rural

Issue Brief explaining effects of the recent economic recession and Colorado???s TABOR Amendment on funding for programs important to rural Colorado.

We should use Referendum C money to help make up for past funding cuts to community colleges, junior colleges and state colleges throughout Colorado, giving priority to institutions serving and demonstrating a commitment to low-income, underserved and rural students.

We need to finish the job we started in 2000 and ensure that all counties have broadband access to the Internet. Whether it requires state funds to leverage private investments or state grants to local government, we need to see that affordable broadband access is available for the "last mile" in all counties.

We need to encourage distance learning by equipping every classroom with quality educational technology. Our efforts should focus on low-income and rural schools and should include lowering the number of students per Internet-connected computer. This should involve partnerships with private Internet service providers and include a multi-year grant program to help schools upgrade capacity and training.

We need to encourage distance learning by providing every classroom with quality education technology. Efforts should focus on schools in rural communities and serving low-income families.

We need to finish the job we started in 2000 and ensure that all counties have broadband access to the Internet. Whether it requires state funds to leverage private investments or state grants to local government, we need to see that affordable broadband access is available for the ???last mile??? in all counties.