In Colorado, we have an important ballot measure that will change how K-12 education is funded in the state. Amendment 66 is a response to budget cuts that have devastated schools. The measure amends the Colorado Constitution to increase income taxes through a new two-tiered progressive tax for a fund dedicated solely to K-12 education. The text of the changes are available as a PDF here
This is a change in that while most school funding is through property taxes, Colorado has historically provided some degree of supplemental funding from the general fund to schools that come up short in the property values department. Unfortunately, state funding to schools has varied wildly depending on other budget priorities and for the past few years has been absolutely abysmal. The new fund will guarantee that education is a priority and that their funding can't be raided for other purposes.
Below the fold, a recent letter to the editor I wrote supporting Amendment 66.
Amendment 66 is important because it provides stability.
In theory, there's plenty of money in education- that's why so many scammy for-profit charters keep popping up. In practice, the money is unevenly distributed because it's based on local property taxes and any additional funds available tend to be highly targeted.
It's this targeting of funding that gives us schools with expensive computer labs but leaky buildings and underpaid teachers. Even small rural schools routinely have staff people devoted entirely to pursuing competitive corporate and government funding, running desperately on a treadmill trying to overcome perennial funding shortfalls.
The insidious part of the funding competition is that it's subject to the agendas of the funders. A couple of decades ago special education was a priority, then the vogue changed to testing and SPED funding dried up. Now, the money is flowing toward science and technology. All the while, kids struggle along in overcrowded, crumbling classrooms.
Even suburban schools with relatively affluent tax bases are just one round of layoffs at a major employer away from a chain reaction that leaves them grasping for money against every other school.
Amendment 66 creates a stable, statewide funding source that just pays for education. It buffers kids from the vagaries of real estate markets and pedagogical fads. It's not the end of the fight against systemic educational inequalities, but it's an important step toward the guarantee of educational opportunity enshrined in the Colorado constitution