As we return to school, we are reminded that Colorado continues to face a rising crisis in how we support the emotional and social development of our children. We had been on the right track.

In the 2024-25 academic year, the legislature created a school-based program that provided every middle and high school student free screening to identify and support their emotional, social and behavioral needs. This program was developed and implemented, and then funding was repealed in April — a measure that may be penny-wise, but is pound-foolish.

Here’s why that decision mattered and why it is crucial that we restore funding.

School is an important part of life for Colorado youth. They spend half of their waking hours at school, sometimes more — that’s thousands of hours across middle an

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