1. education
2. school

April 6, 2015
An Open Letter to the Colorado General Assembly and Governor John Hickenlooper
As parents, community leaders, educators, and civic and business leaders, we are
writing to show our support for reducing the amount of testing in K-12 schools while
maintaining our state’s nationally recognized accountability system.
SB-223 undermines the core of why we assess students and schools – to get a sense of
how all students across the state are performing. The bill removes critical consequences
that are at the very heart of our state’s accountability system, which provides useful
educator evaluations, transparency into school and district performance, and
information to identify the students and schools in need of more support.
Because of testing, we can see which schools are growing and replicate that success,
which is critical to ensure that Colorado’s kids are ready for Colorado’s jobs. In just five
years, 74 percent of Colorado jobs will require a post-secondary degree or certificate.
Less than a quarter of Colorado’s students currently receive that level of training.
Colorado’s students deserve a better guarantee for their future.
For our children to succeed, we need to regularly assess their growth and underscore to
them the importance of doing so. Testing is not just a necessary part of responsible
academic development, it is also a constant throughout life. In school and then
throughout adulthood, our students will be required to compete in many ways, and
academic tests are part of that preparation.
Furthermore, students need to take these important tests because they provide critical
information for a credible, comparable school rating system. This measure is essential
for any parent who is looking to pick a school in Colorado’s open enrollment system.
Assessments allow the state, schools and parents to monitor performance and
intervene, when necessary, to give students the appropriate support to master the
skills, knowledge, and behaviors needed for college and career success.
One of the great benefits of the statewide annual test is that it reveals gaps in
performance between students of different race, gender, or socioeconomic status. To
put a finer point on it, the tests give the broader community the information needed to
see if schools are providing an equitable education to all kids.
As a broad group of civic leaders and community members, we continue to support the
accountability laws in place. We know that it is possible to address the over-testing issue
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without jeopardizing these important system safeguards. We ask you to oppose SB-223
and reject any other proposal that undermines these core principles.
Sincerely,
* indicates the signer also asked to be identified as a parent
Denver Metro
Chamber of Commerce
Pinnacol Assurance
Downtown Denver
Partnership
Giving Generations
Foundation
Teach for America
Colorado
Succeeds
OfficeScapes
Kaiser Permanente of
Colorado
STRIVE Preparatory
Schools
A+ Denver
Stand for Children
Colorado
Lockton Companies
Rose Community
Foundation
AGC of Colorado
Colorado Children’s Campaign
Education Reform Now
Doug Jones, President, The
Jones Realty Group *
Donna Lynne, President,
Kaiser Permanente of
Colorado
Earl J. Wright
John E. Freyer *
John P. Beeble, CEO,
Saunders Construction, Inc. *
H. Joshua Gould, Chairman &
CEO, RNL Design *
Dave Davia, EVP & CEO,
Colorado Association of
Mechanical & Plumbing *
Mark Bundy, Executive VP &
CEO, Lockton Companies *
Bruce S. Wagner, President &
COO, Wagner Equipment Co.
Tom Clark, CEO, Metro
Denver Economic
Corporation *
Buzz Koelbel
Pete Coors
Mark Spiecker, CEO, Sharklet
Technologies *
Michael Niyompong, COO,
Clayton Early Learning
Kyle Grivette, CEO, AAA
Building Maintenance, LLC *
Dave Siegel, CEO, Frontier
Airlines *
Michael F. Feeley, Shareholder,
Browstein Hyatt Farber Schreck,
LLP *
Ken Gart *
Barbara Grogan *
Cedric Buchanon, CEO – Metro
Denver, BBVA Compass
Mizraim Cordero, Director,
Colorado Competitive Council *
Ed Will, Executive Vice President,
Quanta Power Inc.
Kirk Monroe, Executive VP,
Wholesale Bank Director,
Vectra Bank *
Jeff Wasden, President,
Colorado Business
Roundtable *
Bob Tointon, President,
Phelps-Tointon Inc.
Lori Davis, Managing Partner,
Denver Office, Grant Thornton
LLP *
Scott Laband, President,
Colorado Succeeds *
Bruce Siegel, President,
ChangeLabs
Stephanie Klein, President,
Experience Factor Recruiting
Solutions *
Mike Fordyce, President &
CEO, Craig Hospital
Stuart Davie, President &
CEO, Goodwill Industries of
Denver
Brent Abrahm, President & CEO,
Accruit *
Christine Benero, President &
CEO, Mile High United Way
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Matt Bargell, President &
CEO, NORDEN41 Design
Phil Kalin, President & CEO,
Pinnacol
Bob Diebel, President &
Owner, OfficeScapes *
Edgar L. Neel, Attorney &
Shareholder, Pendleton,
Wilson, Hennessey & Crow
James Cryan, Founder & CEO,
Rocky Mountain Prep
David Grow, Counsel, State
Farm Insurance Companies
Greg Morris, Managing
Principal, DTZ
Kevin H. Kelley, Partner,
Husch Blackwell *
Terri Salankey, Regulatory
Specialist, RMO Inc. *
Ryan E. Warren, Shareholder,
Polsinelli PC *
Cindy Parsons, VP, External
Affairs – West Denver,
Comcast
Maja Rosenquist, VP &
General Manager, Denver
Operations, Mortenson
Construction *
Jane Okun Bomba, IHS, Inc.
