And so now we’re here, right? We have two studies. The question is, what are we going to do with them?
– Bret Miles, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE)
The last week of January — the members of the House and Senate Education Committees met jointly to hear testimony about the findings of Colorado’s first-ever state-commissioned adequacy studies.
The key takeaways couldn’t be more clear. The Studies demonstrate that, if we want a Colorado where ALL our students can achieve what we ask of them, we need to provide our schools with adequate resources to:
- Recruit and retain teachers through increased pay and support, reduced workload, and instructional coaching;
- Reduce class sizes;
- Increase the number of counselors, nurses, tutors and other support staff to create learning environments that set each student up for success;
- Ensure universal access to up-to-date technology, curriculum and electives that engage and prepare students; and
- Extend learning time and intensify support for students with additional challenges and needs.
In historic terms, Friday’s hearing marked the official end of the “era of intentional ignorance” in the story of school finance in Colorado. As Bret Miles articulated:
It would be really easy – REALLY easy – for this legislature to say, “Well, the numbers have three or 4 billion [dollars]. It’s just not attainable. Thank you very much, we’re moving on.” You would never let us do that, right? No one wants to do that, no matter how high the goal is, no matter what. . . .
So, what SHOULD the legislature going to do with the adequacy studies?
We Know What It Will Take to Get It Done
First and foremost, the legislature MUST create an actionable, multi-year plan – Colorado’s “Blueprint for Student Success” – to usher our state, schools and students into an era of new and adequate investment in the future.
Action Ambassadors
Thank you to our intrepid advocates – some traveling from as far as Eagle County – who endured a two-hour delay and stayed strong to let the legislature know we expect them to Get It Done!