Putting Kids and Teachers First
Colorado’s public schools are a mixed bag at best. There are some exemplary districts and schools out there and many, many outstanding and dedicated teachers. However, there also are abysmal graduation rates and test scores at plenty of schools, especially those serving low-income kids.
Our schools need help, and they cannot wait for a landmark education overhaul. We would be waiting a long time. Here are some simple things we can do this year to empower our best and brightest teachers and to give a leg up to more of our children:
- Merit-based scholarships for low-income kids - Give the best and brightest students a much-needed helping hand by rewarding them with financial aid. (Bill sponsors: Sen. Nancy Spence and Rep. Mar Waller)
- Creation of UNC education institute - Creates an institute headed by the University of Northern Colorado to look into how we can improve how we teach our kids. (Senate Bill 32 by Rep. Don Marostica and Sen. Peter Groff--passed in the Senate on third reading)
- Waive in-state tuition requirements for war veterans - Allow veterans who file for tax returns to receive in-state tuition rates without requiring them to wait for normal residency time requirements. (House Bill 1039 by Sen. Mike Kopp and Rep. Frank McNulty--referred to the House Committee on Appropriations)
- Require schools to prepare a safety plan- 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. (House Bill 1009 by Rep. Steve King--postponed indefinitely in the House Committee on Education)
- Income tax credit to offset cost of private-school tuition - Gives parents more freedom to choose the school that best fits the needs of their children. (House Bill 1195 by Sen. Greg Brophy and Rep. Kent Lambert--assigned to the House Committees on Education and Finance)