Developing the Educated Child

What We Believe

For those reflecting on how to develop an educated child and what educational practices best foster a flourishing environment for children educationally and personally, it is first necessary to determine central ideas around what childhood is and what its focus should be. One might consider a model emphasizing the importance of developing a rich mind life, mastering the tools for seeking truth, and experiencing beauty throughout childhood and adolescence.

Childhood is a foundational stage of life that needs guidance, discovery, and wonder, not blind following or blatant, bland answers. The more a child can discover and experience, the richer and more abundant their knowledge and character will grow. Read the report to learn more about the history of childhood development and best practices to cultivate educated children.

Dr. Debora L. Scheffel

Dr. Debora Scheffel serves as the CUS Dean of the School of Education at Colorado Christian University. She earned a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and completed a National Institutes of Mental Health post-doctoral fellowship in cognitive science at the University of California, San Diego. Her research interests are in education reform policy, reading, and oral language development and disabilities in children. She is currently serving a second 6-year term as a member of the Colorado State Board of Education representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. She is passionate about quality education and providing a range of available educational options for all children.

At Advance Colorado, we believe in an education system that puts Colorado parents and students first through a system that emphasizes:

At the heart of Colorado’s school system is school choice, in which our state has been a national trailblazer for decades. – a system that has enjoyed deep, bipartisan support.

What We Do

We craft cutting edge policies that empower parents, taxpayers, and teachers and push back on the status quo interests that resist reform.

Our 2024 Policy Agenda includes several important education reform priorities. Read it HERE

This year, we are leading the charge to protect the school choice rights we currently have – rights that are annually under siege from the education establishment groups that want to eliminate your right to choose the best school for your children. We can secure our rights into the future through a school choice amendment to the Colorado Constitution.

Read our policy brief on this important issue HERE.

What You Can Do

We help citizens become advocates and leaders.

Whether you are a concerned parent, grandparent or taxpayer, Advance Colorado can equip you with the knowledge and tools to be an effective advocate for high quality, accountable schools. Learn more about our ambassador program.

And if you are interested in running to become a member of your local school board, you can apply to participate in the Advance Colorado Academy New Leader program. LINK If you are a current school board member, you can enroll in our “You’ve Won, Now What?” program. Learn more about our “You’ve Won, Now What?” program.