SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: CSFP ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR!
6th Annual CSFP Conference: Celebrating What Works - REGISTER HERE
Conference Information and Updates Here.
Founded in 1995, the Colorado School Finance Project (CSFP) is a non-profit whose mission is to compile, collect, and distribute research-based, non-partisan information and data on topics related to school finance for state and local policymakers.
School Finance Trainings 2026
CSFP Present at SAC Meeting - August 6, 2026
School Finance Training - Grand Junction
August 6-7, 2026
Agenda
School Finance and State Budget
CDE Slides
Grants Management
CSFP at CASE Summer Convention - July 29, 2026
June Economic Forecast - June 18, 2026
• Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Report
• Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation
• Legislative Council Consumer Price Index Forecast
• OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation
• OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report
• OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
CSFP Presentation at Great Education Colorado Advocates Network Meeting - June 9, 2026
School Finance Training - Dillion
June 4-5, 2026
Agenda
School Finance and State Budget
CDE Slides
Grants Management
CSFP Presentation to CDE New Manager Cohort - June 2, 2026
Individual district one-pagers based on School Finance Act (SB26-023)
School Finance Training - Durango
May 14-15, 2026
Agenda
School Finance and State Budget
CDE Slides
Grants Management
May CSFP Advisory Meeting - May 8, 2026
Recording of meeting
Magellan Strategies Presentation
- Ballot measures survey results
- Weighted Crosstabs
Initiative 195 Update by Bell Policy
2026 Ballot Measures presentation by CFI
25-26 to 26-27 Cost of Living Comparison
Legislative Council Cost of Living Study
CSFP at CASBO Spring Conference - April 23, 2026
School Finance Training - Pueblo
April 16-17, 2026
Agenda
School Finance and State Budget
CDE Slides
Grants Management
CSFP at Western Slope Superintendents Conference - April 9, 2026
March Economic Forecast - March 19, 2026
• Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Report
• Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation
• Legislative Council Consumer Price Index Forecast
• OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation
• OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report
• OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
Budget Stabilization Factor by District Fact Sheets
March CSFP Advisory Meeting - March 6, 2026
Recording of Meeting
Federal Impacts on K-12
Education Workforce Housing Program
CSFP at CASE Winter Conference - February 20, 2026
2026 Legislative Bill Tracker
February CSFP Advisory Meeting - February 13, 2026
Recording of meeting
Department of Early Childhood Updates
Raising the Spending Limit 2026 with CEA
Colorado's Population Outlook with the State Demographer
CSFP at CU Denver School Finance Panel - February 6, 2026
School Finance Training - Greeley
January 29-30, 2026
Agenda
School Finance and Budget
CDE Slides
Grants Management
SOT loss by District
Impact of New Formula by District
Governor's proposal impact by District
January CSFP Advisory Meeting - January 16, 2026
Recording of meeting
School Finance Update -Legislative Council
Protect Colorado's Future
Colorado PERA Update
Governor's Supplemental and Budget Amendment Request - January 2, 2026
Helpful Links:
Property Tax Background and Talking Points
Interim Committees:
Property Tax Task Force - Access all information HERE.
School Finance Task Force - Access all information HERE.
School Transportation Task Force - Access all information HERE.
Override Mill Levy Match Working Group - Access all information HERE.
2024 Colorado Adequacy Study
Reports:
School Finance Input Adequacy Study Report (PDF)
School Finance Input Adequacy Study Appendices (PDF)
School Finance Cost-Modeling Adequacy Study Report (PDF)
School Finance Cost-Modeling Adequacy Study Executive Summary (PDF)
School Finance Cost-Modeling Adequacy Study Appendices (PDF)
Resources:
Individual district fact sheets
Individual district Presentations
Mill Levy Resources
• Types of Mill Levies for Schools
• Why Local Funding Matters
• Individual District Mill Levy Information
November CSFP Advisory Meeting - November 14, 2025
Recording of Meeting
25-26 Budget Rollout Presentation
State Land Board
November 2025 School District Elections
2025 School District Election Tracker
2025 School District Election Report
CSFP school district map of Mill Levy Overrides (MLO)
November What We're Reading: "Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal keeps K-12 funding promises, allows for college tuition increases", Jason Gonzalez, Chalkbeat, October 31, 2025. "Wave of victories boosts teachers unions", Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, November 6, 2025.
