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Greeley Evans students describe Capitol visit, ask lawmakers about school funding and FAFSA
Summary
Two District 6 students told the Board of Education on March 10 that a Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) student day at the state Capitol gave them a firsthand look at lawmakers, budgeting and financial aid processes including FAFSA.
Two students who attended the Colorado Association of School Boards’ Student Day at the state Capitol described their observations and said meeting legislators clarified how funding decisions are made.
Board President Matthews and other trustees invited the students to report early in the March 10 work session. Aliyah, a 10th-grader from Northridge, and Abby, an 11th-grader from Greeley Central, said the visit included meetings on the Senate and House floors and conversations with legislators and lobbyists.
The students said the visit showed them that elected officials often speak directly and matter-of-factly about budget tradeoffs. "She said she's gonna try and keep it the same level as last year...every year funding was below what the constitution promised us," Aliyah said, describing a senator’s comments about maintaining last year’s funding level. Abby said meeting and listening to lobbyists and legislators demystified how policy is negotiated and reinforced the value of students speaking up.
Board members and staff praised the students’ preparation and composure. Director Azari described both students as “very mature” and said they represented the district well. Superintendent Pilch and other trustees thanked the students for attending and said legislators can sometimes listen more closely to students than to adults.
Board members also discussed topics raised by the students, including a contentious FAFSA-related bill and concerns about how financial-aid requirements might affect English learners. Directors and staff noted that districts across Colorado advocate differently on issues such as FAFSA and financial-literacy bills because of the state’s diversity.
The students recommended that more government- or civics-focused classes consider bringing students to the Capitol; trustees agreed the trip was a useful civic-education experience and thanked district staff who escorted the group.
The board did not take any formal action on the students’ remarks; the presentation concluded with expressions of thanks and acknowledgement that student voice plays an important role in district advocacy.
