I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Haley R]

I think the schools are fine...avg to good, imo. I homeschool though so not the best person to ask Please keep in mind, I homeschool because I think homeschooling is awesome and not because I think the schools are bad.

Lol I get it. If we move within the next year I will continue to sub so I want to make sure I have nice schools nearby

 

[wendow]

Lol I get it. If we move within the next year I will continue to sub so I want to make sure I have nice schools nearby

I could live anywhere in this country...5 star schools and all...and I would *still* homeschool Not a reflection of CO schools at all.

 

[Tikitoi]

Guys I don't know what to say or do anymore. You already know my one girlfriend was out for Vegas because she hurt her knee very badly. Then my husband went into a downward health spiral.

But now, I have just learned that my other girlfriend who was meeting us... died last night. At age 42 this is obviously sudden and a shock.

I feel numb. And I don't know who to talk to about this so I posted here.

Just catching up here. But I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through. Condolences for your friend. Prayers for her family.

 

[platamama]

How are the schools?

That is a difficult question to answer even if the question seems simple. How do you measure how good the school is? Test scores?? Didn't we have a discussion here in the last month about how much testing goes on and what good it does for the kids? As a teacher, you might have different criteria for what you'd like in a school as a teacher vs. as a parent.

CO has poor public school funding, close to $2700 less per pupil than the national average, largely due to an anti-tax amendments passed in the 80's and 90's. The public school teachers I've known have all done their level best for the students, but you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. In general, schools with a more affluent community supporting the PTOs do better (on test scores at least) but that might be more a function of student SES more than anything else. I grew up and went to school in CO before the anti-tax amendments affected public education much, and I feel that DD does not get the enrichment (music, art, field trips) that I got when I went to school. It's sad, short-sighted, and shooting ourselves in the foot by failing to support the next generation the way they should be. They're the ones who will be running the show when we're old.

According to this graph, the only states that have worse changes than Colorado to per pupil funding are Georgia, Texas, Indiana and Idaho.

 

[Haley R]

That is a difficult question to answer even if the question seems simple. How do you measure how good the school is? Test scores?? Didn't we have a discussion here in the last month about how much testing goes on and what good it does for the kids? As a teacher, you might have different criteria for what you'd like in a school as a teacher vs. as a parent.

CO has poor public school funding, close to $2700 less per pupil than the national average, largely due to an anti-tax amendments passed in the 80's and 90's. The public school teachers I've known have all done their level best for the students, but you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. In general, schools with a more affluent community supporting the PTOs do better (on test scores at least) but that might be more a function of student SES more than anything else. I grew up and went to school in CO before the anti-tax amendments affected public education much, and I feel that DD does not get the enrichment (music, art, field trips) that I got when I went to school. It's sad, short-sighted, and shooting ourselves in the foot by failing to support the next generation the way they should be. They're the ones that will be running the show when we're old.

According to this graph, the only states that have worse changes than Colorado to per pupil funding are Georgia, Texas, Indiana and Idaho.

I briefly look at test scores when looking at schools because that can say a lot about the demographic but I hate how much testing is pushed into schools now. I actually choose to drive 20 minutes every time I sub because I like a more rural school in the country. They have way less testing and the teachers are actually free to have some flexibility in their teaching (because apparently that’s a crime now-a-days). I like walking down the halls and seeing tons of crafts the kids have made and I like that kindergarten still gets rest time and center time. I student taught with fifth graders in a different district that didn’t know how to use scissors... it was so sad.

When I look on Zillow the school near us is higher rated than the rural school I sub in. Two of the rating components of “great schools” (I think that’s what Zillow uses) are how much the school improved and their diversity rating. Well a school in rural Midwest isn’t going to have a lot of diversity so that’s a low score and if the school already was doing well they don’t have as much room to improve so another low score. It’s hard to take those ratings to heart.

 

[wendow]

That is a difficult question to answer even if the question seems simple. How do you measure how good the school is? Test scores?? Didn't we have a discussion here in the last month about how much testing goes on and what good it does for the kids? As a teacher, you might have different criteria for what you'd like in a school as a teacher vs. as a parent.

CO has poor public school funding, close to $2700 less per pupil than the national average, largely due to an anti-tax amendments passed in the 80's and 90's. The public school teachers I've known have all done their level best for the students, but you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. In general, schools with a more affluent community supporting the PTOs do better (on test scores at least) but that might be more a function of student SES more than anything else. I grew up and went to school in CO before the anti-tax amendments affected public education much, and I feel that DD does not get the enrichment (music, art, field trips) that I got when I went to school. It's sad, short-sighted, and shooting ourselves in the foot by failing to support the next generation the way they should be. They're the ones who will be running the show when we're old.

According to this graph, the only states that have worse changes than Colorado to per pupil funding are Georgia, Texas, Indiana and Idaho.

