Colorado ranks:

* 42nd in per pupil funding adjusted for regional cost differences [Ed Week, Quality Counts 2010]

* 40th in median student-teacher ratio in primary level schools [Ed Week, Quality Counts 2010]

* 41st in technology in our schools. [Ed Week, Technology Counts 2009]

* 42nd in the gap between school-lunch-eligible and non-eligible children (“achievement gap”) on 4th grade NAEP tests. [Education Week/Quality Counts 2008]

* 50th in teacher salaries as a percent of pay in comparable professions. [Ed Week, Quality Counts 2010]

* 46th in achievement gap (see above) on 8th grade NAEP tests. [Education Week/Quality Counts 2008]

* 48th in funding for higher education per full-time student. [Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, 2008]

* 48th in state and local support for higher ed per capita. [National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, 2008]

The Great Education Colorado Index:

$1919 Amount below the national average that Colorado spends per pupil (regional cost adjusted) [Ed Week/Quality Counts 2010]

$3265 Amount Colorado spends per pupil below Nebraska (regional cost adjusted) [Ed Week/Quality Counts 2010]

$7748 Amount Colorado spends per pupil below Wyoming (regional cost adjusted) [Ed Week/Quality Counts 2010]

$2285 Amount Colorado spends per pupil below Kansas (regional cost adjusted) [Ed Week/Quality Counts 2010]

$1452 Amount Colorado spends per pupil below New Mexico (regional cost adjusted) [Ed Week/Quality Counts 2010]

$293 Amount Colorado gives school districts per non-English-speaking student per year (for two years only) for the additional costs associated with teaching English Language Learners. [Colorado School Finance Project, 2009]

$0 Colorado’s annual direct state funding for professional development and teacher mentoring and induction programs. [Education Week/Quality Counts 2010]

31 Number of states that do provide direct funding for professional development and/or induction/mentoring. [Education Week/Quality Counts 2010]