Ritter creates panel to track schools through 'grade 20'

BYLINE: Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Some of the biggest names in education cheered on Gov. Bill Ritter Tuesday when he created a council to track Colorado schools from preschool to "grade 20."

Ritter said the council is part of his commitment to cut the dropout rate, reduce the gap in achievements for minorities and ensure that Colorado graduates are properly trained by the time they hit the workforce.

"The consensus among governors is states need to lead . . . in education reform," he said. "This is our vehicle for reform."

College presidents, school board members, high school principals and superintendents watched as Ritter signed an executive order creating the Governor's P-20 Education Coordinating Council.

Among those offering support was education kingpin Bruce Benson. "I think it's great because you've got to put the pieces together, and this does that," he said.

Benson is chairman of Metropolitan State College of Denver's board of trustees, former chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and chairman of the Denver Public Schools Foundation.

Benson is also the former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. He unsuccessfully worked last year to defeat Ritter, the Democratic candidate for governor.

But Benson shares Ritter's sentiment about politics and education.

"This has no R (Republican) or D (Democrat) behind it," Ritter said of his proposal. "This is not a partisan issue. This is about educating Colorado's kids.

"It is asking questions about what we do in Colorado around science and technology and engineering and math so kids are entering the 21st century workplace with a competency that allows us to compete globally."

Former GOP Gov. Bill Owens last year vetoed a bill that would have created a similar council. He said he was concerned about the costs, and that it was "premature" and "unnecessary" because another group already was studying the alignment of Colorado's educational systems.

Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, said "I was really disappointed when it was vetoed." But Owens' group was only studying the transition to college, Tupa said, and he and other lawmakers thought more was needed.

Mike Poore, the superintendent of the Sheridan School District, said there seemed to be an "energy" Tuesday when Ritter signed the order.

"I'm tired of just talking the talk," Poore said. "I want us to do something and this looks like it has potential."

The P-20 council will be composed of members appointed by the governor. The council, in turn, may create subcommittees to address specific issues.

The governor's policy office will provide administrative support, but the council may accept donations, according to the order.