January 20, 2010 01:28 AM UTC

Colorado Formally Enters Education Reform Race to the Top

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• by: DavidThi808

(The cause behind SB10-036 “Race through the Legislature” – promoted by Danny the Red (hair))

I think this has the potential to significantly improve our public schools. And so, this is Ritter’s press announcement in full (including some over-selling) – because if this works even half as well as expected, we’ll look back in 10 years and see this as one of the most important things this state did for its future.

COLORADO FORMALLY ENTERS EDUCATION REFORM RACE

Colorado’s application for a Race to the Top education reform grant arrived at the U.S. Department of Education today, giving Colorado a 21st century roadmap that will lead to improved student learning and greater teacher effectiveness for years to come.

Gov. Bill Ritter, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien and Education Commissioner Dwight Jones announced Colorado is seeking $377 million in Race to the Top funds, which are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Colorado has been racing to the top for years,” Gov. Ritter said at a news conference at Denver’s East High School, joined by dozens of supporters of and participants in the Race to the Top application process. “This proposal will accelerate our reforms of the last three years and give Colorado a blueprint for future reforms regardless of whether we secure a Race to the Top grant. The collaborative approach – the involvement of hundreds of education stakeholders from across Colorado – again demonstrates our statewide commitment to improving student learning and helping good teachers become great teachers.”  

More than 600 people helped develop the proposal over the past six months. Lt. Gov. O’Brien led the effort. “In this race, it is important to remember that the interim prize may be federal dollars, but the finish line is closing the achievement gap and providing opportunities for every Colorado student to realize his or her potential,” Lt. Gov. O’Brien said.

Some 134 school districts serving 94 percent of the 802,000 K-12 students in Colorado support the state’s Race to the Top application. To support the application, Gov. Ritter has issued an executive order creating a Colorado Council for Educator Effectiveness. By the end of this year, the council will define teacher and principal effectiveness and design a high-quality system of evaluation.

“We have made a commitment to every student in Colorado to prepare them to be ready by high school graduation to succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce,” Commissioner Jones said. “Meeting this challenge will succeed or fail based upon the efforts of the 53,000 teachers and principals who serve our students every day. To support them in this effort, we need a more balanced, data-driven evaluation system that will ensure educators have the resources they need to help students achieve. I believe this proposal will provide the resources needed to produce long-lasting success in classrooms.”

Senate Bill 10-036, sponsored by Sen. Michael Johnston and Rep. Michael Merrifield and signed into law on Friday, also supports the Race to the Top application. The bill will track the effectiveness of teacher and principal training programs based on the performance of those programs’ recent graduates.

Colorado’s Race to the Top proposal calls for a $377 million budget over four years. The goal is to create exemplary and sustainable learning communities that will drive dramatic improvements in student outcomes by:

·         Improving teacher and principal effectiveness.

·         Improving performance at struggling schools.

·         Developing modern data systems.

·         Improving assessment tools.

The proposal calls for providing incentives for improved performance and opportunities for innovation. Proposed investments include professional development for newly-adopted academic standards, creating an integrated data system that links agencies and provides more immediate information, and develops a Colorado Turnaround Center.

Finalists for the first phase of Race to the Top are expected to be announced in March, and successful applicants named in April. Funds would be available for 2010-11 school year.

Photo Caption: Gov. Ritter listens to Bruce Randolph student Esmeralda Aguilar at today’s news conference.

Additional Supporting Organizations

A+ Denver and Federico Pena                                   Chambers Family Foundation

Colorado STEM Network                                          Colorado Department of Higher Education

Colorado Education Association                                Colorado League of Charter Schools

Project VOYCE                                                          United Launch Alliance

BizCARES                                                                 Co. Early Childhood Comm.

Foundation Consortium                                              U.S. Senators Bennet & Udall

Colorado General Assembly Leadership                    U.S. Rep. Jared Polis

Charter School Growth Fund                                     Charter School Institute

Clayton Early Learning                                               Colorado Association of School Boards

Colorado Association of School Executives              Colorado Children’s Campaign

Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs                   Colorado Department of Human Services

Colorado General Assembly Joint Ed. Committee     Colorado Software & Internet Association

Colorado Space Coalition                                           Data Systems Public Comm.  

Denver Art Museum                                                   Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Center for the Performing Arts                      Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Denver Preschool Project                                            Denver School Science & Technology

Denver Zoo                                                                 Get Smart Schools

Former Gov. Richard Lamm                                       KIPP Colorado

Metropolitan State College of Denver                        Mile High Montessori

Morgridge Family Foundation                                    Colorado Office of Information Technology

PeaceJam                                                                     Public Ed. Business Coalition

U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey                                             U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter

U.S. Rep. John Salazar                                               Rocky Mountain PBS

Stand For Children                                                     State Sen. Nancy Spence

Struggling Schools Public Committee                        Sustainable Business Group

The Denver Foundation                                              U.S. Air Force Academy