Education in Focus: Building Stronger Futures for Colorado Families This Summer

As the school year winds down, summer break brings a well-deserved rest for students and families. But it also brings a real challenge: summer learning loss—the academic slide that can happen when students aren’t engaged in structured learning for months. In Colorado State Senate District 13, where working families and rural communities often face limited educational resources during summer, this issue is particularly pressing.

As your Colorado Senate representative, I believe our education system should work year-round to empower families with choices, not mandates, and deliver meaningful results. That’s why I’m focused on expanding educational freedom, promoting career readiness, and ensuring that learning doesn’t stop when school lets out.

Why Summer Learning Loss Matters

Research shows that students can lose up to two months of reading and math skills during summer break, and the loss is even greater for students from low-income households or rural areas without access to enrichment programs. This creates a compounding disadvantage that affects classroom performance, graduation rates, and long-term career outcomes.

Instead of accepting this loss as inevitable, we must ask: How can Colorado do better?

Parent Driven Education: Letting Families Decide What’s Best

Every student is unique, and parents, not bureaucrats, should have the power to decide what works best for their children. That’s why I strongly support school choice policies, including:

Education savings accounts for qualified K–12 expenses
Tax credits for parents and donors who support school choice
Expanded access to charter schools and online learning platforms

This summer, many families in Brighton Senate District 13 are exploring educational options—whether it’s reading camps, online courses, or vocational exploration. My goal is to ensure families have the freedom and support to pursue those paths without interference or burdensome mandates.

Career Pathways: Learning Should Lead to Opportunity

Another focus this summer, and year-round, is preparing students for life beyond graduation. Not every child will pursue a four-year college degree, and that’s okay. In fact, many of today’s most in-demand jobs are in skilled trades, public safety, and technical careers.

As a member of the Education Committee, I support policies that:

Integrate career and technical education (CTE) into schools
Strengthen partnerships with local employers and colleges
Expand apprenticeships and job training for real-world readiness

Education should open doors, not force kids into a one-size-fits-all model. These pathways help students build confidence and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Engaging with Leaders in Education

On May 17, I had the opportunity to meet with the dedicated teams at EPIC (Executives Partnering to Invest in Children) and Mile High United Way. These organizations are leading the charge in strengthening early childhood education across Colorado.

It was a powerful moment to see how the public and private sectors can work together to make a lasting impact. As your representative in the Colorado Senate, I’m honored to support and advance efforts that improve education outcomes for families, not just in District 13, but across the entire state.

What Can You Do This Summer?

Even if your student is out of the classroom, summer is a valuable time to stay engaged and build momentum for the school year ahead. Here are a few ways families and community members in Greeley, Brighton, and across District 13 can get involved:

Explore local summer reading and STEM programs
Encourage hands-on learning experiences
Talk to your kids about future goals and career interests
Stay informed about education policies in Colorado
Support school choice and parental rights in your community

Get Involved: Your Voice Matters

Better education starts with parents, educators, and communities working together, and that means your voice is critical. I invite you to Get Involved and help shape the future of learning in Colorado.

Together, we can make sure every student has the opportunity to succeed, this summer and beyond.