Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

DENVER – Gov. Bill Owens announced today that he will seek full funding of kindergarten through 12^th grade education for the third consecutive year, something that had not been accomplished in the decade prior to the Owens administration. The Legislature adopted the Governor’s "full funding" initiative in each of the last two years, and Gov. Owens is confident the Legislature will do so again.

The Governor’s FY 2001-02 budget requests $4.3 billion for K-12 education, an increase of $218.6 million over the prior year. Since Gov. Owens took office, annual funding for K-12 education has increased by 18 percent - $590 million - in Colorado.

"Today, school districts have more money for teachers’ salaries, more money for equipment, more money for construction. We are investing in the future of our children and the future of our state. While dollars alone do not guarantee that students will receive a quality education, making sure that schools receive proper funding continues to be my highest priority," Owens said.

Of the $4.3 billion, $2.3 billion is from the state’s General Fund with the remainder primarily from local funds.

Included in the Governor’s K-12 budget is an additional $189 million to fully cover inflation (3.6 percent) and increases in enrollment (1.4 percent).

Other highlights of the Governor’s education budget include:

• $10 million for K-12 schools’ capital construction needs. The capital construction projects will be determined by the state Board of Education.

• and $18.6 million for Read to Achieve grants.

"Almost one-third of Colorado’s eight-year olds cannot read at grade level. This is a tragedy that Read to Achieve is designed to address. The goal is to provide up to $1,100 per pupil in additional funding - above and beyond the regular appropriation - for every third grade student reading below proficiency. My hope is that every child in Colorado will be able to read at or above grade level by the time they enter fourth grade," Owens said.

The budget also includes $1.3 million for the education initiatives the Governor will introduce during the 2001 legislative session and $2.5 million to provide transportation assistance for low income students in low-performing public schools so those students will have a choice of being able to commute to alternate public schools.

The K-12 education budget is part of the entire state budget that the Governor will deliver to the General Assembly on November 1.

Archives Homepage |  State Homepage | Department Homepage