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This special issue of The Opportunity News is the Bell???s annual summary of wins and losses in the legislative session for bills related to opportunity.

Articles: Treating Mom???s mental health helps the kids, Early childhood education good for economic development, Colorado Preschool Program ranks in the middle of the pack, Well-being improves for kids , Study shows binge drinking rising among girls, Literacy gaps persist through college, Low- and middle-income families use credit cards as a safety net, CBPP: Making federal tax cuts permanent will benefit the rich, What???s behind the trend in pension freezes?, Incentives promote savings . . .

Colorado should increase its Child Care Tax Credit, and it should make the credit available in all years, not just when there is a TABOR surplus. It also should extend the credit to families with disabled dependents of any age. Families should be able to claim the full credit amount at the state level even if they don???t have a federal tax liability.

To improve child care quality, the state should work with counties to pay market rates to child care providers and offer incentives to those who participate in quality initiatives. The legislature should pass a bill similar to HB06-1397 to expand local early childhood councils to streamline costs while increasing availability, accessibility and quality of these services.

A Boulder Daily Camera commentary exposing the need for public assistance for child care, which would help low-income parents support their families.

Colorado should increase its Child Care Tax Credit, and it should make the credit available in all years, not just when there is a TABOR surplus. It also should extend the credit to families with disabled dependents of any age. To improve child care quality, the state should work with counties to pay market rates to child care providers and offer incentives to those who participate in quality initiatives.

Articles: CO Receives Low Marks for Child Welfare, US Schools Still Segregated, Bill to Create CO High School Commission goes to Gov., Two New Reports on Self-Sufficiency in CO

Articles: CO Ranks 28th in Child Well-Being, 10% of CO Youth ???Disconnected???, High School: The Weak Link, Giving Adults the Skills to Succeed at Work