GOV. RITTER, BIPARTISAN OFFICIALS LAUNCH STRONG AMERICAN SCHOOLS' INITIATIVE IN COLORADO

 

Gov. Bill Ritter and a bipartisan group of political and businesses officials joined former three-term Gov. Roy Romer today to launch the "Ed in '08/Strong American Schools" initiative in Colorado, challenging the nation's leaders to make education reform a top priority this election year.  

 

Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, former Gov. Richard Lamm, former U.S. Sen. and University of Colorado President Hank Brown,  Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper , state Sens. Nancy Spence and Chris Romer, state Rep. Rob Witwer, the Colorado State Board of Education and Education Commissioner Dwight Jones were among those who gathered on the West Steps of the State Capitol to kick off the public awareness campaign.

 

The Strong American Schools campaign – chaired by former Gov. Romer, who also served as superintendent of the Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District – urges the nation's leaders to embrace three common sense solutions to education reform: rigorous standards, effective teachers in every classroom, and more time and support for student learning.

 

"Every leader understands the urgent need for public education reform," Gov. Ritter said. "We need a thoughtful debate from our nation's leaders about how we can provide every student in Colorado, and across America, with the opportunity to attend a world-class school.  Education is just as important as decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, addressing the skyrocketing costs of health care and dealing with climate change. It is time that all of America's leaders make education a top domestic priority."

 

In Denver, a mere 46 percent of ninth-graders will graduate from high school on time. And across Colorado, those who do graduate from high school are often unprepared for the rigors of college. Nearly one-third of college freshmen in Colorado require remedial training.

 

"In addition to the thousands of students who won't graduate from high school next spring, thousands more will graduate unprepared for life after high school," Romer said. "They will not be ready for work, and they will not be ready for life. Being above average is not good enough, especially when standards in America's schools are well below the average academic standards in other industrialized countries."

 

"Join us and take action to improve our schools," said Lamm. "A strong Colorado depends on strong public schools.  And, a strongAmerica depends on well-educated students and high-performing schools. We should strive for gold when it comes to our schools, the same way we strive for gold medals at the Olympics."

 

"As the former President of the University of Colorado, I think it is vital that we prepare American youth for the unique challenges facing them in college and in an increasingly global economy," said Brown. "America's college completion rate is deplorably low. Only about half of students who enroll in four-year colleges after high school manage to earn a bachelor's degree within six years.  And, more than one-third of college freshmen have to take remedial classes to learn what they should have learned in high school. We must make it a priority to ensure that Colorado students receive a world-class public education."

 

"Charles Dickens wrote that we should fear the boy named Ignorance because on his brow is written doom," Lt. Gov. O'Brien said. "If we can't erase that doom through our education system, I fear for our country's future."

 

Visit www.strongamericanschools.org for more information.

 

GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE FOR TODAY (THURSDAY, AUG. 14, 2008)

 

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008

 

10 a.m.            Gov. Ritter will join former Gov. Romers and Lamm as they endorse and launch the "Strong American Schools" campaign in Colorado. Also taking part in the kick-off news conference will be former U.S. Sen. and University of Colorado President Hank Brown and state Sen. Nancy Spence.

 

Strong American Schools is a bipartisan national awareness campaign that is urging leaders around the country to embrace three common-sense solutions to education reform: rigorous standards, effective teachers in every classroom, and more time and support for student learning.

 

Romer, who served three terms as Colorado governor and as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is national chairman of Strong American Schools.

 

                        Location: West Steps, State Capitol.

 

GOV. RITTER STATEMENT ON DEATH OF ROCKMOUNT FOUNDER JACK A. WEIL

 

Gov. Bill Ritter issued the following statement today regarding the death of 107-year-old Rockmount Ranch Wear founder Jack A. Weil:

 

"Jack A. Weil was a legendary Coloradan and a pioneering Denver businessman. He set up shop in Lower Downtown when it was mostly a warehouse district. He was wise enough to keep Rockmount right where it is, through the hard times, and today the business attracts customers from around the world. Colorado will miss him dearly, but thanks to his family and Rockmount's unique Western fashions, his legacy will live on for at least another 107 years."

