by Colleen Enos (CHEC Director of Government Relations)

While the state is trying to balance the budget by cutting approximately $1 billion in spending, Colorado’s baseline funding for schools must increase every year by at least the rate of inflation according to the previously passed Amendment 23. During the SMART Act hearings for the combined Senate and House Education Committee, Senator Lundeen asked a salient question regarding per pupil funding: “Is money the solution?” He pointed to the ranking of the United States in student test scores, which is currently below the world average, according to The Balance last July. Of course, home educators know that the answer to this question is no. We have been educating our children with dedication and love, and receiving student results far above those of the average public school-educated student for years.

Equity is one of the five values that the Colorado Department of Education Strategic Plan 2025-2028 names in its SMART Act materials on page 2. The definition of equity, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is “the state or quality of being just or fair.” Who determines what is just or fair? This is very different from equality, which means everyone is treated equally or the same. All over the country, diversity, equity, and inclusion departments are being eliminated, but here in Colorado, they are doubling down on these failed policies. However, since President Trump has signed an Executive Order eliminating funding for schools and colleges with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, Colorado may have to rethink its choices. Schools in Colorado, along with part-time programs, must decide how to apply and navigate these Colorado Department of Education priorities.

CHEC’s Meet Your Legislator Day is coming up on Wednesday, February 12^th. This is the opportunity for legislators to put a name and a face with their ideas about homeschooling in our beautiful state. You and your family are the best examples of Christian home educators in Colorado who are exercising their educational freedom and parental rights to homeschool. Come connect with legislators and advance the cause for homeschooling.

Register to attend here.

Please join me in keeping your eyes and ears open for any upcoming bills that would threaten our hard-won homeschool freedom in Colorado.

To review current introduced bills, go here.

In Him,

Colleen Enos, CHEC Director of Government Relations

About the Author: Colleen Enos

Colleen is a homeschooling mom of eight who just completed schooling her last two children. Her children range in age from 19 to 35 years old. She has been married to her husband, Mark, for 38 years, and they are now grandparents to three and expecting two more grandbabies very soon. She has been a speech and debate coach for 17 years, pouring her time, effort, and energy into preparing the next generation to speak truth into our culture. Colleen serves homeschool families as the CHEC Director of Government Relations and is working hard to safeguard homeschool freedom through her work with the legislature. You can reach Colleen at colleen@chec.org.