As parents of children, we have a high calling to guide our children along their journey of discovery of who they are, what are their gifts and talents, and helping them to contribute to the making of a better world. We consider how best to prepare them for adulthood, how to help them become compassionate towards the needs of others, and in doing so we need to consider what “schooling” will best prepare them.

Education Colorado is dedicated to enabling Colorado Parents and Guardians of minor children (parents and guardians hereafter referred to P & G) the ability to choose what option for “schooling” fits their children’s needs best, whether it be a public school, a private school, or home schooling. Many citizens do not have the financial resources available for providing their children with a private school education, nor the time and/or money for home schooling. The State of Colorado provides government-run public schools at no cost (although actually all the taxpayers of Colorado pay for it), but the neighborhood government-run public school may be inferior for a variety of reasons — violence, lack of high quality teachers, low academic testing outcomes, etc.

Because Colorado law requires all school-age children to attend school, and since all taxpayers pay for the education of Colorado’s children, all parents (P & G) ought to be eligible for the same funding that public schools receive per-pupil, and use that funding to pay for the schooling that best fits the need of their children.

This is an issue of equity and freedom. Fairness and justice requires that because all citizens pay taxes, all citizens ought to have equal access to the resources and opportunities of the State available to all in order to educate their children, regardless of background and circumstances. All are citizens, all pay taxes. An inferior public school today is like the separate but equal schooling Blacks received earlier in America’s history.

It is an issue of freedom in that the State compels all children to be educated because it benefits the State, yet only the financially better-off families have the freedom to send their children to private schools, or choose to locate in higher cost housing neighborhoods, though parents with lesser financial resources may be stuck in lower performing, as well as violent or other undesirable situations of the local neighborhood public school. Freedom means nothing at all without the ability to choose.

In order to further equity and freedom, EducationColorado.org is calling upon Colorado citizens join with them to build a grass-roots organization able to demand equal opportunities for parents to educate their children. Polls show the majority of parents support further options available to educate their children besides public schools.

For those who want to know more, and/or want to volunteer or donate to this cause, contact us at thesaltandlightinstitute@yahoo.com