Colorado should prioritize school funding

    Holyoke School District is fortunate to have such a supportive community. Whether it is providing great facilities and technology for our students or showing up to support our students in concerts, plays and ball games, Holyoke citizens rally around our schools.
    We need your help again! This time we need you to make a phone call or send an email to Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg and Rep. Jon Becker. Lawmakers are debating the budget and need to hear from you today.
    Colorado’s economy is one of the strongest in the nation, and this week’s economic forecast indicates that the state general fund is expected to increase by $1.2 billion. This is a significant increase, and the Legislature has the opportunity to prioritize school funding to not only improve the education of Colorado students but to also alleviate some of the burden that local taxpayers have been forced to pick up over the years through the negative factor. If they don’t, Colorado public schools will slip even further behind if our Legislature does not prioritize kids.  
    Colorado currently ranks 42nd in the nation in per pupil funding and 50th in teacher salary competitiveness. There are more than 3,000 shortages that need to be filled in the upcoming school year alone.
    State and federal funds for students with disabilities also aren’t keeping up with districts’ increased special education costs. Only Arizona and Oklahoma spend less on special education services than Colorado, and students with special needs are dealing with the consequences.
 

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