kdoran, Author at Stand for Children Colorado

Be an education voter, November 5th

Elections | 09/16/2024

The Stand for Children Team

Election day isn’t until Tuesday, November 5^th, but your inbox, mailbox and social media is probably starting to be filled with information about candidates and initiatives. With that in mind, we are sharing that Stand for Children endorses the Denver Public Schools Bond and opposes Amendment 80.

Vote No: Amendment 80

Amendment 80 would amend the Colorado Constitution to include the right to school choice. School choice is already protected by Colorado law. Colorado families have exercised school choice for decades and there are no threats to their ability to continue, so this constitutional amendment is unnecessary. It is a deceitful and misguided effort to open the door to harm our students with vouchers that WILL take money away from our already underfunded schools. Colorado ranks in the bottom half of states for school funding, and vouchers will only exacerbate inequity and student outcomes.

More Reading:

Vote Yes: DPS Bond

The $975 million bond for Denver Public Schools would not require a tax increase for Denver property owners and would include investments for schools including air conditioning and safety upgrades, construction and other capital improvements for Denver schools, and investments in technology and career and technical education and STEAM spaces. You can read about the specific projects that would be funded here.

More reading:

We will be sharing more information about these measures, but in the meantime, it’s a great time to make sure your voter registration is up-to-date! Here’s where you can get the latest information about your voter eligibility and ballot drop off and polling locations.

Apply for Stand’s 2025 Advocacy Fellowship

Fellowship | 09/4/2024

Stand for Children

Parents, educators, and community members who are interested in becoming effective advocates for equity in our schools and community are invited to apply for Stand Colorado’s annual Advocacy Fellowship.

The fellowship meets monthly for nine months beginning in October. Fellows engage in ongoing and meaningful leadership development through trainings covering advocacy basics, communications, government structures, campaign planning, power mapping, public speaking, and community outreach.

Apply!

Learn more and hear feedback from past fellows here!

Policy experts speak with fellows on various topics throughout the year. Fellows will also have numerous opportunities to use their advocacy skills at the Capitol and engage with policymakers. We’ve compiled answers to questions we have received over the years here.

FCC Ruling Will Keep Families Connected

Criminal Justice Reform | 07/23/2024

Stand for Children

The Federal Trade Commission announced their unanimous decision to ensure families can stay connected, via phone while a loved one is in prison. Starting in 2025, their decision will more than halve the existing per-minute rate caps for all prison and jail phone calls across the country.

According to our partners Worth Rises, this ruling will increase connection for 83 percent of incarcerated people and save American families at least $500 million per year.

In Colorado, we passed legislation making prison phone calls free for all families, but this ruling means an overall savings for the state- and ultimately taxpayers- as predatory telecom providers will no longer be able to charge exorbitant fees. Stand championed the effort to pass HB23-1133, making prison communication free across Colorado in state and private facilities by 2025.

Our Primary Elections are Almost Here

Elections | 06/5/2024

Stand for Children

It may not feel like election season, but in 20 days we will decide who will be on our ballots this fall.

June 25th is Colorado’s primary election for candidates running for federal, state, and local office. This is your opportunity to ensure someone that aligns with your values and vision for our state and community is on the ballot in November.

Your ballot is probably in your mailbox or sitting on your kitchen counter, so as you sit down to fill it out, we’ve compiled some resources to help.

LEARN ABOUT WHO IS RUNNING TO REPRESENT YOU:

Visit candidate websites, check out their social media, and run some internet searches of their name to see recent news coverage.
Check out a Voter Guide. Here’s one from Colorado Public Radio.
Pull information from organizations you trust to see who they have endorsed.
If you don’t have your ballot yet, use this website to pull a sample ballot for your address.

VOTE BY JUNE 25th:

Here’s where you can find locations to drop off your ballot. Just be sure you drop it off by 7pm, June 25th. If you mail it, be sure to send it by June 20th.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Legislative Wins for Colorado Kids and Families

Capitol Week in Review | 05/9/2024

Stand for Children

Yesterday was sine die, the last day of the 2024 legislative session! After a busy four months, we are thrilled to update you on our policy successes for the year. Before we get started, we want to underscore the deep and lasting impact the policies we passed in partnership with parents, educators, and community leaders will have on Colorado students and our communities.

Together with advocates across the state, we sent nearly 6,000 emails to policymakers, 20 advocates shared their lived experience in testimony before Committee hearings, and 30 leaders attended Capitol Day of Action. Others spoke to the media, engaged with their community and supported advocacy on social media. We are grateful for these critical partnerships.

Now, on to the wins for Colorado students and communities!

Legislation We championed

Equitable funding & supportive schools

HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, will update our 30-year-old school finance formula and dramatically increase the amount school districts get for: each student from a low-income household, each English Language Learner, and each student with a disability.

Status: awaiting signature from the Governor.

HB24-1290, Student Educator Stipend Program, appropriates $3.6 million in funding for stipends for student teachers. This bill is part of a multi-year effort to remove barriers in educator preparation to increase educator diversity and address Colorado’s teacher shortage.

