“Not everybody needs to go to college.” That’s a statement I hear all the time, but it’s a statement that’s reflective of an economy that is four decades in the past. The fact is, by 2020, three-fourths of Colorado jobs will require a degree, certificate, badge, or some other credential earned after high school. That’s three times the demand that we saw in the 1970s and it means that communities whose residents have the highest rates of educational attainment will see more jobs, higher wages, and more investment.
A certificate or degree is the key that opens doors that would otherwise be locked to those with only a high school diploma. That’s precisely why I’m encouraged to see local communities taking steps to ensure that more of their students can walk through those doors.
Denver is asking voters to invest less than a penny on a $10 purchase to raise $10 million per year to make education after high school affordable. The proposal fits hand in glove with the direction that Colorado has charted for our education system after high school. Measure 2A makes college more affordable, emphasizes student support and success, and leverages the power of collaboration.
In Colorado, our economic success and ability to attract highly educated people to our state have obscured the fact that fewer than half of Coloradans have a degree. This isn’t just a troubling statistic; it’s a call to action. This shortfall threatens our economy and our ability to maintain our competitive advantage.
We know that students from rural, low-income, and minority communities are far less likely to attend and graduate from a college or university. That’s why we are working with communities across Colorado to better prepare and support all students. Enrollment is not our only goal — success is. Through our work we are improving persistence rates, lowering remediation rates, and shortening the time to graduation.
It is up to us to ensure that nothing stands in our students’ way. And while much of our work recognizes that it takes more than money to empower students, the fact is that affordability is crucial to improving access and success.
At the state level, we are funding higher education as best we can, but due to budgetary constraints, our efforts are not sufficient. The state simply cannot bear this burden alone and still meet the needs of all students and all communities. There needs to be a shared investment in higher education. That’s why we are encouraging local communities to invest in their students beyond high school.
It’s important to recognize that the challenge of affordability is not only a problem for our low-income families. It burdens middle-class households as well. Quality scholarship programs help both low-income students and those whose families make too much to qualify for federal financial aid but not enough to avoid crippling debt. Denver’s proposal will do just that.
Denver’s effort by no means lets the state off the hook. Colorado must continue to innovate, set ambitious goals for our institutions, and seek new approaches to educate students. We will continue to seek opportunities to put more funding into a broad spectrum of education options after high school. We will partner with Denver and other communities to create affordable, high-quality options for students and families.
I strongly encourage Denver voters to strengthen their community by voting to provide scholarships to ambitious and deserving students who will return the modest investment many times over.
Your “yes” vote on 2A not only opens doors for more students, but builds a foundation for a sustainable, innovative and competitive economy.
Joseph Garcia is lieutenant governor of Colorado and executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
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