Great Futures Start with a Great Education

Adams 12 Five-Star Board of EducationDecember 2009

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/life-long learning

• Pre-School and Full Day Kindergarten

What we hear:

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

• $1,397 below the national average in per pupil spending ($57 million for Adams 12)

• 42nd in pupil to teacher ratio

• 40th in technology in our schools

• $0 State contribution to prof. development

• 49th in per capita spending on higher education

Why the gap?

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

• Gallagher + TABOR + School Finance Act resulted in reduction in property tax of $3.15 billion (1% value)

• State share of K-12 funding: $3.1 billion

• Result: reversal of Local/State share

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

THE CLIFF: 2011

•Referendum C, Federal Stimulus Funds, and Amendment 23 expire

•Estimated Impact on already thirsty base – K-12 and higher education

•Update: Amendment 23 being reinterpreted – Cliff happening now

2010-11 Budget Cuts

Proposed Statewide Cuts:• 6.12% cut below current law

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

Adams 12 School District: • $18.2 million CUT• $432 per pupil CUT

Finally, Some Good News

• 177 Fellow Travelers• Coalitions • Budget Reform Roundtables • Conventional Wisdom: Ballot initiative in 2011

What Can We Do?

• Legislative advocacy• Inform parents and engage grassroots (“the choir”)• End the “Las Vegas Problem”• Great Ed provides easy tools

• Pledge/Video• Legislative alerts• Map/Stories

Tell the Story …

Contact Information

Lisa WeilPolicy / Communications Director

Great Education Colorado303-722-5901

lisa@greateducation.org