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To Colorado's Congressional Delegation:
We trust you join us in believing that public education is the key to individual opportunity, thriving communities, and a strong economy. To ensure that every student graduates ready to lead his or her best life, it is essential that every public school has the resources to meet the individual needs of each student.
Our students need stepping stones to success. The education budget put forward by the President and Secretary DeVos only throws up stumbling blocks and diverts public dollars from public schools.
These cuts are cruel, short-sighted, and counter-productive. As your constituents, we call on you to oppose these cuts vigorously and vocally.
We look forward to receiving your intended plan of action to protect the students of Colorado from this budget assault and to, instead, invest more in Colorado's future.
We need your help now by signing onto the petition today!
In the Comment field, tell us how education cuts are affecting your community and we'll be sure to share this information with Colorado's Congressional Delegation.
Constance Ingram, Highlands Ranch
These cuts are cruel, short-sighted, and counter-productive.
Jeff Smith, Broomfield
Please support all our school children, especially the poor and those who face discrimination.
Terri Straut, Littleton
I won't allow my children's future to be darkened by Mrs. DeVos's political agenda to steal public money in the form of vouchers for private religious schools. There is separation of church and state for good reason!
Cindy Clark, Lakewood
This is setting our children and our country up for failure and regression!!
Litha Litha, Denver
Don't destroy what makes us competitive in the world!!!
Sharon Baker, Palmer Lake
As a teacher for 37 years, 32 of them with special needs students, I know and understand their needs. Most private schools do not want or accept children with special needs. Do NOT take the money from their education which helps to make it so the majority can be productive citizens.
Miki Reddy, Morrison
This will be a constant fight of awareness. Children's education is the most vital issue for all our futures! But with everyone working toward a united goal we can make a difference.
Eric Phipps, Arvada
Larger class sizes, shorter school years is contributing to a long decline in our kids' future.
Samantha Stoler, Denver
Keep funding in public schools! They are for everyone
Michele Patterson, Westminster
Public education is the foundation of our democracy. It must be kept 'public' and it must be fully funded.
Helene Jewett, Broomfield
Investing in our children's education has taken the backseat in Colorado for too long. Now you want to kick students who need valuable resources entirely off the bus! When we treat education as a privilege, we are acting out of sheer ignorance. Please do the right, the smart thing. Don't cut funding that is already at all time lows in Colorado.
Cecilia Banner, Longmont
It has been evident for years that public education is underfunded and instead of mitigating this shortfall, it is propagated by the GOP agenda. It is obvious the GOP agenda wants to undermine public education so that private entities can come in and take these tax dollars for their own benefit and motive. Shame on the GOP for shortchanging the American public. The US used to have an excellent public school system, until republicans decided it was to their benefit to educate in their vein, meaning facts are not important, religion and engendering Anglo supremacy in some form or fashion, i.e., the white perspective, is. This is simply untenable.
Kaaren Hardy, Westminster
Westminster Public Schools needs more help, not less, given its diverse, low-income population.
Peter Michelson, Boulder
Your statement omits the necessity of education for an electorate in a 'democracy.'
Sarah Wheeler, Loveland
We cannot afford to consistently rank in the bottom states for education expenditures and effectiveness. The policies of the current administration need to be held in check.
Jayne Bognar, Broomfield
Our public schools are falling apart, meanwhile corporate charters are lining their pockets. Public schools and teachers are the most scrutinized yet we have the least amount of resources to do our job effectively. When children learn in buildings that are falling apart, what message does it send them. It's like telling a dentist to do a tooth extraction without any tools! It saddens me that wealthy people like DeVos have no idea what it's like to live in poverty yet are making decisions that impact children's lives. Perhaps someone who understands should be making decisions.
Cheryl Maize, Arvada
I do not understand how you want to cut support for the poor, it's hard to find a job if you're hungry and homeless, funding for Planned Parenthood, it's hard to find a job, stay healthy and care for a family without access to medical care and family planning, and then cut the proven avenue to success. Without the proper educational system, there is little to no opportunity for children to meet their potential and to become contributing members of society. You cannot demand that everyone earn their own way and then remove all avenues of opportunity that will allow them to be work ready when they graduate from high school, or worse, make it extremely difficult to graduate. Of course, if you're only operating from a 'what's in it for me philosophy', then let's project how this will end; without the tools needed to get a job, which is what education provides, people won't be able to buy the goods and services you provide or pay the taxes that pay your salary. It's time we use a little common sense. I certainly am not in favor of a socialist state, but I do not think this does anything to make America Great, an administration that caters to the top 1% and ignores the rest of the population is not for the people or by the people. It seems to me to be for the rich and let the rest figure it out.