George Sparks
Donna Evans, President &
CEO, Colorado Women’s
Chamber of Commerce
Sheila Bugdanowitz,
President & CEO, Rose
Community Foundation
David Henry, President,
Denver, LaneTerralever
Van Schoales, CEO, A+
Denver *
Jason Kleinhelter, Business
Development Manager,
Saunders Construction, Inc. *
Gene Hodge, Director of
Project Development,
Mortenson Construction *
Mimi Roberson,
Owner/Consultant, Roberson
Consulting Group, LLC
Steve Bachar, Partner,
Ireland Stapleton Pryor &
Pascoe PC *
Jeremy Story, Senior Director
of Communications,
GroundFloor Media *
Lorii Rabinowitz, Vice
President & Partner,
Rebound Solutions
Jeff Dolan, VP, Regulatory &
Government Affairs,
Comcast*
Kevin Walker, VP, Employee
Benefits, CoBiz Insurance
David Bailey, Retired
President, Wells Fargo
Colorado
Cathey M. Finlon
Kelly Brough, President & CEO,
Denver Metro Chamber of
Commerce *
Robert E. Golden, CAE, RCE,
President & CEO, South Metro
Chamber of Commerce
Jessica A. Acosta, Principal &
CEO, Environmental Consulting
Services
Jon Hanover, Executive Director
& Principal, Roots Elementary
School
Marilynn E. Force, PhD, Core
Faculty, Organizational
Leadership, University of the
Rockies
Celso White, Global Chief Supply
Chain Officer, MOLSONCOORS
Brewing Company
Bob Hottman, CPA, Partner,
EKS&H *
David Fine, Partner, McKenna
Long & Aldridge LLP *
Janet Lopez, Senior Program
Officer, Rose Community
Foundation
Edie Sonn, VP of
Communications and Public
Affairs, Pinnacol
Dustin S. Graul, VP, Western
Region, Brinkmann
Constructors*
Tom Coyne, Britten Coyne
Partners *
Mark W. Williams
Lawrence A. Atler *
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Tom Allen *
David Baker
Julie Skeen *
Laura English *
Bruce Hoyt *
Eric Adams
Jesus Salazar
Thomas A. Gougeon
Emma Galvin
Chuck McDaniel
Dan Ritchie
Raul Villalobos *
Lee Hedenkamp
Kayte Fulton
Makaan Burt
Susan Enfield
Angie Unruh
Nina Lopez
Nancy Harlow
Hillary Elliott
Todd Miller
Liz Rapp
Rebecca Cordes
Scott Richards *
Ned Minor
Trey Rogers *
Pat Cortez
Jim Fullerton *
Ryan Wilson
Tamra Ward
Al Timothy
Tom Brinegar
Richard Herbst
Dr. Rick A. Kushner
Brad R. Busse
Ralph Christie
Tonya Lemmons
Alan Hansen
Rachel Scarlata
Erik Hauge
Mandy Fox
Edward Cowan
Jon Evans
Don Somsky
Lavern Martinez
Dave Wollard
Angela Baier *
Ron & Susan Tilton *
Jerome Davis *
Gino Greco *
Jason R. Dunn *
Mark Smith
Zack Neumeyer
Tom Flanagan
Steve Richards
Kurtis Indorf *
Jeff McCord *
Lindsay Neil *
Jill Kreger
Nancy Beaudrot
Kim Westlake
lola Quinlan
Sonja Leonard
Tillie Elvrum
Rita Wise
Barbara O’Connor
Peggy Tran
Martha Medrano
Linda Harris
Robert Victoria
Tyson Neidig
Sharalynn Rocha
Chris Kermiet
Rene Bobo
MiDian Holmes
Krista Spurgin
Tiffany Snyder
Caroline Van Velkinburgh
Robert Paul
Roger Crazy Wolf
Jean Gore
Deo Schlupp
Sandra Murray
Bobbi Thompson
Linda Drescher
April Portillos
Alicia Pina
Kristin Sunada
Carola Tschiemer
Patricia Batchelder
Martha Roberts
John Eckler
Michael Foley
Samantha McDermott
Susan Dean
Angie Fei
Susan E Tourjee
Claudia Van Gerven
Monzola Williams
Vincent Nicoletti
Rob Carter
James A Clark Jr
Erick Villarroel
Richard Babcock
Stewart Fisher
Myrna Prentice
Philip Smith
Martha Hoff
Ellen Zuckerman
Margaret Hutchison
Elly Conley
Marilyn Stranske
Mia Barcimanto
Melinda Parish
Shari Fitzgerald, MD
Marcus L Goodbody
Janet Monell
Bruce Miner
katherine Ware
Paul Werstein
Thersa Dando
Bob Dando
Betty Tagge
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Kay Fair
Kathleen Odefey
Dr. Vic DeRosia
Andrea Lecoq
Kevin Duong
GinaMmolina
Alex Brown
Pat Ander
Matthew Boice
Barbara Coombs
Janet Rupp
Sandy & Bill Chockla
Judy Pryor
John Dinkmeyer
Michelle Preston
Sandy Reavey
Allison Dando
Mary Ann Dimand
Steve Maness
Janine Solano
Louis Palazzini
Donna Flynn
Carol Dare
Donna Starr
Mary Sibigtroth
Stephen Ruby
Malaika Thompson
Harry Michaels, Jr.
