The Colorado Independent

Hickenlooper plan to slash school funding draws fast response from education group

By John Tomasic | 02.16.11 | 1:59 pm

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper rolled out a budget plan Tuesday in which he proposes trying to make up hundreds of millions of dollars in shortfalls by mostly slashing elementary school funding. His plan would cut the K-12 budget by $375 million. Wednesday morning advocacy group Great Education Colorado sent out a call for Coloradans to oppose the Hickenlooper plan. The group succinctly describes how the costs will translate around the state and at local schools.

Benefield looking to ask voters to approve tax hike for schools

By Joseph Boven | 03.25.10 | 11:22 am

DENVER– An official snow day at the capitol Wednesday didn’t stop education advocates from filing into the West Foyer where lawmakers unveiled a desperate plan to raise taxes to shore up the state’s struggling education system. The upbeat note struck by the speakers, though, mostly succeeded at conjuring images of the wide stormy seas they are setting out to sail. Captained by state Rep. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada, the group is asking voters in a recession to amend the constitution to lift tax limits set by Colorado’s revered Taxpayers Bill of Rights.

News from the schools: Colo. spending on schools dismal and getting worse

By John Tomasic | 01.14.10 | 4:31 pm

A brief shocking but not surprising piece posted at the Great Education website today is making waves. It was also posted at the politics-insider Colorado Pols blogsite as a reminder to lawmakers as the legislative session begins that…

Schools asking for stop-gap funds, not improvements

By J.C. O'Connell | 09.10.08 | 7:36 am

Colorado voters will be asked to approve almost $2.5 billion in school bonds and mill levies this fall to shore up crumbling infrastructure, address safety issues posed by aging school buildings and cover the increasing costs of educating the state’s more than 800,000 students.