Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

"We have a responsibility to ensure that every child has the same opportunity to succeed, no matter where they're from. Everyone benefits when more people have the tools they need to get good-paying jobs to support themselves and their families. My grandma, mom, aunt, mother-in-law, and wife are all teachers. For me public education isn't just an issue, it's a family value. And it's pretty much all we talk about at Thanksgiving!"

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Sponsored the historic bill to provide full day kindergarten for every Colorado kid, and got it through the Senate unanimously!

Successfully fought for $1.5 billion in new funding for our public schools over the last four years.

Sponsored the largest expansion of concurrent enrollment eligibility in Colorado history so that more high schoolers can take college classes before they graduate.

Sponsored legislation to create a $30 million school safety disbursement program covering facilities upgrades and mental health training for teachers, administrators, and staff.

Sponsored legislation to create a "Return on Investment Report" showing cost, average debt load, and earnings 1, 5, and 10 years out for every degree at every public Colorado college and university. (You can view the results online here.)

Cosponsored legislation to expand teacher training and recruitment programs, because half of all new teachers leave the profession within the first few years.

UP NEXT
Expand vocation and career training programs in high schools to help get more kids career-ready.

Improve teacher pay so we can better compete with other states to attract and retain the best teachers.

Reduce the cost of public higher education so graduates don't start their careers under mountains of debt.

Create a continuing education fund for workers to use throughout their entire lives.

Source