Colorado
Most Colorado teacher prep programs devote enough time to math, but some lag, report finds
Sign up for Chalkbeat Colorado’s free daily newsletter to get the latest reporting from us, plus curated news from other Colorado outlets, delivered to your inbox.
With some exceptions, most of Colorado’s undergraduate teacher prep programs spend enough time training future elementary school teachers to teach math, according to a new report.
Just over half of Colorado universities that received ratings in the National Council on Teacher Quality report released Tuesday earned an A or A+ for their undergraduate prep programs. They include the University of Northern Colorado, which is the state’s largest teacher prep program, and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, which is the state’s third largest program.
The state’s second largest teacher prep program, Metropolitan State University of Denver, earned a C. Adams State University in Alamosa was the only undergraduate prep program in the state to earn an F. Both universities sent identical statements to Chalkbeat — each credited to a different administrator — saying the state is the most legitimate judge of teacher prep program quality.
The National Council on Teacher Quality, a research and advocacy group, used syllabi and course descriptions to determine its grades. The Colorado Department of Education doesn’t give grades to prep programs, but it does reauthorize them every five years. During that process, department staff visit campuses and review a variety of data. The department has only recently begun taking a harder look at how prep programs cover math.
In contrast to the undergraduate program grades, all but one of Colorado’s graduate teacher prep programs earned a D or F from the council for how they train future elementary teachers in math.
The council’s report comes at a time when both state and national leaders are concerned about K-12 students’ math performance, particularly since schoolchildren haven’t fully rebounded from the pandemic. Colorado fourth graders made significant gains in math on recent National Assessment of Educational Progress tests, hitting 42% proficiency, compared with 36% in 2022. Still, they’re still below the 44% proficiency rate fourth graders achieved in 2019.
For two years, Colorado has paid for schools to use an online math tutoring program called Zearn, which may have contributed modestly to math gains, a recent study found. State officials are also taking a closer look at how teacher prep programs approach math education — though not to the level they’ve scrutinized teacher prep programs’ approach to reading instruction.
Starting in spring 2023, the Colorado Department of Education began meeting with math faculty during campus visits in advance of teacher prep program reauthorization. In December, department officials began reviewing how teacher prep math classes align with state math standards. The results will be shared privately with universities this summer, a department spokesperson said.
The new ratings of more than 1,100 teacher prep programs nationwide from the National Council on Teacher Quality are based on whether programs spend enough time — 15 to 45 hours — covering key math topics. The topics include numbers and operations, algebraic thinking, geometry and measurement, data analysis and probability, and math pedagogy, which focuses on how teachers teach math to students.
Kim Mahovsky, an assistant professor of teacher education at the University of Northern Colorado, said her university’s A grade for its undergraduate program is well deserved.
She said elementary education students are required to take three math courses, and students with an elementary math concentration will take at least one additional math course.
“We are very proud of the fact that we require our students to have all these math courses in order to teach elementary mathematics,” said Mahovsky, who teaches various math methods classes.
She said the number of instructional hours the National Council on Teacher Quality recommends for various math topics all made sense to her, except for geometry and measurement. The council’s 25-hour benchmark seemed “a little low,” she said. A typical 3-credit college class is equivalent to about 45 hours of instruction.
Mahovsky took issue with the council’s F grade for her university’s graduate program for future elementary educators. She said the grade doesn’t take into account that to gain admission, students in that program must have taken the three math courses required in the university’s undergraduate teacher prep program or, if they attended a different college for undergrad, equivalent classes.
“They should already have that foundational concept knowledge coming into a graduate program,” Mahovsky said.
Some Colorado universities didn’t want to discuss the council’s teacher prep program math grades. Metropolitan State University of Denver declined two interview requests from Chalkbeat.
A statement attributed to Liz Hinde, dean of the School of Education, said in part, “While we recognize the right of external agencies to review our programs and welcome anyone to visit our website and gather whatever information they would like from it, we believe that the State of Colorado is the most legitimate judge of the Educator Preparation Programs at Metropolitan State University of Denver.”
When asked why the statement mirrored one from Adams State University, a spokesperson for Metropolitan State said Hinde crafted the statement in collaboration with the Colorado Council of Deans/Directors of Education and shared it for any of the group’s members to use.
Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat, covering early childhood issues and early literacy. Contact Ann at aschimke@chalkbeat.org.
Colorado
Colorado neighbors lament likely closure of Roxborough library; $22 million regional library breaks ground nearby
For 22 years, the Roxborough library in Roxborough Village has served the entire Roxborough Park community. But that chapter might be coming to a close, as Douglas County Libraries prepares to break ground on a near-$22 million library in a growing master-planned Colorado community nearby.
A new regional library will be built near the intersection of West Titan Road and Taylor River Circle across from the incoming Douglas County School District elementary school in Sterling Ranch. It will also serve communities such as Louviers, Chatfield, Solstice and the greater Roxborough Park community.
“It’s an opportunity for this whole development to centralize a little bit,” said Alex Taylor, president for Sterling Ranch Community Board District No. 2
Taylor was among the first 100 residents to live in Sterling Ranch, and he can’t wait to take his two sons to the library when it opens near their home.
“Having an additional space for the kids to go and find the new set of books,” Taylor said. “Creating a centralized space for everybody in all of the various communities in this region to be able to congregate.”
The 18,000-square-foot library will break ground in Sterling Ranch this summer. But this developing situation does not satisfy everyone in the community.
“Don’t take ours to give them theirs,” community member Denise Martinez said.
Seven minutes away at the Roxborough library, some neighbors don’t want to say goodbye to their longstanding community hub. But the library board has set the lease to terminate next year.
“It would be devastating to this community on so many different levels,” Martinez said.
Martinez says the smaller Roxborough library is one of the only shared amenities in the community and is walkable for many.
“I truly believe that this is the hub of the community,” Martinez said. “This is the gathering spot.”
“Our community has been here for over 40 years, and people have paid into the library system for that amount of time,” said Ephram Glass, president of Roxborough Village Metropolitan District. They’ve been paying their property taxes. The library has been accumulating all this funding, so that they could build a new facility for Roxborough, and now for that money to then go to a brand new community that hasn’t been paying in for decades, I think a lot of people will be very pissed off.”
Glass and Martinez both enjoy taking their children to the library. They say it’s a close walk or bike ride from Roxborough Primary and Intermediate School and worry about children losing accessibility to the library.
“It would take an hour and 16 minutes walking to the new facility from this one, or a 25-minute bike ride. There’s really no shoulder,” Martinez said. “This doesn’t give our kids access at all. I mean, they will ultimately not be able to go to the library unless they have a ride.”
“I imagine some kids will take the e-bikes over. Many will just not go,” Glass said.
Glass is a member of the Roxborough Village HOA, which he says offered to donate a parcel of land near the existing Roxborough library with no strings attached.
“The board chose the Sterling Ranch site as the best site,” said Bob Pasicznyuk, executive director at Douglas County Libraries.
Pasicznyuk says there have long been plans to open a larger library in the area. He says DCL chose the other site, which was donated by the Sterling Ranch developer, partially because it was centrally located in northwest Douglas County.
“Ultimately around 35,000 people will live just in Sterling Ranch alone. The audience base would then go up to say (50,000) or 60,000. Right now it’s about half that many,” Pasicznyuk said.
Pasicznyuk says the all-in cost of the library in Sterling Ranch will be $21.6 million. That includes $250,000 for an outdoor porch, $200,000 for an outdoor children’s play area and $450,000 for other outdoor improvements, including a seating area, trellis and event and trail space.
Martinez is upset those outdoor amenities will come at the cost of the library and not the Sterling Ranch developer.
“I just think that it’s ridiculous to build a park and a veranda and even insist upon those things,” Martinez said. “I just do not understand what that really has to do with literacy or books or the library. I was kind of shocked by that actually.”
Despite terminating the lease, Pasicznyuk says the library board has not voted to close the Roxborough library just yet, but admits they have always consolidated smaller libraries when larger ones open.
“We’ve been 22 years in the second-floor strip mall rental, and while we’ve been glad for the opportunity, it’s going to be an amazing opportunity to move into a freestanding library with all the amenities that we have,” Pasicznyuk said.
“It isn’t good for this community. If you’re here to serve the community, why would you shut this down?” Martinez said.
Martinez started a Change.org petition to “Save Our Roxborough Library.” She now has more than 1,400 signatures.
