Proposition 119: A tax on recreational marijuana to fund out of school learning programs such as tutoring, sports, and after school programs.
What are you voting on? A “yes” vote on Proposition 119 funds financial aid for tutoring through an increase in retail marijuana taxes.
What does Prop 119 have to do with out of school learning?
- Prop 119 creates the Colorado Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress program to help certain Colorado youth access and pay for out-of-school learning opportunities; and pay for the program by raising retail marijuana taxes and using other existing state funds.
- Proposition 119 supports the academic and developmental needs of all students, and low‑income students will be prioritized for financial aid. The measure empowers an independent, bipartisan board to certify that tutoring and enrichment providers are qualified and accountable. Once financial aid is awarded, families and students will have the choice about which certified tutors or other instructional providers best meet the specific needs of their student.
What does Prop 119 do?
The measure creates the Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress program to provide financial aid and support to eligible Colorado youth to access out-of-school learning and enrichment opportunities like tutoring. Children between the ages of 5 and 17 who live in Colorado will be eligible to apply for the program. The program will be funded using revenue raised from increasing retail marijuana taxes by 5 percent over three years, plus an estimated $20 million annually from the General Fund. Additionally, the measure diverts approximately $20 million annually from the State Land Trust, which helps fund public schools, to the State Public School Fund.
Why is Prop 119 important?
Even before the pandemic, tutoring and out-of-school instructional support were badly needed by the significant number of students who are not proficient in reading, writing, or math. School closures caused by COVID have urgently increased the need for outside instructional support, especially among low-income students who cannot afford the cost of tutoring or enrichment services.
What is considered out of school learning?
Any program, service, system, activity, materials, or purchase that provides additional educational or developmental support to youth outside of the regular school day. These opportunities can include, but are not limited to, tutoring, targeted assistance for youth with special needs, second language training, additional academic learning support materials, career and technical educational training programs, social emotional learning, and mental health services. The financial aid provided by the program cannot be used for school tuition or for instruction or materials that are part of the student’s regular school curriculum.
More information can be found in Colorado’s Ballot Information Book
Arguments For Prop. 119
Proposition 119 increases the sales tax on retail marijuana to fund financial aid for tutoring and other out-of-school learning opportunities for Colorado students. Even before the pandemic, tutoring and out-of-school instructional support were badly needed by the significant number of students who are not proficient in reading, writing, or math. School closures caused by COVID have urgently increased the need for outside instructional support, especially among low-income students who cannot afford the cost of tutoring or enrichment services.
Proposition 119 supports the academic and developmental needs of all students, and low‑income students will be prioritized for financial aid. The measure empowers an independent, bipartisan board to certify that tutoring and enrichment providers are qualified and accountable. Once financial aid is awarded, families and students will have the choice about which certified tutors or other instructional providers best meet the specific needs of their student.
Arguments Against Prop. 119
Proposition 119 allows public money to be directed to private out-of-school service providers instead of invested directly in public schools. Public dollars set aside for education are needed to support the public education system. If voters want to increase retail marijuana taxes for education, the revenue would be better used to expand the capacity of public schools in every community, keeping the money under local control and allowing school districts to reinstate programs they have had to cut and to provide additional learning and enrichment opportunities for children.
Increasing the sales tax on marijuana will further increase the gap in prices between legal marijuana and black-market marijuana, pushing more individuals into the black market and hurting legitimate retail marijuana businesses. Additionally, the retail sales tax on marijuana already places a greater financial burden on low‑income individuals; increasing the tax rate will only make this worse.
Paid for by Colorado Succeeds. Scott Laband Registered Agent.