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A fi le photo of students reading.
READING
FROM PAGE 1
Even so, the state’s crackdown on K-3 reading curriculum seems to be working.
Melissa Colsman, associate commissioner of student learning at the Colorado Department of Education, said only 41% of Colorado’s 178 school districts last spring met rules on K-3 reading curriculum. This fall, that proportion has risen to 63%.
Offi cials from the 90,000-student Denver district announced Nov. 11 at a public literacy event organized by Chalkbeat that they’re piloting a state-approved reading program — Core Knowledge Language Arts — in some schools this year, with plans for a wider adoption in the coming year.
The curriculum is among a dozen core reading programs that the state has approved for use in kindergarten through third grade.
Offi cials in the Jeffco, Dougco, and Cherry Creek districts are also piloting or selecting state-approved reading programs this year. Some schools in the three districts have been using a state-rejected reading program commonly called Lucy Calkins, which experts have criticized for encouraging students to guess at words instead of sounding them out.
School districts often adopt new curriculum every six or seven years. Such purchases can be expensive, but the infl ux of federal COVID relief money means schools now have extra cash that can cover such one-time expenses.
Experts say well-trained teachers are critical to teaching reading well, but that high-quality curriculum can make that job easier.
Among the districts that received state letters in October warning that they used unacceptable K-3 reading curriculum were those using ReadyGEN in some grades or schools, including St. Vrain Valley, Boulder Valley, 27J, and Thompson on the Front Range and Roaring Fork and Salida in western Colorado. Soon after, the state withdrew its demands for those districts to switch.
Along with several other commonly used reading programs, ReadyGEN was reviewed and rejected by state evaluators in spring 2020. Schools using programs that failed the state’s review would have to replace them, state offi cials said then, and several times since.
But now, the message is changing.
Education department offi cials say even though state reviewers rejected ReadyGEN, schools can keep using it because it passed the part of the state review focused on whether it was scientifi cally or evidence-based — the criteria specifi ed in the 2019 law — despite having other fl aws.
“We did hear from districts that said, ‘Your own review process found this to be meeting scientifi cally or evidence-based standards,’” Colsman said.
Lindsay Drakos, a co-chair of the statewide dyslexia advocacy group COKID, said by email that the state’s shifting stance on ReadyGEN dilutes the state’s reading law and could open the door for schools to use other rejected programs.
“If a curriculum is reviewed and rejected, then I believe that is that — it shouldn’t be used in schools in Colorado,” she said.
Colsman said the state’s reversal on ReadyGEN points to “the realities of policy implementation because as we got into actually reviewing what districts were using, you realize that not everything fi ts into a neat bucket.”
Reviewers of ReadyGEN said the program met key standards for science-based reading instruction, but they noted it doesn’t thoroughly cover all foundational skills. They recommended teachers compensate for these shortcomings by using the company’s intervention lessons, a supplement designed for struggling readers, for all students.
Education department offi cials said the intervention lessons must be purchased separately and that while the state can encourage schools to buy and use those lessons, they can’t require it. ReadyGEN also fell short on the state’s review in the “usability” category because reviewers said it was hard to navigate. Become a Chalkbeat sponsor
In Denver, the state’s largest district, many schools use state-
PHOTO BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT/CHALKBEAT
Colorado Book Awards open for submissions
STAFF REPORT
Colorado authors have a deadline of Jan. 7, 2022, to enter a submission to the Colorado Book Awards.
The Colorado Book Awards celebrate the accomplishments of Colorado’s authors, editors, illustrators and photographers. “To be eligible for submission, a primary contributor to the book must be a current Colorado resident engaged in ongoing literary work in the state, or with a personal history, identity and literary work that refl ect a strong Colorado infl uence,” the Colorado Book Awards webpage says.
There are about 10 categories for authors to submit their book for the awards.
