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Governor’s Budget: To avoid bringing back the BS Factor, we need to count less kids.

Though lost in the flurry of pre-election news and activity, the Governor's 2025-26 proposed state budget was released last Friday.  We’re not going to sugar coat it: it’s bad news for schools. While the Governor’s Transmittal Letter to the legislature tries to paint a rosy picture of “historic investments” in...
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The 2024 Election Results

In a victory for public education in Colorado, voters have defeated Amendment 80. Public education voters like you realized that Amendment 80 for what it was – a measure that would open the floodgates to mass privatization – and you rejected it at the ballot.  Over the past few months,...
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NEWS UPDATE: DISTRICTS OPPOSE AMENDMENT 80

Amendment 80 on the upcoming Colorado ballot proposes allowing public funds to be used for private school funding. This amendment has raised concerns among public education advocates, [see the official website] as it could divert critical resources away from public schools, potentially leading to decreased funding for teacher salaries, classroom...
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Great News:  The Proponents of “Slash & Burn” Ballot Measures Just Blinked

In the last few Colorado elections, voters have been faced with a number of “slash and burn” ballot measures – that is, initiatives that slash taxes (disproportionately for the wealthy) and threaten to burn down the public services that make our communities thrive. This year is no different.  Initiatives 50...
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Voters Won’t Let Fear-Mongering Undermine Public Education

By Lisa Weil, Executive Director of Great Education Colorado lisa@greateducation.org Maybe you saw it in the news: “Colorado GOP Calls for All Children to be Pulled from Public Schools.” There was a time when this headline would have been shocking. The idea that a major political party would encourage parents...
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HB24-1448

On April 18, the House Education Committee held a hearing for HB24-1448, a proposal for a new School Finance Formula. As reported by Colorado Public Radio, the hearing aired conflicting views among education community members. Great Education Colorado is currently neutral on the bill, pending possible amendments to address some...
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No More B.S. — including about the B.S. Factor.

The B.S. Factor Could Be Ending. Let’s Party Like It’s 1989! On November 1, Governor Polis delivered a FY2024 budget that included a school funding milestone: the end of the “Budget Stabilization Factor.”  It is indeed historic. For the first time in 13 years, the state is keeping a promise...
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“More Money Doesn’t Mean Better Education”

More funding is necessary to continue increase seen in CMAS scores. I've heard it thousands of times over the past 20 years: "More money doesn't mean better education." That cliche never was and still isn't true. Decades of research have demonstrated that increased funding for public schools does indeed result in improved...
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Great Ed says YES on Prop HH

Our Mantra: Public Education is on the Ballot in 2023. Vote as if your schools and communities depend on it. TLDR: Great Ed has endorsed Proposition HH, a measure that will provide homeowners with welcome property tax relief without hurting schools. Under certain conditions, Prop HH may result in additional...
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In a Post-Affirmative Action World, we must double down on public schools

When the Supreme Court ruled earlier this summer that institutions of higher education cannot consider race in their admission decisions, they undermined the concept of “affirmative action,” one of few well-established tools designed to acknowledge and rectify the continuing and tangible legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and redlining. The term...
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News from the Dome

When it comes to school funding at the Capitol this year, the watch words – or the words to watch out for – are "fully funded." Maybe you saw the Chalkbeat headline: "Gov. Jared Polis promises to fully fund Colorado schools within four years." While it's a positive development that the governor is committed...
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Great Ed announces 2022 Public Education Voter Slate

https://youtu.be/ij5EakEZ3Us Click HERE or the image to learn more about each proposition! We're making it easy to navigate the MANY propositions on this year's ballot as they relate to PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTERS!
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11th Annual Great Education Colorado Luncheon

This year, the Great Education Colorado Luncheon will be a celebration of the community leaders whose efforts provide pathways for Colorado's students to find their passion, place and purpose in their careers – a critical component of Great Ed's vision of a Colorado where all students graduate prepared to “lead their best...
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Statement of the Great Schools Thriving Communities Coalition on Initiative 63

August 8, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Tracie Rainey, CO School Finance ProjectRaineytracie@gmail.com 303-941-1633 Lisa Weil, Great Education Coloradolisa@greateducation.org 720-217-6239 Statement of the Great Schools Thriving Communities Coalition on Initiative 63 “It is with profound disappointment that we announce that we will not be submitting signatures for Initiative 63 to...
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Initiative 63 Campaign Releases Polling Showing 2-1 Support for Measure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACTS: Tracie Rainey, CO School Finance Project July 22, 2022 Raineytracie@gmail.com   303-941-1633 Lisa Weil, Great Education Colorado lisa@greateducation.org  720-217-6239 Initiative 63 Campaign Releases Polling Showing 2-1 Support for Measure Measure to increase state funding for teachers without increasing tax rates will likely pass in November...
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Latest Economic Forecast Shows that Colorado Needs, Can Afford Initiative 63

New data released by the state's economists today confirmed that Colorado's strong economic recovery will allow the state to increase funding for teachers annually by almost $1 billion without any increase in tax rates -- if voters approve Initiative 63.   Recently released polling by Magellan Strategies indicates that, if given the opportunity, voters would overwhelmingly...
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Great Schools Thriving Communities Coalition Launches Petition for Initiative #63 to Better Support Students & Teachers without Raising Tax Rates

Advocates: “Teachers: We see you. We appreciate you. Help is on the way.”  Denver – Stating that Colorado voters should have the opportunity to decide whether they want to harness the state’s economic rebound to address Colorado's teacher shortage, the Great Schools, Thriving Communities (GSTC) Coalition this week launched their...
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Great Schools Thriving Communities Coalition Files Measures to Help Districts Attract, Retain and Compensate Teachers, Without Raising Taxes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2022   CONTACTS: Tracie Rainey, CO School Finance Project  Raineytracie@gmail.com   303-941-1633 Krista Spurgin, Stand for Children CO KSpurgin@stand.org   303-888-8824 Lisa Weil, Great Education Colorado lisa@greateducation.org  720-217-6239 Great Schools Thriving Communities Coalition Files Measures to Help Districts Attract, Retain and Compensate Teachers, Without Raising...
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