Government Recission informational video and district fact sheets
CSFP at CASE Summer Convention - July 23-24, 2025
Adequacy Studies are Completed: Now What? presentation
Adequacy Study Charts
School Finance Changes presentation
Strategic School Finance Training: Montrose, CO - July 31-Aug 1, 2025
Agenda
New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP)
Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP)
Grants Management (CDE)
Fund Balance and Budgeting Strategy (CDE)
Staffing, Compensation, FSLA Compliance (CDE)
Chart of Accounts (CDE)
Accounting Basics (CDE)
July What We're Reading: "Lawsuit challenges Trump administration’s $7 billion education funding freeze", Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat, July 14, 2025. "‘Back to the Dark Ages’: Education Research Staggered by Trump Cuts", Kevin Mahnken, The 74, July 21, 2025.
June Advisory Meeting - June 13, 2025
Recording of Meeting
June 2025 Economic Forecast - June 18, 2025
- Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Report
- Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation
- Legislative Council Consumer Price Index Forecast
- OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation
- OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report
- OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
Strategic School Finance Training: La Junta, CO - June 26-27, 2025
Agenda
New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP)
Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP)
Grants Management (CDE)
Fund Balance and Budgeting Strategy (CDE)
Staffing, Compensation, FSLA Compliance (CDE)
Chart of Accounts (CDE)
Accounting Basics (CDE)
June What We're Reading: "Colorado school districts brace for upcoming budget crunch" Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, June 30, 2025.
CSFP at Southern Superintendents Conference - April 3, 2025
CSFP at BOCES Quarterly Meeting - April 15, 2025
CSFP at Western Slope Superintendents Conference - April 17, 2025
April CSFP Advisory Meeting - April 18, 2025
Voter Sentiment with Magellan Strategies
Colorado Fiscal Outlook with CFI/Bell Policy
CSFP at CASBO Conference - April 24, 2025
CSFP presentation to PEBC Lunch and Learn - April 28, 2025
April What We're Reading:
"Colorado House Speaker’s school finance plan seeks a compromise on enrollment-averaging", Jason Gonzalez, Chalkbeat, April 1, 2025.
"Dems seeking to axe TABOR; GOP plans to fight proposed changes", Nick Coltrain and Seth Klamann, Denver Post, April 1, 2025.
"Colorado taxpayers may have to pay for lawyers on both sides of Democrats’ lawsuit to dismantle TABOR", Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun, April 7, 2025.
"State districts curtail teacher raises - K-12 area schools face increasing uncertainty in state and federal funding", Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, April 21, 2025.
March CSFP Advisory Meeting - March 7, 2025
Recording of meeting
PERA Update presentation
Presentation from the State Demographer
New NCES Designation vs Previous spreadsheet
NCES Locale Designation vs CDE Designation
March Economic Forecast - March 17, 2025
• Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Report
• Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation
• Legislative Council Consumer Price Index Forecast
• OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation
• OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report
• OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
March What We're Reading:
"Colorado lawmakers delay budget introduction as they agonize over final cuts", Brian Eason, Colorado Sun, March 24, 2025.
"New school funding proposal in Colorado would soften the cuts for K-12", Jenny Brundin, CPR, March 26, 2025.
Strategic School Finance Training: Greeley, CO - January 30-31, 2025
Agenda
Workshop Tool
New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP)
Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP)
Grants Management (CDE)
Staffing, Compensation, FSLA Compliance (CDE)
Chart of Accounts (CDE)
Accounting Basics (CDE)
Budgeting Strategy (CDE)
January CSFP Advisory Meeting - January 10, 2025
Recording of Meeting
School Finance Update - Legislative Council Staff
Adequacy Study Presentation - Justin Silverstein, APA
District Runs Spreadsheet on Averaging Proposal
Ouray Proposed Budget
January What We're Reading:
"How much more money would Colorado need to adequately teach students? New studies say $3.5 billion to $4.1 billion", Jason Gonzalez, Chalkbeat, January 4, 2025.
"Colorado is $4 billion away from making its schools what it wants them to be, according to new reports", Alison Borden, Colorado Public Radio, January 3, 2025.
