Education

Ensuring that more students complete post-secondary education credentials is a key policy goal that not only helps students but also strengthens our state's workforce and economic competitiveness. House Bill 12-1155, "Improvements in College Completion," signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper today, contains several key provisions that will help Colorado make progress toward these important outcomes.

In a recent Washington Post column (reprinted in shortened form in The Denver Post), Robert J. Samuelson questions whether the "college-for-all crusade has outlived its usefulness."

While the column includes some interesting food for thought, it fundamentally misses the mark on two crucial issues that we here at the Bell Policy Center think are worth highlighting:

Each year, the Census Bureau asks 3 million American households to answer questions on age, race, housing, health and other demographic markers to produce timely information about communities, states and the country at large.

This annual socioeconomic snapshot is known as the American Community Survey, or ACS. It is an improvement on the old once-a-decade data collected from long-form Census questionnaires, and it has long had bipartisan support.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signs the Colorado READ Act,
under the watchful eyes of second-graders from
Kenton Elementary School in Aurora.

Surrounded by second-graders and childhood literacy supporters, Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed House Bill 12-1238, the "Colorado READ Act," into law.

The inglorious end to the 2012 legislative session and the special session required to tie up loose ends have garnered much attention. While that is warranted, we don't want the conclusion to overshadow what was otherwise a productive 120 days at the Capitol.

Given the realities of an election year and the continued effects of the Great Recession, most observers expected an acrimonious and highly partisan session from day one. But for the most part, lawmakers worked together quite well and accomplished a great deal.

The inglorious end to the 2012 legislative session and the special session required to tie up loose ends have garnered much attention. While that is warranted, we don't want it to overshadow what was otherwise a productive 120 days at the Capitol.

Given the realities of an election year and the continued effects of the Great Recession, most observers expected an acrimonious and highly partisan session from day one. But for the most part, lawmakers worked together quite well and accomplished a great deal.

Senate Bill 12-015

Oral Testimony to the House Education Committee
Frank Waterous, Senior Policy Analyst
April 23, 2012

My name is Frank Waterous, and I am a senior policy analyst with the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and policy organization founded on progressive values and dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.

Article in link includes two charts provided by the Bell Policy Center.

By Matt Sidor
The Scribe
(University of Colorado at Colorado Springs)

On April 27, the University of Colorado Board of Regents voted in favor of tuition increases across all CU campuses for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Jay Dedrick
CU Connections
(News and information for faculty and staff)

State funding woes remained at the center of discussion among higher education constituents during the current session of the Colorado General Assembly – and during a gathering of speakers and panelists last week steps away from the Capitol.

HB12-1069

Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee

George Awuor, Policy Analyst

May 3, 2012

Thank you for the opportunity to address this committee. My name is George Awuor and I am a policy analyst with the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and policy organization founded on progressive values and dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.