House Bill 1290 would refer a question to the November ballot requesting that the extra money collected through Proposition EE be transferred to Colorado’s new universal preschool program and the legislature’s general fund
Proposition EE
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
These four states already have universal preschool. What can Colorado learn from them?
When Colorado launches free preschool for 4-year-olds in 2023, it will join a half dozen other states that already offer universal preschool. All of them have encountered the same tricky task Colorado leaders now face as they try to knit together a disparate patchwork of public and private preschools into an equitable and high-quality statewide […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
“Collision course”: Colorado’s governor opposes heavily lobbied effort to ban flavored tobacco, nicotine products
Gov. Jared Polis says he doesn’t support a bipartisan bill that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes, because he prefers a local regulatory approach. But some city and county leaders explicitly support the measure, now stalled in the legislature, and two organizations that represent local governments and fiercely […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Pass this bill to realize the promise of early childhood education
Colorado has a monumental opportunity to set up every child and their family for a lifetime of opportunity from birth, through kindergarten and beyond. With the passage of Proposition EE in 2020 and the creation of the Department of Early Childhood in 2021, Coloradans overwhelmingly showed their support for increasing access, affordability and quality of […]
Posted inColoradans, Education, News
Democrats formalize plan for expanded preschool, early childhood department. But will Colorado have enough teachers?
A nearly 500-page bill released Friday fills in new details about the Department of Early Childhood as it launches and prepares to oversee Colorado’s expansion of preschool in fall 2023. The Democrat-backed bill reflects close to a year of planning among lawmakers, state agencies, the governor’s office, early childhood providers and advocates, and parents — […]
Posted inColoradans, Education, News
Polis defends lowering preschool teacher requirements, says it’s “small piece” of state’s expansion plan
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis this week defended recent cuts to hiring requirements for preschool teachers, rejecting criticism from advocates who fear they could erode the quality of a preschool education just as the state prepares to roll out a major expansion. Polis argued that rather than lowering the bar for early childhood educators, the new […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, Equity, Health, Housing, News, Politics and Government
The need for preschool has never been greater — and never harder — for struggling Colorado families to get
By Carina Julig, The Sentinel On a cold morning in mid-November, a group of children were learning the days of the week inside a renovated bus parked in the Willow Park neighborhood of Aurora. The brightly-decorated bus is home to You Be You Early Learning’s preschool program, which began serving students in the subsidized-housing neighborhood […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Here’s how much money Colorado’s new nicotine, increased cigarette taxes generated in their first 5 months
A new nicotine tax and an increased tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products in Colorado generated more than $34 million in their first five months, according to a data analysis by The Colorado Sun. Proposition EE, which was passed by voters in November, went into effect in January, raising the taxes on a pack […]
Posted inBusiness, Crime and Courts, Election 2020, News, Politics and Government
Emails show negotiations involving Colorado governor, cigarette giant that led to tobacco tax hike
Gov. Jared Polis’ office was asked to meet several conditions insisted upon by Altria in exchange for the cigarette giant agreeing not to fight legislation that put a question on the November ballot asking voters to raise tobacco and nicotine taxes in Colorado, emails obtained by The Colorado Sun show. One of those conditions included […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
The 2020 election untied and retied the fiscal knot in Colorado with decisions on Gallagher and taxes
On the same ballot that cemented statewide Democratic power not seen since 1936, Colorado’s voters once again sent their elected leaders mixed messages on taxes and spending. They voted to raise taxes in one measure, and cut them in another. They authorized expansive new social programs, while limiting the state’s ability to afford the programs […]