Colorado faces a crisis in providing the quality education to our children they deserve, and radicals are preparing for new attacks on our public schools.
Recently, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, speaking to an audience of "Tea Party" right-wing radicals, reportedly called for the abolition of the United States Department of Education.[i] That's an incredibly reckless and foolish idea. The Department of Education administers billions of dollars of direct funding each year for public schools all over the country, including hundreds of millions to Colorado--not to mention direct responsibility for everything from student loan and scholarship programs to accommodation for children with disabilities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Colorado ranks 40th in the nation in education funding per student. As a percentage of personal income, Colorado ranks an abysmal 49th in our commitment to funding public education.[ii] Our state faces an ongoing fiscal crisis that is likely to hamper our ability to properly meet the needs of our children for year to come. Colorado public schools rely on federal funds to meet the needs of all of our children, from AP whiz kids to those most in need of extra support.
At a time when leadership and innovative thinking is needed more than ever, the right is out of touch with the needs of Colorado's most important institutions. We demand that Norton get serious about education.
[i] "Norton wins over Tea Partiers with call to eliminate Department of Education." Colorado Independent, December 15th 2009.
[ii] "Colorado at 40th in K-12 funds per student." Denver Post, July 28th 2009.