Just days ahead of Colorado’s sesquicentennial, U.S. News and World Report gave the state a fantastic birthday present.

On July 28 (Colorado turned 150 years old on Aug. 1), the publication gave Colorado its No. 1 ranking for education.

Colorado earned its first place in education based on “increases in associate degree completion and attainment rates, as well as substantial growth in preschool enrollment enabled by the Colorado Universal Preschool program.”

Jared Polis has been the champion of universal preschool in Colorado since he ascended to Colorado’s governor’s seat in 2019.

In an interview with Marianne Goodland of Colorado Politics (a sister publication), Polis pointed to six accomplishments — early education, better funding for K-12, school choice, after-school programs, outcome tracking and workforce training — that moved Colorado from 11th place overall in 2019 to third place two years ago to first place this year.

The governor told Goodland that expanding universal preschool and taxpayer-funded full-day kindergarten have been key accomplishments. These programs have received significant support through state funding and voter-approved initiatives.

Polis also cited better funding for K-12.

“The state ‘owed’ a $1 billion debt to K-12 beginning in 2010, a shortfall that wasn’t fully repaid until two years ago,” Goodland wrote. “Polis pointed to that payoff — along with allowing general fund support for mill levy equalization for charter schools, which ensures charter students receive the same level of funding as other public school students — as a factor.”

Expansion of school choice was another major factor, giving parents the ability to select the public or charter school that best fits their children’s needs, Polis said. According to the governor, about 40% of families now use that option. Having spent years helping develop charter schools and serving on the state Board of Education, Polis called that authority “magical.”

In higher education, Polis pointed to a program providing two years of free community college for students from families earning under $90,000 a year.

While Polis justifiably credits programs supported by his administration, the credit really belongs in the classroom.

Let’s give a shout out to the teachers. Working with kids is challenging and working with their parents sometimes borders on impossible. In recent years, politics has wafted into the equation, often making school board operations divisive and toxic.

Teachers content with all of that and continue to do a marvelous job.

And don’t forget the students. In this age of social media, we are exposed to the dumb things young people (and older people) do every time we look at our devices. But this next generation is also exceptional. Colorado’s schools are doing a good job of recognizing and nurturing that.

My wife has been a teacher for over 20 years. The early part of her career was dedicated to kids on the periphery. She taught at the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, at alternative schools for kids left behind or left out and even at a detention center. Many of those students have kept in touch and have risen above their disadvantaged circumstances to find success as adults.

Teachers make that happen.

So let’s celebrate Colorado’s accomplishment. Go and hug that teacher in your life.

When I get home, I’m going to hug the teacher in my life.