A Legacy of Love and Learning: Honoring Carol L’Orange

Years after Carol L’Orange retired from teaching first grade at Superior Elementary, a former student spotted her in the aisles of King Soopers. Now a teenager, he approached hesitantly. “Ms. L’Orange, do you remember me?” he asked. Carol smiled and assured him she did. Their conversation was heartfelt and full of gratitude—a small moment that encapsulated the profound, lifelong impact she had on her students.

Even in retirement, Carol continued to encounter students and parents who credited her with transforming their lives. Her husband, Hans L’Orange, recalls one encounter in particular: A mother and her son approached her and shared how much her belief in him had meant. “Everyone else in preschool and kindergarten said he was a throwaway,” the mother said. “But you believed in him and worked with him. I wanted you to know that he finished high school, and now he’s attending Front Range Community College. We weren’t sure that would happen until he ended up in your class.”

Stories like these are why Hans has chosen to honor Carol’s memory through an annual donation to Impact on Education, the foundation supporting Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). Since her passing in 2017, Hans, now living in his homeland of Hawaii, has made it his mission to continue Carol’s work by funding opportunities for teachers and students in BVSD.

“Part of who Carol was can still live on,” Hans said. “She believed in every child, and she worked tirelessly to give them the confidence and skills they needed to succeed.”

Carol’s passion for teaching was evident in everything she did. From ensuring every student was reading at grade level by year’s end to creating unique lessons like baking cookies to teach fractions and teamwork, she infused joy and innovation into her classroom. “Some parents would complain about the cookies,” Hans said with a laugh. “But Carol would explain, ‘They’re learning math, science and how to work together—and they’re getting a reward.’”

Carol’s classroom was also a space of mutual respect. During the first two weeks of every school year, she focused on building an environment where her students—always addressed as “Miss” and “Mister”—learned to collaborate and thrive together. “A frequent start of the year joke would have other teachers saying, ‘Carol always gets the easy class,’” Hans said. “But she didn’t. She created a classroom that was easy because she spent time building respect and trust.”

Hans’s dedication to education also stems from his own career in public higher-education policy, where he focused on creating equitable opportunities for students across the country.

By donating to Impact on Education, Hans is ensuring that BVSD students and teachers can continue to benefit from the kind of meaningful learning experiences Carol championed. “Carol didn’t love being the center of attention,” Hans said. “She would want the focus to be on the kids and the opportunities they’ve been given.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Karen Brown’s commitment to fostering community support for students in Boulder Valley Schools

Karen Brown’s transition from the small, supportive town of Grand Lake, Colorado, to the bustling campus of the University of Colorado Boulder could have been overwhelming. But with the encouragement of her parents and a strong educational foundation, she thrived, shaping her belief in the transformative power of quality education and community support. Now, as a board member for Impact on Education, Brown champions these values, advocating for equitable, excellent public education for the students in Boulder Valley School District.

In many ways, Brown’s childhood was idyllic. As the daughter of small-business owners who ran a local motel, she spent her time in nature and developed a love of reading. “I was a bookworm,” she recalls fondly, “and the little town library above the fire station was my favorite place. I can still remember the smell.” In her small hometown—where some peers had never ventured to Denver—Brown attended a small junior/senior high school, where Mr. Schroer, a social studies teacher known for his rigorous focus on writing, prepared her well for the academic challenges ahead.

After high school, Brown enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU). While some of her peers struggled to adjust to the academic challenge of college, Brown had a smooth transition. The support she received from her parents, along with her strong academic foundation, prepared her well for college and shaped her belief that all young people deserve similar support and resources. This conviction now drives her work in education advocacy.

After earning her degree and teaching license from CU, Brown taught for six years at Overland High School. When she moved to Louisville to raise her family, she stayed involved in public education as her children attended Boulder Valley Schools. Transitioning from education to the nonprofit sector, Brown continued to support young people through various roles at the YMCA of Boulder Valley, including grant administrator and director of summer camps.

