schools
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Noonan: Poor school funding over eight years leads to low four-year state graduation rates
Colorado’s four-year high school graduation rate is bad. That should be no surprise. According to Education Week, Colorado achieved a 77 percent graduation rate in 2016, seventh from the bottom. Neighbor New Mexico has the lowest rate at 69 percent and Nebraska has the second highest rate at 90 percent. It’s interesting that road quality in…
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Transportation funding progress is likely, but much could be left on the table
State lawmakers say they have a deal that can mitigate some of the failures from not advancing a full transportation funding measure this year in the legislature. The proposal would create a 20-year bond program to direct $1.8 billion towards critical infrastructure, including roads and highways. Senate Bill 267 comes after a centerpiece transportation funding bill –…
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Nicklas: Support legislation to eliminate lead exposure in children
Advocates in the Colorado health, education, and environmental communities strongly support House Bill 17-1306 to prevent and eliminate lead exposure in young children. This bill would provide grant funding for schools who wish to test their water for lead. Lead is particularly dangerous for young children because they absorb more of the toxic metal than…
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New plan unveiled to raise money for critical Colorado state services with days left in legislature
Despite a dramatic back-and-forth Monday over a plan to free money for critical state services, legislative leaders say they are close to a compromise. The proposal would create a 20-year bond program to direct $1.8 billion towards critical infrastructure, including roads and highways. The first iteration of the legislation started with a $1.35 billion bond program. Lawmakers…
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Republicans accused of ‘hijacking’ education funding in the name of charter schools
Democrats and the state’s largest teachers’ union say Republicans have hijacked a critical school funding measure in the name of charter schools. The annual School Finance Act, which lawmakers are constitutionally obligated to pass each year, was amended on Thursday to include equitable funding for charter schools. Republicans, led by Sen. Owen Hill of Colorado…
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Landrum: Suspensions and expulsions should not occur in preschools
In many ways, preschool creates the foundation for school success. The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) believes strongly that early childhood education and preschool should offer a welcoming environment for every child. It is while attending preschool that children learn to love learning; when we use suspensions and expulsions, we send the opposite message. Such exclusionary…