The Fall 2005 Jared Polis Education Report outlines new legislative initiatives in Colorado focused on enhancing education funding, nutrition, and dropout prevention measures while informing the public about important upcoming ballot measures. Key bills include increased minimum funding per student, the establishment of nutrition policies, and the promotion of after-school programs. The report encourages community engagement and support for educational resources and programs aimed at improving children's learning outcomes.

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2005 Legislative Roundup P.O. Box 4659
Boulder, CO 80306
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
SB 200 - School Finance Act revenues from school trust lands Individual Education Plans to take tests
www.jaredpolisfoundation.org PAID
(Sen.Windels/Rep. Pommer) to go to the intergenerational other than the CSAP, whether scores Printed on Recycled Paper Denver, CO
This bill increases the minimum funding permanent school fund. of such assessments should be included PERMIT #5031
per student to $5689; expands the on the school's report card, at what
"at-risk" funding factor to include SB 81 - School Nutrition Policies grade level the test should be adminis-
students whose dominant language (Sen. Sandoval/Rep. Madden) tered, and any effects on funding.
is not English; increases the "at-risk" To support children's health, this bill
funding factor; adds 3310 slots for the encourages school districts to have a SB 32 - Preschool Count Dates
Colorado Preschool Program - 2810 student nutrition and wellness policy (Sen.Williams/Rep. Hefley)
for preschool and 500 for full-day by July 1, 2006, as required by federal Allows school districts to count
Kindergarten; authorizes $200,000 law. Areas may include ensuring access preschool students and three- and
for civic education programs; and, to healthful food choices, information four-year old students with disabilities
authorizes $83,000 for teachers' about nutritional content, and on November 1 instead of October 1.
national credential fees. nutritional guidelines.
SB 88 - Kindergarten
SB 91 - Dropout and Graduation HB 1024 - Dropout Prevention (Sen. Shaffer/Rep. Solano)
Rate Calculation Fund Quality Kindergarten and preschool
(Sen. Spence/Rep.T. Carroll) (Rep. Solano/Sen.Williams) programs are proven ways to save
School districts use different ways This bill establishes a state income tax long-term costs because they improve
to report high school graduation and check-off fund for school dropout children's learning and development
dropout rates that often understate the prevention efforts that focus on before- and help close achievement gaps.
actual numbers. This bill requires one and after-school, arts, and vocational This bill requires districts to provide
statewide method for calculating high education programs. Please consider Kindergarten.
school graduation, dropout, mobility, checking off the dropout prevention
continuing education, and promotion fund box on your next income tax For all bills, additional details are omit-
rates, to be determined by the State statement. ted due to space constraints. If interest- F a l l 2 0 0 5
Board of Education.
SB 196 - School Land Trust
HB 1246 - Alternatives to CSAP
for Students with Disabilities
ed in more information, please visit
www.jaredpolisfoundation.org Jared Polis Education Report
(Sen. Owen/Rep. Buescher) (Rep. Solano/Sen.Williams)
This bill adds to long-term education Requires a study of whether it would
funding by authorizing some lease be appropriate for students with
Jared Polis Foundation Dear Coloradans,
us!
The Jared Polis Foundation works to build strong communities by I am excited to share with you the Fall 2005 issue of the
tactndation
supporting education throughout the state of Colorado.We believe Jared Polis Education Report.This report contains important
corenPolis Fou
education is the source of strength, growth and sustenance for our
information on after-school programs, Referenda C and D,
state. We promote high standards in education through four main
approaches: (1) providing technology resources through the
and legislative updates. I welcome you to share any ideas with
me at jpolis@jaredpolisfoundation.org or by mail at P.O. Box
Community Computer Connection public charity so that schools a d
J x 4659 6
and non-profits can be successful in their work; (2) promoting P.O. Bo 0 4659, Boulder, CO, 80306. Our children and community ben-
O 803
school reform and helping to open alternative schools of choice for Bou lder, C 42-1130 efit when parents, neighbors and educators work together to
: 303-4
those with unique needs through Colorado Youth Charity; (3) Phone 3-998-1694 org meet the needs of all Colorado students.
.
encouraging and inspiring educators in their work through appreci- Fax: 30 isfoundation
ation gifts and grant making opportunities; (4) informing the public aredp ol
www.j
of policies and events impacting education in Colorado through our
education report.
Jared Polis
Vice-Chairman and Member-At-Large
Colorado State Board of Education
F a l l 2 0 0 5
Jared Polis Education Report Not Paid for by Tax Dollars

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Referenda C and D DU Bridge Project Statewide After-School Network
For over 14 years the University of Denver
This November, Colorado voters !Support K-12 school construc- Graduate School of Social Work has served In January 2005, a new statewide alcohol use and juvenile crime2. In and coordinate quality after-school
will have a chance to vote on two tion ($147 million) underprivileged children and their parents network was launched to increase Colorado, only 11% of children parti- programs, and will be a critical
ballot measures on state revenue !Support state universities, col- through its Bridge Project.Working in three state and local support for after- cipate in an after-school program resource to parents, practitioners
and spending: Referendum C leges, and community colleges Denver public housing areas (South Lincoln school programs serving Colorado while 37% of children without a par- and policymakers.