Today, as a board member for Impact on Education, Brown is driven by a mission: to ensure every child in the Boulder Valley School District receives the kind of community support and quality education that shaped her own childhood. She highlights the organization’s innovative approach, funding ideas and programs that the school district may not be able to immediately support. “It’s an organization that isn’t afraid to experiment with potential solutions, and if it works, it can be scaled up by the district,” Brown said. “They pool community resources and fill gaps in a way that is game-changing.”

A passionate advocate for equity, she believes good, quality public education, whether in big cities or rural towns, can be a great equalizer. Two of her favorite Impact on Education initiatives are the Career Readiness Academy and KinderBridge, which help students build strong foundations and ensure equitable starts.

“You never know whose life will change when you cross paths,” Brown said. “One guest speaker, one interesting class, or access to the right technology or field trip can open up a student’s world.” For Brown, supporting Impact on Education is about creating those moments—small sparks that can ignite a lifetime of opportunity.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Impact on Education expands leadership with four new board members

We’re excited to introduce four new members to our Board of Directors. Joining us this year are Bob Gaddis, Senior Vice President and Market Manager at BOK Financial; Bianca Gallegos, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at Boulder Valley School District (BVSD);  and Emily Mears, Managing Director and Shareholder at Pathstone Family Office. David Stewart, Boulder Valley Education Association President, also joined the Board this year as an Ex-Officio member, replacing Patty Delgado as President of the teacher’s association. Their expertise and dedication to our mission will enhance our ability to support BVSD students and educators. 

Despite being a highly educated and prosperous state, Colorado public schools receive $3,000 less per student than the national average, ranking 40th in the nation for funding. In Boulder County, there is also a huge disparity in wealth that impacts our students and their families every day. Bob, Bianca, David, and Emily bring a wealth of experience from education, finance and community engagement, and they join us in ensuring BVSD students have access to an education that is both excellent and equitable.

Bob Gaddis

Senior Vice President and Market Manager
BOK Financial

Dr. Bianca Gallegos

Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
Boulder Valley School District 

Emily Mears

Managing Director and Shareholder
Pathstone Family Office

David Stewart

President
Boulder Valley Education Association

We are thrilled to welcome these four new members as we continue to expand our impact and support for students and educators in BVSD.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Career Readiness Academy gives students skills to enter the workforce

Globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a new world of work that has only been exacerbated by AI, gig work and technological leaps. To succeed, students need flexible skills that will allow them to shift and grow in an ever-changing economy. Experts say in order to succeed, students need to start thinking about the world of work far earlier than previous generations. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis agrees. “We have historically asked students to make choices about their careers after leaving high school, often without the appropriate data needed to identify industry-specific needs or what kind of return on investment a particular pathway will afford,” he said in an essay originally published as part of the 2023 “State of the American Student” report. “As the global economy rapidly evolves, we must rethink the way we educate students and our workforce.”

Empowering students with skills and resources

This is why we provide students access to an after-school program, the Career Readiness Academy, that embraces this fluid approach to career preparation. This year the program will be offered to 10th graders at Boulder High, Broomfield High and Centaurus High, and parts of the curriculum will also be available to students at Arapahoe Ridge. 

The program focuses on developing professional skills which are often not taught in school and may not be modeled at home.

Over the course of ten after-school workshops, students receive training and resources to empower them for successful lives after high school. This includes:

• Crafting a resume and developing other crucial professional skills 
• Practicing interviewing skills through mock interviews
• Learning about various career paths
• Practicing professional communication and soft skills 
• Building self-confidence and self-knowledge
• Accessing school resources to meet their future goals
• Learning how to advocate for help
• Receiving a $300 stipend for attending 80% of the workshops

Students in the program gain valuable insights into what employers look for while building the confidence needed to thrive. “A workshop that helped me a lot was the mock interviews,” said one program participant. “It was really scary leading up to the actual event, but when I sat down and did it, it felt surprisingly easy. It helped me boost my confidence a lot.”

