Amie Baca-Oehlert, President of the Colorado Education Association, today released the following statement in response to the Governor’s State of State Address: “We extend our gratitude to Governor Polis and state lawmakers for their commendable efforts in prioritizing public education in Colorado and taking the crucial first step to buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor to zero this legislative session. However, it is imperative to acknowledge that this action, though significant, marks just the beginning of a more comprehensive journey toward adequately funding our education system. “It's crucial to recognize that by fully addressing the B.S. Factor in this session, we are essentially bringing education funding levels back to those observed in 1989. While this step is undeniably noteworthy, it also underscores the long-standing inadequacies in the financial support our students and educators have received for decades. The educational landscape has evolved, and the demands on our schools have increased significantly since that time. “It's essential to view the commitment to fully fund public education as an ongoing and evolving process. True dedication to this cause necessitates a sustained effort to surpass the limitations of historical funding levels and bring education financing into alignment with the contemporary needs of our educational institutions.