Colorado: Governor Polis, Governors Call on Department of Education Not to Rip Funding Away from American Students and Educators

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis joined Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and 16 other governors from around the country in calling on Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to release approximately $6.8 billion that the Trump Administration is withholding from schools and students across America, including $71 million in Colorado. Governors from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin all signed onto the letter, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of the withholding. This comes after Colorado joined a multi-state lawsuit demanding that the U.S. Department of Education do its job to obligate congressionally-appropriated funding to support students, families, and educators.

Earlier this month, Governor Polis met with Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland, Lake County Superintendent Kate Bartlett, Colorado Department of Education CFO Wayne Peel, Denver Public Schools Chief of Academics Simone Wright, Colorado Association of School Executives Director Melissa Gibson, Colorado educators, and the Executive Director of the Colorado Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs to discuss the serious impacts that withholding this funding will have on teachers, students and schools around the state, including after school programs that so many families rely on. The message was clear: withholding these funds hurts students and schools.

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In a new letter, the Governors detailed the impact of these missed payments across the nation's education system and urged the Department to follow the law and fulfill their basic obligation to distribute funding appropriated by Congress.

"Our children are our future, and it's disturbing to see the Trump administration illegally rip away funding meant to help students learn and grow. Supporting our students and educators means stronger communities, less crime, and a stronger economy for everyone. It's time that the Trump administration and Department of Education do their jobs and not block states from receiving funding that's already been allocated for students and teachers," said Governor Jared Polis.

In Colorado, the administration is withholding $71 million in education grants that provide funding for afterschool and summer programs, teacher salaries, language courses, and professional development. This harmful funding freeze comes after many Colorado schools have already finalized their budgets, causing more uncertainty for schools, students, and teachers. School districts rely on this funding, derived from federal title funds, to improve educator effectiveness and ensure students have access to safe and enriching academic settings all year long, support migratory children and English language learners, and without it, face serious financial pressure in the coming school year.

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As Chair of the National Governors Association, Governor Polis launched Let's Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success, a yearlong initiative designed to support the nation's Governors in driving innovative education policies. Let's Get Ready aims to help Governors form policies that better evaluate outcomes for state investments in education and improve outcomes for learners at all stages of their education journey. The initiative also focuses on the ways states can meet the future needs of the workforce by preparing students for success in and outside of the classroom.

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