Senate Republicans lauded Gov. Bill Ritter's support for a major education reform in the GOP's 2008 legislative agenda--standards-based education--which the governor included in his annual State of the State speech today.

The Republicans also expressed cautious optimism after Ritter seemed to take a step back from some overly ambitious and costly proposals that his party embraced last year.

The GOP lawmakers warned, however, that any effort by the administration to push through meaningful school reform would face its highest hurdles in the governor's own party.

"The governor's announcement represents a real boon to the Republican priority for education reform," said the GOP's Sen. Mike Kopp, of Littleton.

"My concern is with the foes of such reforms who run the pivotal education committees in the two chambers," Kopp said. "I hope the governor can shepherd this effort through the General Assembly, and we will be glad to help however we can."