John Hoag, Fort Lupton
Both of our elementary schools have high numbers of kids in poverty as well as English Language learners. We depend on the the federal dollars for additional critical teaching staff.
Abby Angell, Denver
We cannot endure the features of the DeVos budget. Colorado's education system needs NURTURING not IMPOVERISHING!
Stephanie Van Zante, Parker
Voting for this will deprive the very people you represent of a quality education that isn't being subsidized by individuals - creating segregation. If you vote for it, you will lose my vote in your reelection campaign.
Linda Fief, La Junta
Save our schools. Our teachers and children need money for education.
Mandy Bailey, Greeley
I work at a public charter school. We feel these cuts even more profoundly, as we also have the cost of a building mortgage in addition to all of the regular expenses to keep a school running day to day. While we are a charter, we follow all of the state's required measures for teacher and student accountability and transparency, and expect to be since we receive public tax dollars. We are proud to be part of our community and have a student population that reflects our diverse community. We accept and celebrate all students from all backgrounds and walks of life. Public tax dollars should only go to public schools (traditional and charter alike) who are willing to be held to the mandated level of accountability and transparency. Diverting funds to private schools, who can hire unlicensed teachers, does not make sense for moving education forward in Colorado. Cutting greatly needed federal programs for students also looks to continue to set us back in an already stark economic time for education in Colorado. Privatization of service organizations never benefits those who actually need to receive the service.
Chrisette Soderberg, Littleton
I believe Charter and Private schools need to live up to the same standard as Public schools. As a taxpayer, I do not wish my taxes paid for education belong in private schools.
Martha Tate, Arvada
The cost of educating our students is rising. Technology, building and maintaining schools, and increasing numbers of students with special needs, especially autism, are but a few of the factors involved. Current funding is inadequate. We have a responsibility to educate all students and to reallocate funds to charter and private schools is the worst possible scenario for the vast majority of American students. I volunteered in a kindergarten classroom this year that had no aide, no classroom budget for curriculum materials, and were cut off early on for lamination and copies. The teacher spent hundreds of dollars to make up the difference. This is unacceptable. The classroom had access to only 5 iPads, no printer, and no SmartBoard for teaching critical skills. Please oppose any efforts to take funds away from public schools and fight for additional funding for our students.
Mike Ross, Denver
All children deserve a great education, including those who have disabilities.
Colleen Barber, Parker
Class sizes are up and over 30 in size. Kids only taking 6 classes having off periods. Not enough teachers due to lack of funding.
Martha Olson, Boulder
I am appalled that in one of the most economically thriving states in the union, we can't afford full day kindergarten, much less pre-k, and that as one of the richest countries in the world, federal policy is divesting funds from education instead of investing in our children's futures--incredibly shortsighted and counter productive.
Rocco Fuschetto, Ignacio
The elimination of Impact Aid will be devastating for my district since we are located and provide educational services to students that are Native Americans and live on a reservation.
Maria Lauer, Highlands Ranch
Our children are our future. These proposed cuts are unacceptable.
Pearl Schwartz, Greenwood Village
Budget cuts will impact special education.
Eleisa and Tony Trampler, Denver
This is an egregious budget and as a retired Denver Public Schools teacher I find the DeVos proposals to be shortsighted and lacking in the requisite expertise to make sensible decisions regarding our public schools. For years I relied on my own funds to supply my students with both the basics and the little extras that made for good teaching and exciting experiences for my inner city children. Teacher development, class size reduction, and educator support are crucial as are Head Start and after-school enrichment programs that keep at-risk kids engaged, learning, and safe. As a bilingual teacher I discovered early on that those living in poverty, those with learning disabilities (our autistic grandson falls in this category), and those learning English need more resources to succeed. Cutting career and technical education is foolhardy. Some years ago we had the Career Education students from our local high school program build our garage. This program fully prepared both girls and boys for well paying jobs in construction. We have two grandchildren entering college in the fall, though their parents aren't elegible for financial aid for the kids, it will be a struggle to get them through all four years without crippling debt. They will need financial aid, work study and student loans to help. Colorado schools have been running below the national average in per pupil spending for a number of years now and we in Colorado want more for our public school children than just enough education to get them low paying jobs or putting their lives in jeopardy by sending them into the military.
