Learning Curve

A new federal education tax credit is coming in 2027, and it could create new opportunities for families across Colorado and the country! In this episode of Learning Curve , host Ross Izard breaks down the new $1,700 federal education scholarship tax credit , explaining how the program works, who could benefit, and why it could become one of the most significant school choice initiatives in Americ...

Colorado school districts are asking voters for millions of dollars in additional funding. But are taxpayers getting the results they were promised? In this episode of Learning Curve , host Erin Brantley examines school funding requests across Colorado and raises important questions about accountability, transparency, and whether increased education spending is translating into measurable improvem...

What happens when a child struggles with reading but doesn't qualify for additional support? In this clip from Learning Curve , hosts Erin Brantley and Ross Izard speak with Anna Libetta and Lindsay Dracos of CO Kid about how children with dyslexia can sometimes slip through the cracks of Colorado's education system. Some students develop strong vocabulary and other compensating skills that allow...

What happens when parents realize the education system isn’t giving their children with dyslexia the support they need? In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard talk with Lindsay and Anna from CO Kid about how their personal experiences as parents led them into education advocacy, and eventually to the Colorado State Capitol. Lindsay shares how her daughter’s dyslexia diagno...

Would you hand over another $273 every year? Jeffco Public Schools is asking voters to approve two property tax measures—5A and 5B—that would generate a combined $133 million in new annual revenue. For a $600,000 home, the estimated cost comes to about $273 per year. Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down what Jeffco says the additional money is needed for, including teacher compensation, career...

Colorado’s homeschool enrichment landscape is changing fast—and some programs are already gone. Since our last update, several homeschool enrichment programs have shut down, leaving families searching for alternatives as the school year gets underway. Now, the Colorado State Board of Education is considering new rules that could reshape how these programs operate going forward. Erin Brantley and R...

Colorado's homeschool enrichment programs are facing another round of uncertainty as the state begins developing new rules governing how these programs can operate. In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izard examine two of the biggest issues emerging from the rulemaking process: general availability and private benefit . One key question is whether homeschool enrichment progr...

Colorado’s homeschool enrichment programs are facing a sudden deadline that could leave thousands of students and families in limbo. After a major organization responsible for authorizing many of these programs was forced to dissolve, dozens of homeschool enrichment programs were thrown into uncertainty. Programs that spent hundreds of hours seeking approval were told their applications would no l...

Colorado has committed to providing free school meals to students regardless of household income, but what happens when the cost keeps growing? Erin Brantley and Ross Izard examine Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, the additional funding voters have approved, and the difficult question of how much taxpayers are ultimately willing to spend. They also look beyond the price tag. Are st...

Colorado has been ranked #1 in education by U.S. News & World Report, jumping from third place in 2025 to the top spot in 2026. But what exactly does a #1 education ranking measure? In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izard look beyond the headline and break down the factors behind Colorado's ranking, including preschool enrollment, college attainment and completion, gra...

Most people have heard of the Colorado Department of Education, but far fewer understand the State Board of Education that oversees it. In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izzard explains how the Colorado State Board of Education is structured, why its members are elected, and the significant authority the board exercises over education policy throughout the state. From hiring the Commissione...

Nearly one in four Colorado students is chronically absent from school, and the effects extend far beyond missed classroom time. In this episode, Erin Brantley examines Colorado's chronic absenteeism rates, explains how chronic absenteeism differs from truancy, and discusses why attendance remains a major challenge years after the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation explores the academic consequen...

Colorado's gubernatorial race could have significant implications for the future of education in the state. In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izard and Erin Brantley discuss what Phil Weiser's primary victory may signal for Colorado's education system. They explore the governor's role in shaping education policy, school finance, Proposition NN, TABOR, school choice, and the federal tax-cred...

In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izard discuss Colorado's annual School Finance Act, how the state's education funding formula works, and why declining enrollment creates difficult budgeting decisions for school districts. They also explain why schools may continue receiving funding as enrollment changes, how the current funding formula is evolving, and what parents and t...

Many parents assume education decisions come from one place, but the reality is far more layered. In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley explains how authority is divided among the federal government, the Colorado Legislature, the State Board of Education, the Colorado Department of Education, local school districts, and individual schools. Learn who sets academic standards, who control...

As school choice programs continue expanding across the United States, a new industry has emerged to help administer education savings accounts (ESAs), scholarship programs, and other forms of educational choice. But who manages these programs, who competes for the contracts, and what happens when hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake? In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izzard and Eri...

What happens when federal Title IX requirements collide with Colorado law? In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard unpack one of the most significant education policy disputes currently unfolding in Colorado. Using Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco) as a case study, they explain how Title IX has evolved since its passage in 1972, why it has become the center of inte...

The Colorado legislative session may be over, but the work of education policy is far from finished. In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley explain what happens during the legislative interim, the often, overlooked period between sessions when state agencies, school districts, policymakers, and advocates work to interpret and implement new laws. From changes to school fi...

Mississippi's education system was once ranked near the bottom in the nation. Today, it has become one of the most discussed literacy success stories in America. In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard examine Mississippi's remarkable improvement in reading scores and ask what Colorado can learn from it. The discussion compares Mississippi's Literacy-Based Promotion Act w...

Colorado's legislative session may be over, but the debate surrounding homeschool enrichment programs is just getting started. In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley unpack the final days of Colorado's 2026 legislative session and the last-minute amendments that dramatically altered the future of part-time funding and homeschool enrichment programs across the state. As la...

What happens when a handful of concerned parents decide they’ve had enough? In this episode of Learning Curve , we examine the growing controversy surrounding Jefferson County Public Schools and the grassroots movement that emerged in response. As questions about leadership, accountability, student safety, and district governance continue to make headlines, parents have begun organizing, speaking...

Learning Curve is a Colorado-based podcast focused on the real conversations shaping education, parenting, school choice, public policy, and the future of learning in America. Hosted by Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley, the show breaks down complicated education and political issues in a way that is honest, practical, engaging, and easy to understand. Whether discussing homeschool enrichment programs...

In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down the different teaching models used in schools and why they matter for parents and students. They discuss STEM, Core Knowledge, traditional public schools, and charter schools, explaining how each model approaches learning differently and why some students may thrive in one environment more than another. The conversation al...

Colorado’s universal preschool program is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it could have national implications. In this episode, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley break down the legal challenge surrounding UPK, focusing on whether the state’s requirements effectively excluded faith-based providers from participating. They explore the constitutional issues at stake, the existing Supreme Court prec...

Education funding is at an all-time high, but student outcomes aren’t keeping up. In this episode, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard examine the disconnect between increased school spending and stagnant academic performance. With billions flowing through the system, they ask a critical question: where is the money actually going? The conversation explores the complexity of school finance, the lack of t...