Education

Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed

As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Hickenlooper believes that we should ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed at every age. High-quality, accessible education strengthens our communities while building a robust economy that remains competitive worldwide.

Early childhood education is one of the best investments we can make as a nation. That’s why Senator Hickenlooper continues to fight the Trump administration’s reckless efforts to undermine the Department of Education and leave Colorado schools in the lurch. He supports high-quality, free universal preschool for 3 and 4 year olds to set students up for success early in life. As mayor of Denver, he created the Denver Preschool Program and saw firsthand the positive results the next generation gains when they have access to preschool services. 

Working families also deserve access to high-quality, affordable child care services. When President Trump attempted to use child care funding as a political weapon, Senator Hickenlooper fought back against these illegal attempts so Colorado communities could continue to invest in our children and families. Senator Hickenlooper is proud to help lead bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to reauthorize critical federal child care programs to safeguard and expand access into the future.

As a person living with dyslexia, Senator Hickenlooper understands the difficulty that students with disabilities face. He is committed to ensuring all students have the resources they need to thrive in and out of the classroom. Decades of underinvestment in our public schools have not only created challenges for students and families, but teachers as well. In addition to supporting our students, we must also prioritize investments in educator salaries, training, and support. 

Student loan debt is a drag on our economy and a crushing burden for tens of millions of Americans. That’s why Senator Hickenlooper supports reducing the cost of college by expanding loan repayment programs and allowing borrowers to refinance at a lower rate, expanding Pell grants and the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program, and looking at other ways to make higher education more affordable.

Senator Hickenlooper also believes a path to a good job and living wage doesn’t need to go through college. Senator Hickenlooper is building that path by supporting workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and technical degrees. As governor of Colorado, he jump-started CareerWise Colorado, a nonprofit designed to create statewide apprenticeship opportunities to prepare students for high-paying, competitive jobs at Colorado companies. As senator, he’s introduced legislation to create a national apprenticeship program based on Colorado’s success.