About

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.

Great Ed works to inform citizens about critical education resource and reform issues and to empower them to advocate effectively for permanent change in how we invest in our schools and our children. From preschool through college we believe that Colorado must take the steps necessary to invest in our students’ education for the long-term. And while increased funding alone cannot solve the problems in the state’s public education system, in its absence, no equitable or sustainable solutions to provide the opportunities necessary for our students’ and for Colorado’s future are possible.

History

Great Education Colorado began in a Denver living room filled with parents sharing concerns about the chronic under-funding of public education that was affecting students’ educational experiences, civic and community unity, and economic prosperity. We have since grown to be a well-respected source of information and conduit of public input to the legislature and state leaders on issues around educational resources.

Current Activities

Great Futures Campaign: “Great futures start with a great education.”The Great Futures Colorado Campaign was launched in January 2010 asa statewide, grassroots, multimedia effort to build a coalition of organizations to advocate for a ballot proposal that will improve long-term investment in Colorado schools and colleges.

Colorado School Stories Project: Through the Colorado School Stories Project (a video catalog of more than 250 interviews with educators, parents and students from around the state), Great Ed continues to shine a light on the price that Colorado’s students are paying for our state’s failure to invest in their future.

Education Funding Resources: Our Frequently Asked Questions and Statistics pages answer pressing education investment questions and provide accessible and in-depth context to Colorado’s education funding crisis. Great Ed also keeps a close eye on where Colorado stacks up compared to the rest of the country on our Statistics page.

Online Tools: Great Ed uses online tools – website, facebook, blog, Great Futures Map and Petition, Great Futures Pledge, and newsletters – to inform people about Colorado’s school funding crisis and offers easy ways to join in the solutions.

Raising Public Awareness: Great Ed exposes the impact of investments in our schools, colleges, and universities through media tours, press conferences, and guest commentary. Last October, Great Ed and Colorado PTA authored a Denver Post Guest Commentary taking on the conventional wisdom that it’s an economically appropriate time to cut education funding and investment in Colorado’s students. View our media kit here.

Supporting Grassroots Efforts: Great Ed presents to groups all over the state and supports grassroots efforts to raise the voices of all public-education supporters – students, parents, business leaders, and taxpayers – so we can ensure that our state’s education goals are matched with the resources necessary to achieve them. Invite us to present to your group – local book club, church, neighborhood association or school. Or contact us to volunteer for Great Ed.

Website

Great Education Colorado, www.greateducation.org, is powered by the fantastic, open source, WordPress. It is designed and maintained by Steve Foster in Denver, Colorado.