DeGrow Tackles SB 213 Tax Proposal on Choice Media
Comments from senior education policy analyst were featured in the new edition of the nationally-syndicated Choice Media Ed Reform Minute. The story covers Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s recent signing of Senate Bill 213, the “Future School Finance Act” measure tied directly to a statewide billion-dollar tax increase proposal: In the era of the school choice […]
Passing Thoughts: Charters Well Established Part of Colorado’s Education Landscape
According to my stressed-out-looking Education Policy Center friends, we are fast approaching the 20th anniversary of Colorado officially approving charter schools as a means of public school choice. At the time, we were the third state to do so (after Minnesota and California). Today, 42 states have some form of a charter school law. As […]
Amy Oliver Show: Senator Says SB 213’s Extra Tax Dollars Not Needed
Senator Scott Renfroe, Republican from Weld County, explains why he could not support Senate Bill 213 or its accompanying tax increase proposal, given the weakness of reforms and the availability of other existing budget funds.
That’s One Small Step for Digital Learning and Quality Options for Colorado Students
Has Colorado taken another step toward providing students with greater choice and opportunity through access to digital learning options? If so, how big and effective a step has been taken? Let’s look at a piece of education legislation that was overshadowed by the likes of the “Future School Finance Act” and others, Senate Bill 139. […]
Who Would Game the System to Deprive Needy Students of More Choices?
You may not be surprised to hear that this little tyke enjoys games as much as the next kid. Want to challenge me to a contest of Checkers — or better yet, use those same Checkers in a game of Connect Four? Maybe you just want to get me outside during the summer so I […]
Amy Oliver Show: Too Much Tax, Too Little Reform in SB 213
State Rep. Justin Everett, a conservative freshman legislator from Jefferson County, talks about serving in the minority party on the House Education Committee, his vision for education reform, and why he opposed SB 213, the school finance bill tied to a billion dollar tax increase proposal.
Surprise! Perpetuating Power Top Priority for Teachers Union Leaders in Adams 12
After a lot of recent attention, it seems to have grown awfully quiet this month in the Adams 12 school district. Two of four scheduled negotiation sessions with teachers union officials already have taken place, but beyond that it’s left to the open-ended curiosity of a perpetually precocious 5-year-old to try to guess what’s taking […]
International Student Learning Comparisons Remind Why Dougco Is Raising Bar
When I’m running a race, no matter how short my little legs may be, I don’t want to be left in the middle of the pack: I want to break the tape first… I want to WIN!! In America, including Colorado, we tend to think our suburban schools serving middle-class students are largely doing just […]
Finding the Positives in Colorado’s Latest 3rd Grade Reading TCAP Results
It’s that time of year again. I get to share some news and thoughts with you about the latest release of Colorado’s 3rd grade reading test results. We’re talking the “preliminary and unofficial” results from TCAP, the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program, formerly known as CSAP. As last year’s debate on HB 1238 (the Colorado READ […]
Amy Oliver Show: State Board Member Appreciates Teachers
Pam Mazanec talks about her role serving eastern Colorado on the State Board of Education, and celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week with some positive news statewide and in Douglas County from Colorado’s latest official TELL teacher survey.
A Tale of Two Surveys: Dougco Embraces Reform, Colo. Reluctant on New K-12 Taxes
A great classic novel my big friends tell me I need to read someday starts with a famous line. I’m talking about Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was […]
Yes, Really! Blended Learning Great Reason to Appreciate AND Celebrate Teachers
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Day! What better way to celebrate here than to talk about blended learning? I saw a few of you scratch your heads out there. But the national Digital Learning Now (DLN) group has blessed us with a new report titled Improving Conditions and Careers: How Blended Learning Can Improve the Teaching […]
