of high schools offering it grew 11.5 percent.
Connecticut and Missouri reported 2025–26 assessment gains across multiple subjects, while Colorado reported gains in elementary math and literacy but declining middle school English language arts scores and persistent achievement gaps. Mississippi reported higher science performance, steady English language arts results and a slight decline in math proficiency. Connecticut’s chronic absenteeism fell to 16.4%, down from 23.7% in 2021–22. Kansas received federal approval to pilot assessments administered throughout the school year.
State math results varied in 2025–26: Connecticut reported gains, Colorado recorded elementary math gains across many student groups, and Mississippi saw a slight decline in math proficiency. Mississippi is implementing the Mississippi Math Act statewide in 2026–27, while Iowa selected 44 elementary students from 18 public districts and four accredited nonpublic schools for a 10-year math enrichment program with mentoring and learning support. New York released preliminary statewide mathematics test data.
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Based on: CDE and the Denver Broncos Foundation launch Denver Broncos Attendance Network
Based on: State Board approves emergency transfer of four multi-district online schools to District 49
Based on: Colorado expands Healthy School Meals for All with grants for schools to purchase local food, expand scratch cooking, and boost nutrition staff wages
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 7, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Maine Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
