Hickenlooper, state appeal Lobato education-funding decision
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced today that the state would appeal a recent district judge’s ruling in the Lobato case, which declared that the state has failed to fund a ‘thorough and uniform’ system of public education for Colorado students.
Improving economy may make more state money available for schools
If Gov. John Hickenlooper has anything to say about it--and he will--most of a potential increase in state tax collections this year and in 2012 will go to restore some of the money cut from K-12 budgets in the past few years.
Colorado abstinence trainers are misleading school children
An abstinence-only presentation provided by Colorado-based "experts" to numerous school districts in Michigan in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Harkin says cutting Education Dept. is a terrible idea
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, calls it “nonsense” for politicians to suggest doing away with the U.S. Department of Education, saying “that flies in the face of 200 years of U.S. history.”
Colorado ranks low on ratio of minority teachers to students
Findings released by a left-leaning think tank today demonstrate minority students will soon out-number whites, but a dearth of minority instructors is holding back students of color who could benefit from teachers with similar backgrounds.
Colorado voters reject Proposition 103 school-funding initiative
It was the most significant tax measure to appear before any U.S. voters this year and early returns suggest voters wanted nothing to do with it. Colorado's Proposition 103, which would have marginally raised state income and sales taxes to fund education, was drawing roughly 35 percent support in the hours after polls closed.
Udall, Franken gang up to keep potatoes in school lunches
Today, Senator Mark Udall's amendment to prevent limits on the amount of starchy vegetables that schools can serve passed the Senate as part of a larger bill.
Big Bird hunter Lamborn pitches for PBS
Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn made national news the past two years for spearheading the Republican drive to end federal funding for public broadcasting. "It’s time for Big Bird to earn his wings and learn to fly on his own," he said. In a bold marketing move, Rocky Mountain PBS has now tapped Lamborn for a fundraising spot. "We don't always see eye to eye on everything about public broadcasting," says Rocky Mountain PBS CEO Doug Price, standing next to Lamborn, to awkward and entertaining effect.
Colorado’s Prop 103 called national barometer on taxes
State Senator Rollie Heath's Proposition 103, which asks Coloradans to approve a tax increase to bolster the state's cash-strapped schools, will be the most significant tax measure to appear before any U.S. voters this year. The Pew Center on the States calls the vote a test of public attitudes toward tough recession-year fiscal choices and for that reason will draw scrutiny in capitals coast to coast.
White House releases details of student debt relief plan
A conference call with reporters Wednesday revealed more details about the Obama administration’s plan to roll out a program for student debt relief.