February 25, 2010 01:02 AM UTC

Reality Check for Education Cuts? There's a Map for That!

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• by: Great Education Colorado

( – promoted by Middle of the Road)

School Boards, administrators, teachers, and most importantly, students are grappling with how to deal with at least 6.12% cuts across the state for next year. Higher education institutions, students, and parents face possible tuition increases, as state funding for higher education faces down the Cliff.

We’re keeping close track of the impact of cuts across the state with local narratives (video and written), news articles, per pupil cut amounts, and specific cuts being considered. In fact, we’re giving people a chance to take action and add their stories to the Map telling state leaders what these cuts mean for students, that they’ve got to do everything possible to minimize cuts and to support a long-term solution to the P-20 education crisis.

What’s the story?The Great Futures Colorado Campaign made a map for that. Check it out:

Four Day School Week? There’s a Map (and Petition) for That!

Norwood School District

The school board is considering moving to a four-day school week next year, a change that could make up for about $50,000, or 25 percent, of the current necessary cuts. The four-day week would allow the district to reduce some personnel hours and transportation use, as well as save in food service and energy usage.

Increasing Class Sizes? There’s a Map (and petition) for That too!

Littleton

“There are already over 25-30 students in each classroom as a result of last years surrounding school closings. We took on those extra students. Now there are more proposed cuts which will reduce teacher headcount,para-professional headcount and specials headcount(PE, music and art)…our children are falling behind terribly.”

(Source: M.L., Littleton, Great Futures Map / Petition)

Fewer Critical Support Services? There’s Even a Map for That!

Salida

“After waves of cuts over the past year, the school district is now considering charging for bus service in this large and mostly rural county. We’ve also been told that the music program will be cut at my daughter’s elementary school.”

(Source: E.A.W., Salida, Great Futures Map/Petition)

Mancos

“As school nurse I deal primarily with the low income and the underinsured and uninsured…These kids usually turn to and rely on the school setting to meet their many needs: food, clothing, a community that cares for them. Our budgets are already stretched so thin that we scramble to assist these kids in crisis…any more cuts to our school system will be depriving these kids of basic services such as hot food for their hungry tummies and a chance for the extra help they need to succeed in school, in life and an opportunity to be productive adults….Children are our future- our hope for a better world – cut our funding and you most definitely will drastically reduce our hope for a better tomorrow.”

(Source: K.B., Mancos, Great Futures Map / Petition)