Bipartisan school-finance bills put students over systems

Colorado Politics
By Anthony Hartsook | Jul 3, 2024

Colorado’s education system is at a crossroads. Student achievement in basic graduation requirements for all subjects is at a dismal level. The resulting student test scores for science, reading, writing and math hinder numerous kids from achieving their full potential. Thousands of Colorado students are leaving our public high schools unprepared for the next step of career development whether that is in college, trade schools or another certification program. Even the military is having to provide additional education for recruits to meet basic qualifications. At the same time, businesses are struggling to find qualified graduates in the state to fill in-demand jobs.

We have identified a clear need for better processes to prepare our kids for their future success. My fellow legislators and I are taking steps toward solutions through a student-centered funding formula and an understanding of the return on investment for workforce development through college and career readiness programs.

For 30 years, Colorado has funded its public schools without a focus on the unique needs of students and preparing them for their careers. Previously, the focus was on funding school systems through a complicated and outdated formula. I have fought for funding students over systems because students should be our top focus and priority. We must prepare our students to become the next generation of business leaders, construction builders, scientists, entrepreneurs and inventors.

This past legislative session HB24-1448, a bill I supported, fixed that. Now, our state’s school finance formula will be student-centered, driving funding to students based on their individual needs. This will ensure students have access to the specific resources they need to succeed.  It will also hold schools accountable for using those resources wisely.

HB24-1364 was another bill I supported this session. It emphasizes the need for a statewide data system to provide students, families and policymakers with information on the effectiveness of college- and career-readiness programs. Ultimately, the bill aims to enhance efficiency and collaboration across sectors to better inform decision-making about which programs to scale up and cut back.

Right now, Colorado funds many college and career programs at high schools across my district and the state, including Concurrent Enrollment, ASCENT, P-TECH, apprenticeships and more. But we don’t have complete data to show us whether these programs are working as intended. Are students matriculating to college and graduating with a credential in a high-demand field? Are students who did apprenticeships in high school ending up employed in related careers, and are they earning family-sustaining wages?

We need better metrics and data as a state to ensure our taxpayer dollars are being used effectively, and to ensure students are being prepared for a successful future. Furthermore, this transparency will benefit students by guiding them toward opportunities that match their interests and abilities, and it will address the workforce demands of businesses.

This bill is a step toward creating meaningful feedback loops wherein business leaders can convey the gaps they have in hiring, and our schools can respond by addressing those gaps through targeted educational programs and workforce development initiatives. Through the improved data sharing and analysis set up in HB24-1364, these feedback loops can also be informed by real-time data on which college and career readiness programs are working.

My hope, and the reason I’m invested in this work, is students will be better prepared to succeed in life through a variety of opportunities. Businesses will have access to a qualified talent pool. High-demand fields will have the flexibility to adjust to rapidly developing technology. And the overall economy will experience sustained growth and innovation.

Passing HB24-1448 and HB24-1364, two complementary bills, this past session is a win-win for students. A student-focused funding formula will direct resources toward students with specific needs, such as at-risk students, English-language learners and those with special needs. By accurately identifying these student needs, this formula ensures resources are allocated where they are most needed to improve academic achievement.

To effectively measure the impact of these funding allocations and hold districts accountable for student outcomes, robust data collection and analysis are essential. This is where the data system proposed in HB24-1364 plays a crucial role. This system will monitor student progress over time, providing insights into factors influencing academic achievement, graduation rates and post-secondary success. By leveraging this comprehensive data, students, families, policymakers, educators and stakeholders can identify effective interventions, assess program efficacy, and allocate resources based on metrics and evidence that demonstrates success.

I’m proud of these bipartisan policies that will help hold our government more accountable. I spent 26 years in the U.S. Army where accountability for performance and potential was not only expected but often the difference between life and death. Now that I am two years in as a state legislator, I have seen the dire need for our state government to be held accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent. By funding individual students instead of systems, and by leveraging data-driven insights, my fellow policymakers and I can work to ensure resources are allocated efficiently, and that there are real feedback loops between businesses and our education system to strengthen our workforce and promote student success.

Anthony Hartsook is a Republican representing District 44 in the Colorado House of Representatives.