Colorado must do much more to prepare its students for the future—both for college and for careers—or we will be left behind. We don’t set the standards—the world does. It is our responsibility to keep up in our global economy.

That is why we need higher standards, more options, quality teachers and safer schools for our children. On Oct. 16, Republicans unveiled a package of education proposals that reflect those priorities and that will be introduced when the General Assembly convenes in January: 

• Higher standards. Colorado’s children must be better prepared for college or work after graduation.

• A comprehensive, statewide curriculum standard for graduating from a Colorado high school (SB 23 by Sen. Josh Penry and Rep. Rob Witwer). Right now, Colorado is one of only a handful of states with no statewide standard. Let’s make sure every Colorado high school diploma means something by requiring:

• Four years of math; three if a student tests out after the third year
• Four years of English
• Three years of science
• Three years of social studies
• Two years of world languages
• One year of P.E. and health
• One year of visual, performing and applied arts [Postponed indefinitely in Senate Education Committee]

• High school proficiency exam to graduate (SB 61 by Sen. Mike Kopp and Rep. Victor Mitchell). Students will take the test starting in the 10th grade and each high school year thereafter until they pass it.  [Postponed Indefinitely in the Senate Committee on Education]
• English proficiency to graduate (SB 98 by Sen. Shawn Mitchell and Rep. Cory Gardner). Colorado students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English to get their diplomas.  [Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education Committee]

• More options. Colorado’s parents need more meaningful choices so they can find the kind of education that works best for their children.

• Tuition assistance for special-needs children (SB 142 by Sen. Nancy Spence and Rep. Spencer Swalm). Students with special needs are particularly vulnerable when their educational options are limited. Their parents must be able to choose a program, private or public, that addresses the unique challenges their children face.  [Killed by Majority Democrats in Education Committee]
• Sales tax-free week (HB 1271 Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, Sen. Mike Kopp). School supplies cost enough even without tax. This proposal would allow retailers to give parents a break from the sales tax for two weekends in August when so many Coloradans do their back-to-school shopping. [Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance Committee]

• Quality teachers.

• Performance incentives (SB 65 by Sen. Nancy Spence). We need way to recognize, reward and retain our best and brightest teachers.  [Unanimously approved by Education Committee, assigned to Appropriations Committee]

• Safer schools.

• Better emergency response capabilities (SB 181, by Sen. Tom Wiens, Rep. Tom Massey; HB 1267 by Rep. Tom Massey and Sen. Tom Wiens). Fires no longer are the only threat to our children at school. We need to modernize emergency planning so students, teachers and first-responders can act fast to keep our schools and our children safe. [Introduced In House - Assigned to Education Committee]