Masters v. School District Number 1
The Independence Institute has long been a champion of tenure reform, local control, and flexibility in the realm of school and district personnel decisions. In 2010, the Institute was part of a broad, bipartisan coalition supporting Senate Bill 191, Colorado’s teacher evaluation and tenure reform bill. It continues to defend SB 191’s critical reforms from both […]
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Jeffco’s Ken Witt Pokes Recall Advocates
Friday Fun Day has arrived yet again. I don’t have super-secret materials to share or an inspiring video to show you today. But I do have something pretty darn entertaining: A school board reformer in Jeffco calling the bluff of recall proponents in Jeffco by filing a complaint against… himself. Yes, that’s right. Tired of […]
Thompson Stands Up for Change
Some famous guy at some point in history once said that the hardest part of any effort is taking the first step. How right he was. Even at the tender age of five, I can tell you that it’s hard to do big, scary, important stuff. But you don’t need to take my word for […]
Apathy, Confusion, and Survey Data: What the Numbers Really Tell Us
I was going to write about an interesting article I read on ADHD, school choice, and blended learning today, but then I was distracted by a very interesting blog post on Americans’ understanding of education policy—or lack thereof. The irony of being distracted from writing about and ADHD article is not lost on me, but […]
Douglas County: Building a Better Education Model
Effecting successful suburban school reform poses an authentic challenge. Many students do well compared to their peers in neighboring districts, but overall test scores conceal shortcomings. The U.S. spends more per person on education than any other country, yet even middle-class students academically lag their peers in other countries. The fast-growing Douglas County School District (DCSD) south of Denver, Colorado, has attempted a different approach to aim higher.
The Case for Further Sentencing Reform in Colorado
The first and most basic duty of Colorado’s criminal justice system is to protect the innocent from force and fraud. And as a government service, the roughly $32,000 (average cost)1 taxpayers spend annually per state prisoner is a good bargain for the separation of violent and predatory criminals from the public.
What’s in Store for Criminal Justice Reforms in 2011?
Amendment 63's Foes Only Want You for Your Body
by Brian Schwartz Should Colorado mandate that each car owner buy a comprehensive lifetime vehicle warranty? By the logic of a common argument against Colorado Amendment 63 and for mandatory medical insurance, the answer is “Yes.” Mandatory insurance treats your body as a means to political ends, rather than respecting your rights as an individual. […]
Colorado Amendment 63: Freedom Is Too "Haphazard" for Bell Policy Center
In a recent Denver Post op-ed, Bob Semro of the Bell Policy Center writes that Amendment 63 would “move Colorado to a less protected, more haphazard health care system where people pay directly for services rather than having health insurance.” What Bob Semro called “haphazard” is really personal freedom. The freedom to pay for medical […]
Amendment 63 Protects Right to Spend Money on Your Own Medical Care
by Linda Gorman, Ph.D. Passing Amendment 63 in November would ensure that you will have the right to use your own money to pay for the medical care that you think you need. If you live in Colorado you need this protection, and you need it now. Colorado’s health agencies plan to control your health […]
Amendment 63 Protects Right to Spend Own Money on Medical Care
By Linda Gorman, PhD Passing Amendment 63 in November would ensure that you will have the right to use your own money to pay for the medical care that you think you need. If you live in Colorado you need this protection, and you need it now. Colorado’s health agencies plan to control your health […]
Opposition to Amendment 63 Both Flawed and Deceptive
by Brian Schwartz Mandatory insurance takes what’s wrong with health insurance and makes it worse. It means higher costs, affordable insurance becomes illegal, and less incentive to please patients. Amendment 63 would block Colorado politicians from imposing mandatory insurance. It would also prevent the feds from pressuring the Colorado legislature to enforce Washington’s version of […]