Gina Writz
Julia Bottom
Randall Rose
Martha W D Bushnell
Yvonne Fitzpatrick
Jennifer Colaizzi
Douglas Luithly
Mary Salvetti
Ursula Hakes
Arturo Andujo
Antonio Valdez
Keith Ohler
Steven Cozzi
Jeff Johnston
Donna Plutschuck
Lynn and Edward Smith and
Hill
Staci Samuelson
Chelsea Henkel
Kathleen Doyle
Robert H. Bushnell
Joanne Delude
Brit Havey
Pat Hobbs
Guillermina Aguirre
Stephanie Saunders
Harry Corsover
Karen Cardwell
Paul Deardorff
Vera Mulder
Kathy Gierer
Sharon Sanborn
Dr. Joseph Panza
Julianna Overland
Marissa Grace
Mark Henninger
Dwarkesh Ratnakar
Carla Ikenouye
Renee Barbeau
Meredith Ryan
Kenneth Johansen
Amanda Quintana
Caleb Williams
Bruce Pulford
Jenn Onstott
Edward Hall
Jeff Stark
Glenn Dunagan
Katie Lester
Mark Niemeyer
Kristine Bartz
William Holmgren
Carol Myers
Robin Mitchell
Christina Espino
Coi Drummond-Gehrig
Dwayne and Terry Meeks
Cheryl Stegman
Linda Daniels
Alan Brown
Roberta Allen
Zeek Duff
Charles Straley
Monique Cole
Linda Hardesty
Deby Brown
Belinda Schulz
Peter Huidekoper
Katherine Buckius
Lance Slaughter
Cheryl Linn
Tim Lang
Anne C Courtright
Sara Mcintosh
Ralph Bridges
Sharon Baker
John Litz
Kevin Hall
Leslie Allen
Nancy Spence
Marky Thorsness
Stacey Weinstein
Marlene K Kallstrom
Eric Taylor
Annie Dawid
Stephanie Beranek
Jane Wilcox
Charles Cory
Curtis Matile
Thomas Frazier
Larry Svoboda
Wilbur Little
John Porter
Rory Pierce
Sharon Malloy
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Robert Uttaro
Belinda Wilks
Thao Nguyen
Wendy McKendrick
James Jordan
Barbara Blake
Sal Garcia
Lisa Cooley
Jane Coffin
Carol Lobato
Cynthia Fenster
Heather Wilder
Michael Verry
Oscar Zavala Castillo
David Schamanski
Robert Shurtleff
Rich Miller
Bobbie Clapper
Jessica Moore
Carol Messmer
Karen Gross
Jenny Baker-Strasburg
Glenda Edwards
Richard Brice
Maria Baker
Tom Reynolds
Mary Hockley
Jim Schumacher
Carole Karras
Steven Kahn
James Wilkins
Anne Ward
Warren Webber
Jim Smith
Clinton Piel
Anne Hurst
Diana Williams
Wes Goodwin
Barb Slenger
Steve Replogle
Oscar Gonalez
Jayne Finley
Dorothy Sanchez
Sherie Murphy
Emily Langley
Steven Nelson
Polly Cotton
Shannon Fitzgerald
Jaculin Ferenc
David McGhee
Nancy Kelly
Patricia Robb
Patrick Harrington
Lawrence Field
Elaine Brush
Gail Baldwin
Jon McNulty
Robin Selman
Jerri Hill
Edward G. Mrkvicka
Eric Tussey
David Anderson
Terrill Nickerson
John Metz
Deborah Greymoon
Lynn Wodell
Jana Sullivan
Susan Cable
Tom Rothrock
Marc Lyons
Paul Benevides
Elayne Casados
Beverly Hillstrom
Wendy Weaver
Kathryn Christian
Jackie Duba
Cara Correnti
Kara Pankiw
Manuel Garcia
Donna Fogel
Ben F. Garcia, Ph.D.-ABD
Ricardo Octavio
Cody Wieben
Susan Brown
Shawn Elliott
Dm Kingsley
Kathleen Sullivan
Robert Vaughan
Clifton Brown
Philip Effland
Susan Signorella
Colleen Nunn
Jeanne Lenzini
Jeanne McLaughlin
Adrienne Tate
Wilder Kingsley
Roseanne Salyer
Mark and Kristen Hanann
Monoiette Adams
Lucy Okoh
Debbie Galbreath
Melissa Riley
Sandra Kuark
Dana Trenovich
Lydia Weekes
Sharon Gore
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