All submissions must have been published for the fi rst time no earlier than October 2020. Volunteers are also needed to to the Colorado Book Awards. serve as a Colorado Book Awards selector or judge. Scholars, librarians, booksellers, teachers, writers, rado’s authors, editors, illustrators reviewers and avid readers from and photographers. “To be eligible across the state are urged to apply. for submission, a primary contribu- Additional information on the tor to the book must be a current Colorado Book Awards — including Colorado resident engaged in ongo- guidelines and entry forms, and the ing literary work in the state, or application for volunteer selectors with a personal history, identity and and judges — can be found on the literary work that refl ect a strong Colorado Book Awards webpage: Colorado infl uence,” the Colorado coloradohumanities.org/programs/ Book Awards webpage says. colorado-book-awards/. To learn more about Colorado Humanities, visit coloradohumanities. awards. org, or call 303-894-7951.
Thanksgiving o ce closures
All County o ces will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Visit arapahoegov.com/calendar
Celebrate Colorado Apprenticeship Month
The Registered Apprenticeship Program from Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Works with employers and employees to pair non-traditional apprentices with a variety of professional sectors.
Visit adworks.org for details
Film on the Rocks is back
Red Rocks fi lm series prepares for another season with 13 holiday drive-in shows
STAFF REPORT
KIOWA CREEK NORTH
OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN
www.KiowaCreekOpenSpace.com Weigh in on our Kiowa Creek North Open Space planning
Let us know your thoughts about the Kiowa Creek North Open Space and help us preserve the area’s natural resources as we help you enjoy this unique part of the eastern riparian floodplain.
Get details at kiowacreekopenspace.com
Film on the Rocks, the long-running series at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre giving fi lm buffs a reason to head for the foothills, is preparing to kick off its 22nd season.
This year, a classic lineup of holiday favorites will be screened at the iconic venue Fridays through Sundays from Nov. 26 to Dec. 12.
From fun fi lms for the whole family like “The Polar Express,” “Home Alone” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” to decidedly more grown-up fare like “Die Hard” and “Love, Actually,” Film on the Rocks — Holiday Drive-In, has something for everyone.
The Holiday Drive-In fi lms will be shown in the Lower South parking lot at Red Rocks. Movie-goers will be able to watch from the warmth and comfort of their own cars. The fi lms will be shown on an LED screen, with audio accessible via an FM radio frequency.
No RVs, buses or trailers will be allowed entrance, and high-profi le vehicles will be asked to park in specifi c areas so they won’t interfere with sight lines of lower-profi le vehicles.
Tickets can be purchased for $59.50 per car (regardless of the number of occupants), which gets you entrance, a soft drink, popcorn and candy.
Visit www.redrocksonline.com/ fi lm to view the full schedule and purchase tickets.
READING
rejected curriculum, with the most common ones being the 2018 version of Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante, the program’s Spanish version.
Meredith Stolte, the district’s director of humanities, said during Thursday’s literacy event that she’s seen a big difference in reading instruction in the pilot classrooms.
“When children engage in the explicit and systematic way of learning to read, the light in them is completely different because ... they can understand and it’s not a guessing game,” she said, “which, to be honest, is some of what exists in older curriculum like Benchmark.”
Parent Priscila Ramirez, who also spoke at the literacy event, described the frustration she felt about the reading instruction her son, now a fourth-grader, received in Denver.
“Unfortunately, after many years and different schools we saw that he wasn’t learning,” she said. “He wasn’t learning because the learning system or the curriculum that is followed in most schools is not functional for children with dyslexia.”
If districts don’t submit a plan to switch from subpar reading curriculum by the state’s Jan. 17 deadline, Colsman said the department will send reminders. If that doesn’t work, the department could lower districts’ accreditation rating.
“We want to avoid that as as much as possible because ... it’s a blunt instrument,” she said.
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre in Jef-
ferson County. PHOTO BY T.S. STEINER/SHUTTERSTOCK
BOARD & BARREL
Come eat s’mores, sample local barrel-aged beverages, and watch extreme snowboarders compete as they launch into action. Board & Barrel, Dec. 4, noon-6 p.m, at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center.
Get your tickets today by visiting: Get your tickets today by visiting:
arapahoecountyfair.com/ arapahoecountyfair.com/ boardandbarrel
Maps appear to favor continued Democratic majority
BY THY VO THE COLORADO SUN
The Colorado Supreme Court has unanimously approved new state Senate and House maps, the fi nal hurdle the redistricting plans needed to clear before being adopted ahead of the 2022 election.
The Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission followed the Colorado Constitution’s requirements for redistricting and didn’t abuse its authority in deciding how to apply them, Justice Richard L. Gabriel wrote in the Nov. 15 ruling.
“Under our constitution, our review is a limited one,” Gabriel said. “It is not our task to determine whether other plans could have been adopted.”
Approval by the state Supreme Court is the last step in this year’s once-a-decade congressional and legislative redistricting process, which was overseen for the fi rst time by independent commissions created through the 2018 passage of Amendments Y and Z. The court separately approved the new U.S. House map Nov. 1.
The court’s approval of the state Senate and House maps allows the Colorado Secretary of State’s offi ce and county clerks to redraw precinct lines to fi t the new maps. It also provides clarity for incumbent lawmakers and prospective candidates who have been waiting for approval to make decisions about the 2022 election.
The maps, which were approved by the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission last month, appear to favor Democrats’ maintaining their majority in the General Assembly.
Democrats now hold a 20-15 majority in the state Senate. They hold a 41-24 advantage in the House. Nine seats in the Senate, where Republicans have their greatest chance of a majority, would be considered competitive.
The legislative maps, which take effect for the 2022 general election, received fewer legal objections than the U.S. House map approved by the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission. A few parties made arguments that the legislative maps improperly split up cities like Lakewood and Greeley, and didn’t create enough competitive districts.
SEE MAPS, P5
The fi nal map of new state Senate districts in the Denver metro area
NOW OPEN!
. MAP BY COLORADO INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS
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Hanzon Studios and DCPA O -Center Present Camp Christmas Created By Lonnie Hanzon
FROM PAGE 4
In its Nov. 15 opinion as well as in an earlier ruling on the congressional map, the Supreme Court acknowledged that, under Amendments Y and Z, its review of the maps was limited to whether the commission applied the correct legal standards and had reasonable evidence to support its decisions.
For example, a Democratic group, Fair Lines Colorado, and Latino advocacy group, the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization, argued the legislative commission approved a state Senate map splitting the city of Lakewood but lacked documented evidence to back that decision.
Evidence supporting the splitting of Lakewood into two Senate districts is “thin,” according to the ruling. Although the panel “could have made a better and more explicit record to support its decision,” doing so wasn’t required of the commission, the court found.
While the legislative commission could have made different choices, the panel adopted maps that “fell within the range of reasonable options,” according to the ruling.
Court approval of the legislative maps marks the end of a chaotic fi rst year under Amendments Y and Z. The 2020
census data used to draw fi nal maps was nearly fi ve months late this year, compressing the time that the redistricting commission had to hold public hearings and draw maps. congressional map, the Su- Signifi cant population preme Court acknowledged growth resulted in the creation that, under Amendments Y of a new 8th Congressional and Z, its review of the maps District, which will be the was limited to whether the most politically competitive. commission applied the cor- The fi nal U.S. House map rect legal standards and had creates three safe seats for reasonable evidence to support Democrats, three safe seats for its decisions. Republicans and two seats that could go either way. Republicans have a larger and Latino advocacy group, advantage in the new 3rd the Colorado Latino Leader- Congressional District, where ship, Advocacy and Research U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Organization, argued the legis- Garfi eld County is running for lative commission approved a reelection. state Senate map splitting the Colorado is one of 13 states city of Lakewood but lacked that have fi nalized their documented evidence to back redrawn congressional maps, that decision. according to FiveThirtyEight. Although redistricting is unlikely to alter the balance two Senate districts is “thin,” of power in Colorado, Reaccording to the ruling. publicans have so far gained Although the panel “could at least fi ve seats in the U.S. have made a better and more House, give them a strong edge explicit record to support its on recapturing the chamber, decision,” doing so wasn’t re- according to the New York quired of the commission, the Times. They need to fl ip fi ve court found. seats to gain a majority. different choices, the panel adopted maps that “fell within the range of reasonable options,” according to the ruling. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
The fi nal map of new state House of Representatives districts in the Denver metro area.
MAP BY COLORADO INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS
Your Financial Assistance Use a Reverse Mortgage to Fund Retirement
by Matt Witt
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