Press Release - Jan 29, 2008
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 2008
CONTACT
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
Laura Chapin, 303.866.6386, lchapin@capitol.state.co.us;
GOV. RITTER'S COLORADO EDUCATION REFORM PLAN TO BE SUBJECT OF NATIONAL DISCUSSION WEDNESDAY
Gov. Bill Ritter's "Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids" will be the subject of discussion during a national conference in Washington, D .C., on Wednesday. Gov. Ritter's education adviser, Matt Gianneschi, will be participating on an "Educating America's Workforce" panel during the "Outlook in the States" conference sponsored by Governing magazine.
A first-in-the-nation education reform plan, the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids was recently announced during Gov. Ritter's State of the State Address on Jan. 10 and will soon be introduced in the 2008 legislative session. It would align Colorado's pre-school, K-12 and college educational systems and content standards around the belief that all students should receive an education that leads to postsecondary and career readiness.
"Despite the best efforts of hard-working educators, our education systems have become disjointed and outdated," Gov. Ritter said. "Too many of our students are not adequately prepared for college or a 21st workforce. We spend too much time talking about not leaving children behind, when we really should be focusing on getting our children ahead."
Gianneschi will appear at 2 to 3 p.m. EST at the National Press Club, 524 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Specifically, the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids would,
- Establish college preparation as the default program of study for all high school students.
- Require school districts to create multiple but equally rigorous pathways to college and career-readiness. It would not set requirements for "seat time" in math, science or other courses.
- It would align content standards throughout the educational pipeline, including the first year of college, and require students to demonstrate proficiency in order to meet clearly identified college admission and placement standards.
Gov. Ritter, during his first year in office in 2007, also established a P-20 Education Coordinating Council. With the Council's input, Gov. Ritter is seeking to expand pre-school and full-day kindergarten across Colorado and create a Colorado Counselor Corps to prepare middle and high school students for college.
For more information about the Outlook in the States conference, click here .