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Ann Schimke

Senior Reporter, Chalkbeat Colorado

Ann Schimke covers early childhood issues for Chalkbeat Colorado. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the Denver Post. She holds a master’s degree in education policy from the University of Michigan. She joined Chalkbeat (then EdNews Colorado) in 2012. Email: aschimke@chalkbeat.org

A woman with dark hair works with a student who is looking up at her.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Este distrito de Colorado encontró ayuda en Filipinas para resolver la escasez de maestros
En total, los maestros filipinos representarán alrededor de un 7% de los maestros del distrito el año que viene.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman with dark hair works with a student who is looking up at her.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Teaching & Classroom
This Colorado district needed teachers. It found them in the Philippines.
Next school year, the Harrison school district will have 42 Filipino teachers on staff.
By Ann Schimke
 
A young boy kneels on a colorful carpet and rolls a Lego truck.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Colorado’s free preschool program has 19,000 families signed up with at least 15,000 more expected
Families who apply by Wednesday at 5 p.m. will find out June 1 which preschools their children matched with.
By Ann Schimke
 
A teacher sits a small table holding up a whiteboard so two students can see it.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Meeting the Moment
This Colorado elementary school nearly closed. A math makeover helped it stay open.
Minnequa Elementary School’s progress comes as many schools are trying to reverse pandemic-era drops in math achievement.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman in a gray jacket hugs a little girl at a table in front of a blue polka dotted carpet.
From Chalkbeat Colorado How I Teach
Students hated the no-hat policy. This Colorado superintendent heard them out.
Wendy Birhanzel describes the Harrison school district’s efforts to reduce out-of-school suspensions and a local partnership to cover the cost of college.
By Ann Schimke
 
Preschoolers’ jackets and boots or shoes are lined up in their cubbies.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Are there enough free preschool seats for Colorado 4-year-olds? It depends.
Some preschools are still deciding how many seats to offer through the universal program next fall.
By Ann Schimke
 
Two preschoolers play with colorful plastic building toys at a table.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
No new quality rules for first year of Colorado’s free preschool program
Preschools won’t have to make quality improvements in the first year of universal preschool.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman in a flowered dress looks at a classroom bulletin board with three small children.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Free preschool program’s matching system not ready for prime time, Colorado education groups worry
Most families who applied for Colorado’s universal preschool program by Feb. 24 will find out which preschool they matched with on March 30.
By Ann Schimke
 
A student works on letter sounds, using a board with magnetic letters at a circular table.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado reading
Colorado’s dyslexia screening bill likely dead in face of opposition from education groups
Some school districts, including Boulder Valley and La Veta, already conduct universal dyslexia screenings in certain grades.
By Ann Schimke
 
Two students with backpacks on walk on on a college campus with a mountain in the background.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Higher Education
Colorado School of Mines wins state OK to prepare math and science teachers
University officials expect to produce 20-30 teachers a year when the program ramps up.
By Ann Schimke
 
Six preschool children play in fall leaves
From Chalkbeat Colorado Early Childhood
New coalition seeks Colorado tax code changes to fund child care, education, nursing, and more
The Colorado Children’s Campaign and the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition are leading the coalition.
By Ann Schimke
 
free school lunch high school
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Mira qué distritos escolares de Colorado planifican ofrecer comidas gratuitas el próximo año
Un número creciente de distritos escolares de Colorado ofrecerá almuerzo gratis a todos los estudiantes el próximo año, incluidos los de Denver, Douglas County, y Greeley-Evans.
By Ann Schimke
 
A kindergarten teacher helps a girl and boy with a class activity.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Denver suburbs
Starting teacher salary set at nearly $61,000 by Westminster district in tentative contract
Westminster is among several Colorado districts that have boosted starting teacher salaries recently, with Cherry Creek recently announcing a $57,000 floor.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman food worker wearing a white apron hands hands a high schooler with long hair a take-out carton from a lunch line, with a kitchen in the background. The worker serves from pans of lunch items, while in the foreground trays feature small containers of carrots, cookies and fruit and other items to grab.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Healthy schools
Denver, Douglas County, Academy 20 join districts offering free school meals next year
In December, 8 of 24 Colorado districts surveyed by Chalkbeat were undecided about offering free meals next year. Now, only 2 are still unsure.
By Ann Schimke
 
A teacher in an orange shirt talks with students wearing marching band drums outside.
From Chalkbeat Colorado How I Teach
This Colorado music teacher wants students with disabilities in the spotlight, not on the sidelines
Chad Lemons started a unified percussion ensemble for students with intellectual disabilities and peer mentors at Mead High School.
By Ann Schimke
 
