No one can dispute the funding needs of Colorado schools, which is why DFER-CO was excited to hear of the new K-12 bipartisan education package announced at a press conference at our Capitol on Thursday.
The Student Success Act targets our most underserved students and system-wide shortcomings. The new bill, expected to be introduced in the House next week, aims to utilize existing revenues and one-time investments up to:
- $80 million to go directly to districts to reduce recession-era budget cuts, which can be used to eliminate late-start days, professional development reductions and other cutbacks.
- $35 million for English-language learners, one of the most underfunded and fastest-growing groups in our state education system.
- $20 million for programs to address the growing number of struggling readers and to meet Colorado’s new literacy standard.
- $13 million for public charter school construction.
- $100 million in a one-time investment to assist schools with teacher evaluations, reading proficiency programs, improved achievement assessments and school safety.
- $10 million in one-time support to move away from the outdated “single day count” toward an average student-count formula that rewards districts that enroll students after the current Oct. 1 count date.
- $5 million in a one-time investment toward a publicly-accessible website to track how our districts and schools spend taxpayer dollars, increasing transparency.
“We understand that these changes will require work at the district and school level, so we are building upon what Colorado’s districts are already doing and backing up these changes with dollars to assist districts to implement these critical reforms,” said Representative Millie Hamner (D), one of the sponsors of the bill.
DFER-CO Advisory Board member and Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino stated it best when he said, “This isn’t a Democratic or Republican priority – it’s a Colorado priority.”
DFER-CO will keep you informed as the Student Success Act winds its way through the legislature. Let’s begin the work of ensuring a win for Colorado’s kids.
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.