Stories like this one reported in today's Rocky Mountain News have to frustrate the teachers union to no end. A coalition of urban Democrats join Republicans in the state legislature to stand up for the power of parental choice. The state's education establishment - personified by the 600-pound gorilla Colorado Education Association - isn't comfortable with empowering parents, for obvious reasons. And they aren't going to go down without a fight. The growing inevitable reality, however, is that choice and competition will break down the walls of the schoolhouse monopoly. Look at Utah, Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia where voucher proposals are moving through the state legislatures. And look at Colorado, where an unprecedented … [Read more...]

The Colorado General Assembly - specifically the Senate Education Committee - will listen tomorrow to a proposal by Senator Nancy Spence (R - Centennial) to set up a state grant program so school districts can offer performance pay incentives to teachers. (Full disclosure: I am quoted in the linked article and will be testifying at tomorrow's hearing "for information only.") … [Read more...]

Yes, I'm back from my long hiatus - family visits and a general sense of tedium with passing affairs are among my excuses - for the few of you who have visited often enough to notice. But I'm back blogging now, because today was a noteworthy day in Colorado's path toward meaningful education reform. The desperate attempt of most legislative Democrats (led by Senator Sue Windels) to undermine the charter school movement took a blow when four members of their own party voted to turn the attack upside down. At the apex of their power in Colorado, enough Democrats have gained sense on K-12 education to deeply dampen the dreams of educrats who are trying to regain control of areas of the "system" lost to consumer empowerment and common … [Read more...]

A new professional-looking, self-styled Colorado Republican blog has emerged today to encourage its cohorts to engage in more clear, direct, factual, and systematic attacks on the state's ruling Democratic majority: Colorado Index. The site's proprietor also seems keen on keeping a tight and selective focus on bloggers who consistently focus on state issues. So what does (s)he say about Mount Virtus? "Works for one of my favorite organizations. Good Guy. Needs to blog more to be included." Okay, okay. I admit I've slacked off lately. Consider the fire lit. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased to see the new site, even if it's sure to reinforce the opinions on the Left that we are connected cogs in Colorado's Vast Right Wing … [Read more...]

Three Republican state legislators made a statement by walking out of yesterday's House Education Committee meeting yesterday, and the least this blog can do is shine the light on it. Here's the thumbnail of the ongoing story. Senate Bill 61, devised by Senator Sue Windels (D - Arvada), was written to empower the education bureaucracy at the expense of parents who want to exercise the option to start a charter school. That's right: empower educrats, distrust parents. Yes, ignore the fact that there are thousands of kids in this state on waiting lists to get into charter schools. Ignore consumer demand. The all-wise educrats need to keep a tighter thumb on charters, according to the logic of Windels' bill. Well, after weeks of … [Read more...]

In yesterday's Pueblo Chieftain, my opinion piece arguing the case against Governor Bill Ritter's property tax hike to subsidize state preschool and kindergarten programs ran as "counterpoint" to the argument for the Governor's proposal by State Treasurer Cary Kennedy. Kennedy skillfully avoided discussion of the back-door tax hike while plugging the benefits of the plan for Pueblo. How? Under the Governor's revised plan, 33 school districts will receive a tax cut while most districts will receive a tax increase. Pueblo happens to fall in the latter category. But that doesn't take into account the plight of taxpayers in Grand Junction, Englewood, Pagosa Springs, Wray, or nearby Alamosa, among others. But two points are worth repeating … [Read more...]

My report for the Independence Institute on Governor Ritter's tax-raising proposal to fund new education programs is officially released today. Here is the summary: On March 12, 2007, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter proposed the “Colorado Children’s Amendment,” a plan to spend $84 million to expand preschool and kindergarten programs. To free state money to fund the programs, he proposed a mill levy rate “freeze” that would shift some of the school funding burden to local sources. On April 10, the governor revised the plan—offering tax relief to property owners in 33 school districts while creating higher property tax bills in 104 districts. The annual revenue estimate for the plan’s new version is $55 million. State … [Read more...]

For a highly knowledgeable insights, in-depth reporting, and the latest scoop on charter schools in Colorado, check out Denise's new blog: Colorado Charter Schools. Anyone interested in educational freedom and parental options in our state should bookmark this site. … [Read more...]