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’s degree in education policy from the University of Michigan. She joined Chalkbeat (then EdNews Colorado) in 2012.
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Douglas County district pays $1.3 million to settle landmark special education case
The Douglas County School District has paid $1.32 million to settle a long-running special education case brought by a couple who sought reimbursement from the district for their son’s education...

Colorado’s preschool program fails to meet targets for serving English learners well, report finds
Colorado’s public preschool program fails to meet most targets for effectively serving young English learners, according to a new state-by-state report released Wednesday.

7 things you need to know about how Colorado schools discipline their youngest students
Despite nationwide debate about the impact of harsh discipline on young children and efforts to bring the numbers down, suspensions in the early grades are actually going up in Colorado.

How one Colorado county plans to double its child care spots in three years
Mesa County plans to create thousands of new licensed child care slots and significantly improve the quality of child care programs over the next three years.

Most high schools in Colorado have gifted programs but disparities exist
Colorado is one of only six states where at least 90 percent of high-poverty elementary and middle schools offer gifted and talented programs.

Will recess cuts boost learning? One struggling Colorado district wants to find out.
The Adams 14 School District cuts recess time for elementary students in effort to devote more time to instruction.

To teach American music, Colorado teacher takes students back in time
Dave Lunn, the band and orchestra director at Liberty Common High School in Fort Collins, says his favorite unit to teach is American roots Music.

Brighton district latest to set later start time for middle, high school students
Brighton School District will be third in Colorado to start school later for middle, high school students.

Nine of Denver’s 78 neighborhoods are considered child care deserts
Nine of Denver’s 78 neighborhoods are classified as child care deserts, areas where the number of small children far exceeds the number of licensed child care slots, and efforts are...

Colorado family discusses long legal battle to ensure son gets meaningful education
Douglas County couple discusses Supreme Court ruling that raised standard schools must meet for disabled students.