Kati Schenk, Canon City
I am extremely disgusted with Ms. DeVos; she doesn't seem to have any grasp of education, in any sense of the word. If she follows her so-called agenda, we will be back to education like it was at 1900's, with ratty schools for the poor, disabled, and colored kids; and private wealthy families' children will go to private state of the art schools. And from all indications my tax monies will be used to fund these schools at least in part.
Molly DeLaRosa, Centennial
I believe in the public schools and that is what our taxes should go to, public schools.
Kelly Pointer, Highlands Ranch
Taking money away from public, neighborhood schools hurts the majority of our students. Education is not meant to be for profit. Choice, vouchers, and charters that aren't parent driven are not in the best interest of ALL kids. The dismal level of funding education in Colorado is hurting our kids' education.
Robert Constable, Colorado Springs
These cuts are cruel, short-sighted, and counter-productive. As your constituents, we call on you to oppose these cuts vigorously and vocally.
Paul Bowman, Burke
Public education is already underfunded. Siphoning off money to pay for private schools for people who have chosen to opt out is just wrong. I don't want to be forced to subsidize other people's religious beliefs.
Amy Rotman, Broomfield
I am a public school teacher in a low income school and we serve ALL students. If private schools and charter schools want public funding then they must meet the same standards, be held accountable and meet the needs of ALL students!
Le'Ann Key, Parker
Our school is not able to buy needed curriculum or fund badly needed teacher raises. We also need money to make needed repairs to the building.
Patricia Atkins, Palmer Lake
As a retired public educator in Colorado, I visit with successful young people who have flourished in our state because of equal opportunity to quality education provided to all children regardless of their zip code. Do not let us return to the days where only those who could pay got an education.
Dawn Allbee, Lakewood
Any school that doesn't accept *all* students and instead chooses to not allow those from a minority group should not get equal federal funding. It is extremely unfair to the schools that do accept all students regardless of their social status that needs those funds especially the schools that accept disabled students.
Molly Butler, Lakewood
Our public schools need more support, not less, to overcome their problems. And don't divert children to private 'faith-based' schools that brainwash them with religious claptrap.
Lori Rosenberger, Centennial
As a Special Education teacher I see first hand how these cuts are hurting schools, students and families. Please don't let this ridiculous budget pass! Our children are our future!! ALL children deserve an equitable and free public education taught by dedicated, qualified professionals. Support our children and our future by saying NO to these cuts!!
Elizabeth Cabell, Centennial
The funding cuts in the DeVos budget for the Dept. of Education will be devastating to Colorado. Money for public education should stay in public education, where the needs of all are addressed.
Catherine O'Grady, Northglenn
We need to strengthen our public schools
Michael Leitshuh, Thornton
School choice is not a choice for ALL children. We must commit to helping all and not the few. Discrimination allowed through tax dollar money is unacceptable.
Martha Cisneros, Castle Rock
We are already struggling with not enough funding keeping elementary kids from having P.E. but 5 classes in four weeks, same with art, and music. No funding for orchestra, kindergarten classes with one single teacher to 27 students, having to fundraise for after-school programs like folk dancing, robotics, gardening, fitness, teachers needing a second job to supplement their teacher's income to make a living in one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, school buildings years behind on maintenance resulting in leaking roofs, pipe problems, etc...and now with DeVos's budget cuts, things will only get worse.
Patti Von Vihl, Conifer
Our children are the future! Don't rob them of a great education!
Angie Frank, Littleton
Stop starving our public schools
Wade Hill, Gypsum
As a principal of 15 years that works with disadvantaged children in a terribly funded state like Colorado, Secretary DeVos's budget will do further harm. Vote against this budget
William McCreary, Aurora
Destroying education leads to dismantling the USA . . . all part of the Trump agenda.
Marcy Donaldson, Denver
Our kids are our future.
Jan Fead, Canon City
Every dollar spent in education saves $4 in corrections
Carol Koch, Boulder
This woman & her boss, dt, are going to destroy our public schools in less than 6 months. Fire them both & everybody in the Cabinet inbetween asap.
Kristen Simon, Westminster
I blame Cory Gardner, Tabor, Gallagher and Amendment 23! Get your stuff together, Colorado.
Lisa Hughes, Louisville
The school I work at has many language learners and struggling students. My position is grant funded which is sad because we should be able to have tutors in the class room to help these students thrive. Cutting title 1 programs just sets these students up for failure.
