Nora Hoskins Neureiter, PTSA President at Steck Elementary School in Denver, discusses the role of the private sector in public education during budget cuts.

Nora Hoskins Neureiter, PTSA President at Steck Elementary School in Denver, has a message to state leaders regarding education budget cuts.

Nora Hoskins Neureiter, PTSA President at Steck Elementary School in Denver, continues her message to state leaders regarding education budget cuts.

Nora Hoskins Neureiter, the PTSA President at Steck Elementary School in Denver, discusses the growing importance of parent organizations during budget cuts.

Amber Wilson, a teacher in Denver Public Schools, talks about how much of her teaching day is devoted to making copies for students.

On November 13th, 2009, Great Education Colorado delivered testimony in front of the Colorado General Assembly Joint Finance Committee. Cheryl Wangeman, CFO of Lewis-Palmer Schools, and Glen Gustafson, CFO of Colorado Springs School District 11, discuss their unique perspectives on the state of school finance in Colorado.

Linda Greeley, Library Media Specialist for Palmer Lake Elementary School, discusses the need for more computers in her school compared with former libraries where she has worked.

Linda Greeley, Library Media Specialist at Palmer Lake Elementary School, discusses the trickle-down effects of state budget cuts on education.

Cathy Wilcox, a parent in Lewis Palmer School District, describes how Colorado is losing a lot of marketing value due to the cuts to education.

Cathy Wilcox, a parent in Lewis Palmer schools, discusses the challenges of today due to budget cuts across the state of Colorado.

Sue Huissman, a parent and grantwriter in Lewis Palmer schools, discusses how her district is forced to use grant funding in the midst of budget cuts.

Sue Huissman, a parent and grantwriter in Lewis Palmer, discusses the out of pocket expenses of parents and teachers in the classroom.

Bret Mischlich, a teacher with Lewis Palmer Schools, discusses how cuts have affected electives across the district

Veta Stock, a counselor with Lewis Palmer Schools, discusses the enrichment that kids find at school.

Veta Stock, a counselor with Lewis Palmer Schools, discusses how children are our greatest natural resource.

We are collecting what we call “School Stories.” Video interviews, written narratives, photographs, and online surveys. Please use this form below to share your story with Great Education Colorado and your fellow Coloradoans. Have a photo? Video? Upload it, too! And be sure to read some of the comments below.

[contact-form 1 "Contact form 1"]

Sample Comments:

• If we do not prepare our children to compete in the global economy they will not be able to lead our country. They are the next generation of tomorrow leaders.
• Uneducated citizens are unfulfilled in themselves, and a burden to society. We must invest significantly more in education. We must make sure the money goes to students and educators, not consultants.
• Colorado needs to better fund schools and programs for all children, especially children with special needs!
• PK-12 grade students in Fort Lupton do not have the same advantages as students in Cherry Creek, Longmont, Eagle County, etc. Our resources do not come close to matching those districts. Our students deserve a high quality education, great teachers and modern facilities too! In addition, higher education has become unaffordable for average citizens, especially if a student attends CU or CSU. I have a student attending CU-Boulder in the school of engineering. He is a second semester junior and we currently have educational debts totaling $28K for his 3 years there. POarents and students have increasingly been forced to pick up rising costs in tuition, housing and books due to years of neglect from the legislature and taxpayer. We will have two sons in college next year. Help! Anti-tax sentiment has permeated public policy – Colorado can and must radically change this scenario. Please consider increasing the mineral severance taxes (see Wyoming)to a competitive level and use the resources for PK-20 education and making a better Colorado!
• My daughter has 31 children in her 3rd grade class. That is just too many it puts and unrealistic burden on the teacher and the parents. I don’t want to put my children in private school, but I am considering it. Thanks.