Status: awaiting signature by the Governor.

SB24-001, will continue the “I Matter” youth mental health services program, which provides up to six free therapy sessions and reimburses participating licensed therapists. Almost 11,000 children and teens have used the program already.

Status: awaiting signature from the Governor.

High school success

HB24-1282, Ninth-Grade Success Grant & Performance Reporting, expands the 9th grade success grant program, allowing more Colorado schools to implement the 9th grade success approach changing the trajectory for high school students across Colorado.

Status: awaiting signature from the Governor.

Justice Reform

HB 24-1445, Probation & Parole Reporting & Fee Conditions, increases opportunities for remote reporting via online platform or phone for individuals on parole or probation. The bill also requires the reporting of certain fees assessed by the state for probation and parole.

Status: awaiting signature from the Governor.

HB24-1430, 2024-25 Long Appropriations Bill, funds state agencies for the upcoming year. Importantly, it includes the funding needed to implement HB23-1133, legislation we championed last year making prison communication free across Colorado in state and private facilities by 2025.

Status: Signed by the Governor.

Other Legislation We Worked On

HB24-1133, Criminal Record Sealing & Expungement Changes, addresses issues raised through the implementation of Colorado’s “Clean Slate” policy, which seals the criminal records of individuals who are convicted of a non-violent offense once certain conditions have been met.

Status: awaiting signature from the Governor.

HB24-1311, Family Affordability Tax Credit, creates a family affordability tax credit and will distribute a portion of the state’s $1.8 billion TABOR surplus to families, to help cover the rising costs of housing, food, and childcare.

Status: awaiting signature by the Governor.

HB24-1368, Language Access Advisory Board, creates a language access advisory board to develop recommendations for improving access to the legislative process for populations with limited English proficiency.

Status: awaiting signature by the Governor.

HB24-1432, Repeal CBI Criminal Justice Record Sealing Fee, repeals the requirement for a defendant to pay the Colorado Bureau of Investigation any costs related to sealing the defendant’s criminal justice records in the bureau’s custody.

Status: awaiting signature by the Governor.

HB24-1462, Third-Party Audit Department of Corrections, requires the state auditor to engage a third party to evaluate the Department of Corrections’ budget practices.

Status: awaiting signature by the Governor.

SB24-188, Public School Finance, raises the base level of per-pupil funding by nearly $420 to $8,496 per-pupil and completely buys down the Budget Stabilization Factor.

Status: awaiting signature from the Governor.

We’re thrilled that these policies pivotal to Colorado’s collective future have passed and are on their way to becoming law.

Capitol Week In Review: Week 14

Capitol Week in Review | 04/27/2024

Bri Buentello Government Affairs Director

Welcome to Capitol Week In Review, our newsletter keeping you informed about policy concerning educational equity and making our schools and communities more supportive. You will also hear from us about opportunities to engage in advocacy on topics important to you.

Legislation of Interest

SB24-188, Public School Finance, would raise the base level of per-pupil funding by nearly $420 to $8,496 per-pupil and completely buys down the Budget Stabilization Factor. The bill passed the House of Representatives.

HB24-1133, Criminal Record Sealing & Expungement Changes, addresses issues raised through the implementation of Colorado’s “Clean Slate” policy, which automatically seals the criminal records of individuals who are convicted of a non-violent offense once certain conditions have been met. The bill was passed by the House Appropriations Committee 9-2.

HB24-1290, Student Educator Stipend Program, appropriates annual funding for stipends for student teachers. This bill is part of a multi-year effort to remove barriers in educator preparation to increase educator diversity and address Colorado’s teacher shortage. The bill was passed by the House Appropriation Committee.

HB24-1432, Repeal CBI Criminal Justice Record Sealing Fee, was passed by the House of Representatives. The bill repeals the requirement for a defendant to pay to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation any costs related to sealing the defendant’s criminal justice records in the bureau’s custody.

HB 24-1445, Probation & Parole Reporting & Fee Conditions, will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee, April 29th. This bill increases opportunities for remote reporting (via online platform or phone) for individuals on parole or probation. The bill also requires the state to annually report on probation fees assessed in the previous year and the Department of Corrections to annually report on parole supervision fees assessed in the previous year.

HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, was passed by the House Appropriations Committee, unanimously. This bill will update our 30-year-old school finance formula and dramatically increases how much school districts get for: each student from a low-income household, each English Language Learner, and each student with a disability.

Take Action: Email Your Representative to Support School Funding Formula Update!

We need your help showing continued momentum for passing HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula. HB24-1448 updates our 30- year-old school finance formula with one that puts students at the center of how we fund schools.This week, the Rural Alliance, representing over 140 Colorado school districts, announced their support, bringing the total number of school districts supporting this bill to over 160. Please email your Representative to show your support today!

Show Your Support

What We’re Reading

School Funding Bill Advances in House

Safe and Supportive Schools and Communities | 04/26/2024

Stand for Children

Bipartisan legislation to center students in the way Colorado funds schools. HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, will update our 30-year-old school finance formula and send additional state dollars to every school district and prioritize equitable funding for our students.