Lucinda Hundley, Centennial
Public education has been the greatest equalizer for all children. These potential cuts to public education are unconscionable and must be stopped.
Julie Keim, Larkspur
Education needs more funding, not less. Wraparound services are key to helping at-risk and typical children with different needs. Cutting funding in these critical areas will set us back many years. Our children only have one opportunity for an education, so make sure we do what is right for them - the first time and every time!
Helen Richards, Aurora
Support for public education is critical for the growth of all children.
Pat Crowley, Lone Tree
My county, Douglas County, Colorado, has been following the DeVos style reforms for 8 years now. Our once exemplary school district is now in severe decline. Don't allow this misguided anti-public education agenda to continue. Support public education by funding it appropriately and keeping all public monies in the public schools.
Beverly Kohl, Brighton
Our children deserve the best education we can give them and we are paying plenty of taxes... not for charter and discriminatory schools but for ALL schools and all children. No child should be left behind while wealthy children get spoon fed golden opportunities. Support our public schools with the tax money we pay. It is not YOUR money! It belongs to our children.
Dawn Schwaderer, Lakewood
Public education is the great equalizer. To do that it needs funding in public neighborhood schools--the exact schools where parents don't have resources to 'opt' into 'choice' schools because they don't have the time or resources to do so.
Christine Kern, Littleton
Great public schools need proper funding. A great society requires great PUBLIC schools. We must protect our ability to educate our future workforce.
Ashlee Tripp, Lone Tree
A public education knocks walls and barriers down for a reason. Luckily, my students are some of the most amazing, empathetic individuals I know. Build a wall with money that should go toward education, and we will work to tear it down.
Kala Hanzlovic, Pueblo
My sons need and deserve the best education
Madeline Milian, Greeley
This budget will make teaching a less desirable profession for college students. At a time when we are facing a serious teacher shortage in the U.S., we need to invest more in education to sure that we continue to attract talented young people who will become our next generation of qualified teachers.
David Massy, Broomfield
It is an achievable goal that every child have access to a decent education. These budget cuts are unacceptable in one of the richest countries in the world. We must invest in our children's futures.
Michelle Hannawald, Aurora
Education builds our future. It continues to baffle me how the budgets for public schools are cut more and more each year while are children our falling further behind. We should be increasing the education budget and we should not be diverting the funding to private schools which will only benefit the top income families, creating a bigger gap for the majority of Americans.
Karen M Ortiz, Hotchkiss
Public education is a cornerstone of our democratic society. Rural communities like those in Delta County rely on judicious federal funding to support research, promote best practices and help ensure equal education opportunities for every child regardless of their zip code. Federal funds, leveraged appropriately, are essential to allowing children in Colorado's rural districts the right to a high quality, free and appropriate education.
Christine Aragon, Denver
Can't believe what's happening to America...
Diana Suslak-Spriggs, Lakewood
Education is the key to good jobs. Stop trying to take these opportunities away from our children and grandchildren.
Devra Ashby, Colorado Springs
Please don't cut public education funding. Colorado's K12 funding is a mess already and more cuts will place our future in jeopardy!
Ana Mettler, Lakewood
In our schools we witness daily the enormous needs of our students. Many come from families who are disadvantaged in many ways, struggling to make ends meet, and experiencing great emotional stress. As a teacher of young students I know that we need more not less funding. We need additional social workers, art therapists, and psychologists who can tend to the emotional needs of our students. Students who are in emotional crisis or under stress often struggle academically as well. Consequently, in order to serve all students well we also need additional learning specialists who can devote extra time to struggling learners in small group settings.
Cath Kidder, Denver
Strong public schools are the heart of great cities.
Virginia Conahan, Ft. Collins
Support public education. No on vouchers!
Laura Welch, Parker
We look forward to receiving your intended plan of action to protect the students of Colorado from this budget assault and to, instead, invest more in Colorado's future.
Janet Huffman, Fruita
Stop favoring the privileged student and send aid to public schools.
Velvet Stepanek, Colorado Springs
The older schools in our district are getting harder to maintain. Teacher salaries are not staying competitive.
Doriene Howe, Greeley
Public education is a must for a vital society.
Sally Leroy, Scottsdale
Let's work for our future students who are deserving of a good education
Phyllis Whitaker, Littleton
We need strong public schools! We also need to fund schools so that we can reduce the teacher shortage and provide more resources to all students!!
