Post on 19-Nov-2014
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Great Futures Start with a Great Education
Winter/Spring 2010
What Do We Want For Our Kids?
Is Colorado Investing In Our Children’s Future?
How is Colorado doing?•40th in per pupil funding (42nd adjusted for cost of living)
•$1,397 below the national average in per pupil spending ($1,919 adjusted for cost of living)
•42nd/46th in poverty gap measures
•42nd in pupil to teacher ratio
•41st in technology in our schools
•$0 for teacher professional development
Why the gap?
• Gallagher: lowers personal property taxes which was once the major source of school funding. Now it’s the state.
• TABOR: limits growth of state and local revenues. Result - state can’t fund increasing demands.
•Amendment 23: State must increase school funding by inflation + 1% thru 2011, though obliterated in 2009.
Gallagher, TABOR and Amendment 23
• 7.5% cut below current law • $431 million below current law• In excess of $500 per pupil cut
2010-11 EstimatedStatewide K-12 Budget Cuts
What do we want for our kids?
•{Optional: Discussion Element}
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Colorado: 48th Higher Ed Funding
(per capita)
How low can higher ed go?
Colorado and Higher Education• 2009-10: $56 million cut. Federal stimulus $$ prevented far worse.
• 2010-11: Federal $$ gone. Drastic cuts. Offset in part by tuition increase.
• 30% of family income already pays for 4 year college.
• 17% gap between whites and minorities enrolled in college (18-24 year olds) - one of largest in U.S.
• If no gap: $10 billion more in personal income
2011Expiration of:
•Federal Stimulus Funds
•Referendum C
•Amendment 23 (effectively expired this year)
• Individual attention/smaller classes
• Highly qualified/effective teachers
• Updated technology & textbooks
• Well-rounded curriculum
• Pre-School & Full Day Kindergarten
• An affordable higher education system producing a skilled workforce.
More Money is Not the Goal But it is the Means
What Can We Do?
• Spread the word and tell your story. (www.greateducation.org/map)
• Sign the pledge. (www.greateducation.org/pledge)
• Stay informed through Great Education Colorado.
Liane MorrisonExecutive Director
Great Education Colorado303-722-5901
www.greateducation.orgliane@greateducation.org
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