Children's Voices

Colorado Ranked 36 of 39 States on Pre-K Resources Per Child Enrolled By State

jbezoza — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:35:25 +0000

The 2011 preschool yearbook, issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), ranked Colorado 36th out of 39 states that offer state-funded preschool programs based on the amount of resources the state spends per child enrolled. Colorado spends $2,044 per child compared to the national average of $4151 per child. Colorado’s preschool program met 6 of NIEER’s 10 quality standards.

Read The State of Preschool 2011

Statewide Education Action Conference

jbezoza — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:47:25 +0000

Making 2013 the Year of the Student

Friday, April 27
8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott
1475 S. Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80222

Join Children’s Voices and the Great Futures Coalition at our Statewide Education Action Conference!

We’ll be kicking-off the ’2013: Year of the Student’ Project, helping you sharpen your knowledge of PreK-higher education funding, and bringing you up to speed on the landmark Lobato lawsuit. Join us as we launch the Year of the Student Call to Action Petition and Tools to help you empower state leaders to create a P-20 education funding system that matches reforms and accountability measures with the resources necessary to make them — and all students — successful.

Breakout Sessions will include strategies for connecting with others who share your interest in public education, honing an “elevator speech,” and the nuts and bolts of using social media to engage the public and influence state leaders toward action.

Group discounts and travel and need-based stipends are available. Space is limited.

Learn more and Register: www.greatfuturescolorado.org/conference.

Defendants File Notice of Appeal in Colorado Supreme Court

jbezoza — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:59:38 +0000

On January 23, 2012, Defendants filed a notice with the Colorado Supreme Court that they will be appealing five orders of the district court in Lobato, including the ruling that Colorado’s school finance system violates the state constitution. In their notice, Defendants raise twelve potential issues for appeal, including several issues that have been previously argued and lost in the Supreme Court. All of the State’s bases for appeal are technical, legal arguments that do not speak to whether students are getting a constitutionally adequate education.

Read Defendants’ Notice of Appeal

Key Findings in Lobato Trial Court Decision

jbezoza — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:37:33 +0000

Key findings in Judge Sheila Rappaport’s 183-page trial court decision are summarized here.

Judge Finds Colorado School Finance System Unconstitutional

jbezoza — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:04:28 +0000

Judge Sheila Rappaport, a Denver district court judge, issued a 183-page decision finding that Colorado’s system for funding public schools is irrational, arbitrary, and severely underfunded and therefore violates the Colorado Constitution.

Read Trial Court Decision

Video Showcasing Inequities in Colorado Schools

jbezoza — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:06:09 +0000

Stefan Welsh, a graduate of Center schools, traveled around the State filming the condition of public schools. His goal was to show that no matter where a child is located, the same education opportunities should be offered everywhere. Excerpts of the video were shown at the Lobato v. State trial in August 2011.

Click here to view video.

Parties File Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

jbezoza — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:04:23 +0000

All parties filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law at the end of October 2011. These lengthy documents summarize the evidence at trial and represent what the parties believe the Court should find based on the evidence. The case is now ripe for a decision by Judge Sheila Rappaport.

Read Plaintiffs’ Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Read Plaintiff-Intervenors’ Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Read Defendants’ Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

Lobato Trial Court Grants Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike Three Affirmative Defenses

jbezoza — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:49:49 +0000

Plaintiffs filed a motion asking the Court to strike three of defendants’ affirmative defenses. The Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion, thereby precluding Defendants from arguing that Plaintiffs have failed to join all school districts and parents with an interest in the case.

Read Court Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike

Lobato Trial Court Grants Plaintiffs’ Motion to Exclude Evidence of Non-Education Appropriations and Tabor Provisions

jbezoza — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:56:47 +0000

The Lobato trial court granted Plaintiffs’ Motion in limine to Exclude Evidence of Non-Education Appropriations and Tabor Provisions. Plaintiffs argued that such evidence would be irrelevant, confuse the issues and waste time. The court found that even though fiscal pressure may explain why students’ rights have been violated, it has no bearing on the issue as to whether students’ rights have been violated. The order states evidence of non-education appropriations and the effects of TABOR are distinct from students or the actual quality of the education they receive. The court refused to allow the Defendant State of Colorado, as a legal matter, to excuse the legislature’s failure to comply with the mandates of the Education Clause by pointing to seemingly difficult decisions to spend money on other programs or tax credits.

Read Court Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion in Limine

Lobato Trial Court Denies 12 of 13 of Defendants’ Requests for Determinations of Law

jbezoza — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:40:21 +0000

Defendants asked the Court to determine 13 questions of law prior to the trial in the Lobato case. The Court denied 12 of the 13 requests, finding for Defendants on the only request not denied by Plaintiff and Plaintiff-Intervenors.

Read Court Order on Defendants’ 56(h) Motion for Determination of Questions of Law