Latest News: 

Senate Bill Updates:

June 1, 2026

It looks like some local Umbrella schools are making clear paths for families to continue with record keeping, while also being able to enroll in Enrichment Programs. If you currently use an Umbrella School and attend Options and are worried about conflicts, please reach out and we can help sort things out. I am planning to host some parent workshops later this summer to help families who are new to filing an Notice of Intent and record keeping on their own. Please email homeschooldenver@gmail.com for more information.

May 27, 2026

Dear APS Options Parents and Students,

Thank you all for another wonderful year at APS Options. We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with your children and for your continued commitment to our amazing program. Your support, partnership, and trust mean so much to us, and we truly appreciate being part of your children’s growth and success this year.  I wanted to reach out to you all on a new senate bill that could have some impact on our programs.  

What’s happening

A new Colorado Senate bill (SB 26.023) is creating new rules for homeschool enrichment and part-time programs operated by school districts and BOCES programs. While the bill was mainly aimed at rapidly expanding programs, APS Options may also be affected.

Main concerns for APS Options families

1. Operating outside Aurora Public Schools boundaries

The bill says districts generally cannot run part-time homeschool programs outside their own geographic boundaries.

APS Options currently operates at sites outside Aurora because they have state waivers to do so.  The new senate bill would supersede our old waivers. APS is now:

• Communicating with outside superintendents and districts for permission to continue operating there for the very minimum of the 2026-2027 school year and then to see their future approval beyond the 2026-2027 school years.

• Once approved by school districts, APS needs to apply to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to continue those sites.  CDE is supposed to have an application process for districts in place by Jun 15, 2026.  

• Sites in Aurora would not need approval and can operate as normal.

2. Homeschool Intent-to-Homeschool letters

The bill would require schools to verify homeschool status by collecting the homeschool notice to intent (NOI) letter families file with a Colorado school district.

• It is my understanding that parents can still submit their NOI letter to any district they choose to do so under Colorado homeschool law.

• APS is still waiting for guidance from CDE on what this process will look like

• This could likely become part of the APS application and enrollment process.

So families may eventually need to submit:

• A copy of their NOI Letter to enroll their child(ren) in APS Options

3. Dual enrollment rules

APS says students still cannot be enrolled in:

• two publicly funded programs at the same time.

They specifically mention this causes problems during the October funding count if a student appears in two state-funded systems.

The new language states: SHALL NOT ENROLL STUDENTS WHO SATISFY THEIR COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT OR A PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-33-104 (2)(b).

However:

• At this time, APS does not yet know how private or independent schools (umbrella-schools) situations will be handled under the new rules.  Based on the language above it seems that parents shall not enroll their children in part time programs  (Options) if they are enrolled in an independent (umbrella school) or parochial school.

• Families using an “umbrella school” for records may still be okay.

What APS says they do know

• APS intends to keep all current sites/programs running for 2026–2027.

• APS leadership is actively working with districts and CDE.

• A state application process for operating outside district boundaries is expected by June 15, 2026.

What they don’t know yet

• Whether APS will ultimately be approved long term outside Aurora.

• Exact timelines for outside school districts and CDE state decisions.

• How private schools or umbrella schools will be tracked by the state.

• How enforcement/details will work in practice.

Bottom line for families

For now:

• APS hope is for programs to continue normally next school year (2026–2027).

• No immediate action seems required yet beyond watching for future enrollment/document requests.

• More clarity will likely come over the summer from CDE and APS.

I know this is a challenging time with a short summer window for staff, students and families with the uncertainty of our program for next year.  I have shared my urgency with APS in hoping to get an answer as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, this is out of my hands.  I will update you as soon as I can once new information is released.  I tried to anticipate questions that you may have and to my current knowledge.  If you have any questions that I haven't covered, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I will try my best to answer them.  

We greatly appreciate you all being a part of such an amazing program for homeschool students and we will continue to advocate for Options.  Have a wonderful summer!

Sincerely,

Larry Thigpen

Principal of the Options Program

11351 Montview Boulevard, Aurora, CO 80010

303-340-0666

ldthigpen@aurorak12.org 

To see the full bill, please visit.

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-023