Greeley, CO – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet visited a Greeley elementary school today, continuing a series of education events includes school and classroom visits and roundtable discussion with teachers, principals, parents and superintendents in Colorado and across the country to hear local ideas on how to improve public schools and prepare all kids to compete in the 21st century economy.
“To ensure that our kids are prepared for college and to be leaders in the 21st century economy, our schools and school districts need to be accountable to our kids and have the flexibility to innovate and make decisions they believe are best,” Bennet said. “This is where the real work of improving public education will get done, listening to teachers, students, principals and parents and ensuring that well intended policies don’t create barriers to success.”
At Scott Elementary, Bennet stopped by classrooms and talked with students and teachers. Bennet plans to use the events to inform conversations about how best to improve public education and to build consensus for reforms that will help revitalize our schools and prepare kids for success.
The visits are modeled after the approach Bennet took as superintendent of Denver Public Schools, where he scheduled daily meetings with teachers and principals, and members of the community—conversations that helped build consensus and support for the positive reforms he implemented at the district. Bennet believes that the best ideas come from outside of Washington and wants to bring the voices, ideas and aspirations of teachers, principals, parents and students to the U.S. Senate.
Last week, Bennet teamed with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) to announce the formation of a working group that will begin immediately to study the regulations and testing and assessment systems in Colorado and Tennessee schools and determine their effectiveness. Bennet, Alexander will serve as co-chairs of the working group along with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam (R) and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D). The senators also introduced a bill to establish a national taskforce to study regulations, testing and assessments nationwide.