Keystone Policy Center convened more than 80 Colorado education system leaders and stakeholders for the Education System Resiliency and Innovation Initiative (ESRII) to develop new approaches to improve teacher support and better prepare students in the wake of COVID-19. Keystone and the Public Education & Business Coalition, who partnered to lead the initiative, published a comprehensive report this year detailing a set of 16 recommendations aimed at strengthening teacher support and initiating system-level change. This spring, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed legislation dedicating more than $13 million for educator programs, many of which were drawn from ESRII. Members of the initiative continue to meet to address other Colorado education needs as well as serve as a model for other districts, states, and organizations to collaboratively address education demands.

Also in education, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe hosted a community launch of a Tribal education initiative in May that will develop an academic and cultural curriculum for the Ute Mountain Ute community. At the direction of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council, educators, and families, Keystone Policy Center is facilitating strategic planning to develop an innovative, culturally-based education system for students on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and their families. The initiative is a result of years of planning and a grant from the Response, Innovation, and Student Equity (RISE) Education Fund.

Learn more about the Education System Resiliency and Innovation Initiative by listening to this episode of the Keynotes podcast: