It will come as no surprise to those who have been following our efforts in the state that DFER-CO proudly supports Amendment 66. Senator Mike Johnston, education reform champion and member of our advisory board, has worked tirelessly on this measure to overhaul our broken funding system.
Over the last five years, Colorado has established itself as a national leader in groundbreaking education reform. Efforts include the passage of one of the nation’s first laws to eliminate automatic tenure and link teacher evaluations to student performance (SB191), and the Colorado READ Act, one of the country’s best early literacy laws.
But, we can’t stop now. We must build on this reform momentum by casting our ballots in support of this measure.
The passage of Amendment 66 will ensure that the innovative measures included in the school finance overhaul will advance and enhance the reform agenda. The landmark changes will make Colorado:
• 1st in the country with a $100 million independent Innovation Fund to accelerate K-12 breakthroughs;
• 1st in the country to treat principals like CEOs by giving them control over their own budget;
• 1st in the country to give absolute funding equity for charters;
• 1st in the country to provide full taxpayer transparency for how every dollar in our system is spent;
• 1st in the country to require dollars to follow students to the school level;
• 1st in the country to require ROI analysis to track results on every investment;
• 1st in the country to create a statewide career ladder system that rewards highest performing teachers and principals.
The Denver Post highlighted these very reforms in their endorsement of Amendment 66, stating, “It will propel reforms that benefit kids and erode the power of entrenched interests.”
But none of these reforms will go into effect without the successful passage of Amendment 66 on November 5th. That is why DFER-CO has invested so heavily in the campaign, and is proud to stand alongside the 25 districts, 127 organizations, and 129 community leaders endorsing the measure.
Ballots have been delivered to mailboxes across the state. It is now up to Colorado voters to determine the fate of a measure that has the potential to impact the lives of thousands of Colorado students.
Coloradans, please support our students and the future of our community by voting YES on AMENDMENT 66. It’s a big change for a small price.
Jennifer Walmer is the state director of DFER Colorado (DFER-CO). Prior to joining DFER-CO, Walmer was the Chief of Staff for the Superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, Tom Boasberg, where she helped pass a $500 million bond and mill initiative in November 2012. Walmer also was the Superintendent’s primary strategic liaison with a divided Board of Education; managed government affairs for the district; and led strategic partnership efforts with community organizations. Read more about Jen here.