Gov. John Hickenlooper (D)
Date of Speech: Jan. 9
Gov. Hickenlooper proposed increased funding for K-12 and higher education and greater financial accountability for public schools during his address to state legislators.
Calling children Colorado’s “bridges to tomorrow,” Mr. Hickenlooper proposed a $223 per student increase in aid to public school districts. The state currently provides an average of $6,652 per student, the Colorado education department said. Mr. Hickenlooper also called for a $100 million boost to higher education funding and a 6 percent cap on annual tuition increases at the state’s colleges and universities.
He also proposed changing the way the state calculates school funding, basing aid on average daily enrollment, rather than on the single-day-enrollment figure used in the current model. The change would provide a more accurate assessment of schools’ funding needs and provide incentives to boost attendance and student retention, he said.
The governor also issued support for a plan that would require districts to post detailed budget and spending information online to build public accountability.
