Five Failing Colo. Schools to Lose Money Supposed to Help Them Improve

The Colorado Department of Education will cut off school-improvement money to five of the state's poorest-performing schools because they haven't gotten better despite the influx of cash.

The schools — Gilpin Montessori elementary, in Denver's Curtis Park neighborhood, and four middle schools in Pueblo — received money for two years of three-year federal School Improvement Grants. The grants are given to states to help some of the country's lowest-achieving schools improve.

The schools were notified this month that their grants won't be renewed for a third year.