A preschool teacher in a floral dress makes a funny face during a a circle activity with several students.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Colorado’s free preschool application is out. Here’s what you need to know.
The first application window for Colorado’s new free preschool program runs from Jan. 17 to Feb. 14.
By Ann Schimke
 
A preschool girl stand on top of a blue indoor play structure
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Colorado extends free preschool application deadline, allows revisions
The last-minute deadline extension to Feb. 24 by Colorado officials comes amid stumbles that have led to confusion and frustration among parents and preschool providers.
By Ann Schimke
 
A young woman in a flowered dress dances with two young girls in a preschool classroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Ya comenzó el periodo de solicitud para el preescolar gratis de Colorado. Esto es lo que necesitas saber.
El programa de preescolar gratis de Colorado pagará por 10-30 horas semanales de preescolar el año antes de entrar al Kinder. Aquí está todo lo que necesitas saber.
By Ann Schimke
 
The Flatirons behind a classroom building on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder Colorado.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Higher Education
CU Boulder gets kudos for reading courses, but state reviewers raise alarm about a speech professor
Students and faculty shared similar stories about the professor’s problematic behavior during a campus visit by state reviewers last fall.
By Ann Schimke
 
A boy rides a tricycle on the playground of the preschool at Laradon in north Denver.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Colorado to reopen all preschool applications to families because of errors
Families have until Feb. 14 to submit their revised application for free preschool.
By Ann Schimke
 
A shelf with four photos of children and a colorful classroom carpet.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Early Childhood Education
Fears flare that Colorado free preschool could shortchange kids with learning delays
Officials from several Colorado school districts are worried they’ll lose funding for preschoolers with disabilities next year.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman in a beige shirt sits across from young man in a sweater while holding a pen and notepad.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Terapia para estudiantes: las escuelas de Colorado están ayudando con apoyo a la salud mental
El estado y algunos distritos escolares han puesto en marcha programas para facilitar que los estudiantes busquen terapia para sus problemas de salud mental.
By Ann Schimke
 
A preschool teacher leans over garden planter as four children look on.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
17,000 and counting: Families apply for free preschool in Colorado
The early burst of interest could mean enrollment in Colorado’s free preschool program will exceed the 30,000 children expected to participate during the first year.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman in a beige shirt sits across from young man in a sweater while holding a pen and notepad.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Meeting the Moment
Colorado experts declared a youth mental health emergency. Here’s what happened next.
Aurora and Cherry Creek are two districts that offer free therapy sessions to students.
By Ann Schimke
 
Students walk down a large brick pathway on Colorado State University’s campus. The sun shines on the students in the late summer.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado reading
Colorado State University’s teacher preparation program wins state approval
CSU’s teacher prep program is one of only a handful to win Colorado approval on the first try in the last four years.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman jumping off the ground with her arms and legs outstretched in a volcanic area in Iceland.
From Chalkbeat Colorado How I Teach
Constellation cookies and milkweed for monarchs: This Colorado teacher connects science to everyday life
Stacy Wolff was recently named an Outstanding Environmental Educator by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education.
By Ann Schimke
 
Two little girls sit on a brick wall. One looks distracted and squirmy, while the other claps her hands. A large crowd of adults stands behind them. The adults hold signs that say “Free Universal Preschool.”
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
La temporada de solicitud para preescolar gratis empieza en enero
Los sistemas de inscripción para el preescolar y los estudiantes de K-12 son separados, y esto ha confundido a algunos padres.
By Ann Schimke
 
A woman teacher works with three young children on a multicolored rug in the classroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
Colorado recruits providers for its free preschool program. Parents are next.
Colorado will pay most universal preschool providers more per child next year than what they receive now through a smaller state-funded preschool program.
By Ann Schimke
 
A smiling girl with dark hair pops some food in her mouth as she sits with friends in a crowded lunchroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
El próximo año habrá comidas gratis en la mayoría de los distritos escolares de Colorado. ¿El tuyo será uno de ellos?
Comidas gratis para todos los estudiantes de Colorado. Esa fue la promesa de la Propuesta FF. Averigüa si tu distrito escolar tiene planes de participar en el nuevo programa de comidas.
By Ann Schimke
 
Two preschool boys in the foreground play on a mat in a classroom as two preschool girls sit at a table playing in the background.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Universal preschool
It’s school choice season in Colorado, but applying for universal preschool comes a bit later
Separate enrollment systems for preschool and K-12 students has puzzled some parents. “I’m so confused with enrolling my daughter into preschool,” one mother wrote on social media.
By Ann Schimke