Great Futures Start with a Great Education

Winter/Spring 2010

Great Education ColoradoMission

Great Education Colorado is a statewide, nonpartisan, grassroots organization, focused on improving public education through wise,

increased and equitable investment in our schools, colleges and universities.

Is Colorado Investing In Our Children’s Future?

Do All Colorado Kids Have Access to a Quality Education?

What do we want for our kids?

•{Optional: Discussion Element}

We’ve asked, and this is what we heard consistently

• GOALS: Prepare for lifelong learners (Creative Thinking, Technological Literacy

•STRATEGIES: High Quality Teachers, smaller class size

How is Colorado doing?•40th in per pupil funding (adjusted for cost of living)

•$1,397 below the national average in per pupil spending

•38th in pupil to teacher ratio

•40th in technology in our schools

•49th in per capita spending on higher education

•$0 for professional development of teachers

Why the gap?

PERAHealth CareSalariesProf. Dev’t

MaintenanceBuildingsInsuranceHeating Transportation

Achievement GapCSAP improvement21st C. curriculumNew StandardsCareer Tech Ed.

Diverse Learners:ELLSpecial EdAt-RiskGifted & Talented

District Budget =Local + State + Federal $$

Concurrent Demands on a Limited Budget = TRIAGE

Meeting Kids Where They Are

•Special Education – High % of unreimbursed costs [DPS paid 60% of total costs in 2007-08]

•English Language Learners –$293 per student (2008-09) [DPS covered 98% ELL costs (2007-08)]

•Gifted and Talented – State funded 18% of cost to educate GT students (2007-08) [$9 per GT kid in DPS]

•At-Risk – State adds 12% for each at-risk student

Cost of Categorical Program Gap to All Districts

$816,563,911

2007-08 Cost of Gap in DPS

$143,560,259Special Education English Language

LearnersVocational Education

$45.4 million $79.4 million $3.7 million

Proposed Cuts to P-12Education

Statewide – 7.5% $431 million $over $500 per student

Tough Decisions:Cut school days; close schools; increase class size; freeze wages/reduce benefits; teacher layoffs; eliminate/charge for transportation; eliminate special art/music/electives; cut instructional coach and literacy staff…

“But K-12 Funding is Taking More and More of the Budget!”

•Schools were funded 60% local, 40% state. Now the reverse.

• Gallagher + TABOR + School Finance Act = huge reduction in property tax ($3.1 billion annual average)

• State share of K-12 funding: $3.15 billion

Higher Education Investment Trend

•Families shoulder greater cost burden over time•2008:

•30% of Family Income needed to pay for 4 year college in Colorado (27% national avg.)

•Tied for 48th in State & Local Support for Higher Ed per $1,000 of Income

•Cutting at least $56 million this yr

• Individual attention/smaller classes

• Highly qualified/effective teachers

• Updated technology & textbooks

• Well-rounded curriculum

• Pre-School & Full Day Kindergarten

• Affordable higher education system

More Money is Not the Goal But it is the Means

Great Futures Map and Petition

greateducation.org/map

Today We Can….

•Sign the Great Futures Pledge (as an individual)•Donate $10 or more if you can•Join the Great Futures Colorado Campaign (as an organization)•Buy a t-shirt for $20

For More Information

Liane MorrisonExecutive Director

Great Education Colorado303-722-5901

liane@greateducation.org

www.greateducation.org