Not your mom’s career path

According to a recent Earth Web poll, 75% of kids ages 6 to 17 want to be a YouTuber when they grow up. Adults might laugh, but students know that career options have changed and continue to do so.

The Career Readiness Academy supports students in exploring a variety of career paths before entering post-secondary education, empowering them to make informed choices and broadening their horizons. 

Tangible benefits for their futures

After participating in Career Readiness Academy, students felt much more confident about and prepared to enter the world of work. The number of participants who said they knew where to go to learn about job opportunities increased by 41%, and the number of those who knew how to learn about job opportunities increased by 32%. 

Ensuring they are prepared now, and in the future, students in the program learned how to obtain college and work opportunities while still in high school. 85% of students had met their counselor by the end of the program, up 20%. 88% had a current resume, an increase of 69%

“I feel more prepared and want to get a job a lot sooner,” said a program participant. “I feel more at peace being able to say, ‘I’ll figure this out.’ I feel more prepared for the future and less stressed out about today.”

Whether they are becoming a YouTuber, a firefighter or some career that has yet to be invented, Impact on Education knows that empowering students with confidence and professional soft skills will always be a good investment.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

The transformational power of learning

Board member Ann Cooper’s commitment to public education

Born and raised in Washington, Georgia—a small town of about 5,000 people—Impact on Education board member Ann Cooper grew up facing the challenges of poverty, a segregated school system and limited opportunities. Thanks to the encouragement of several teachers, but two particular ones, Ann defied the odds, traveled the world, grew a successful business and has become a passionate advocate for quality public education for all students.

Born in 1956, the odds were stacked against Ann and her sisters. “We lived in public housing, and before that, in a home without plumbing or running water,” she said. “My mom was one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet in your whole life and she taught us to help people,” said Ann. “But the reality is she became a parent at 14 years old and didn’t have a lot of choices in life.” 

Despite these hardships, two exceptional teachers and a loving, caring community, expanded Ann’s world and nurtured her potential.

Her faith in my abilities motivated me to work incredibly hard throughout my school career and I graduated at 16 years old.

Ann was five years old when she met the first teacher that would impact her life. At the time, Washington’s schools were segregated, and Black children didn’t have a kindergarten but her mother worked and Ann needed to go somewhere during the day. Her mother’s friend, Ms. Gunby, who taught first grade at the local Black elementary school, allowed Ann to sit in her classroom while she taught. Despite being younger and having no prior schooling, Ann quickly absorbed the lessons. By the end of the year, Ms. Gunby confidently advanced her to second grade.

“Ms. Gunby believed in me,” Ann says. “Her faith in my abilities motivated me to work incredibly hard throughout my school career and I graduated at 16 years old. I knew how much she loved me and I wanted to make her proud”

When she was a high school junior, Washington schools were integrated and Ann attended a new high school. It was there where she found another mentor who would leave an indelible mark on her life—Ms. Bolton Lunceford. A tall, striking woman with red hair and a penchant for pencil skirts and long cigarette holders, Ms. Lunceford had traveled the world and shared her experiences with her students, sparking Ann’s desire to explore beyond her small town.

“Ms. Lunceford taught me how to shake hands and make eye contact—skills I use to this day,” Ann remembers. “I think she would be proud to know that her influence led me to travel the world, and marry an Englishman.” 

Armed with the education and confidence instilled in her by Ms. Gunby and Ms. Lunceford, and others, Ann left Washington, Georgia after graduating from high school. She moved to Chicago, then Wisconsin, where she met her husband Geoff, and later to Scotland before settling in Boulder, Colorado. 

Looking to help bridge the gap between students’ needs and the resources available, Ann joined the Impact on Education board of directors.

Now a successful realtor, Ann sees the high cost of living in her community every day. In Boulder Valley School District, 7,000 students qualify for the free or reduced price lunch program, with their family living on $58,000 per year or less — a sharp contrast to the area’s perceived affluence. Ann also knows there’s also fewer resources to go around. Despite Boulder’s hot real estate market, higher property taxes as a result of rising home values don’t provide extra funding for public education.

Looking to help bridge the gap between students’ needs and the resources available, Ann joined the Impact on Education board of directors five years ago to support its work to ensure all students receive an education that is excellent and equitable. As a board member, she draws on her own experiences to help every child thrive, regardless of their background.

“In Boulder County, we have the nation’s most educated community, but there is still a huge disparity in wealth that affects our students every day,” Ann says. “Public education is the great equalizer, and organizations like Impact on Education ensure that every student has a chance to succeed.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

How Kinder Bridge prepares young students for school

As Kindergarten begins this week, many children are embarking on an exciting new adventure, transitioning from home to the structured environment of a classroom. For some, particularly those from low-income or marginalized families, this journey can be especially meaningful if they haven’t had prior exposure to a formal learning environment.

That’s why we proudly fund Kinder Bridge, a program designed to empower young learners in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) with targeted summer support, helping them start their school experience with confidence.

In 2024, Kinder Bridge served over 270 incoming kindergarten students across four BVSD summer learning sites: Emerald Elementary, Creekside Elementary, Crest View Elementary, and Ryan Elementary. 

Over the course of four weeks, students engaged in full-day programming designed to prepare them for kindergarten. The program’s curriculum mirrored the first month of school, focusing on essential academic skills and social-emotional learning, including instruction in music, art, P.E., and STEM. In addition, students learn school readiness skills like classroom routines, following instructions, riding a bus, and attending school meals.

Results at-a-glance

• 4 out of 10 incoming Kinder Bridge students were not reaching the benchmark standards for kindergarten students when they started the program. By the final week of the program, 8 out of 10 students were reaching or exceeding standards.
• There was a 25% increase in the number of students who knew how to write their names.
• Per readiness standards, 62% of students were ready for kindergarten when they started Kinder Bridge and 83% were ready by the end of the program.

“Early intervention is crucial for setting young learners on a path to success,” says Cameo Rainaldo-DeDominces, BVSD Coordinator of Extended Learning & Network Support. “By partnering with community organizations, we were able to recruit and reach students who didn’t have any formal preschool experience and help prepare them for life as a kindergarten student.” Impact on Education funding provides these students with four weeks of crucial summer learning and targeted support, helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for learning.

Impact on Education funding provides these students with four weeks of crucial summer learning and targeted support, helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for learning.

Building academic skills

Kinder Bridge introduces students to many of the academic skills they will need in kindergarten. The program emphasizes letter recognition, counting, letter-sound formation, and name-writing.

Educators observed significant progress in students’ academic abilities over the course of the program. “Some kids didn’t know how to hold a pencil, and the expectation for kindergarten is to write their name,” one teacher shared. “We had kids who didn’t know how to use a glue stick, so we had to start at the beginning of everything.”

Fostering social-emotional development

In addition to academic skills, Kinder Bridge places a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning. The program provides students with opportunities to engage with their peers and develop essential social skills.

One teacher described how students were prompted to ask each other questions and share their ideas, helping them build the confidence to interact with new friends in kindergarten. “When they go to kindergarten, they are going to meet new friends, so having had the opportunity to meet others and have another teacher is important,” the teacher explained.

When she started, she couldn’t write or spell her name, but by the end of the program, she was confidently writing and spelling it. She even made a bracelet with letter beads to help her practice, proudly showing it to her teacher each day.

Instilling confidence and a love for learning

Kinder Bridge also builds students’ confidence and fosters a love for learning. The program helps find and nurture each child’s unique strengths, building their confidence and their belief in their ability to succeed.

