Colorado legislators plan to overhaul education funding system (Denver, Aurora: home, school districts)

[emm74]

Colorado lawmakers who write the state budget say they have a plan to change how $8.6 billion is distributed for kindergarten through 12th grade, overhauling a system that critics say disproportionately sends state money to wealthy school districts while schools in poorer areas struggle.

If signed into law, voters in wealthy areas with low property tax rates would have to increase their property taxes to keep school funding at current levels. The state money saved would then get redistributed statewide. Poorer districts already paying relatively high property taxes would be among the top beneficiaries.

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/0...ding-overhaul/

Lots of food for thought in this article. I'm guessing I am far from the only one who had no idea that the discrepancies were THIS extreme

[BarryK123]

Sounds like Obamacare for education.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by emm74

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/0...ding-overhaul/

Lots of food for thought in this article. I'm guessing I am far from the only one who had no idea that the discrepancies were THIS extreme

Wow. Interesting to see that CC and Douglas County are so heavily subsidized compared to some of the poorer districts- that **** needs to change pronto.

Then there's the Boulder and Denver districts actually pulling their weight locally and not being total leaches on the state....

[Katarina Witt]

I don't understand how some districts, e.g. Dougco, Jeffco, Five Star, Westminster, Mapleton, Brighton, Aurora PS, have high tax rates and still have high rates of state funding.

[emm74]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

I don't understand how some districts, e.g. Dougco, Jeffco, Five Star, Westminster, Mapleton, Brighton, Aurora PS, have high tax rates and still have high rates of state funding.

I agree, I found that confusing as well. I plan to re-read the article when I'm home tonight to see if I can get a better understanding, maybe seek out some other sources of info

[katharsis]

Originally Posted by emm74

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/0...ding-overhaul/

Lots of food for thought in this article. I'm guessing I am far from the only one who had no idea that the discrepancies were THIS extreme

I would actually be in favor of that, as I think that CHILDREN have the right to equal food and equal education as any other child. However, once children become adults, I think that discrepancies in standards of living between the poor and wealthy are fine, as I believe that those who have been good, responsible and hardworking citizens are entitled to more of the "good stuff" than those who have refused to work and/or committed felonies.

I have "always" maintained that there would be less hopelessness among the poor and that society in general would benefit if an A- student with low-income parents was able to go to college (funded by the state), while a student with wealthy parents but only a C average was denied a college education. I think it is just as unfair for someone to get a free college education just because they were poor (and/or black or Hispanic) as it is for someone to be able to go to Yale just because his parents were wealthy and alumni. I would love to see a society where advancement is based solely on aptitude and merit.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by katharsis

I would actually be in favor of that, as I think that CHILDREN have the right to equal food and equal education as any other child. However, once children become adults, I think that discrepancies in standards of living between the poor and wealthy are fine, as I believe that those who have been good, responsible and hardworking citizens are entitled to more of the "good stuff" than those who have refused to work and/or committed felonies.

I have "always" maintained that there would be less hopelessness among the poor and that society in general would benefit if an A- student with low-income parents was able to go to college (funded by the state), while a student with wealthy parents but only a C average was denied a college education. I think it is just as unfair for someone to get a free college education just because they were poor (and/or black or Hispanic) as it is for someone to be able to go to Yale just because his parents were wealthy and alumni. I would love to see a society where advancement is based solely on aptitude and merit.

Whaaaa??? I too would like to see every good student go to college, with subsidies as needed. We have some of that now, probably not enough.

But I don't go along with denying college to someone because they meet the criteria of "C" average and wealthy parents. Are you saying someone with a "C" average and poor parents should get a state-funded education? Or something else?

[katharsis]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

Whaaaa??? I too would like to see every good student go to college, with subsidies as needed. We have some of that now, probably not enough.

But I don't go along with denying college to someone because they meet the criteria of "C" average and wealthy parents. Are you saying someone with a "C" average and poor parents should get a state-funded education? Or something else?

No. In short, I am saying EQUAL chance of a college education no matter what one's socioeconomic status or ancestry is. But, no, I do NOT think that people with a C average in high school should be allowed to go to a four-year college or university, period -- unless they scored in the top 20% on the SAT's (or whatever).

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by katharsis

No. In short, I am saying EQUAL chance of a college education no matter what one's socioeconomic status or ancestry is. But, no, I do NOT think that people with a C average in high school should be allowed to go to a four-year college or university, period -- unless they scored in the top 20% on the SAT's (or whatever).

The devil is in the details. How many poor students do you think are attending state-run colleges/universities?

[Indigo Cardinal]

I used up my quota of free Denver Post articles. Does somebody have a link to the report, by chance?