Ann Schimke

Ann Schimke covers healthy school topics and early childhood issues for Chalkbeat Colorado. She's written for The Washington Post as well as newspapers in Michigan, Virginia and Colorado. She holds a master鈥檚 degree in education policy from the University of Michigan. She joined Chalkbeat (then EdNews Colorado) in 2012.

Riverstone Academy, billed as Colorado鈥檚鈥渇irst public Christian school,鈥� was ordered to close its building in Pueblo due to health and safety concerns. (Screengrab of Google Maps)

Colorado鈥檚鈥榝irst public Christian school鈥� closes permanently

June 3, 2026 at 11:38 a.m.

Backers opened the 30-student Riverstone Academy in Pueblo County nine months ago with hopes of sparking a religious liberty lawsuit that would go all the way to the U.S. Supreme...

Liberty Common鈥檚 Isabel Allori, center, adjusts her hair on the podium as she receives the first place medal for winning the 3A girls 1600m during the final day of the Colorado high school state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Lakewood, Colorado.(Photo by Andy Colwell/Special to The Denver Post)

Federal judge recommends dismissal of lawsuit by Colorado school districts over transgender athletes

January 19, 2026 at 12:05 p.m.

A federal district court judge will now review the recommendation and make a final decision.

Colorado鈥檚鈥榝irst public Christian school鈥� ordered to close building over safety concerns

January 12, 2026 at 9:59 a.m.

Riverstone Academy officials must acknowledge by Monday evening their intent to close the school at its current location, according to a Jan. 6 letter.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Runners take off during the Class 4A girls State Cross Country Championship race on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)

CHSAA settles Colorado transgender athlete lawsuit; case continues with state

December 8, 2025 at 3:51 p.m.

The group governing high school sports in Colorado has agreed not to sanction schools or teams from eight conservative-leaning school districts and charter schools for policies on transgender student athletes...

Supporters of public religious charter schools rally outside of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Christian law firm鈥檚 search for test case led to religious public school in Colorado, emails suggest

November 12, 2025 at 1:51 p.m.

A prominent conservative law firm looking for a test case on whether public money can fund religious schools was the impetus for what抖阴ap been billed as Colorado鈥檚鈥渇irst public Christian...

"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas is one of 19 titles the Elizabeth school board voted to pull from district libraries. Those removals prompted a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. (Ann Schimke / Chalkbeat)

This Colorado school district was sued for removing library books. Now it抖阴ap fundraising for legal fees.

October 16, 2025 at 12:20 p.m.

The appeal by the 2,700-student district southeast of Denver is part of a broader effort supported by at least three conservative groups.

An infant grasps volunteer Kathleen Jones' hand in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. Jones, 52, is one of several people who volunteer to cuddle babies at the hospital. Research shows that cuddling helps calm the babies, many who are born prematurely or who have serious health issues, and aids in their early development.

Health coverage for Colorado babies and toddlers could be disrupted by Trump administration policy

July 30, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.

Colorado had been planning to roll out its continuous coverage initiative on Jan. 1, 2026.

People move through the south security checkpoint line at Denver International Airport

Coming in 2026: A drop-in child care center at the Denver airport

July 9, 2025 at 9:25 a.m.

The child care center is meant to provide occasional care and will primarily serve the children of airport employees or community members who are participating in training center activities.

Runners compete in a 1600 meter race at the CHSAA Track and Field Championships at Jefferson Country Stadium in Lakewood, Colo., on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Eli Imadali/Special to The Denver Post)

Colorado school district approves transgender athlete ban, though questions about implementation remain

May 9, 2025 at 4:32 p.m.

The high-profile decision in District 49, Colorado鈥檚 10th largest, follows a February executive order from President Donald Trump targeting transgender youth in sports.

Spectators watch the 2A boys 1600 event during the final day of the Colorado high school state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Lakewood, Colorado. (Photo by Andy Colwell/Special to The Denver Post)

Colorado school district seeks restrictions on transgender athletes amid Trump crackdown

May 8, 2025 at 9:10 a.m.

The discussion in conservative-leaning District 49 foreshadows what抖阴ap to come in other Colorado school districts as federal and local officials target transgender youth in sports.

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