The bill has now passed the House Education Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. The Rural Alliance, representing over 140 Colorado school districts, announced their support, bringing the total number of school districts supporting this bill to over 160.

The bill would put in place a school finance formula that sends more money per student to districts and, dramatically increases how much school districts get for: each student from a low-income household, each English Language Learner, and each student with a disability.

Email Policymakers

Learn more

Colorado Public Radio: Hearing for Colorado school funding formula bill brings out long-standing inequities and new worries

Press Release: Committee Passes New School Finance Formula to Boost Student Success, Increase Equity in School Funding and Support Rural Schools

Capitol Week In Review: Week 13

Capitol Week in Review | 04/21/2024

Bri Buentello Government Affairs Director

Legislation of Interest

HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, was passed by the House Education Committee 8-3 and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. This bill will update our 30-year-old school finance formula and dramatically increases how much school districts get for: each student from a low-income household, each English Language Learner, and each student with a disability.

HB 24-1445, Probation & Parole Reporting & Fee Conditions, was passed by the House on second reading and will be considered Monday, April 22nd. HB24-1445 will expand opportunities for remote reporting (via online platform or phone) for individuals on parole or probation.

SB24-188, Public School Finance, would raise the base level of per-pupil funding by nearly $420 to $8,496 per-pupil and completely buys down the Budget Stabilization Factor. The bill passed the House Education Committee unanimously.

Our Take: A Record Week for School Funding!

This week, the legislature advanced two measures that will dramatically increase funding for our students: SB24-188, Public School Finance, and HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula. These measures represent an incredible investment in Colorado students and schools!

SB24-188, Public School Finance, would raise the base level of per-pupil funding by nearly $420 and completely eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor, a maneuver that withheld education funds to pay for other priorities. HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula updates our 30- year-old school finance formula with one that puts students at the center of how we fund schools.

49 school districts representing 270,962 students are supporting this HB24-1448. During the committee hearing, members heard powerful testimony from district leaders, educators, parents and policy experts about how impactful this legislation would be for their community.

Take Action: Ask your Representative to Support Virtual Supervision

HB 24-1445, Probation & Parole Reporting & Fee Conditions was passed unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee this week. HB24-1445 will expand opportunities for remote reporting (via online platform or phone) for individuals on parole or probation.

Currently, lower-risk individuals under probation or parole supervision may have the option to check in virtually with their supervising officers in many jurisdictions, however, this option varies across the state, and we want to change that. This bill will ensure we are supporting opportunities for reintegration so that individuals can work, seek education, care for children, or other responsibilities, all while meeting the requirements of their parole or probation reporting.

The House of Representatives will consider this bill next. Will you email your representative and ask them to support HB24-1445?

What We’re Reading

Capitol Week In Review: Week 12

Capitol Week in Review | 04/15/2024

Bri Buentello Government Affairs Director

Legislation of Interest

HB24-1311, Family Affordability Tax Credit, was passed by the House Finance Committee and was referred to the Appropriations Committee. The bill creates a family affordability tax credit and will distribute a portion of the state’s $1.8 billion TABOR surplus to families, including those making up to $95,000 a year, to help cover the rising costs of housing, food, and child care.

HB24-1432, Repeal CBI Criminal Justice Record Sealing Fee, was passed unanimously out of House Judiciary Committee. The bill repeals the requirement for a defendant to pay to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation any costs related to sealing the defendant’s criminal justice records in the bureau’s custody.

HB 24-1445, Probation & Parole Reporting & Fee Conditions, was introduced in the House and assigned to the Judiciary Committee. HB24-1445 will expand opportunities for remote reporting (via online platform or phone) for individuals on parole or probation.

HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, was introduced and assigned to the Education Committee. This bill will update our 30-year-old school finance formula.

Our Take: Reducing Recidivism by expanding Remote Reporting

We are thrilled that HB 24-1445, Probation & Parole Reporting & Fee Conditions was introduced this week. HB24-1445 will expand opportunities for remote reporting (via online platform or phone) for individuals on parole or probation.

Email the House Judiciary Committee

Take Action: Email the House Education Committee to Support New School Finance Formula

This week, members of the House of Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation to center students in the way Colorado funds schools. HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, will update our 30-year-old school finance formula and send additional state dollars to every school district. Most importantly, this update puts students at the center of school funding.

The bill would put in place a school finance formula that dramatically increases how much school districts get for: each student from a low-income household, each English Language Learner, and each student with a disability.

eMAIL the House Education Committee

What We’re Reading

Centering Students When Funding Schools – An Update 30 Years in the Making

Safe and Supportive Schools and Communities | 04/12/2024

Stand for Children

This week, members of the House of Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation to center students in the way Colorado funds schools. HB24-1448, New Public School Finance Formula, will update our 30-year-old school finance formula and send additional state dollars to every school district. Most importantly, this update puts students at the center of school funding. The bill passed the House Education Committee last week and is supported by 49 school districts across Colorado.