Editor’s note: In the weeks before the Nov. 2 election, The Denver Post is asking Colorado’s three gubernatorial candidates to respond to a series of questions on some critical issues. This week, they tackle education, and were asked to respond to this question:
With another year of possible cuts to K-12 education, is Colorado’s system underfunded? If so, how would you steer more money into it? What other education reforms should the state propose?
There is no more pressing priority for Colorado than providing our children with the best education possible. The stakes are even higher today because our kids are facing a more competitive global economy with the rise of China and India.
Economic growth depends on innovation, and innovation depends on an educated workforce.
Meanwhile, one-third of Colorado’s school districts have gone to four-day weeks to save money, and Colorado trails most other states in funding for K-12 education. Recent budget shortfalls are clearly connected to the global recession, and there is no appetite to raise taxes. So we must focus on turning our economy around and looking for innovative funding sources.
I was disappointed that Colorado did not receive a Race to the Top grant, but we can present a strong case for additional federal and private-sector support. We’ve had success in Denver working with businesses to provide college scholarships to improve school performance with incentives.
We must also spend scarce dollars in more efficient and effective ways, making the most of revenue the state does have. That is why I support replacing the Colorado Student Assessment Program, which has outlived its usefulness. We need an assessment system that provides more timely information so that teachers, parents and students can identify problems and address them in the same school year.
We also must track whether students are learning the real- world skills they need in college and later in life. Finally, a new assessment program must track student and teacher progress over time so we can measure where our schools can improve.
I support merit pay, as adopted by the state legislature. We need to implement it effectively through collaboration with our school districts, educators and parents. We must develop fair, reliable evaluation standards that will measure, enhance and reward teacher performance.
I also will use information technology to increase student performance and the efficiency of our public schools statewide. Expanding broadband access will allow schools across Colorado to share best practices and curriculum and reduce costs.
We really need to think about improving education from early childhood preparation right on through to higher education and adult learning. It is a priority for me, and I know it is a priority for my running mate, Joe Garcia, president of CSU-Pueblo and co-chair of the P-20 Education Coordinating Council.
