DENVER-
Saying Colorado’s education system is out of whack with the needs of employers, Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday issued an executive order creating an education coordinating council to study ways to produce workers ready for the job market.
Ritter said the state’s high dropout rate and an achievement gap linked to income indicate the state’s education system is not meeting the needs of many students, from preschool through graduate school.
“From preschool through grade 20, this council will help make sure our education highway provides a continuous path of knowledge and skills for our young people,” Ritter said. Ritter said the 20-member council will fulfill his campaign promise to promote reforms aimed at producing highly skilled employees who can meet the needs of a modern work force.
Ritter said the state’s education has been “considerably strained” in recent years because of budget cuts, but he believes if given the tools schools have the potential to satisfy all of the state’s short-term and long-term education needs.
Ritter said the council will identify options for expanding early childhood education, ways to reduce dropout rates, retrain dropouts, improve the transition from high school to college and find ways to recruit teachers.
Ritter said he expects a report by the end of November.
He said the task force will not consider funding because he believes that would limit the council’s options.
Antwan Wilson, principal at Montbello High School, said the state needs to come up with innovative ways to get students through school and into college.
“They’re coming to high school with no real focus,” he said.
Wilson said he wants to require students to apply for college and require educators to work with them to fit their educational goals with their career interests.
