“Leaders Reaction will Determine the Quality of Education and Future of our State and Economy”

MEDIA RELEASE

DENVER — Great Education Colorado, a nonpartisan, grassroots, statewide organization that advocates for improved public education through increased, wise investment in Colorado’s schools, colleges, and universities issued the following statement:

“This decision is great news for Colorado’s students — as well as for our communities and our economy.  After conducting the most thorough review of Colorado’s public education system in decades, Judge Rappaport came to the inescapable conclusion that Colorado is failing to provide the resources necessary for our children to succeed.  Anyone who believes she could have come to any other conclusion needs to read the facts laid out in her opinion.

“This decision is a wake up call for Colorado.  The future of our state and economy depend on whether our state leaders heed that call or bury their heads in the sand.  The fact that this decision was issued on the same day that Jeffco Schools announced it would have to shed almost 600 employees in the next two years proves that our children cannot wait another day for state leaders to roll up their sleeves and find a way to stop shortchanging the future.

“The judge’s decision makes it clear that underfunding education is not just bad policy for our students and our economy — it’s unconstitutional.  We hope and trust that our legislators will rise to the occasion and will focus on our children and future, rather than delay with pointless appeals.”

Click here to read the Judge’s ruling.

Early Media Coverage:

Fox31 News:

9 News: Judge: Colo. education funding unconstitutional

KKTV (Colorado Springs):

Call it coincidental or ironic: this year, the governor was statutorily required to propose his budget on election day.

Proposition 103 provided Colorado with its only opportunity to avoid a fourth year of cuts to K-12 and continued cuts to higher education. The polls hadn’t even closed by the time Governor Hickenlooper’s budget unveiled the concrete implications of not passing Proposition 103.

Ed News reports:

The plan proposes an $89 million reduction in total program funding, the combination of state and local revenue that pays for basic instructional operations. That’s about $160 a student. Current total program funding is about $5.2 billion, down some $228.9 million, about 4.2 percent, from 2010-11. Current average per pupil funding is a little under $6,500.

Direct state support of state colleges and universities would drop 9.7 percent, taking it to $563 million from the current $619 million, which includes $519 million for institutions and $100 million from financial aid. Next year institutional support and financial aid each would take $30 million cuts.

To put the governor’s proposed cuts in perspective:

It reduces average per pupil funding below FY06-07 levels.  (Subtract $160 from the 2011-12 bar in this graph provided by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute):

Between a statement by Governor Hickenlooper and a new study by the Bell Policy Center, fatal holes have been shot through the two chief arguments that Proposition 103 opponents have been pushing over the past several months.

Myth #1: There is no guarantee that the revenues raised under Prop 103 will go to education.

Truth: The language of the initiative has always made it clear that the dollars would go to preschool, K-12 and higher education:

ALL REVENUES RAISED BY THE INCREASE IN TAXES IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS MEASURE SHALL BE APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ONLY FOR THE COSTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE AND PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MONEYS OTHERWISE APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE COSTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE AND PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION . . .

Now, Governor Hickenlooper has closed the door on any possibility that the dollars could be directed elsewhere.  On Monday, the Governor told reporters:

“If it passes, I would certainly veto an effort to take that money away from education. If the voters of Colorado say they want something, my job is to make sure they get what they voted for.”

Bottom line: Every dollar will go straight to education.

Myth #2: Proposition 103 will result in job losses.

Truth: The study that opponents have been citing for this proposition has been debunked already.  Now, the Bell Policy Center has issued a report that summarizes academic research on taxes and economic growth and presents data on the effects of tax increases enacted by other states:

In fact, analysis of more than 100 academic studies ….finds that spending on public services has a positive effect on economic growth….[I]ncreases in spending for infrastructure and education, in particular, were most consistently correlated with economic growth.

The report concludes:

[C]ontinued cuts in education spending will cost us jobs and, over the long run, will likely hurt the quality of our workforce, making Colorado less attractive to businesses and individuals looking to relocate.

