Colorado Succeeds

Colorado Succeeds
Name	Colorado Succeeds
Formation	2011
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Denver, Colorado
Region served	Colorado
Leader title	CEO
Leader name	Jared Polis (note: example placeholder)

Colorado Succeeds is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization focused on advancing K–12 public education through private-sector leadership, policy advocacy, and school improvement strategies. Founded in 2011, the organization connects business executives, philanthropic leaders, and education stakeholders to influence state-level policy and classroom practice in Colorado public schools. It positions itself at the intersection of corporate engagement, state policy, and district-level reform to accelerate student outcomes.

History

Colorado Succeeds was established in 2011 amid statewide debates that included stakeholders from the office of the Governor of Colorado, the Colorado General Assembly, and civic organizations in Denver, Colorado. Early activity involved collaboration with leaders from Chipotle Mexican Grill, Arrow Electronics, Vail Resorts, DaVita, and regional philanthropies such as the Gates Family Foundation (not to be conflated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). The group engaged with policy discussions alongside education reform advocates connected to Teach For America, Relay Graduate School of Education, and the KIPP Foundation while interfacing with district leaders in Jefferson County Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, and Boulder Valley School District. Over the 2010s, Colorado Succeeds participated in legislative debates over accountability frameworks, funding formulas, and charter school authorizing, intersecting with actors including the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado State Board of Education, and statewide organizations like The Bell Policy Center.

Mission and Goals

The organization frames its mission to mobilize private-sector expertise to improve public schooling, emphasizing measurable student outcomes and workforce readiness. Key goals align with advocacy for standards and assessments such as the Colorado Academic Standards, support for school choice options like charter schools and performance-based accountability used by entities like the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado School Finance Project. It highlights partnerships with employers including Lockheed Martin, UCHealth, and Schnitzer Steel Industries to align K–12 rigors with regional labor markets and postsecondary pathways exemplified by Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, and Community College of Denver.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs have included leadership development for superintendents and principals, policy research, and advocacy campaigns. Initiatives have engaged national organizations such as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Education Pioneers, and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute for comparative research, while implementing local pilots with school networks like DSST Public Schools and Mile High Montessori. The group has convened business roundtables composed of executives from Western Union, Molson Coors, Newmont Corporation, and Ball Corporation to promote workforce-aligned curricula and career and technical education pathways linking to institutions like the Aims Community College and Colorado School of Mines.

Organizational Structure

Colorado Succeeds operates with a board of directors and an executive leadership team that has historically included business executives, former elected officials, and education leaders. Board composition has mirrored corporate governance practices found at companies such as Xcel Energy and NiSource and philanthropic board models similar to those at the DonorsTrust and regional family foundations. Operational staff have included policy analysts, program directors, and communications professionals who coordinate with state agencies like the Colorado Department of Education and regional school districts including Poudre School District.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding comes from corporate memberships, philanthropic gifts, and foundation grants. Corporate partners have included firms such as Stryker Corporation, Gates Corporation, and regional banking institutions like FirstBank and KeyBank. Philanthropic collaborators have ranged from local family foundations to national funders such as the Walton Family Foundation and program-aligned organizations like the Colorado Education Initiative. The group has also partnered with national policy organizations including Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education-aligned networks and research entities like the Brookings Institution for data analysis and comparative studies.

Impact and Evaluation

Colorado Succeeds reports influence through policy wins, corporate engagement metrics, and pilot outcomes in partner schools. Its advocacy has been linked to legislative outcomes in the Colorado General Assembly on issues such as accountability revisions and funding adjustments tracked by analysts at the Colorado Fiscal Institute and Education Commission of the States. Evaluations have drawn on external research partners including RAND Corporation and university-based teams from University of Denver and University of Colorado Denver to measure school-level effects, graduation-rate changes, and alignment with postsecondary enrollment in institutions like Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics have raised concerns about the role of private-sector influence in public schooling, citing tensions similar to controversies involving the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and debates around charter expansion led by groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council. Opponents, including teacher associations such as the Colorado Education Association and labor groups like the AFT Colorado, have argued that policy stances favored by business coalitions may prioritize market-oriented reforms over collective bargaining and traditional district governance. Investigative reporting in outlets analogous to The Denver Post and commentary from civic watchdogs such as Common Cause Colorado have questioned transparency around funding and the extent of corporate access to policymaking.

Category:Education in Colorado