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Learning Curve

An expert and a mom discuss the state of education in Colorado. This engaging videocast features Ross Izard, an education policy expert and Erin Brantley, a mom who is passionate about education policy.

Homeschooling, private schools, public schools… we cover it all!

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Ep 17. Can a Colorado school district lose millions in federal funding over Title IX? In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard examine the growing conflict between federal Title IX enforcement and Colorado law. Using the Jefferson County School District (Jeffco) as a real-world example, they explain how schools can find themselves caught between competing legal requirements, and what could happen if those conflicts remain unresolved. Topics include: -What Title IX actually does? -Why Jeffco is under federal investigation? -How federal funding enforcement works? -The conflict between Colorado law and federal interpretation -Whether schools could really lose federal funding? -What this could mean for districts across Colorado? Whether you're a parent, educator, policymaker, or simply interested in education policy, this episode breaks down one of the most significant legal questions facing Colorado schools today. 👍 If you enjoyed this discussion, please like the video, subscribe, and leave a comment with your thoughts. Learning Curve explores education policy, school choice, higher education, and the issues shaping classrooms across Colorado and the nation. #LearningCurve #TitleIX #Jeffco #Colorado #Education #SchoolChoice #FederalFunding #PublicPolicy #EducationPolicy #ColoradoPolitics
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Could Jeffco Schools Lose Millions in Federal Funding?

Ep.16 The legislative session is over… but the confusion is just beginning. Colorado lawmakers passed hundreds of bills in just 120 days, including major changes to education policy, school funding, homeschool enrichment programs, private school partnerships, and more. Now that the dust has settled, everyone is trying to figure out what actually passed, and what it means. There's just one problem: Even the government is confused. In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izard and Erin Brantley break down what happens after the legislature adjourns, why state agencies are still scrambling to interpret new laws, and how rulemaking can have a major impact on families, schools, and students long after the legislative session ends. Topics include: ✅ What happens during Colorado's legislative interim ✅ Why agencies need time to interpret new laws ✅ School finance and funding changes ✅ Homeschool enrichment program updates ✅ The rulemaking process and why it matters ✅ How parents can stay informed before the next school year The headlines may have moved on, but education policy is still being shaped behind the scenes. 🔔 Subscribe for more Colorado education and policy discussions. #ColoradoPolitics #ColoradoEducation #LearningCurve #SchoolChoice #Homeschooling #EducationPolicy #ColoradoLegislature #PublicPolicy #Rulemaking #SchoolFunding
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Even The Government Is Confused

Ep. 15 What happens if a child reaches fourth grade and still struggles to read? In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard take a closer look at one of the biggest education success stories in America: Mississippi's dramatic rise in reading proficiency. After ranking near the bottom of the nation for decades, Mississippi jumped from 49th to 9th in fourth-grade reading scores. So what changed? The conversation explores Mississippi's literacy reforms, Colorado's READ Act, third-grade reading benchmarks, retention policies, parental involvement, and whether more education spending actually leads to better outcomes. The hosts also discuss: ✅ Why reading by third grade is considered a critical milestone ✅ How Colorado compares to national reading trends ✅ The debate over holding students back versus promoting them forward ✅ Whether accountability or funding is the bigger issue ✅ The role parents play in helping children become strong readers ✅ What policymakers can learn from Mississippi's turnaround Reading isn't just another school subject—it's the foundation for nearly everything students learn afterward. If kids can't read by third grade, what happens next? 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about education, policy, and student success. #Education #Reading #Literacy #READAct #Mississippi #Colorado #LearningCurve #SchoolChoice #EducationPolicy #Parenting
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If Kids Can't Read By Third Grade

Ep 14: Colorado's 2026 legislative session ended in a whirlwind of late-night amendments, suspended rules, and major questions about the future of homeschool enrichment programs and part-time student funding in Colorado. In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley break down what happened during the final days of the session, why lawmakers made significant changes at the last minute, and what those changes could mean for homeschool families across the state. The discussion explores new restrictions on homeschool enrichment programs, changes affecting district and charter participation, grandfathering provisions for existing programs, and the unanswered questions that remain as the Colorado Department of Education begins the rulemaking process. Parents, educators, and program leaders are now left trying to navigate a rapidly changing landscape with enrollment decisions already underway and many key details still unresolved. Topics covered: • Last-minute amendments to the School Finance Act • Homeschool enrichment program funding • District boundary restrictions • Charter school and BOCES participation • Grandfathering provisions for existing programs • Upcoming rulemaking by the Colorado Department of Education • What families should expect moving forward While the legislative session may be over, the debate is far from settled. With additional rulemaking, possible legal challenges, and future legislative action on the horizon, this conversation is only beginning. Subscribe to Learning Curve for weekly discussions on education policy, school choice, homeschooling, charter schools, and the issues shaping the future of education in Colorado. #ColoradoEducation #Homeschooling #SchoolChoice #EducationPolicy #LearningCurve #ColoradoLegislature #SchoolFinance #CharterSchools #HomeschoolFamilies #ColoradoSchools
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Chaos At The End Of Session