Passing Proposition 103 is good for Colorado’s students, their families and schools.  It helps protect against future cuts in education spending, adds to our long-term economic competitiveness and does so without harming our economy.

Now to focus on the central question presented by Proposition 103: should Colorado voters take action to prevent a fourth year of education cuts and start reinvesting in our students, our economy and our future?

NEWS RELEASE

October 20, 2011

DENVER, Colo. – Reminding state leaders that “kids can’t afford [a] fourth year of short-sighted and irresponsible cuts to our schools, colleges and universities,” over 1200 Colorado citizens today called on all legislators and the governor to support Proposition 103.  That citizens’ initiative provides the only opportunity to prevent hundreds of millions in cuts to education in next year’s budget.

The letter, signed by individuals from more than 140 communities, was coordinated by Great Education Colorado Action, a statewide, nonpartisan, grassroots organization that advocates for improved and wise investment in Colorado’s education system, preschool through higher education.

With the submission of the letter, state leaders are being asked two questions:

First, will you support Proposition 103?

Second, regardless of your position on the initiative, will you pledge that, if Proposition 103 prevails, you will implement the statute as enacted by the voters and oppose any effort to overturn it?  We ask because Proposition 103′s very specific requirement that the new revenues be used for education could only be changed if the General Assembly (i.e., you and your colleagues) actively seek to reverse the will of the voters.

Responses to the inquiry will be posted on Great Education Colorado Action’s website: http://www.greatedaction.org.

You can view the letter and signatures here.

A standing room only crowd gathered at the Denver Athletic Club last month for the First Annual Great Education Colorado Luncheon honoring Cary Kennedy.

The diverse audience included activists, philanthropists, parents and grandparents, superintendents, both the Colorado House and Senate Education Committee chairs and numerous legislators, former Governor Bill Ritter and former Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff.

Great Ed Executive Director Liane Morrison and luncheon honoree Cary Kennedy.  See more photos here

The Luncheon was emceed by Channel 9′s Gregg Moss.  Governor John Hickenlooper made a surprise entrance to welcome guests.  They also heard from Senator Michael Johnston about the need to match critical education reforms with resources necessary to make them successful, and from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock about his plans to focus on education as the key to long-term economic vitality and community strength.

Mayor Hancock also praised Cary Kennedy, whom he recently appointed as Denver CFO and Deputy Mayor, and introduced this video:

As the honoree and keynote speaker, former Treasurer and Denver CFO Cary Kennedy told the audience that Colorado’s future depends on education reform, budget reform and renewed investment in the education of our children.

Great Ed thanks all those attending for a unique and spectacular event!  We’re looking forward to next year!  

Six years after it was first filed, the five-week Lobato trial came to a close last week.  In Lobato, plaintiff parents and school districts are challenging the state’s failure to meet the Colorado constitution’s mandate of a “thorough and uniform system of free public schools” — a system that enables every child to become engaged, effective members of their communities and of the workforce.

Not surprisingly, there were frequent clashes between the State’s and the plaintiffs’ attorneys.  The questioning of witnesses and the legal wrangling got intense and heated at times.

But the real story of the trial is not about the differences in testimony.  It’s about the similarities.  Ultimately, witnesses on both sides agreed on this fundamental truth: well-targeted resources make a difference in student achievement and success.

Consider these statements (defense (state) witnesses are in bold):

• Kenzo Kawanabe, plaintiffs’ attorney in closing: “Plaintiffs do not argue that resources equal student achievement. There is no guarantee. But not funding schools guarantees failure.”
• Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia: Resources are a “necessary but not sufficient” condition for improved student achievement.

Back in May, the Denver Post reported that

Supporters of an initiative that would ask voters in November to raise taxes for education are using an online, grassroots strategy to gather signatures that could revolutionize the petition process.

“It is the first time that I have seen this kind of tactic,” said veteran ballot-issue consultant Rick Reiter. “I’m watching it closely because I could learn a lot.”

