School Choice in the States -- Colorado

SCHOOL CHOICE IN THE STATES

FOCUS ON:
COLORADO

* CHALLENGING CHOICE: "A coalition ... filed a lawsuit challenging a new Colorado law that allows low-income students attending 'unsatisfactory' public schools to attend private or parochial schools at taxpayer expense. The suit filed in Denver County District Court alleges that the law, enacted earlier this spring, violates a state constitutional ban on public financing of religion.... The Colorado school voucher program is the first in the nation enacted since a Supreme Court decision last June upheld the constitutionality of using public funds to send students to religious schools. Since that ruling, both opponents and supporters of voucher programs have focused on provisions in 47 state constitutions across the country that some analysts believe prohibit public money from flowing to religious institutions." Link to the full Washington Post article, Rights Coalition Files Suit Over Colorado Vouchers Law by Michael A. Fletcher, May 21, 2003.

* COLORADO'S CHOICE: Great news for children most affected by bad schools comes late this week out of the Centennial State, which will soon become only the second state to offer state-wide, publicly-funded scholarships to students in low-performing schools to attend the school of their choice, including private and parochial. After some basic technical issues are voted on, the bill will be going to Governor Bill Owens, an advocate for choice, who is expected to sign the bill into law. The new law will allow poor students in 11 school districts to take up to 85 percent of their per-pupil allotment to a participating school of their choosing. The bill was first introduced by Rep. Nancy Spence and has received support from leading child advocates and civic leaders, such as the state's Democratic Attorney General, organizations such as the Northern Colorado Latino Chamber of Commerce and several newspapers. CER Newswire March 28, 2003.

* UPDATE: On April 16, 2003, Governor Bill Owens signed into law the school choice bill that will allow poor students in 11 school districts to take up to 85 percent of their per-pupil allotment to attend a participating school of their choosing.

MORE CHOICES FOR COLORADO PARENTS: "Some critics fear that giving parents this new option of private school choice will damage public education, but in fact studies have found the exact opposite is true. Giving parents greater choices and kids more chances does not hurt public education; it strengthens it and brings us closer to equal opportunity, especially for disadvantaged youth whose parents cannot afford the choices that more affluent families may enjoy. Nothing is more powerful to school reform than an informed parent with options." Commentary by U.S. Department of Education Deputy Under Secretary Nina S. Rees, Denver Post, April 20, 2003. Link to full article.

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:

Mr. Joseph C'de Baca
Hispanic Education, Inc.
8677 Aspen Circle
Parker, CO 80134
Phone: 303-766-1942
Fax: 303-766-1942

Pierre Jimenez
Greater Educational Opportunities (GEO) Foundation
1410 Grant St., Suite B-304
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 720-904-3050
Fax: 720-904-6657
Website: www.geofoundation.org

GEO seeks to provide greater access to quality education for all kids.

Search the Reform Update and Monthly Letter Libraries to get the latest developments on school choice state-by-state.

See School Choice Facts for an overview of how school choice programs are not only improving the education opportunity for participating children, but also having a dramatic impact on how non-choice public schools operate.

See Key Legislative Provisions for a point-by-point breakdown and comparison of the Florida, Cleveland and Milwaukee school choice programs.

See School Choice Research for the latest findings on the impact of school choice for students, schools and communities.

See Private Scholarship Programs for state-by-state listings of and links to privately funded school choice programs.

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