 

GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY (AUG. 14, 2008)

 

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008

 

10 a.m.            Gov. Ritter will join former Gov. Romers and Lamm as they endorse and launch the "Strong American Schools" campaign in Colorado. Also taking part in the kick-off news conference will be former U.S. Sen. and University of Colorado President Hank Brown and state Sen. Nancy Spence.

 

Strong American Schools is a bipartisan national awareness campaign that is urging leaders around the country to embrace three common-sense solutions to education reform: rigorous standards, effective teachers in every classroom, and more time and support for student learning.

 

Romer, who served three terms as Colorado governor and as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is national chairman of Strong American Schools.

 

                        Location: West Steps, State Capitol.

 

GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE FOR TODAY (TUESDAY, AUG. 12, 2008)

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008

 

8 a.m.              Gov. Ritter will cast his ballot in the primary election this morning about an hour after the polls open.

 

                        Location: Polling place at Denver Public Schools Administrative Offices,

9^th and Grant.

 

2-2:30 p.m.     Gov. Ritter, Senate President Peter Groff, Reps. Terrance Carroll and Rosemary Marshall, and CDOT Executive Director Russell George will honor the Tuskegee Airman when they unveil a new highway sign designating Interstate 70 between Brighton Boulevard and Tower Road as the "Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway."

 

The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II were young enlisted men who became America's first black military airmen. Several veteran Tuskegee Airmen will join Gov. Ritter and the others at the unveiling.

 

                        Location: Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St., Denver.

 

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TODAY: Governor Ritter, Obama Campaign Chair Pena and Convention CEO to Announce "Community Credentialing" Information for Final Night of Convention at INVESCO Field at Mile High

DENVER – Highlighting the Democratic National Convention Committee's (DNCC) effort to make the 2008 Democratic National Convention the most open and accessible Convention in history, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Obama Campaign National Co-Chair Federico Peña and DNCC CEO Leah D. Daughtry will announce at 2:30 MT/4:30 ET pm, TODAY, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 how Rocky Mountain West residents can apply for "community credentials" for Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Thursday, August 28, 2008, the final night of the Convention.

WHO:
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.
Federico Peña, National Co-Chair, Obama for America
Leah D. Daughtry, CEO, DNCC

WHAT:
Governor Ritter, Obama Campaign National Co-Chair Federico Peña and Convention CEO Leah D. Daughtry to announce how residents of Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountain West can apply for "community credentials" for the final night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

WHEN:
2:30 MT/4:30 ET pm, TODAY, Wednesday, August 6, 2008

GOV. RITTER SCHEDULE FOR TODAY -- TUESDAY, AUG. 5, 2008

 

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008

 

11:15 to 11:45 a.m.    Gov. Ritter will lead a conference call with reporters to discuss U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's "New Energy for America" plan and how it fits with Colorado's New Energy Economy.

 

                                    E-mail Jen Stutsman (jstutsman@barackobama.com) for call-in information.

 

1 to 2:30 p.m.             The Governor's Energy and Economic Development offices will co-host a "Solar Briefing: The Promise of Colorado's Renewable Future." Industry leaders from Abengoa Solar, Ausra Solar, Brightsource Energy, OptiSolar and Sun Edison will make presentations. Craig Cox from Intrawest Energy Alliance will lead the discussion.

                                   

                                    Location: Old Supreme Court Chambers, 2^nd floor, State Capitol.  

 

Midnight                    Gov. Ritter will appear on the Tavis Smiley Show on Rocky Mountain PBS, KRMA Channel 6. The show will be available online later Wednesday at www.pbs.org/tavissmiley/video.

 

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