When state lawmakers ended their regular business in May, leaders under the gold dome congratulated themselves for finding a long list of bipartisan compromises — including deals on some of the most prickly education issues.
Education debates over charter school funding, a diploma credential for students who speak two languages and high school testing that had befuddled lawmakers for years were settled with bipartisan support.
But after Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, called legislators back to work to fix a glitch in one of those hard-fought compromises, talk of bipartisanship went straight out the window.
Now, on the eve of Hickenlooper’s last regular session as governor — he’s term-limited — itap uncertain whether leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House can rekindle the bipartisan spirit during an election year and accomplish anything on a number of policy fronts.
While education lobbyists and other Capitol observers are wary major victories can be achieved, some of education’s most influential lawmakers are sounding a bipartisan tone.
“I’ve loved working with Brittany,” said state Sen. Owen Hill, a Colorado Springs Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee, referring to state Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Lakewood Democrat who chairs the House Education Committee. “Itap an honor to work with someone who challenges my thinking. And yet we always come together to make sure kids have the very best possible education.”
Pettersen echoed Hill’s bipartisan sentiment.
“I know things get complicated during an election year,” she said. “But I’m really proud of the work we’ve done and I hope to do it again.”
Chalkbeat Colorado is a nonprofit news organization covering education issues. For more, visit chalkbeat.org/co.