Colorado Education in the Limelight: The Latest on School Choice and District Performance
Source: https://tinyurl.com/2u8xa47u
Major actions are still evolving in Colorado education this November. Among them, one very hot issue is Amendment 80, which would, for the first time, make school choice a constitutional right in the state. The measure would add additional protection for charters, homeschooling, and private school options. While Colorado law now allows school choice, the initiative would make that right constitutionally guaranteed protection against possible future changes in the law by future legislatures. Advocates, like Michael Fields of Advance Colorado Action, argue this amendment is necessary to further put parents in charge and guarantee that they can continue to decide where their child best fits in education. Fields say constitutionally enacting the school choice bill will protect children and future generations in a time where more – not less – politicians seek to place additional regulations on charter schools. Yet, this amendment has concerned many advocates for public education who think it will divert state resources to pay for private education and slice funding to public schools. Ballotpedia, Colorado Sun
Those opposed to it, including the Colorado Education Association (CEA), say Amendment 80 would give the go-ahead indirectly to create a school voucher system that uses public money to pay tuition in private schools. Kevin Vick, the president of CEA, said it would siphon resources out of already struggling rural public schools, which heavily rely on state funding. Experts say it could exacerbate inequality, too, with Amendment 80 potentially benefiting families in areas of wealthier communities and undermining support for underfunded districts.
Recent performance reports from the Colorado Department of Education also reflect the same improvement in the performance of school and district outcomes. In fact, the preliminary data for 2024-25 revealed that 82% of school districts were rated with a performance rating of “Improvement” or higher compared to last year’s percentage of 71%. This data epitomizes the continuous investment being plowed towards educational advancement even in light of pandemic-related setbacks. The full report is expected to be complete later this year; see more on the Colorado Department of Education’s accountability framework page.
To learn more about Amendment 80, check out Colorado Sun and Ballotpedia for a deeper dive.