Engaging Conversations: Partnering for Educational Excellence in Colorado Bill Fulton, Civic Canopy Jane Urschel, CASB Lisa Weil, Great Education Colorado

A lot has changed in a year... Governor Ritter’s Colorado Promise Tough Choices or Tough Times Report House Bill 1118 (Blueprint Conversations) P-20 Council Formed CDE’s “Forward Thinking” Report Calls for a “Statewide Conversation” on Education

Beginning a “statewide conversation” Conversation 2007—State Legislature and Donnell-Kay Foundation Great Education Colorado CASB: HB 1118 Blueprint Conversations Conference on 21 st Century Learning “By the People” Event—Regis, CSU, Rocky Mountain PBS Civic Mission of Schools Agenda 2010 Summit P-20 Council

A necessary partner in reform... Conversations in Colorado serve dual goals: Garner wisdom from/test proposals with those on the front lines Build buy-in for proposed reform from the voters

Who has taken part? Over 2,500 people across the state Public officials: Close to half of the Colorado General Assembly Commissioner Jones, State Board of Education Local school board members, mayors, city councils Governor’s Office & P-20 Council Members Wide range of educators: higher education, superintendents, principals, teachers General public: parents, students, business leaders, retirees

What are they talking about? Broadly: Goals/Vision for public education Strategies for achieving goals Barriers to achieving goals Need for new partnerships (mutual needs and responsibilities)

What are they saying? Strong sense of common goals General agreement on the challenges Window of great opportunity Hunger for “real change” Leadership from the top down and the bottom up Willingness to believe in what is possible

But this window could close... General trends of apathy and cynicism abound Splintering of factions and interests, unable to find common ground for the common good Systemic resistance (term limits, funding limits, political shifts) Tendency to blame others

Lessons Learned from the Process Common Vision for Public Education Responsible Citizens Skilled Workforce Life-long Learners Partnership and Relationships Need to Build Trust Need for “whole system” changes

Examples of What Could Happen Examples Example

As your work continues... Build in additional opportunities for engaging the public Transform education in Colorado with clear goals in mind Connect efforts and build on statewide processes

And most of all... Thank you for all you have done and will do to improve the state of education in Colorado