Governor Polis Signing Laws to Boost Student Achievement & Support Colorado Schools

Governor signing laws to improve math education and add 10.6% increase in total per pupil funding or $22,000 more per classroom

LOVELAND - Today, Governor Polis is signing legislation into law to support Colorado schools, develop the education workforce, and improve students' learning opportunities at every age.

"I am proud to sign new bipartisan laws at schools in Thornton, Loveland and Evans today to help improve math scores, recruit and retain more of our education workforce and to make unprecedented investments in per-pupil funding to reduce class size and pay teachers better," said Governor Jared Polis. "I'm proud that today we can deliver on our promise to help more students achieve success."

This morning at Truscott Elementary in Loveland, Governor Polis signed a bipartisan bill, SB23-087Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Program sponsored by Senators Janice Marchman and Mark Baisley, Representatives Cathy Kipp and Don Wilson and was joined by Commissioner Katy Anthes of the Colorado Department of Education. This new law addresses the educator shortage by creating a new teacher apprenticeship pathway at the Colorado Department of Education.

Also this morning, the Governor signed a bill in Fort Collins providing funding for the Colorado State Forest Service to upgrade its tree nursery, upgrade bare root trees, purchase a new seed storage cooler, expand shade storage, and purchase two refrigerated box trucks. This lawbuilds on the administration's efforts with the Dept. of Natural Resources to upgrade the tree nursery and was sponsored by Rep. Tammy Story and Senator Lisa Cutter. Director Matt McCombs of the Colorado State Forest Service was on hand for the signing ceremony.

This afternoon in Evans at Prairie Heights Middle School, Governor Polis will sign HB23-1213 Stop The Bleed School Training And Kits sponsored by Reps. Mary Young and Mary Bradfield and Senator Kyle Mullica and HB23-1067Family Intervener Program Deafblind Children sponsored by Reps. Young and Bradfield and Senators Lisa Cutter and Joann Ginal. Both laws received overwhelming support from the state legislature.

Also this afternoon, in Northglenn, Governor Polis will make an announcement on the Lifeguard Training Initiative to help keep pools open and safely staffed this summer.

Later this afternoon at Thornton elementary school, one of the Governor's Math Bright Spot award winners, the Governor will sign a number of bipartisan bills focused on investing in and improving schools including HB23-1231Math In Pre-kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade sponsored by Reps. Barbara McLachlan and Rose Pugliese and Senators Janice Marchman and Paul Lundeen. This session, Governor Polis partnered with the bill sponsors to announce these historic bipartisan investments in evidence-based math support for Colorado students. This new bipartisan law provides unprecedented support for math instruction, STEM-focused after-school programming, and improvement for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade to get every Colorado student on track to math proficiency.

The Governor will also sign SB23-287Public School Finance sponsored by Senators Rachel Zenzinger and Paul Lundeen and Reps. Barbara McLachlan and Cathy Kipp and SB23-099 Special Education Funding sponsored by Reps. Kipp and Frizell and Sens. Zenzinger and Kirkmeyer. Both bills will increase per-pupil funding to historic levels, allowing districts and schools to better support students and educators.

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