David Sanger, Parker
Public school students are our future; don't shortchange them.
Aaron Link, Thornton
Stop watering down public education, and promoting discrimination of students with special needs, races, etc. Education for all.
Roger Pool, Littleton
I was an educator in Jefferson County Public Schools for over 30 years. I know how all of the programs that DeVos is cutting have benefited students who need the programs to succeed in school and in life. These cuts are morally and economically wrong.
Betsy Anderson, Denver
These cuts & philosophies limit education's possibilities to let education be a social equalizer: maybe that is the plan.
Lynn Rockwood, Arvada
I teach in a Title I school. I dedicate my time and energy to helping low income kids. Research shows that poverty negatively affects learning when kids are hungry and their lives are unstable. Schools need all the funding they can get to give these students in a safe place to learn. Taking away funding and then giving it to high income families is counterproductive.
Nancy Doskins, Parker
As a teacher in a Title I school, cutting funding will have a significant impact on our students. Our class sizes are already near 30, we have very little paraprofessional support with such large classes. This is very hard on the teachers but it is the children who are paying the price. They are the future of this country and they will not be prepared if cuts to public education continue.
Sheryl Shipton, Sedalia
Let's keep Public Education public and available to all children, not just for those whose parents can pay.
Ayn Scott, Sedalia
Vouchers threaten the quality of public education.
Donna McWhirter, Colorado Springs
No deep cuts to public education. Our kids deserve the best.
Denise Rucks, Parker
Class sizes are getting too large. Music and Art classes are threatened to be cut. Special needs programs are also under the same threat.
Kelly Broecker, Parker
Stop destroying our chance to provide children with a brighter future. Funding must happen at all levels for every child, not just the select few. Children are our future; please take care of them...ALL of them. Stop cutting funding now.
Katharine Green, Monument
Please stop trying to push an agenda that already has no good results
Judith Kristoff, Fort Collins
We have choice through our public schools! Keep money in our public schools! No tax money to fund religion!!!
Joseph Ruffert, Lakewood
Public schools keep minds free to think critically on their own. Not to be programmed what to think!
Tracy Walkowicz, Lakewood
She has no experience at all in schools and has no idea what she is doing. Our children deserve better!
Justin Stephens, Fort Collins
This would be nothing short of stealing from our children.
Jonathan Wolfer, Denver
As a parent and public educator, this proposed budget will cripple our important work with children.
Anthonette Klinkerman, Castle Pines
Schools of any kind need to include ALL students, period.
Kate Pettersen, Denver
What English Language Learner or low-income kid is the next engineer, legislator, executive, or medical researcher? We need all kids to reach their full potential. Choice alone cannot do this, and cutting the funding to school districts, which pools it together to help kids with special needs allows them to service these children better. The pie is only so big. Dispersing it more will not create the economies of scale to let us help kids reach their full potential.
Lindsay Bazz, Littleton
Our children, educators, and communities deserve fully-funded public schools.
Barbara Hosack, Littleton
Public Education has been and continues to be the access to education, SUPPORT SERVICES such as therapies, free and reduced lunch programs, transportation...the list goes on...that many families depend on. My understanding is that private schools accepting government funding would not have the same mandatory programming. How does that make sense?
Tanya Berlin Heidmous, Erie
My son is a college student. He wouldn't be going to college if it wasn't for student loans, and he participates in Work Study. Once he graduates he will have a job and degree becoming a tax payer and a productive citizen. We just need some financial help. The government will get their money back and then some. Please do the right thing for ALL our children.
Lindsay Gault Drakos, Centennial
Don't underfund our children's education!
Pat Hemphill, Castle Rock
I am committed to public education and oppose my tax money going to vouchers.
Patricia Gavigan, Ellicott City
Seven of my nieces and nephews are educated in CO. WAKE UP ALREADY!!
Christine Remy, Littleton
Vouchers are not the answer.
Betsy DeVos Refuses to Rule Out Giving Funds to Schools That Discriminate (New York Times)
DeVos won’t say whether she’d withhold federal funds from private schools that discriminate (Washington Post)
Here's What Betsy DeVos Said Wednesday On Capitol Hill (NPR)
Five startling things Betsy DeVos just told Congress (Washington Post)
DeVos testifies on Trump’s budget (Boston Globe)
President Trump's Budget Proposal Calls For Deep Cuts To Education (NPR)