Great Futures Start with a Great Education

Carson Elementary PTSAJanuary 2010

Great Education Colorado

Mission: Great Education Colorado is a statewide, nonpartisan, grassroots organization that is focused on improving education in Colorado through wise, increased investment in our schools, colleges and universities.

OVERVIEW•What do we want for our kids?

•Are they receiving that?

•Why the gap between what we want and what they get?

•What can we do?

What do we want for our kids?

• Individual attention/smaller class sizes

• Inspired, inspiring, quality teaching

• Updated classroom technology (& textbooks)

• Well-rounded curriculum

• Pre-School and Full Day Kindergarten

What we hear:

How is Colorado doing?• 42nd in per pupil funding (adjusted for cost of living)• $1,397 below the national average in per pupil spending (Denver: $98 Million)• 42nd/46th in achievement gap measures• 42nd in pupil to teacher ratio• 40th in technology in our schools• $0 spent by state for professional development

• 49th in per capita spending on higher education

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

• Amendment 23 is being interpreted – virtually no limit to cuts

• Federal stimulus dollars end this year, worsening the cliff for K-12 and higher

ed next year

2010-11 Budget Cuts (so far)

Proposed Statewide Cuts:•6.12% cut below current law

=$354 million below current law•State Average $440 per pupil cut

Denver Public Schools:

=$33.8 million CUT•District Average $472 per pupil cut

What Can We Do?

• Tell this story of the causes and impact of school finance crisis. (The “choir” and the community) •Work together to promote a long-term solution•Great Education Colorado provides easy tools to do this

Tell the Story …

greateducation.org/map

Work Together TODAY…

Contact Information

Lisa WeilPolicy / Communications Director

Great Education Colorado303-722-5901

lisa@greateducation.org