A Vision for Colorado: Every Student Graduates

Ready for the World

Great Education ColoradoJune 2015

Which deserve a great education?

Our Vision: Every Student Graduates “Ready for the World”

Prepared for:• Post-secondary education (2 or 4 yr) • 21st century careers• Independence• Engaged, productive citizenship in

community, state and country• Life-long learning

Colorado Academic Standards: Our Proxy for “Ready for the World”

Statewide standards in:• Math (CCSS)• Language Arts (CCSS)• Science• Social Studies• World Languages• Arts• Health & Physical Ed

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS)

• Adopted in 2014• Successor to CSAP/TCAP• Reflects new Colorado Academic Standards• Testing parameters, after HB15-1323 passed:– Math (3rd – 8th, high school) – English Language Arts (3rd – 9th)– Science (5th, 8th, high school)– Social Studies (optional)

But, standards don’t teach themselves…

A great start with quality ECEWell-supported, inspiring, high quality teachers

Rich curriculum

Individual attention & reasonable class size

Updated technology & textbooks

Safe schools & classrooms

The best teaching & classrooms in the nation.

Is Colorado stepping up to the “Ready for the World”

challenge?

Is Colorado making an adequate commitment to the teaching

profession?

Stepping up for teachers?

Stepping up on Early Childhood?

Colorado ranks:• 16th in 3-4 year old

enrollment• 47th in “Poverty Gap”• 45th in Full-Day preschool• 45th in Full-Day K

Is Colorado stepping up to the “Ready for the World” challenge?

Not Yet.

The Graph that Says it All

What’s Getting in the Way?

1995 1999 2002 2009 20127500

7700

7900

8100

8300

8500

8700

8900

9100

9300

9500Per pupil funding (adjusted for inflation)

Growth in at-risk, English lan-guage learners, and special

needs populations

Transition to standards-based ed – higher expectations &

universal proficiency

Increased reliance on up-to-date technology: instruction,

student data, testing, etc.

Higher inflationary growth in energy, transportation, health

care.

1995 - 2012 – Increasing Expectations schools

What about this year’s budget?

FY13-14 per pupil funding is below FY07-08.

FY

08

-09

FY

09

-10

FY

10

-11

FY

11

-12

FY

12

-13

FY

13

-14

FY

14

-15

(FY

15

-16

)$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

$8,000

$6,874 $7,077 $6,813 $6,468 $6,474 $6,651

$7,294

$134

$423 $906 $1278

$1209 $1056

Ave. per pupil funding – Long Bill for 15-16

Actual per pupil Neg. Factor

$7,021

$1000

So, why such a tight budget, when . . .

2015 Legislative Session

119 education-related bills introduced --62% killed.

$281M for inflation & growth$25M reduction in negative factor ($56/pupil) now at $860M$10M for rural schools$5M for at-risk studentsLegislative Promise: increased property tax revenues to supplement school funding- Could see an increase of $70M

Why can’t Colorado restore recession cuts?

Colorado’s Constitution has a provision that imposes a barrier to restoring cuts without a

vote of the people.

TABOR

Not Done Yet…

• 2015 Legislature– Still $1,000 less per

student than required to keep up with inflation

– Killed HB15-1334 that would have created 2-yr legislative process to develop an adequate, equitable & sustainable school finance system

TABOR’s Impact

When state revenues exceed voter approved cap, Colorado’s Constitution requires money be returned in some way to taxpayers unless voters

allow the state to keep the surplus.

Colorado is about to exceed that limit for the first time in well over a decade.

TABOR Rebates

FY 2013-2014 FY 2014-2015 FY 2015-2016 FY 2016-2017 $10,500

$11,000

$11,500

$12,000

$12,500

$13,000

$13,500

$14,000

$14,500

Total TABOR Revenue Legislative Council TABOR limit/Ref C Cap Legislative Council

FY 2014-15Leg. Council: $69.7 million above cap

FY 2015-16Leg. Council: $116.8 million above cap

FY 2016-17Leg. Council: $434.9 million above cap

Per CO Fiscal Institute

Impact of TABOR on K-12

During bad economic times…we cut K-12.

During good economic times…we can’t reinvest.

Why we should do it together.

“Well, sure Coloradans know how to spend their money. But we also know we can’t personally hire a teacher, repair a failing bridge or hire a prison guard. That’s why we all pool our resources – to do things we can’t do individually, for the good of everyone.”

-- Former Rep. Don Marostica

What is Great Ed doing about it?

• Advocating at the Capitol for maximum education funding

• Putting pressure on state leaders to take action and provide leadership

• Preparing for a ballot initiative

Schedule a school tour for your legislators.

Bringing the Capitol to Classrooms

How You Can HelpJoin our email listShare our social mediaInvite us to speakAttend our annual conferenceSupport our crowdfunding project

Check out “Advocate’s Corner”

Our Vision: Every Student “Ready for the World”

Great Education Colorado

Liane MorrisonExecutive Director, Great Education Colorado

liane@greateducation.org303 722 5901

www.greateducation.orgFacebook or Twitter @greated