One teacher shared the story of a young girl who had never attended school before Kinder Bridge. When she started, she couldn’t write or spell her name, but by the end of the program, she was confidently writing and spelling it. She even made a bracelet with letter beads to help her practice, proudly showing it to her teacher each day. “She loved being in school, and seeing her progress was a huge success for the summer,” the teacher shared

Preparing for a successful kindergarten transition

Ultimately, the goal of Kinder Bridge is to prepare students for a smooth and successful transition into kindergarten. By providing a structured environment where students can learn and practice essential skills, Kinder Bridge helps ease the anxiety that children may feel as they approach this important milestone.

Educators reported that students showed noticeable improvements in the students’ ability to follow classroom routines, interact with peers, and engage in learning activities. “It’s really getting them ready to learn, learning how to learn and understanding classroom expectations,” one teacher shared.

We know that early intervention and targeted support can have a profound impact on young learners. For students who may not have had the opportunity to engage in preschool or other early learning experiences, Kinder Bridge provides a vital foundation that sets them up for success in kindergarten and beyond.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Some highlights from the 2023-24 school year

As we welcome students back to schools this week, we’re taking a look back at the incredible impact we made together last year. With your support we helped thousands of students across the Boulder Valley School District, and we’ll continue to provide them resources and opportunities for success during this new academic year.

2023-24 Highlights

💵 Over 140 educator grants provided more than $150,000 for school projects, activities, and materials through our Academic Opportunity Fund

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🏫 274 incoming Kindergarten students, half of whom had never attended preschool, received four weeks of full-day summer learning through Kinder Bridge

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💙 1,875 high school students made more than 13,500 visits to Wellness Centers, safe spaces dedicated to mental health 

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🤝 75 high school students learned professional skills and how to identify and communicate their strengths in our Career Readiness Academy

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📝 271 students accessed career and college readiness opportunities, including AP/IB and language tests, course materials and post-secondary credits

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🎒 5,000 students received school supplies, backpacks and headphones to start the school year strong

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🎨 17,000 elementary and middle schools students were able to reflect themselves and others in their art with multicultural art supplies

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🏆 61 BVSD educators were honored at the Impact Awards for their dedication to student learning

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💬 Students were supported by 10 mental health professionals, and had access to racial trauma counselors and bilingual services

Why we do this important work

We believe that providing equitable educational opportunities is more than a mission—it’s a necessity; our role extends beyond mere advocacy.

Impact on Education actively bridges the gap between available resources and student needs. This work ensures marginalized students and those from low-income families have access to quality learning opportunities so all students can reach their potential.

Our community plays a crucial role in providing students across BVSD access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Thank you for being part of this important work!

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Turning the page: Grant helps rebuild school library after unprecedented challenges

The library at Monarch High School suffered a pair of misfortunes: the Marshall Fire and the COVID-19 pandemic, which left it in poor condition. Thanks to a $3,000 Academic Opportunity Fund grant and a lot of love and attention from Teacher Librarian Katherine Croasdale, the library and the students who rely on it are thriving.

“Kids were ignoring the books, many of which had not been cracked open in years. I wanted to create a space that made them excited about reading, especially the reluctant readers.”

Katherine Croasdale, Teacher Librarian at Monarch High School

During the pandemic, the Monarch High School library sat unused. Books sat dusty and uncatalogued and, perhaps more importantly, went out of date. Things got worse when the Marshall Fire struck—the Monarch community was disproportionally affected, and many books that students checked out were lost in the fire. In total, 800 books were missing.

As schools resumed in-person learning, Croasdale set to work fixing the library, where she found books haphazardly shelved and out of date. While Croasdale worked to weed out old and unused materials, she developed a vision of creating a library that was a valuable resource for teachers and an inspiring space for students. 

Photo: Before (left) and after (right) of the graphic novels section of the library.

“The books were just crammed onto shelves, which doesn’t work for the eyes,” said Croasdale. “Kids were ignoring the books, many of which had not been cracked open in years. I wanted to create a space that made them excited about reading, especially the reluctant readers.”

Croasdale’s vision required funding, so in 2022 she applied for and received an Academic Opportunity Fund grant from Impact on Education. The grant program provides educators and schools with the resources to bridge opportunity gaps and create a level playing field for all students. Impact on Education prioritizes grant requests that expand access to resources, opportunities, and support for students from marginalized and underserved communities.