Ep 13. Parents play a critical role in shaping their children's education, but what happens when they feel their voices are no longer being heard? In this episode of Learning Curve, we take a closer look at the growing controversy surrounding Jefferson County Public Schools, the resignation of Superintendent Tracy Dorland, and the grassroots parent movement that has emerged in response. From concerns over leadership and accountability to questions about student safety and district governance, this conversation explores how a small group of engaged parents can influence decisions at the highest levels of a school district. We also discuss the role parent coalitions can play in shaping future education policy, why local involvement matters, and how community advocacy often becomes the starting point for larger legislative conversations. Whether you're a parent, educator, taxpayer, or simply interested in how public education works, this episode offers an important look at the power of civic engagement and what happens when ordinary people decide to get involved. 🎙️ Topics Covered: • Jeffco school district controversies • Superintendent Tracy Dorland's resignation • Parent advocacy and grassroots organizing • The rise of Jeffco Kids First • School governance and accountability • How local issues can influence state policy • The future of education conversations in Colorado What do you think? Can a small group of parents create meaningful change in a large school district? Let us know in the comments. #Colorado #Education #Jeffco #JeffcoSchools #SchoolBoard #ParentsRights #EducationPolicy #LearningCurve #ColoradoPolitics #ParentAdvocacy #SchoolChoice #CommunityEngagement #PublicEducation #ColoradoNews #JeffersonCounty
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Parents Are Done Being Ignored

Ep:12 Colorado lawmakers are debating major changes to homeschool enrichment and school choice programs, and thousands of families could be affected. Should public education funding support things like sports, outdoor education, ski programs, and extracurricular enrichment? Or should those programs face cuts during a budget crisis? In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley break down: -The fight over homeschool enrichment funding -Why lawmakers are considering new restrictions? -What a “moratorium” on certain programs could mean -How this could impact 20,000–30,000 Colorado students? -The growing debate around school choice in Colorado Whether you’re a parent, educator, homeschool family, or just trying to understand what’s happening at the Capitol, this conversation explains the real-world impact behind the headlines. Subscribe for weekly conversations on Colorado education, policy, parenting, and the future of learning. #Colorado #SchoolChoice #Homeschooling #Education #Politics #LearningCurve #ColoradoPolitics #Parenting #EducationPolicy
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Where Should Education Dollars Go?

Ep11: Why do two kids in the same school district have completely different learning experiences? In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down the major teaching models shaping Colorado schools ,including STEM, Core Knowledge, traditional public schools, and project-based learning. They explain how curriculum, teaching styles, and school models impact student success, why school choice matters, and how parents can better advocate for their children by understanding how schools actually teach. The conversation also dives into Colorado’s READ Act, literacy standards, charter school flexibility, and why parental involvement is still one of the biggest factors in a child’s education. Whether you're a parent navigating school options or simply curious about how education works behind the scenes, this episode offers practical insight into the systems shaping student outcomes. Topics Covered: -STEM vs Core Knowledge schools -Traditional public school teaching models -Charter schools and school choice in Colorado -The READ Act and literacy requirements -Direct instruction vs project-based learning -Why teaching methods matter for different learners -How parents can evaluate schools effectively 📩 Have questions or episode ideas? Email: info@learningcurveco.org 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on education, policy, parenting, and school choice. #Education #SchoolChoice #Parenting #ColoradoSchools #STEMEducation #CoreKnowledge #CharterSchools #LearningCurvePodcast
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A Better Way For Kids

Ep 10: Colorado’s universal preschool program was designed to expand access for families, but it’s now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In this episode of Learning Curve, we break down the legal battle behind Colorado’s UPK program, why faith-based schools pushed back, and how this case could reshape the future of education policy nationwide. At the center of it all: a major constitutional question about religious freedom, and whether the state knowingly walked into a legal fight. 🔑 WHAT WE COVER -What Colorado’s universal preschool (UPK) program actually does? -Why many private and faith-based schools opted out? -The legal conflict over anti-discrimination requirements -Key Supreme Court precedents already in play -Why this case is now heading to the U.S. Supreme Court? -What happens next, and who is likely to win? ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:45 – What is universal preschool (UPK)? 2:00 – Why schools started opting out 3:30 – “This is already settled law” 5:05 – Inside the meeting: “come at me, bro” 6:10 – The lawsuits explained 7:00 – Why the state is likely to lose 8:15 – Final thoughts & what’s next 💬 KEY MOMENT “They knew this would result in litigation… and the response was ‘come at me, bro.’” 🔔 SUBSCRIBE / CTA If you’re interested in education policy, law, and the real-world impact on families, make sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications. 📩 CONTACT Questions or topics you want us to cover? 📧 info@learningcurveco.org 🏷️ HASHTAGS #EducationPolicy #SupremeCourt #UniversalPreschool #FirstAmendment #SchoolChoice #UPK #Colorado
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They Wanted A Lawsuit.

Ep. 09 "Where is all the school money actually going?" Over the past decade, education spending in Colorado has increased dramatically, with even more funding added during COVID. But student outcomes haven’t improved at the same pace. So what’s really happening? In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down the growing disconnect between rising education budgets and stagnant student performance. They explore how billions of dollars flow through the system, why accountability is so difficult to measure, and whether more funding actually leads to better results. From hidden funding streams to rising administrative costs, this conversation digs into one of the biggest questions parents and taxpayers are asking right now. 👉 If money isn’t the answer… what is? Topics covered: -Rising per-pupil spending in Colorado -Why test scores aren’t improving? -The complexity of school funding formulas -Where education dollars actually go? -Administrative growth vs classroom investment -The transparency problem in public education -Potential solutions for better outcomes Want to see where the money actually goes as Ross mentioned? Follow the Links Below: 📊 Full Colorado Education Financial Data: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/financialdatafiles 📈 School Finance Transparency Dashboard: https://co.schoolfinancedata.org 👍 Like, subscribe, and follow for more breakdowns on education policy and reform.
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Where Did The Money Go?

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