OUR CHILDREN!!
Let’s discuss the academic recovery of students following the traumatic and unnecessary COVID shutdowns, using Colorado’s 2024 CMAS scores as a measure of progress.
Positive Gains:
– D38 (Monument), Manitou Springs, and Woodland Park improved by 9-12% over 2019.
– D12 (Cheyenne Mountain) and D20 (Academy) are close to pre-pandemic levels.
Moderate Recovery:
– D11 lags 2019 scores by about 2% in reading/writing, while D49 trails by 5%.
Leadership Changes:
– D38, D12, D11, and D20 have hired new superintendents within the last 3-4 years.
– D49 remains the only district with the same superintendent for 12 years. Despite the unwavering dedication of its principals and teachers, D49’s performance does not reflect their hard work.
Persistent Challenges:
– D49 shows more severe struggles, with 68% of students not proficient in math and 54% not proficient in reading/writing, with lower-income and minority students faring even worse by as much as 11%. Translation: almost 7 out of 10 students are not proficient in math and 54% are not proficient in reading/writing.
– Even as the highest-scoring district in El Paso County, Cheyenne Mt (D12) has 30% of students not proficient in reading/writing and 40% not proficient in math. Translation: 3 out of 10 kids are not proficient in reading/writing, while 4 out of 10 are not proficient in math.
– Parents are growing increasingly aware that we must do better for our children and our country. Despite being the world’s leading superpower, the U.S. ranks surprisingly low in global academic performance.
Financial Concerns:
– With districts receiving ~$11,000 per student annually, every board needs to question the effectiveness of spending and calls for improved efficiency in education funding.
– I hope to see the establishment of a local Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to ensure education remains a top priority and resources are used effectively to support our nation’s most valuable asset—our children. Achieving this will require the collective effort of the entire community.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iIxHUA69TIWkqQkPV3fALFmwFLo9hxDYpKlYJqPBXxY/edit?usp=sharing