A comeback story

With the funds, Croasdale first set out to replace the missing books, focusing on award-winning books and books that represented the diversity of the students at Monarch High School. “We contacted many student groups, such as the Asian-American Club, the Indian American Club, the Black Student Union, and HERstory, to find out what materials represent their culture in a positive light,” shared Croasdale.

“We ordered their recommended materials and displayed them in the front of the library to show these students they are welcome in our space.”  Some of the books Monarch added included, Frizzy by Claribel Ortega, A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Wild Fox of Yemen by Threa Almontaser.

Croasdale is building a cultural and social hub at Monarch High School, where students can escape into a book and experience peace found only at a library.

Photo: Books recommended by student groups at Monarch High School.

Croasdale also redesigned the library shelving to be more exciting and inviting by creating dynamic shelving displays. Each shelf has a fabric background and ribbons to add color, call-outs on popular books, negative space, front-facing books, and groupings by author, similar to what you might see in a bookstore.

The improvements are working—students are browsing more in the library, and the book check-out rate has increased by 200%. Croasdale has also noticed a shift in reading patterns, with students showing more interest in a broader range of books and genres.

Perhaps the best update of all, students can now request books, and thanks to the grant, Croasdale can usually purchase them immediately, something she says helps encourage reading. “Students will come to me and say, ‘I really would like this book,’ and I can tell them, ‘You’ll have it in a few days,'” Croasdale said. “They’re usually so surprised and happy and often come in for more books. I see a difference in reading patterns when kids can read whatever they want.”

When so many schools and parents struggle with getting students’ attention and limiting smartphone use, Croasdale is building a cultural and social hub at Monarch High School, where students can escape into a book and experience peace found only at a library. “Receiving this grant was like having Christmas every day,” she said. “I get to make kids so happy and put books into their hands. I am so grateful.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Cultivating compassion: How a former BVSD student is shaping the future of healthcare

Colorado is struggling to overcome a nursing shortage that worsened during the pandemic. As the state’s population ages, Colorado will need 10,000 more nurses in the next decade, according to projections.

Thanks to a scholarship from Impact on Education, the state will need one fewer nurse. Boulder High School graduate Adriana Aguirre, a recipient of the Earl & Barbara Bolton scholarship and an alumna of our Career Readiness Academy, represents the future of nursing with her big dreams of diversifying the industry and providing culturally competent care to her patients.

Overcoming financial and educational barriers

Aguirre, a University of Colorado in Denver student, recently finished her first year of college. She spent the year living in a dorm with other students, something she never envisioned for herself growing up. “As a child, my parents faced a lot of financial insecurities,” shared Aguirre. “As I got older and started thinking about college, I didn’t think it would be an option for me.”

Known in high school to be a quiet leader and role model for those around her, Aguirre was determined to find a way to continue her education, applying for and receiving the Impact on Education scholarship. Aguirre was awarded $20,000 towards college expenses, through the $5,000 scholarship that she is able to renew for up to four years.

“I have always had a passion for helping others, I love to serve and give back to my community.”

Adriana Aguirre

Building a support system

Once she overcame the challenge of funding her education, Aguirre encountered new obstacles as a first-generation college student. “The level of independence and responsibility I needed was more than I expected,” said Aguirre. “My parents don’t know what college is like, so I wasn’t able to ask them, ‘How does this work?’” Always persistent, Aguirre leaned into the support systems offered by the university and credits her successful first year to utilizing professor office hours and the campus tutoring center.

She also formed relationships with her TRIO mentor and her dorm roommate, who Aguirre will live with again next school year. “It helped to relate and bond with other students who have similar backgrounds or are first generation,” she said. “My roommate became my best friend.”

