Gov. Bill Ritter said today that a new state report, which shows that for the past four years 30 percent of college students have required remedial coursework, highlights why Colorado must do a better job of educating students before they get to college.
"As we fight to reverse this unprecedented economic decline, a strong education system becomes even more important," Gov. Ritter said. "We need to make sure students from preschool to grad school are getting the most rigorous and relevant education possible in order to successfully compete in a global, 21st century economy.
"Over the past two years, my administration has invested more general fund dollars into higher education than at any other time in state history," Gov. Ritter added. "It's unfortunate, however, that we spend $10 million a year on remedial education instead of investing those funds in financial aid, classroom instruction and innovative research. We can and must do better."
In his first State of the State speech, Gov. Ritter outlined three 10-year education goals:
· Cutting the state's high school dropout rate in half;
· Cutting achievement gaps in half;
· Doubling the number of college certificates and degrees earned by Colorado
Since then, Gov. Ritter has established a P-20 Education Council to drive major reform efforts, and he has enacted sweeping legislation to modernize the state's educational content and proficiency standards.
'Today's report underscores why we must continue to reform our educational system and vastly improve student learning," Gov. Ritter said. "Our students need better skills and better knowledge in order to succeed when they get to college and into the workplace."
