COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — On Friday, July 25, Colorado Governor Jared Polis and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon joined a panel of governors from across the country to discuss K–12 education funding and strategies for preparing students for the workforce.
Hosted by the National Governors Association, which Polis currently chairs, the panel focused on bipartisan solutions for improving education systems nationwide. The discussion came shortly after the Trump administration announced it would release roughly $5 billion in federal K–12 education funds that had been frozen for weeks—causing major disruptions in Colorado and beyond.
Colorado was set to receive about $80 million of those delayed funds, which support teacher training, migrant education, English-language learners, and other programs. On July 14, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined a lawsuit demanding the funds be released.
“Many of us were very worried about several funds that our schools had expected,” Polis said. “We’re very pleased that you were able to announce earlier today that those funds have become unfrozen.”
Polis pressed McMahon on how to avoid similar breakdowns in the future. McMahon explained the freeze was part of a review process during a transition period and said the evaluation had now been completed.
As part of his role as NGA chair, Polis is leading the “Let’s Get Ready” initiative, a yearlong effort focused on using data and accountability to improve educational outcomes. The initiative urges states to track and publish information not just on academic metrics like math and reading scores, but also on workforce readiness, civic involvement, and student mental health.
“We need to be making sure that we are truly making progress for students,” Polis said. “We’re measuring graduation rates, but the goal isn’t to lower standards. If we want better math scores, the answer isn’t just to make the test easier.”
McMahon echoed the importance of preparing students for a variety of postsecondary options—not just four-year degrees. She called for bringing back career and technical education, like shop classes, to help develop the future workforce.
“I’ve heard a couple of governors say today, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to get back to shop?’” McMahon said. “We want to bring back the kinds of courses that were cut, that still play a key role in workforce development.”
She also emphasized shifting education control back to the states. The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the Department of Education, which has already experienced significant staffing cuts.
The National Governors Association conference is set to continue through the weekend, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scheduled to speak next.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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