Aspirations for a diverse and inclusive healthcare future

Though challenging, the academic rigor of college was easier to overcome for Aguirre. Her favorite classes were the three science labs needed for her major—she loved hands-on learning. Continuing in nursing next year, Aguirre is excited to become a bilingual nurse who will bridge the communication gap and create connection and trust with her patients, especially those who speak Spanish.

“I have always had a passion for helping others, I love to serve and give back to my community,” said Aguirre. She also hopes to inspire future students of color to consider a nursing career, underscoring the need for increased diversity in healthcare. 

Aguirre says she would describe her future as “hopeful” and is grateful for her scholarship. “This scholarship for students like me isn’t just about paying for college,” said Aguirre. “It opens doors to better jobs and careers that will have a lifelong impact and possibly help future generations.”

We’re so excited to see what Aguirre accomplishes in her sophomore year!

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Higher property taxes don’t provide extra funding for public education

As homeowners in our community see their property values and tax bills increase, many may assume the additional funds are flowing into our public schools. They’re not wrong – but increases in local property taxes don’t equate to increases in funding for the Boulder Valley School District. The reality of how school funding works is more complex.

What is the School Finance Act?

While Colorado recently passed a new school funding formula, for the past 30 years the Public School Finance Act of 1994 determined the total amount of funding each school district received. 

This calculation considered several factors – including per pupil amounts, funded pupil count, district and student characteristics, and a budget stabilization – to determine the “total program” funding for the school district. For the 2023-24 school year the district received $292,817,683 in “total program” funding.

BVSD received $10,489 for each full-time student – $3,858 less than the national average – in the 2023-24 school year. 

– U.S. Census Bureau

In this article BVSD shares details about how declining enrollment and changes at the state level will affect schools, students and educators across the District.

How school funding is calculated today

School funding is a blend of local sources – property taxes and vehicle registrations – and state sources (state equalization). Local sources are considered “first in,” meaning they are used first to fund the “Total Program” amount set by the School Finance Act. State equalization funds then make up the remainder.

Although the state determines individual school district funding levels, the amount contributed from the three different sources varies according to local assessed property valuation.

As property taxes increase, due to a fixed mill levy (27.0 mills for BVSD) and rising assessed property values, the amount provided by the state decreases.

Because of higher assessed valuation, BVSD receives a larger portion of its revenue from local property taxes. You can see in the 2023-24 budget chart below that the state contribution for BVSD is less than peer districts.

Source: 2023-24 Proposed BVSD Budget

These mechanisms ensure that the “Total Program” funding remains constant, adhering to the balance intended by the School Finance Act, regardless of fluctuations in local property tax revenues. And the state’s contribution helps bridge the gap between wealthier and less affluent districts, so every student has access to an adequate education regardless of their district’s property tax base.

We need partners like Impact on Education, whose support addresses the funding gaps and enhances the educational experiences of BVSD students.

– Dr. Rob Anderson, BVSD Superintendent

By the numbers

Recent increases in funding for BVSD are due to changes in the School Finance Act formula, not changes in property taxes. Over the past few years, the state stabilization factor has decreased and inflation has increased, driving up the amount of “Total Program” funding for BVSD. 

• Local property tax revenue increased from $209.6M in the 2022-23 school year to a projected $282.1M for the 2024-25 school year. 
• Concurrently, state equalization funding decreased from $51.4M in the 2022-23 school year to a projected $13.3M for the 2024-25 school year.

BVSD also receives additional operating revenue through three mill levy overrides, which are property tax increases approved by voters. An additional property tax levy provides resources for capital debt payments for construction programs.

Why this is important

School district budgets are complex and there are many funding mechanisms – including legislation and ballot measures – that influence the resources provided to BVSD. And this complexity is why Impact on Education was founded in 1983 – to protect BVSD from the uncertainties of local and state funding. 

While BVSD navigates these challenges, Impact on Education is here to help. 

Your support for Impact on Education helps ensure we’re able to continue providing supplemental funding and resources to support the needs of students in our community, which prevail regardless of state and local funding. 

You can help by making a gift to support our work and sharing this post with someone in our community.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

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