As someone who is pretty much out of the loop on all this, I'm curious when it comes to the 'per pupil funding' what part (if any) of that applies to things like free breakfast and lunch, or say free before/after care? I know down here in Jeffco, there just aren't a lot of kids qualifying for those programs so there isn't as much spent there. I would assume same for Cherry Creek, Douglas, Boulder, etc.

Along those lines, the graph shows that LA spends quite a bit more per pupil than CO. But I come from a long line of teachers in TX and LA. I know neither state is great at per pupil funding and I also know that many, many in LA live at or below the poverty line. So, again, is the funding also including programs like free meals and childcare? Again, not trying to argue anything but just curious how those costs factor in.

ETA: Don't deny CO funding is pitiful.

 

[platamama]

I briefly look at test scores when looking at schools because that can say a lot about the demographic but I hate how much testing is pushed into schools now. I actually choose to drive 20 minutes every time I sub because I like a more rural school in the country. They have way less testing and the teachers are actually free to have some flexibility in their teaching (because apparently that’s a crime now-a-days). I like walking down the halls and seeing tons of crafts the kids have made and I like that kindergarten still gets rest time and center time. I student taught with fifth graders in a different district that didn’t know how to use scissors... it was so sad.

When I look on Zillow the school near us is higher rated than the rural school I sub in. Two of the rating components of “great schools” (I think that’s what Zillow uses) are how much the school improved and their diversity rating. Well a school in rural Midwest isn’t going to have a lot of diversity so that’s a low score and if the school already was doing well they don’t have as much room to improve so another low score. It’s hard to take those ratings to heart.

Me too! There's a K-12 school nearby that is ranked as the best high school in CO by US News & World Report. I toured there at least 3 different times in different grades (kind of like FOMO on cc but for schools), and there was no crafts/art on display anywhere, even in the elementary wing. It was completely sterile. Yet they get ranked high because of high participation in AP classes (which I'm gonna guess is pushed on them somewhat), and they boast about providing (requiring?) a class for SAT/ACT test prep. It seems like their only focus is to get the student into a university, and they do have a 100% high school graduation rate so that's great, but not really the kind of environment I want and neither did DD after she shadowed there. Our neighborhood high school doesn't have good test scores, but I like it and the people there, and DD is challenged in some of her classes (she's a tough one to challenge). She's in a more socio-economically diverse school than she's been in the past and I think there's some value to that.

 

[platamama]

As someone who is pretty much out of the loop on all this, I'm curious when it comes to the 'per pupil funding' what part (if any) of that applies to things like free breakfast and lunch, or say free before/after care? I know down here in Jeffco, there just aren't a lot of kids qualifying for those programs so there isn't as much spent there. I would assume same for Cherry Creek, Douglas, Boulder, etc.

Along those lines, the graph shows that LA spends quite a bit more per pupil than CO. But I come from a long line of teachers in TX and LA. I know neither state is great at per pupil funding and I also know that many, many in LA live at or below the poverty line. So, again, is the funding also including programs like free meals and childcare? Again, not trying to argue anything but just curious how those costs factor in.

ETA: Don't deny CO funding is pitiful.

TBH, I don't know the details such that I can answer any of your good questions. In the fine print at the bottom of the graph it does say, “Expenditures include instruction, support services, food services & enterprise operations." I don't know how that lingo translates to free breakfast/lunch or before/after care.

 

[Alexle2007]

As someone who is pretty much out of the loop on all this, I'm curious when it comes to the 'per pupil funding' what part (if any) of that applies to things like free breakfast and lunch, or say free before/after care? I know down here in Jeffco, there just aren't a lot of kids qualifying for those programs so there isn't as much spent there. I would assume same for Cherry Creek, Douglas, Boulder, etc.

Along those lines, the graph shows that LA spends quite a bit more per pupil than CO. But I come from a long line of teachers in TX and LA. I know neither state is great at per pupil funding and I also know that many, many in LA live at or below the poverty line. So, again, is the funding also including programs like free meals and childcare? Again, not trying to argue anything but just curious how those costs factor in.

ETA: Don't deny CO funding is pitiful.

I was the impression that free lunch programs are federally funded. Although I have no idea how they determine eligibility since I know this one family who lives in a brand new 4600 sq ft house that they paid close to $500k for plus added a beautiful in-ground pool and their children (I think there are 6 of them) get free meals.

 

[schmass]

Honestly, that describes CO to a 'T'. Am I right, @amalone1013 and @platamama ?? Almost always sunny, snows and then is gone pretty fast, and most amazing sunrises (and sunsets) you've ever seen?? It's really an amazing climate that you have to live here to really understand. It's crazy good. Winters are mild and summers are glorious.

I lived in Colorado for 10 years and totally agree with this! Whenever I say I miss the Colorado weather people out here (Boston) think I'm crazy but they don't understand. I have to explain that the cold is nothing like the cold we have here. You can put on the right layers and feel fine, it's not the bone-chilling cold we have And the best part was no snow banks! I loved that the sun would melt the snow quickly and it would rarely turn into nasty grey snow banks that never go away.