and Referendum D. In the 2005 construction ($50 million) Park, Columbine and Westwood), the Bridge school-age children.With support ent at home are left unsupervised in
session, Colorado legislators sent from local, state and national For more information, please visit
!Repair and replace highways and Project's programs have informed, educated the afternoon3.
www.jaredpolisfoundation.org
these measures to the ballot. Both bridges, and complete other and motivated children and youth to stay in organizations, the Colorado After-
referenda would allow the state School Network seeks to connect To help meet this need, the Network
specific transportation projects school and improve their current and future 1 Huang, D., Gibbons, B., Kim, K.S., Lee, C., & Baker,
to override revenue and spending providers with families and engage has identified three broad-based goals E.L. (2000). A decade of results:The Impact of the
($1.7 billion) educational opportunities.
limits required by TABOR policymakers in an effort to support to guide its efforts: L.A.'s BEST after school enrichment initiative in sub-
!Address shortfalls for pensions The project's after-school program has recruit- !Build public will - Develop a net-
sequent student achievement and performance.
(Taxpayers Bill of Rights) to for police officers and fire the development and sustainability 2 Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. (2000). America's
pay for specific services. ed a team of volunteers (including community of quality after-school programs. work of statewide, regional, and After-School Choice:The Prime Time for Juvenile
fighters ($175 million) members, organizations, faculty and staff) to local after-school programs and Crime, Or Youth Enrichment and Achievement.
Referendum C would allow In addition to letting the state provide needed services to children and their Across the nation, after-school pro- partners to build public will to 3 Afterschool Alliance. (2004). America After 3pm.
the state to spend or save all the spend the revenues it collects, parents. Through tutoring, reading programs, grams are growing in importance in support after-school programs
revenue it collects for five years Referendum C would permanently homework help, mentoring, clubs, and other support of educational outcomes and !Inform policy development -
(2006-2010), to support schools, eliminate the "ratchet effect" by opportunities, the after-school program assists developmental opportunities for all Monitor and analyze national, state,
health care, roads, and police and allowing the state to return its with educational and social growth. A child may students. Research shows that youth and local policies affecting after-
fire fighter pensions. The measure revenue and spending to also choose to participate in other extra who participate in after-school school quality and funding, and
would allow an estimated $3.1 bil- pre-recession levels. curricular activities provided by the program programs are more likely to have advocate for policies that lead to
lion to be spent during those five such as joining Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or the better school attendance, improved long-term funding
years that would otherwise go to a Chess Club. grades, and are less likely to drop
!Improve quality of programs -
refund mechanism. Referendum D out1. In addition, quality after-school Increase the quality and success
would authorize bonds for Last year, the Bridge Project successfully helped programs support the needs of
385 children and more than 50 adults with its of after-school programs through
construction and maintenance working parents by providing safe information sharing, peer network-
projects to: services. For more information, contact Mary and supervised environments for
Krane at mkrane@du.edu, 303-871-7405, or ing, access to research, training,
youth during the most at-risk hours. and evaluation
visit www.du.edu/bridgeproject The time after the school day ends is
the peak period when youth engage in The Network will support efforts by
risky behaviors such as drug and Colorado decision-makers to mobilize
CU Business Leadership Program The Colorado Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
The University of Colorado's Leeds The week-long program allows students The program selects 30 individuals per For many years, the Boys and Girls Together, the nine constituent organ- Boys and Girls Club membership
School of Business works to broaden to: year from 400 high schools throughout Club has provided valuable after- izations of the Colorado Alliance of ranges in age from six to 18, and
diversity within the school and beyond !Win a $1,000 scholarship to the Colorado and looks for well-rounded, school programs for thousands Boys & Girls Clubs serve nearly three-quarters of the members are
through its Business Leadership school diverse students with strong academic of young people.These programs 45,000 young Coloradans each year, age 12 or younger.The Clubs have
Program. This program provides top !Compete in an advertising performance and community service have focused on the following areas including more than 27,000 Club significant participation among
high school students from diverse back- campaign involvement. It partners with major of childhood development and Members. On any given school day, minority youth, and have had over
grounds with an understanding of busi- !Interact with guest speakers from corporations and several local business- education: on average nearly 3,000 young 2,100 volunteers supplement more
ness fundamentals, computer skills and major corporations es for funding, guest speakers, training !Development of Character and people attend the local Clubs.That than 500 staff.
a chance to network with business pro- sessions and other resources. Leadership number is slightly higher during the
!Meet Business School faculty and For more information, please contact
fessionals, all on the Boulder campus. !Education and Career Assistance summer months when school is out
administrators For more information, contact Aswad your local Boys and Girls Club or
!Health and Life Skills of session. Currently, there are 32
!Be a "CU Student for a Day" Allen at aswad.allen@colorado.edu, the Boys and Girls Club sites in visit www.bgca.org
!Socialize with students and peers Office of Diversity Affairs at 303-735- !The Arts
Colorado, operated by eight local
from different high schools 5117 or 303-735-5644, or visit !Sports, Fitness and Recreation corporations and four military bases.
F a l l 2 0 0 5 http://leeds.colorado.edu !Computer Technology
For more information, visit
Jared Polis Education Report w w w. j a r e d p o l i s f o u n d a t i o n . o r g