Education Quick Hits

Kudos to the Rocky Mountain News editorial board for calling out Senator Sue Windels’ attempt to overregulate online schools.

The Rocky also highlights yesterday’s sensational discovery of the email from Representative Mike “Give ‘Em Hell” Merrifield. In the article, Merrifield was rebuked by a prominent member of his own party:

“It shows there’s absolutely no good faith on the Rep. Merrifield’s part, who is clearly more concerned with defending a crippled and ineffective status-quo public education system then [sic] creating opportunities for all kids,” said Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver.

Finally, Governor Ritter’s plan to raise property taxes received a bit of good news, as the legislature’s legal team said the plan could be enacted without TABOR’s requirement for a vote of the people. Some Democrats might have been hoping that the move had been found unconstitutional so they wouldn’t be forced to vote on a tax increase. A legal hurdle has been passed, but the hurdle of public approval is looking pretty tall.

Erratum: The Rocky story mistakenly said the tax increase is estimated to bring in an extra $84 million in revenue. The actual figure is about $65 million. Their confusion can be forgiven because of the confusing way the plan has been advertised – to raise $65 million more in taxes so the state can spend $84 million on preschool and kindergarten AND save the state budget from fiscal ruin. No wonder the Democrats are leery about increasing our schools’ math standards.