On Wednesday, the Secretary of State announced that the supporters of the Bright Colorado initiative got enough signatures to qualify for the ballot — and then some.  It will appear as Proposition 103 on the ballot.

From the Post:

[Bright Colorado proponent, Senator Rollie Heath] said getting the initiative on the November ballot was another indication of the effort’s momentum. Heath needed the valid signatures of 86,105 voters, and a random sample determined he had 98,369 signatures.

“My dad always said, “Son, you’ve got to earn your spurs every day,” Heath said. “People were justified in not taking our initiative seriously, and so we had to prove there was sufficient support out there in the general public.”

Proposition 103 qualified for the ballot because of the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers statewide, who who were able to find tens of thousands of petition signers who have had enough of short-sighted, irresponsible education cuts.

Time to earn the next set of spurs.  Sign up here.

It’s not just a bad idea.  It’s unconstitutional.

Learn more and sign up for updates here.

To keep public education supporters and the media apprised of critical testimony in the Lobato trial, observers have been “live-tweeting” from the courtroom, sending out the testimony that most impresses them.  

You don’t have to be a Twitter user to follow the conversation.  Just go to Twitter and search for “#lobatocase”.  (If you haven’t checked out Twitter yet, this is a painless and interesting way to dip your toe in . . .)

Those who have been monitoring the Lobato case Twitter feed have benefited from a steady stream of key facts and observations.  In case you missed it, here’s just a sampling of tweets:

Matt Keefauver, teacher, Cortez School District

Cortez teacher buys lunches for his students who can’t afford to buy their own

Cortez teacher: this yr’s school supply list includes copy paper, only 5 of 22 students’ parents able to afford

Cortez Teacher: has 3 part time jobs (including side business) so he can pay for basic supplies, field trips

Justine Bayles, science teacher, Cortez School District

Bayles: science is learned through doing experiments, yet lack $ to buy supplies

Bayles: lack of funds or technology = concern students won’t be college/workforce ready

Buck Stroh, Superintendent, Creede District

Stroh: 1st thing cut was industrial arts b/c had to protect core subjects.  Only 1 content teacher per subject, 6th-12th

Stroh: “If we could add even 1/2-time math teacher would make huge difference.” Math teacher sometimes teaches 2 subjects @ same time.

Stroh narrates slide show: preschool building”mothballed” because couldn’t afford to keep open.

Ty Ryland, President, Sierra Grande School District

Ryland: grants look good at beginning, but when it ends, virtually impossible to sustain program

John Barry, Superintendent, Aurora

Barry: students who join military don’t meet min qualifications = “dire consequences” to national security

Barry: need more assured and sustainable avenues of funding to do what’s right for students

Barry: Aurora not able to replicate successes in schools quickly b/c of cuts

Barry: Aurora making “incremental” progress but still “leaving students behind”

Asked if CO provides ‘thorough & uniform’ education, Barry says, “I know it when I see it, & I’m not seeing it.”

Another August, another release of the previous year’s CSAP scores.  Of course, there are variations in results among districts, schools, and subjects, but, as the Denver Post reported, overall scores remained flat.

What does this mean?  We owe it to Colorado’s students to dig deep and try to tease out what is (and isn’t) influencing these scores.  To find the wisest path forward we need to isolate variables as best we can:

– Which reform efforts seem to be making a difference?  How can they be replicated and “scaled up”?  

– What impact, if any, did rising child poverty rates (the fastest in the country) have on CSAP scores?  (Experts indicate that children in poverty require increased resources and supports to reach proficiency).

– What impact did budget cuts have on the scores?  How would the scores look if districts had not increased class size, and reduced individual attention, summer school, support services, professional development, planning time, and teacher mentoring programs?

The release of the CSAP data gives Colorado another snapshot of a year gone by.  If we use that snapshot wisely, it can move us closer to a school finance system that matches promising reforms with the resources necessary to make them successful, sustainable and widespread.

That’s what Great Ed told Fox 31′s Eli Stokols: