How Colorado's governor is reimagining education
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Gov. Jared Polis talks with Education Secretary Linda McMahon at the National Governors Association meeting Friday in Colorado Springs. Photo courtesy of NGA
The legacy Gov. Jared Polis wants to leave behind is a roadmap for educating the next generation.
Why it matters: The term-limited Democratic governor is issuing a call to action for the nation's governors to push a new vision that better connects education to workforce, civic and wellness outcomes.
The big picture: The plan is outlined in a 48-page report released Thursday ahead of the conclusion of Polis' tenure as chair of the National Governors Association.
- Titled "Let's Get Ready!," it reimagines student readiness for life beyond school.
- The four pillars begin with competency in reading and math, but the knowledge base extends to workforce preparedness, lifelong well-being and civic engagement.
To achieve this, states must develop new systems to measure outcomes and publish the data on a public dashboard, holding leaders and educators accountable.
What he's saying: "We need better ways to measure the outcomes to make sure that kids are able to succeed in the world, and then … success spells economic success for our country," Polis told Axios Denver on the sidelines of the association's weekend meeting in Colorado Springs.
The other side: One of the key components of the initiative is building a more effective partnership with the federal government on education. And it's unclear whether the Trump administration is willing to do so.
- In a discussion at the NGA conference between Polis and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, he thanked her for releasing $66 million in withheld federal dollars now headed to Colorado school districts.
- But she made "no guarantees" the same thing won't happen again and promised "pencil sharpening" that cuts costs in the future.
What's next: Colorado is expected to join a handful of other states in a pilot program to rethink how student achievement is measured by developing new benchmarks beyond standardized testing.
- "We plan to lead the way … [in] making sure we can take our schools to the next level and the results for students to the next level," Polis said.
The bottom line: The report builds on Polis' other education initiatives — including state-funded, part-time preschool and full-day kindergarten — and affirms his legacy as the education governor.