Keystone Policy Center

05/29/2026

Public Schools are facing closures and boundary changes, and it's a challenge playing out in districts across the country. Our Senior Policy Director Van Schoales recently spoke with CBS Colorado about what this moment means for Denver's students and schools.

Denver Public Schools is facing another round of school closures as...

05/12/2026

New report out today from Keystone Policy Center on how school districts can adapt to declining enrollment.

Since 2019, public schools across the country have lost more than 1.3 million students — and the trend isn't reversing. Declining enrollment isn't just an urban challenge anymore. It's hitting suburban and formerly fast-growing districts too.

Our new report looks at what bold, student-centered action actually looks like with real examples from Jefferson County, San Antonio, and Cleveland. If you work in education, lead a school board, or care about the future of public schools in your community, this one's worth a read.

A new report from the Keystone Policy Center provides a national framework for school districts grappling with the growing crisis of declining student enrollment. The report, titled Right-Sizing for Student Success: How Districts Can Adapt to Enrollment Declines with a Focus on Students, draws on re...

05/07/2026

When we talk about wildfire resilience, the conversation usually turns to forests. But there's another piece of the puzzle that's been hiding in plain sight: our rivers. And yet, the practitioners doing river restoration work and the practitioners managing for wildfire risk have largely been operating in separate worlds. In the latest episode of the Keynotes podcast, we explore the growing movement to change that - a dedicated network imagined by Trout Unlimited and Keystone to connect on-the-ground restoration practitioners with the latest science, case studies, and each other.

When we talk about wildfire resilience in the American West, the conversation usually turns to forests, fuel loads, prescribed burns, and forest thinning. But there's another piece of the puzzle that's been hiding in plain sight: our rivers.Health...

05/07/2026

What does turning community input into action look like? In Dillon, Colorado, Keystone has been helping the town council create a strategic plan for core redevelopment from community forum feedback — covering everything from public spaces to business development. This is collaborative governance in action.

The Keystone Policy Center presented at a Dillon Town Council meeting for the second week in a row as the town looks to turn input gathered at a series of community meetings focused on redevelopment...

05/06/2026

The Center for Education at Keystone Policy Center is excited to partner with the Maryland State Department of Education (Division of Early Childhood) to revise their Birth Through 21 Family Engagement Framework! Our work will feature facilitating inclusive listening sessions and using these insights to work with leadership on the next revision.

At Keystone, we ensure that the people impacted by policy decisions have a meaningful voice in shaping them. If your organization is looking for support with capacity-building, facilitation, or strategic planning, please reach out!

05/01/2026

We're thrilled to share that Colorado's Outdoors Strategy was recognized with a 2026 Starburst Award from the Colorado Lottery!

The Starburst Award celebrates excellence in the use of Colorado Lottery funds for community and conservation — and this recognition reflects the creativity, collaboration, and commitment that went into building a statewide vision for Colorado's outdoor future.

Keystone Policy Center was proud to be among the partners who helped develop Colorado's Outdoors Strategy and was among those recognized at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors Conference this week. Learn more about the Starburst Award here: https://www.coloradolottery.com/en/about/starburst-award/

04/29/2026

We're thrilled to announce that Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) will be recognized as our Congressional honorees of the 2026 Keystone Leadership Award. As co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, they've demonstrated that meaningful progress is still possible when leaders choose collaboration over conflict. We look forward to honoring them alongside this year's outstanding slate of awardees at our Annual Leadership Awards event on June 3.

The Keystone Leadership Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who demonstrate the power of collaboration to address complex challenges and advance the public good. Each year, we honor leaders whose work reflects Keystone’s commitment to building trust, bridging differences, and creating l...

04/28/2026

Keystone's Julie Shapiro, Ernest House, Jr., and Christine Zenel were among several partners recognized Monday at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors Conference for their work on the Colorado's Outdoor Strategy, which was released last year.

04/24/2026

CBS Colorado's report on our latest published report offering a comprehensive look at the essential role rural schools play across Colorado and the challenges they face in continuing to serve their communities.

4 likes, 1 comment. "Report: Most Colorado school districts not getting enough attention"

04/22/2026

Big things don't get done alone. Join a growing cohort of nonprofit, academic, government, and private sector professionals at Keystone's Adaptive Facilitation Workshop in Denver May 12-13. Learn practical skills for leading complex conversations, aligning diverse stakeholders, and moving groups from talk to action. Don't miss your spot!

Keystone’s Adaptive Facilitation workshop is for those who want to leverage the wisdom and power of diverse groups to produce lasting solutions to complex questions. Often the biggest questions require a combination of expertise, perspectives, resources, and authorities to resolve.  Managing suc...