April 19,2011

Over the next couple of months I’ll be turning my attention nationally. Future e-mails will come from Uniting4Kids. As our website nears completion you will be asked to fill out a short profile. This will allow us to direct notifications that are pertinent to your region. For the past decade it has been an honor to serve Colorado’s children and families. Please remember that I don’t make a salary and I don’t have a paid staff. In the upcoming months you  will have the opportunity to sustain this continued work by becoming an associate of Uniting4Kids or donating here:

https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6950/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=3642

Help end NCLB and return the focus to children with relevant, challenging and empowering learning opportunities for students:

In bi-partisan commitment, Colorado legislators from both sides of the aisle have a brought forth a Memorial to end a decade of the failed No Child Left Behind Act. The Memorial, JSM-11-004, TITLE will be debated in the Senate Education Committee on April 21, at 1:30 in SC354 on the third floor of the capitol or if the room is too crowded in the Old Supreme Court Chambers in the basement.

Senate Joint Memorial 11-004 urges Congress to “completely repeal” the No Child Left Behind law “as soon as practicable” and generally reduce federal mandates and oversight of K-12 education, returning to the original intent behind the Elementary Secondary Education Act. (Read the text here.

READ the fact sheet here: In light of findings that NCLB and increasing standardized testing does not increase achievement, even when measured by test scores, how can we justify spending billions of dollars when our state has just cut .5 billion over the past two years. Our children are losing teachers, computers, libraries, literacy programs, course options, art, music, after-school programs, intervention services, and so forth.

You can help bring an end to excessive testing, ineffective policies, and wasteful spending:

Contact these elected Representatives:

Governor Hickenlooper: (303)866-2471; http://www.colorado.gov/apps/oit/governor/citizen/assistanceUtility/shareOpinionGovOffice.jsf
Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia at: (303)866-2087;Suzanne.Stark@state.co.us
Senate Education Committee Member:
Michael Johnston, Adams County (303)866-4864; mike@mikejohnston.org

Testify in the Senate Education Committee:
Our legislators need to hear from parents, teachers, students and citizens. Sign up to testify with Lisa Alonge Morgan, Uniting4Kids administrative assistant: lalonge@comcast.net. You’ll be invited to a phone conference call on Wed. at 9:30 to discuss the Memorial and how you can make sure it is passed and signed by Governor John Hickenlooper.


My Picks for Denver

Denver election – ballots Due May 3rd
James Mejia – http://www.mejiaformayor.com/vision-policy/education
Larry Ambrose – District One http://www.ambrose4council.com
Deborah Ortega – Council at Large http://ortegaatlarge.com/

Children and Family Resources:

Resources vary for children with special health care needs vary from county to county. WONDERbabies website helps families identify services available to them based on the county they live in.
Check it out! http://www.wonderbabiesco.org/Resources2.php
Amanda Millar is a 2009 FLTI graduate

The guide also includes strategies to promote community awareness of these key protective factors, as well as tip sheets in English and Spanish to share with parents and caregivers. To download or order a hard copy of the guide, go to the Child Welfare Information Gateway website by clicking on the link below.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/guide2011/index.cfm


Opportunities:

MESA – Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement
Call for Judges. MESA day Friday, May 6, 2011 7:30-12
Auraria Campus
Register at http://bit.ly/fFYv5g
Contact Kevin Owens; Kevin.owens@cmesa.org. (303)556-5923

Are you looking to further your career as an advocate?

The National Women’s Law Center is committed to helping emerging leaders make positive change for low-income women and their families. We are now accepting applications for our 2011 Progressive Leadership Advocacy Network (PLAN) program, a leadership training institute October 12-15, 2011 for select advocacy leaders.

The PLAN experience helps advocates sharpen their skills and deepen their understanding of the steps they need to take to be effective leaders. It’s highly interactive and introspective and includes:
•    An intensive, three-day PLAN Fall Institute for new members;
•    Ongoing strategic leadership, policy, and advocacy learning opportunities; and
•    Access to individualized technical assistance from NWLC policy and advocacy staff.

http://www.nwlc.org/progressive-leadership-advocacy-network

Events

Wednesday, April 20th 6pm – Film screening and evening with director Amy Valens
August to June
Jefferson County Open School (7655 W. 10th Ave.)
AUGUST TO JUNE is an 88 minute documentary celebrating values we are on the brink of losing in the single-minded pursuit of higher test scores!
Come inside a public school happily and purposefully going against current trends and join 26 8-10 year olds, their teacher, and their parents for a year bursting with opportunities for curiosity, creativity and compassion.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajwCQ3PQuVA&feature=player_embedded

Thursday, April 21, 2011, 7-8:30 Townhall with Morgan Carroll on Education Funding and Challenges
Aurora Center for Active Adults (NOTE:  LOCATION CHANGE THIS MONTH ONLY) at 30 Del Mar Circle (south of 6th Avenue, west of Peoria).  The topic will be Education Funding:  Challenges & Successes.  Our guest panelists will be:
Jeanette  Carmany, Aurora School Board Member  
Jane Goff, State Board of Education Member
Guy Bellview, Chief Financial Officer for Cherry Creek School District
Casey Wardynski, Chief Financial Officer for Aurora School District
Kim Olszewski, Aurora Pu
blic School Teacher
All are welcome.  Panel discussion will be followed by Q&A by audience.  If you care about the future of public education in Colorado, please join us!

State Senator
MORGAN CARROLL
MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIR
200 E. Colfax Ave., Room 271
Denver, CO 80203
Capitol: 303-866-4879
morgan.carroll.senate@state.co.us
www.senmorgancarroll.com