Once upon a time, America sheltered an Einstein, went to the moon, and gave the world the laser, the electronic computer, nylons, television and the cure for polio. Today we are in the process, albeit unwillingly of abandoning this leadership role.
-Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics
-Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics
The Crisis
Colorado’s state education system is failing to prepare students to succeed in today’s international economy.
- Colorado kindergarten teachers report that at least 1/3 of children enter school unprepared to learn – unable to hold a pencil correctly, recite the alphabet, etc.
- Colorado ranks 30th in the country for total high school graduation rates; only 56% of African-American students and 44% of Hispanic students graduate from high school
- The pipeline: For every 100 Colorado ninth graders, only 19 graduate with an Associate’s Degree in 3 years or a Bachelor’s Degree in 6 years
- The cost to our communities for each dropout hits $2.3 million when factoring decreased personal income potential along with associated crimes