Please add your name to Great Futures’ open letter to voters: we won’t let another year go by without giving voters a chance to improve resources for public education!

As the House sponsor of HCR10-1002, the “DECIDE” referendum, I have some bad news and good news for public education supporters in Colorado.

The bad news is that DECIDE won’t be on the ballot in November.  Although a majority of representatives voted for DECIDE on final passage (35-30), we were unable to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to put DECIDE on the ballot.

I am disappointed that Colorado voters won’t be given the opportunity to DECIDE in November whether to give the legislature the ability to avoid deep cuts to education in 2011.

But those of you who know me know that I’m always looking forward, and planning to build toward future victories.

So let me tell you the good news and what’s next. We accomplished so much, just by proposing and supporting DECIDE.

• We changed the debate about education funding, taxes and TABOR. (Just look at all the press coverage!)  Until Great Ed and the Great Futures coalition brought DECIDE forward, cuts to schools, colleges and universities were considered inevitable.  DECIDE has reminded the legislature and Colorado voters that we have the power to change course and do what’s right for our kids.
• You shook the Capitol.  The flood of emails and calls, the huge turnout at the hearings, and the eloquent, heartfelt testimony from such a diversity of backgrounds, were like nothing I’ve ever seen on school funding.  Seeing that sea of red in the hearing room, with testimony from DECIDE supporters from age 8 to 80, Democrats and Republicans, business owners, clergy, students and educators, made me proud, and hopeful for the future of Colorado.
• Great Ed Action and Great Futures Colorado — and you — are building the army we’ll need for meaningful budget reform. You and thousands of others, are now part of a vibrant, grassroots coalition that has united P-12 and higher ed, and is ready to take the next steps to put Colorado back on the path to investing in our children and our future.

So here’s the question.  Are you ready to keep fighting for better funding for education in Colorado? If so, here’s your first chance to take action by adding your name to Great Ed’s open letter to Colorado voters.

With the momentum of DECIDE at our backs, we must show Colorado that this is just the beginning, and that we will keep fighting until we have given Colorado’s future generations a proud legacy of a great education for every child.

With DECIDE, we’ve made a real difference — and we’ve only just begun.  Thank you for your support and for everything you do for Colorado’s kids, schools, colleges, and universities.

We’re keeping close track of the impact of cuts across the state with local narratives (video and written), news articles, per pupil cut amounts, and specific cuts being considered. In fact, we’re giving people a chance to take action and add their stories to the Map telling state leaders what these cuts mean for students, that they’ve got to do everything possible to minimize cuts and to support a long-term solution to the P-20 education crisis.

What’s the story?The Great Futures Colorado Campaign made a map for that. Check it out:

Four Day School Week? There’s a Map (and Petition) for That!
Norwood School District

The school board is considering moving to a four-day school week next year, a change that could make up for about $50,000, or 25 percent, of the current necessary cuts. The four-day week would allow the district to reduce some personnel hours and transportation use, as well as save in food service and energy usage.

Increasing Class Sizes? There’s a Map (and petition) for That too!
Littleton

“There are already over 25-30 students in each classroom as a result of last years surrounding school closings. We took on those extra students. Now there are more proposed cuts which will reduce teacher headcount,para-professional headcount and specials headcount(PE, music and art)…our children are falling behind terribly.”
(Source: M.L., Littleton, Great Futures Map / Petition)

Fewer Critical Support Services? There’s Even a Map for That!
Salida

“After waves of cuts over the past year, the school district is now considering charging for bus service in this large and mostly rural county. We’ve also been told that the music program will be cut at my daughter’s elementary school.”
(Source: E.A.W., Salida, Great Futures Map/Petition)

Mancos

“As school nurse I deal primarily with the low income and the underinsured and uninsured…These kids usually turn to and rely on the school setting to meet their many needs: food, clothing, a community that cares for them. Our budgets are already stretched so thin that we scramble to assist these kids in crisis…any more cuts to our school system will be depriving these kids of basic services such as hot food for their hungry tummies and a chance for the extra help they need to succeed in school, in life and an opportunity to be productive adults….Children are our future- our hope for a better world – cut our funding and you most definitely will drastically reduce our hope for a better tomorrow.”
(Source: K.B., Mancos, Great Futures Map / Petition)

Granny’s appearances were a prelude to our delivery at the Capitol of a petition, signed by over 1,000 supporters, requesting legislators to prioritize public education. The viral video campaign was Great Eds first foray into the realm of social networks. These videos were viewed thousands of times on their respective Blip.tv, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and MySpace pages. See all the Granny files at www.greateducation.org/granny