As the dust settles on this year’s legislative session, one conclusion is clear: Children came out on top.
The second regular session of the 66th General Assembly ended May 6, one day ahead of schedule.
Forget the food fights; focus on the facts. The bills we passed this year will help Colorado’s children:
• Start school ready to learn. Children who participate in high- quality preschool and kindergarten are less likely to lag behind classmates, repeat a grade, or drop out. Yet too many families can’t afford such programs.
Lawmakers took action. We passed a balanced budget that put children first. The result: 25,000 more 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds can attend preschool and full-day kindergarten.
• Find a safe place to go to school. Nearly 90 percent of school districts in Colorado report a health or safety problem in at least one of their facilities. Many school buildings — especially in rural Colorado — are literally falling down.
Lawmakers took action. We decided to “Build Excellent Schools Today.” The BEST Act will steer up to $1 billion toward school repairs, the single largest investment in school construction in Colorado history. And we created a safety resource center to help schools prevent, prepare for, and respond to crises.
• Develop the skills to succeed. High-paying jobs in the 21st century will demand more than a high- school diploma. Yet nearly a quarter of Colorado’s high-school students fail to graduate, and a third of those who enter college need remedial education.
Lawmakers took action. We invested in teacher training and professional development. We allowed schools and school districts more flexibility to innovate. And we adopted a new blueprint for public education — the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids — to prepare students for postsecondary work.
• Compete with their counterparts around their world. Deep cuts in recent years have left Colorado near last place in public support for higher education.
Lawmakers took action. We added $60 million to college stipends, work-study funding, and financial aid. We dedicated millions to the infrastructure of our colleges and universities. And we brought thousands of good jobs to Colorado by cutting taxes for small businesses and by investing in bioscience, renewable energy, and other homegrown industries.
• Stay healthy. One out of every seven children in Colorado is uninsured. These children are more likely to go without vaccinations, to develop chronic conditions, and to use the emergency room as their primary source of care.
Lawmakers took action. We provided health coverage for 50,000 more children. We forced insurers to justify their rate hikes and to honor their policies. We expanded mental-health treatment for victims of child abuse and neglect. And we increased reimbursement rates for health-care providers, so that they can continue to treat Colorado’s most vulnerable children.
It’s been more than a decade since Gov. Roy Romer vowed to make Colorado the best place in America to raise a child. The work we did this year, under the leadership of Gov. Bill Ritter and Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, brought us far closer to achieving that goal.
Andrew Romanoff (romanoff @coloradohouse.org) is the speaker of the House. Peter Groff (peter.groff.senate@state.co.us) is president of the Senate.
