''The best economic-development strategy is an education strategy, which opens doors and expands opportunities for every young Coloradan.'' - Bill Ritter

Early Childhood Education

Expanding access to early childhood education is one of the best ways to ensure students stay in school, earn a degree and enter the workforce able to achieve their full God-given potential. Bill Ritter has expanded access to preschool and full-day kindergarten for thousands of Colorado youngsters because he understands the importance of forward-looking investment.

Primary & Secondary Education

Bill Ritter knows that the best economic-development strategy is an education strategy. That's why he has initiated a nationally recognized effort to overhaul what Colorado's students are taught and how they are tested, so they will have the skills and knowledge to compete in a 21st century global economy. He also has declared ambitious goals to cut the high school dropout rate and achievement rate in half. He is achieving those goals by:

• Expanding preschool and full-day kindergarten for tens of thousands of children.

• Enacting a nationally recognized education reform plan, the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids, that will align K-12 education and testing with college curricula.

• Establishing the Colorado Counselor Corps to deploy dozens of guidance counselors into middle and high schools.

• Enacting the Colorado ASCENT program, the nation's first statewide, fifth year dual enrollment plan that allows students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a college associate's degree.

• Signing the Building Excellent Schools Today Act and Innovative Schools Act to ensure Colorado's public schools are meeting the needs of 21st century students.

Higher Education

As a product of Colorado's world-class public universities, Bill knows first hand how access to a higher education can open doors and open a world of possibilities to young Coloradans. That's why he has directed more state investments into higher education than any other Governor in Colorado's history. He has proven his commitment by blocking a proposed $300 million cut to Colorado's colleges and universities, which would have resulted in skyrocketing tuition costs. He has improved Colorado's higher education system by:

• Creating the first Colorado higher education rainy day fund.

• Keeping higher education affordable by capping tuition increases.

• Forging new partnerships between Colorado's research institutions and federal research institutions, such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden.