Who actually decides what your child learns in school?

In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard break down the complex (and often confusing) system behind education in Colorado. From state standards to local control, they explain the difference between standards vs. curriculum, who influences each level, and where parents actually have a voice.

If you’ve ever wondered why your child is learning certain topics, or felt unsure how to get involved, this episode gives you a clear starting point.

• Standards vs. Curriculum:
• The state sets standards (what students should learn), but districts choose the curriculum (how it’s taught).
• Who Really Has Influence:
• Decision-making spans multiple levels, federal government, state board of education, local districts, and even outside interest groups.
• It’s More Political Than You Think:
• What gets taught in classrooms is often shaped by competing ideologies, policies, and advocacy efforts.
• Public Education Isn’t Fully “Public”:
• Many classroom materials (books, tech, tools) are created by private, for-profit companies.
• Local Control Matters Most:
• School districts ultimately decide curriculum and instruction within state guidelines.
• Where Parents Can Take Action:
• Local school boards, teachers, and district leaders are the most direct way to influence your child’s education.

• Colorado Academic Standards explained
• The role of the State Board of Education
• Federal influence on education funding
• How curriculum is chosen at the district level
• The role of advocacy groups and private companies
• School accountability and testing systems
• Why school board elections matter

• Attend local school board meetings
• Stay informed on curriculum decisions
• Participate in public comment opportunities
• Pay attention to school board and state board elections
• Communicate with teachers and school leaders

00:00 – Introduction

01:10 – Why this topic is so confusing

02:45 – The politics behind education

04:10 – Who sets the standards?

06:30 – Federal vs. state influence

08:45 – How standards are reviewed and updated

11:30 – Local control and curriculum decisions

14:30 – Accountability, testing, and performance

18:00 – Where parents actually have influence

20:30 – Why school board elections matter

22:00 – Final thoughts

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Colorado is facing a growing budget crisis, and tough decisions are ahead.

In this episode, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley unpack the state’s $1.5 billion deficit, what’s driving it, and how lawmakers are scrambling to respond. From education funding cuts to debates over raising revenue, they explain how the process works, and why so many bills are currently stuck in limbo.

They also highlight a key takeaway: public engagement is already shaping outcomes. As pressure builds at the Capitol, the question isn’t whether cuts are coming, it’s where they’ll land, and whether citizens will have a say.

If you want to better understand what’s happening, and how to get involved, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard explore one of the most overlooked, but most impactful, areas in education: local school boards.

While national and state politics often dominate the conversation, the reality is that school boards control the vast majority of what students experience day-to-day, from curriculum and staffing to policy and transparency.

The challenge? Most parents don’t know how to engage with the system, or assume they can’t.

This episode breaks down how parents can become informed, involved, and effective advocates within their school districts.

Topics covered include:

• What school boards actually do and why they matter
• How district policies shape classroom experience
• When and how to escalate concerns
• How to effectively communicate with school boards
• The role of elections and low voter turnout
• Using public records requests to increase transparency
• Why even small groups of parents can influence change

The goal isn’t to turn parents into activists, but to help them understand their role, their rights, and their ability to participate in decisions that directly affect their children.

Who should have the final say in a child’s education, parents or schools?

In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley unpack a rapidly developing legal battle over parental notification policies in schools. Sparked by a case out of California, the conversation explores whether schools can withhold critical information from parents, and what the Constitution actually says about it.

We break down:

• The legal foundation of parental rights
• What the courts are signaling (and why it matters)
• How this could impact school policies nationwide
• Why this issue goes far beyond one specific topic

This isn’t just about policy, it’s about the fundamental relationship between families and the education system.

If you’re a parent, educator, or simply want to understand where education law is headed, this episode gives you the clarity you need.

Follow & subscribe to stay updated as this case, and its national implications, continue to unfold.

In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin and Ross break down Colorado’s HB 261292 and what it could mean for school choice, private education, and families across the state.

At the center of the conversation is a key question: Who actually has access to educational opportunities, and who gets left out?

The hosts unpack how federal tax credit scholarship programs are designed to expand access for lower-income families, and why this bill could significantly reshape how those opportunities work in practice. From regulatory requirements to constitutional concerns, this episode explores the complex intersection of policy, politics, and parental choice.

They also dig into the real-world impact: what happens when families want better options for their kids but face financial or systemic barriers?

• How tax credit scholarships work (and why they matter)
• What HB 261292 proposes and why it’s controversial
• The tension between regulation and school choice
• Potential legal challenges and what comes next

As new education policies take shape, the decisions being made today could directly impact thousands of families and students in the years ahead.

Have questions or thoughts? Reach out and join the conversation.

Ep. 2: Colorado lawmakers are facing a massive state budget deficit, and education funding may be caught in the crossfire. In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley break down a proposal that could cut funding for homeschool enrichment programs in half, reducing part-time student funding from 50% to 25% of per-pupil funding.

These programs allow homeschool families to access public school resources for things like: -agricultural and outdoor education

-music and arts programs

-engineering and construction training

-academic support and experiential learning

But with an estimated $850 million budget deficit, legislators are looking for places to cut spending, and these increasingly popular programs may be on the chopping block. Ross and Erin discuss:

-Why Colorado’s budget deficit is growing

-How Medicaid spending is impacting the state budget

-What homeschool enrichment programs actually do

-Why lawmakers are considering cuts

-How this could impact families across the state, especially in rural communities.

-Why even parents with kids in traditional public schools should pay attention

-They also explain why this proposal could set an important precedent for the future of school choice in Colorado.

If you’re a parent, educator, or Colorado resident interested in education policy, this is an important conversation to follow.

👍 Like and subscribe for more conversations about education policy that impact real families.

📩 Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Email us at [email protected]

Education policy affects every family, but most parents have no idea where the decisions impacting their kids are actually made. In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down why parents need to start paying closer attention to education policy and how those decisions shape what happens in classrooms across Colorado. From school choice and charter schools to legislation coming out of the state capitol, policies created by lawmakers, school boards, and education departments eventually trickle down to the daily experience of students and families.

The problem? Many parents only discover these changes after they’ve already been implemented. Erin shares her perspective as a Colorado parent navigating the public school system, while Ross brings years of experience working in education policy, lobbying, and government relations. Together, they aim to make complicated education policies understandable and show parents where they can actually engage in the process. Because when it comes to education policy, self-governance isn’t a spectator sport. If parents want a voice in decisions affecting their children’s education, they need to understand where those decisions originate, and how to influence them. In this episode, we discuss: Why education policy is more complex than ever Where school decisions actually get made How policies from the legislature trickle down to your child’s classroom The role of school boards, state agencies, and federal policy Why parent involvement in education policy matters now more than ever If you're a parent, educator, or concerned citizen who wants to better understand how education policy works, this podcast is for you.

📩 Have a topic you'd like us to cover?

Email us at [email protected]

👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow Learning Curve for weekly discussions breaking down the policies shaping education in Colorado.