蜜桃影视

蜜桃影视 is proud to partner with Axios and the Walton Family Foundation to present a special conversation about schools and state-level education policy with a trio of governors from across the political spectrum. 鈥淩aising the Bar: A Conversation on Education in America鈥� () will bring together Governors John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Roy Cooper (D鈥揘orth Carolina) and聽Jeff Colyer (R-Kansas) to speak with Axios executive editor Mike Allen in Washington, D.C., on February 23. This is one of three articles we鈥檝e produced to offer insights into the key education issues affecting their states:

As the 2018 midterm election approaches, time is running out for Gov. John Hickenlooper. Setting aside rumors of the Colorado Democrat鈥檚 2020 presidential ambitions, Hickenlooper is term limited and, as such, has less than a year to accomplish some big goals.

That gives Hickenlooper a short window to work with lawmakers to solve some of the state鈥檚 most pressing educational issues. From education funding to school accountability, legislators in Denver have proposed more than a dozen bills this year that could affect Colorado schools, of eighth-grade students are proficient in math and reading.

The state of Colorado, and the city of Denver in particular, has long been a hot spot for contentious education reform debates, and 2018 promises to be no different. Sen. Michael Bennet, a former superintendent in Denver, and Rep. Jared Polis, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former state board of education member, could help drive the issue to the forefront.

As we approach the 2018 election season, 蜜桃影视 is teaming up with Axios to offer a panel discussion featuring three leading governors 鈥� including Hickenlooper 鈥� to discuss the most pressing education issues across the country. After federal lawmakers approved the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015, state governors and education departments were empowered to develop their own strategies to improve local schools.

Ahead of the event, which takes place on February 23 in Washington, D.C., we鈥檙e taking stock of some of the key education conversations in Colorado and highlighting legislative proposals that aim to spur change.

1 School funding

During Hickenlooper鈥檚 annual State of the State in January, the governor praised recent increases to school spending, but he wasn鈥檛 sparing in his words about the state鈥檚 education funding shortfall. Despite school funding increases in recent years, 鈥淲e remain roughly three-quarters of a billion dollars behind the funding Colorado voters placed in our Constitution nearly two decades ago,鈥� Hickenlooper said. Hickenlooper was referring to 鈥� approved by ballot measure in 2000 鈥� that required lawmakers to bolster education spending by population and inflation. But that target hasn鈥檛 been hit since the Great Recession.

The total education-funding shortfall rings to the tune of $828 million. Hickenlooper has placed education finance among his top priorities for 2018.

And if a group of superintendents have their way, the state鈥檚 education funding formula could be completely recalibrated this year.

Among bills that look to reshape education finance this year is one that aims to adjust the state鈥檚 school funding formula more than two decades after the current system was put into place. have rallied around the bill, which would direct more money to school districts that serve specific high-need student populations, such as English language learners.

鈥淭he current formula is all about school districts, while our plan is centered more on kids and what they need to succeed,鈥� Mapleton Public Schools Superintendent Charlotte Ciancio told the Denver Post. 鈥淚t provides a road map for providing a more fair and adequate level of funding for students.鈥�

That proposal, however, : In order for it to work, Colorado residents would have to accept a $1.7 billion tax hike, a reality state voters have been reluctant to embrace in years past.

As lawmakers work to tackle school funding, Colorado residents are also taking on the issue through ballot initiatives. have already been filed with the Secretary of State Title Board, with hopes to send billions of additional dollars into public schools.

鈥淲e need to be honest with ourselves and the voters: This [funding shortfall] won鈥檛 go down much without their help,鈥� Hickenlooper said in the January address. 鈥淎nd if we are being really blunt, it hurts rural Colorado more than the Front Range,鈥� he added, referring to the urban stretch along the southern Rocky Mountains.

2 Assessing student performance

For years, Denver Public Schools has been hailed as initiatives through . But the district came under fire late last year, when a coalition of civil rights groups of inflating its elementary school ratings, in particular by overstating literacy gains. In February, the district announced a plan to calculate ratings differently next year.

As that issue continues to make waves locally, state lawmakers are considering several bills this legislative session that concern the state鈥檚 school accountability system. In the wake of the 鈥渙pt out鈥� movement that has hit school districts in Colorado and beyond, one bill would target schools that reward students for taking state standardized tests. Colorado law already prohibits districts from punishing students who opt out of state assessments. The would do the opposite, prohibiting states from rewarding students who agree to take state tests, while excluding those who opt out.

Meanwhile, would allow school districts to pilot accountability systems that are 鈥渟tudent-centered,鈥� through a new performance indicator for bolstering arts education, and aims to eliminate the state鈥檚 social studies assessment outright.

While proponents of the social studies bill argue that students are opting out of the exam and do not take it seriously, Rep. Jim Wilson 鈥渟parks鈥� as lawmakers debate the issue. Opponents, including Wilson, maintain that the assessment is necessary because students should understand the U.S. government and economy.

3 Helping rural schools

In addition to education funding, Hickenlooper鈥檚 State of the State speech focused particularly on improving the quality of life for Colorado鈥檚 most remote residents, emphasizing the opioid epidemic, broadband access, and a teacher shortage riling rural schools.

For years, Colorado鈥檚 rural schools have struggled to fill key teaching positions, and the outlook is expected to worsen as enrollment in teacher-training programs dwindles and an increasing share of teachers become eligible for retirement.

In January, the state education department to seven state colleges to bolster programs designed to fight teacher shortages in rural communities.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers have another idea to attract teachers to remote districts, where than in the state鈥檚 urban centers. One for students pursuing a teaching career. The fellowship would encourage 100 people per year to student-teach at a rural Colorado school district.

The legislation also takes aim at high teacher turnover rates in Colorado鈥檚 most remote schools. Educators who accept the fellowship would be asked to pay back the money if they鈥檙e offered a full-time teaching gig after the program ends but decide to turn down the job.

In his annual budget proposal, Hickenlooper 鈥� which may be the most Colorado thing ever: leveraging $10 million in marijuana tax revenue to help attract and retain teachers in rural schools.

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