 

[DisneyMandC]

For anyone interested, we've slowly been adding points to our Hilton Tokyo Bay reservation and today when I went to add another 7k points they weren't able to do so. Apparently if there's no availability at the hotel in the room type you selected they can't add points to your reservation. I guess I assumed they would just add them to my current reservation, but they must have to create a new reservation to add points.

Good to know since I was planning on doing this!!

 

[trenty]

The United news is messing up my plans too. I’d planned to use them for our Europe May/June 2020 trip. We’re still working on the United biz MSR (Probably will be for several more weeks too). I hope it won’t be so awful that we can’t use those miles for that trip. Especially with the excursion perk where you can get an additional flight for free in the middle of your trip. Nothing I can do about it though. Also not much I will change in my plan either, since I was planning to going back to bringing in more UR’s after we finish the United MSR.

I am in the same boat. Right now I am glad that after DH got his United card, I did not also get one as originally planned. I will continue to earn URs to transfer to United if that is who we end up using. If not, the URs or my MRs will go to another airline at the time.

 

[WVMomof3]

From Pueblo, she was probably driving to Co Springs to fly out. Blizzards are a once every 4-5 year'ish thing here. At the most. The last one we had was a few weeks ago. It was kind of a non-event for us but definitely may have been more impactful for others. My dh got one day off work. I think his work hasn't closed for weather in at least 5-6 years so that was big. He was thrilled!

They flew out of Denver, but left from Co Springs because they have family there that they left their dog with. I think the main roads were closed and had to go back roads. They only rarely fly out of Co Springs when they can find a good deal.

 

[havaneselover]

Saks? In stores only.

Sorry, that was a terribly written question. Yes, Saks. I took my mom in and was trying to find gift cards and next thing I know the sales woman was telling her she could only do this online (can't leave my mom alone!). Apparently she was talking about using MRs for Saks gift cards.

 

[tink1970]

I was the impression that free lunch programs are federally funded. Although I have no idea how they determine eligibility since I know this one family who lives in a brand new 4600 sq ft house that they paid close to $500k for plus added a beautiful in-ground pool and their children (I think there are 6 of them) get free meals.

Is their school like DD’s where at some point it was determined to be so needy that everyone receives free lunch? We have some very wealthy families at this school but since porportionally the school is so needy the entire population qualifies for free lunch. I had trouble the first year this occurred but now I’m like oooo-kay. Of course DD hasn’t eaten in the cafeteria since freshman year, lol.

 

[Alexle2007]

Is their school like DD’s where at some point it was determined to be so needy that everyone receives free lunch? We have some very wealthy families at this school but since porportionally the school is so needy the entire population qualifies for free lunch. I had trouble the first year this occurred but now I’m like oooo-kay. Of course DD hasn’t eaten in the cafeteria since freshman year, lol.

Gosh, no. It’s the same schools DS attends and we have no such program. I don’t think we have anything like that in the entire county, although I do think we have some Title 1 schools that higher levels of need.

 

[WVMomof3]

I was the impression that free lunch programs are federally funded. Although I have no idea how they determine eligibility since I know this one family who lives in a brand new 4600 sq ft house that they paid close to $500k for plus added a beautiful in-ground pool and their children (I think there are 6 of them) get free meals.

According to the income guidelines they would have to make less than $55k as a family of 8 to get free lunch. About $78.4k to get reduced lunch. Maybe they FIREd. Worked long enough to buy huge house and save money and now they claim very little as income. Sorry, been reading too many FI blogs. Or maybe they sell drugs. So all money under the table Lol. That’s where my thinking usually goes. Lol

 

[smallsy]

@GlamMistress I’m so sorry about your friend. That’s far too young. I can’t imagine what her family is going through.

 

[Alexle2007]

Just finished planning out my final staff appreciation week at DS’s current school. (Although after this week and how DS was unfairly treated I almost decided to drop out but I am going to march since just the type of parent I am.) I am going with a Harry Potter inspired theme.
Friday before the staff receives their “owl mail” invite and I set up 9 3/4 station
Mon- Sorting Day- a parent is making cupcakes with the house colors inside to “sort” the teachers
Tues- Beginner Wand Training Day- make pencils into wands and instructions on the spells
Wed- The Great Feast- I have a friend who will cater it and I’ll make Polyjuice Potion and Butterbeer
Thurs- Visit to Honeydukes- candy bar and I’ll make chocolate frogs
Fri- Quidditch Tournament- my neighbor made DS an awesome HP corn hole set last year for his birthday and Rita’s Ice to close out the day

Super excited despite how unhappy I am with his school. We just need to get through these last 49 days and then we get to move on to hopefully a much better environment for DS.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd probably still go with the 80K.

thanks for being patient with my question