Gov. Bill Ritter and Colorado Education Commissioner Dwight Jones today welcomed news from U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet that Colorado will receive nearly $900 million for education funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"These funds will provide immediate relief to local Colorado school districts facing severe budget shortfalls," Gov. Ritter said. "The funds also will allow us to continue our goals of reforming education, reducing dropout rates, closing achievement gaps and increasing the number of degrees received by our students.
"Reinvesting in education will help ensure that Colorado is delivering a world-class, highly educated workforce for knowledge-based industries of the future," Gov. Ritter said.
"Prioritizing the needs of Colorado school children under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will pay enormous dividends over the long term," Commissioner Jones said. "The Department of Education is committed to working in close partnership with all school districts to ensure that these new dollars are spent in meaningful ways on proven strategies that have a positive impact on student achievement."
The education funding does not include competitive grants that also will be made available through the recovery act.
