Statement by Edward J. McElroy, President of the American Federation of Teachers, on Yesterday’s Defeat of the “65 Percent Mandate” Ballot Initiative in Colorado 

Note: The initiative, Amendment 39, was losing by a more than 20-point margin, according to early results. This proposed constitutional amendment would have required all Colorado school districts to spend at least 65 percent of their budgets on “classroom instruction,” using a narrow and misleading definition of  instruction that excluded critical support services such as guidance counselors, school nurses, teacher training, transportation, building maintenance, security and more.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — By overwhelmingly rejecting this gimmick, Colorado voters sent a clear message that the needs of students—not an arbitrary, one-size-fits-all mandate—should drive education spending decisions. Voters recognized that Amendment 39 would have hurt kids, forcing deep cuts in school services—such as nursing, transportation, building maintenance, school security and nutrition programs—that are essential to students’ health, safety and academic success.

Colorado’s vote is yet more evidence that the 65 percent mandate is dying a well-deserved death across the nation after facing near-universal condemnation from policymakers, education groups, editorial boards and individuals across the political spectrum. Bipartisan opposition has arisen for good reason:  The 65 percent mandate would ignore the varying needs of individual school districts, increase red tape, and cause significant harm to schools and students.

Amendment 39 was heavily backed by out-of-state proponents who have admitted to using the 65 percent mandate to advance political goals that have nothing to do with improving education. But all the money in the world cannot turn a bad idea into a good one. Coloradans recognized that fact, wisely putting the needs of kids above politics.

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