Bipartisan school funding bills put students above systems | PODIUM

Colorado’s education system is at a crossroads. Student achievement in basic graduation requirements across all subjects is poor. Student test scores in science, reading, writing, and math are preventing many children from reaching their full potential. Thousands of Colorado students are leaving our public high schools unprepared for the next step in their careers, whether it’s college, trade school, or another certification program. Even the military must provide recruits with additional education to meet basic qualifications. At the same time, businesses are struggling to find qualified graduates in the state to fill in-demand positions.

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

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For 30 years, Colorado has funded its public schools without focusing on the unique needs of students and preparing them for careers. Previously, the focus was on funding school systems through a complicated and outdated formula. I have fought to fund students, not systems, because students should be our primary focus and priority. We must prepare our students to become the next generation of business leaders, builders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and inventors.

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

HB24-1364 is 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 preparation programs. Ultimately, the bill aims to increase efficiency and collaboration across sectors to better inform decisions about which programs to expand and which to cut.

Colorado currently funds a variety of college and career programs in high schools across my district and the state, including Concurrent Enrollment, ASCENT, P-TECH, internships, and more. But we don’t have comprehensive data to show us whether these programs are working as intended. Are students going to college and graduating with a degree in a high-demand field? Are students who did internships in high school ending up working in related fields and supporting their families?

We need better metrics and data as a state to ensure that our tax dollars are being used effectively and to ensure that students are being prepared for a successful future. In addition, this transparency will benefit students by guiding them toward opportunities that match their interests and skills and meet the needs of the workforce of companies.

This bill is a step toward creating meaningful feedback loops where business leaders can communicate the gaps they have in hiring, and our schools can respond by addressing those gaps with targeted educational programs and workforce development initiatives. Through the improved data sharing and analytics established 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 that is why I am investing in this work, is that students will be better prepared to succeed in life through diverse opportunities. Businesses will have access to a skilled talent pool. High-demand fields will have the flexibility to adapt to rapidly evolving technology. And the overall economy will experience continued growth and innovation.

The passage of HB24-1448 and HB24-1364, two complementary bills, this last session is a win-win for students. The student-centered funding formula will direct resources to students with special needs, such as at-risk students, English language learners, and those with special needs. By accurately identifying these student needs, this formula ensures that 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 key role. This system will track student progress over time, providing insight into factors that impact academic achievement, graduation rates, and post-secondary success. Using this comprehensive data, students, families, policymakers, educators, and stakeholders can identify effective interventions, evaluate program effectiveness, and allocate resources based on indicators and evidence that demonstrate success.

I am proud of these bipartisan policies that will help hold our government more accountable. I spent 26 years in the U.S. military, where accountability for results and capacity was not only expected, but often meant the difference between life and death. Now, in my two years as a state legislator, I have seen the urgent need for our state government to be accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent. By funding individual students instead of systems and using data-driven insights, my fellow policymakers and I can work to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that true feedback loops exist 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.