by

Leonard.Baca

The Situation

For the past several years Colorado has been implementing an aggressive educational reform initiative. In 1993, the Colorado General Assembly enacted legislation aimed at bringing about coordinated improvement in the performance and accountability of the state's K-12 education system. House Bill 93-1313 requires school districts to redesign curriculum, instruction, testing, and teacher development around academic standards that spell out what students should know and be able to do, at various stages in their schooling, in 11 areas: math, science, reading, writing, history, geography, civics, art, music, physical education, and foreign language. The new system has been fully in place statewide since 1999.

The goal is to establish for all students in Colorado a public education system that promotes high academic achievement through quality content standards. The basic premise is that each student can demonstrate achievement at high levels in a public education system that provides high expectations and appropriate instruction, alternatives, time, and resources. The components include:

• A comprehensive system of academic content standards that meet or exceed those in the top 20 percent of other industrialized nations.
• A statewide student assessment program that provides clear, accurate, and detailed information to the people of Colorado on student academic achievement in grades 4, 8, and 10.
• An integrated revision of statutes and policies to remove barriers and to construct a standards-based education system that: encourages district and building organizational structures that promote and enhance high academic achievement; supports options and alternatives for students, teachers, and parents; examines incentives and sanctions for districts, schools, staff, and students based upon results.
• Cost-effective use of emerging technologies that support a standards-based education system which includes, for example, electronic data collection; communications for educators, students, and parents; and instructional use.
• A thorough restructuring of educator preparation and continuing education to meet the needs of the standards-based education system.
• 6. A finance act that supports the standards-based education system by providing equity, incentives for success, and flexibility for local needs.

Current reports from the Colorado Commissioner of Education indicate that this reform initiative is working and that student achievement is on the increase across the state. The most current data available from the Colorado Department of Education indicate that Hispanic students make up 22 percent of the student population. The graduation rate for Hispanics is 65 percent and the drop-out rate is 5.5 percent.

[Note: Three tables will be inserted here. Table I: State Fall 2000 pupil membership by Ethnic group; Table 2: Graduation rates 2000; and Table 3: Drop out Rates.]

The Social/Economic/Political Dynamics

State funding for public schools in Colorado has not kept pace with inflation for 10 of the past 13 years. During the general election of 2000, Colorado voters passed Amendment 23, which mandates that the state will increase funding to public schools. According to this amendment, from 2001 to 2011 public school funding will increase by the rate of inflation plus one percent to make up for the 10 years when spending was below the rate of inflation. After this period school funding will increase by the rate of inflation. This amendment makes up for the under-funding provided by the state legislature during the past 13 years. These extra funds will help reduce class size across the state and support educational improvements as deemed necessary by local districts. While this amendment was not targeted at Latino students or English language learners, it will be very helpful in providing more funding for them. There is, however, a need for more funds for Latinos given the increase in their student population numbers, decreasing graduation numbers, and increasing drop-out rates.

During the 2001 legislative session the Colorado School Finance Act amended the definition of at-risk students to include students who are not proficient in English. This will significantly increase state funding for limited English proficient students in Colorado.While the 2001 legislative session was generally supportive of Latino and bilingual students, the current sagging economy may disrupt or undo this support. A revenue shortfall is expected at the state level, which in turn may cause budget reductions for schools and other state agencies. One example of this is in the area of new construction. Recently, the legislature has put a hold on all new construction at the University of Colorado. This action puts a stop to $150 million dollars of approved construction. This is a direct result of the poor economy.

The major policy implication that is suggested by the outcomes of this past legislative session is that issues affecting the education of Latino students generally fare satisfactory if all of education is treated well. But because of past under-funding, there is a need for ethnic specific legislation that would support Latino students directly.

Recommendations

Long Term:

• Continue aggressive reforms of K-12 education to ensure that Latino Students will be better prepared to go on to post-secondary education.
• Support reform of teacher education and professional development so that future teachers will have the best possible preparation and training and, specifically, more knowledge and skill to work effectively with Latino students.
• Support a significant increase in teacher salaries so that the best-qualified candidates will enter the field. Also, provide additional pay to teachers who work in low socio-economic schools.
• Continue to support class size reduction so that students will receive more one-on-one attention from their teachers.

For the Short Term:

• Put in place effective (proven) high school drop-out prevention programs for Latino students.
• Provide more counselors for Latino students to ensure they are properly advised early and directed toward college preparatory courses.
• Provide more financial aid for disadvantaged students to go on to post-secondary education and eliminate pay back if they provide serve to Latino communities.
• Review existing charter schools and ensure that Latino students have meaningful and equal access to them.
• Monitor the overrepresentation of Latino students in special education and provide better opportunities for them to succeed in the regular classroom.