Child poverty increased at an astonishing rate from 2000 to 2007 in Colorado. Although Colorado holds an unimpressive middle rank (22) nationally in the percentage of children in poverty, the KidsCount Data Center reports that the number of poor children in our state grew from 104,000 in 2000 to 192,000 poor children in 2007, an increase of 85 percent and the poor children in our state grew from 104,000 in 2000 to 192,000 poor children in 2007, an increase of 85 percent and the highest increase in the country. Only seven other states saw an increase in their child poverty rates during this period. State expenditures in areas such as safety-net programs, child care assistance, and work-based support can help ameliorate poverty and increase child and family well-being. Extensive research shows that lower spending levels on safety-net programs affect child well-being, particularly for children in poverty.
Title II, Part A (IIA) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides funding for district-based initiatives designed to improve the quality of teaching and leadership in schools. Title IIA funds may be used for a vast array of activities including high-quality professional development, recruitment and retention of effective educators, helping teachers become highly qualified, and class size reduction. However, emerging research on the different allowable activities suggests that some strategies have more impact on educator effectiveness, and ultimately on student learning, than others.
Even in the face of Congressional inaction, President Obama can leverage executive branch power, unleash enterprise and investment, and move America toward a clean energy future that curbs climate change. Featuring 200 specific recommendations developed by more than 100 industry experts and top energy thinkers, Powering Forward provides the Administration with options to move the nation closer to a clean energy economy.