“We need this. This is vital for our community,” Martinez said. “We just feel like we’re being absorbed.”
“It’s a prized amenity, so it makes sense that they want to keep it,” Pasicznyuk said. “I’ve never seen a reaction other than people love their library. So, even though you’re opening a new library, and I can describe 10 things about it that might be improvements over what we have today, people are going to, because they love their library, wish to keep what they have.”
Meanwhile, Taylor is excited for the library to open in Sterling Ranch next year.
“I’m absolutely empathetic to the fact that somebody might be disappointed that a library would move a few miles away from them versus where it’s historically been,” Taylor said. “The library will be something that everyone can enjoy. It’s going to be a library in Sterling Ranch, but not just for Sterling Ranch.”
Taylor says he’s been working with Sterling Ranch’s developers and the library on a partnership with the nearby Lamb Spring Archaeological Preserve. They are hoping to bring some artifacts or replicas into the library and use a mammoth hunter-gatherer theme for the children’s areas.
“It is a major archeological site in this region that there is evidence of mammoth activity and human activity going back possibly as far as 9,000 years ago,” Taylor said.
Roxborough-area residents say they plan to attend the next library board meeting on June 24 to make their voices heard.
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Organizers for the Pikes Peak or Bust Parade announced on Friday, June 19, that due to a lack of resources, the parade has been canceled.
Originally scheduled for July 11 in Downtown Colorado Springs, parade organizers said they could not secure the resources needed to produce the event at the level the community deserves.
“We know many of you were looking forward to the parade, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who offered their time, support, sponsorship, and enthusiasm,” said organizers.
While the parade will no longer be taking place on July 11, organizers said the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo will return on July 14 through July 18, and tickets remain on sale.
Organizers hope to see the Colorado Springs community at the rodeo, and they remain hopeful that the beloved tradition can return in the future.
Denver Post writers have explored Colorado’s many corners and offer ways to find fun, relaxation or something new for summer. Take a look at how you can expand your possibilities this season if you’re keeping travel close to home this year.
In the mountains
Colorado’s 10 most popular hikes, according to AllTrails
Colorado waterfall hike: Copeland Falls best this time of year in early morning
This hiking trail near Red Rocks will help you get in shape for 14er season
Gorgeous Colorado hike reopens this summer with new rules for hiking, camping, human waste
An Estes Park getaway can be about more than just the outdoors
Camping
Gorgeous Colorado hike reopens this summer with new rules for hiking, camping, human waste
Forest service now charging $20 for dispersed camping in Homestake Valley
Within driving distance
These adult summer retreats can help Coloradans escape burnout
Big balloons will rise above Colorado’s heat this summer; watch ’em soar or take a ride
Looking for beach vibes? Here’s where to find them in landlocked Colorado
Movie-theater hotel adds vintage Airstreams, Quonset huts in San Luis Valley
Sleep in a treehouse, hike with llamas, stargaze and more summer whimsy
Pick your own flowers at these farms and garden centers in Colorado
Is city fishing safe? Yes, experts say, but there are updated guidelines to follow.
Big balloons will rise above Colorado’s heat this summer; watch ’em soar or take a ride
Here’s where to fish with kids near Denver
Summer fun
Biodegradable pickleballs, size-inclusive skorts made in Colorado and other sports gear we love
More women are playing padel than ever — and for good reason
Meet the Boulder dogs cast in this summer’s Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Gravel biking events are a hot commodity in Colorado this summer
Want to get off your phone? Learn blacksmithing or floral design at these Colorado classes and makerspaces.
Beyond Colorado
10 tree-house hotels in the U.S. for you to commune with nature in comfort
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoWoman, man found shot to death in Pomona, suspect leads officers on erratic chase
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoToday in History: June 20, race-related rioting erupts in Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco hotels see steady World Cup business, but fall short of Super Bowl surge
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas International Piano Competition brings finalists June 23
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoWhere to watch San Francisco Giants vs Miami Marlins: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 20
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoDuck parades, outdoor drinking, and Gronk in a kilt. Here’s how Friday’s World Cup festivities unfolded. – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoRockies ride Kyle Freeland’s gem, Braxton Fulford’s double to 4-3 win over Pirates
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSuarez’s no-hit try ends on Naylor double in seventh, but Boston still tops Seattle
