The 2012 legislative session has some big clouds of uncertainty hanging over it, but those haven’t prevented lawmakers from drawing up a long list of education bills to pitch to their colleagues.
Observers predict 2012 will be a busier session for education issues than was 2011. It looks like there will plenty for virtually every education interest group to love – or hate – in this year’s crop of bills.
Major education proposals are expected to include school finance reform, early childhood literacy, testing, charter and innovation schools and regulation of online schools.
But there are questions about how much significant education policy will be made this year, given three worries hanging over the session:
- Budget: The state budget situation remains tight, although modest revenue increases make things look a bit less bleak than in recent years.
- Lobato: A district judge’s ruling against the state in the Lobato school funding lawsuit, which is being appealed, will be on lawmakers’ minds.
- Partisanship: Party conflict may be more intense this year in the General Assembly, where each party controls a chamber. Not only is 2012 an election year, but partisan sensitivities have been heightened by redistricting of legislative districts.
For an extensive issue by issue look at education in 2012, based on interviews with a wide selection of lawmakers, lobbyists, executive branch officials and others, you can read the full article at Education News Colorado. [source: Todd Engdahl, Education Issues Stack Up For 2012]
If you have a specific interest in an issue for education in the 2012, you can go directly to that section.
