Dear JBC Members:

The Colorado community organizations who have signed this letter respectfully urge your support of the funding formula promulgated by the Executive Advisory Group (EAG) and the funding in House Bill 14-1319.

There is a crisis facing education for under-represented minority students. According to Colorado government reports, the achievement gap between underrepresented minority students and their white counterparts is among the worst in the country.

We believe the proposed formula is a step in the right direction to closing the achievement gap. Making any changes would adversely affect underrepresented minorities, and could potentially widen the achievement gap for students of color.

Thank you for considering this urgent request important to the communities we represent.

Sincerely,

Ms. Christine Alonzo, Executive Director, Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO)

Dr. Sharon Bailey, Colorado Black Round Table

Ms. Rita Lewis, President, NAACP Denver Chapter

Mr. Christian Caldwell, President, and Chair of the Board of Directors, The Brotherhood

Ms. Janiece Z. Mackey, Executive Director, Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA)

Dr. Luis Torres, Educator