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.
ESSER I and ESSER II information Click here to see each district's information. For Communication Strategies, go here. Updated ESSER I Key Takeaways Handout
March Forecast - March 16, 2023 • 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 March Advisory Meeting - March 10th, 2023 Recording here. ESSER Mid-point Survey Presentation
*NEW* ESSER Mid-Point Survey Results Press Release
CSFP Presentation "School Finance in Times of Uncertainty" at CASE Winter Conference - Feb 22, 2023
SB23-136: Adjustments to School Funding Fiscal Year 2022-23 Fiscal Note
Department of Education - Figure Setting 22-23 - Feb 13, 2023 Department of Early Childhood - Figure Setting 23-24 - Feb 15, 2023 Department of Education (Programs other than School Finance and Categorical Programs) - Figure Setting 23-24 - Feb 23, 2023
CSFP February Advisory Meeting - February 10th, 2023 Recording here. Governor's Office Presentation State Demography Office Presentation and 5 to 18 Count by District
Mill Levy information & a look at K-12 Ed appropriation over time • Assessed Valuation by District • Assessed Valuation per Pupil • Total Program Mills • Voter Approved Mill Levy Override • Tax Effort and Fiscal Capacity FY 2022-23 • Tax Effort Equity by District and Per Pupil
Provider Registration Open for Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado
Per Pupil Spending by District 22-23
CSFP January Advisory Meeting - January 20th, 2023 Recording here. CDLS Online Learning Presentation Bell Policy Center on Property Tax Presentation
SMART Government Act Hearings Meeting - January 13, 2023 CDE SMART Act Slides CDE SMART Act Supplemental Materials CDE Performance Plan CDEC SMART Act Slides FY 22-23 CDEC Performance Plan ECLC SMART Act Slides
CSFP Presentation to CU on School Finance - January 11, 2023
December 2022 Forecast - December 20, 2022 Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Report Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation Consumer Price Index Forecast OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
November 2022 District Election Information Included are districts going for bond/BEST matching/MLO with their ballot language. 2022 Election Report November 2022 MLO Results Map
JBC Hearing for the Department of Education - December 9, 2022
JBC Staff Budget Briefing FY 2023-24 - Department of Early Childhood - December 8, 2022 Budget Brief Budget Briefing Summary
CSFP Presentation at Aurora Public Schools - December 6, 2022
CSFP New Board Member Orientation Presentation at CASB - December 1-2, 2022 New Board Member Handbook
CSFP'S ANNUAL STATE PROFILE REPORT We have compiled this information for 20 years now. The 2022 State Profile compares audited data noting changes between 2020-21 to the base year of 1992. Data is audited which lags behind the current year. It is important to know that this data reflects the first full pandemic year. Three reports from the state profile data: 1. 2022 State Profile Overview (1-page overview) 2. 2022 State Profile Charts & Highlights (2 pages) 3. The 2022 State Profile Report (7 pages) includes a historical look at: • Enrollment in K-12: Enrollment, Special Education, Free & Reduced Lunch, Emergent Bilinguals (English Language Learners according to CDE), and gifted students • Teachers: Number of teachers, teachers per 1,000 students, average salary (comparing CO and National) • Per Student Current Spending and Revenue • Relationship between state/local revenue for K-12 and personal income
At-Risk Working Group (HB22-1202) Website here • At-Risk Workgroup Funding 101 - August 8, 2022 • Workgroup Meeting #1 - August 15, 2022 • Workgroup Meeting #2 & District Estimates - September 12, 2022 • Workgroup Meeting #3 - October 17, 2022 • Workgroup Meeting #4 - November 14, 2022
January/February What We're Reading - "State enrollment data shows fewer students in Colorado schools" - Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat, Jan 18, 2023 - CEA's 2023 Colorado State of Education Report - January 2023 - "Colorado politicians want more property tax relief as state forecasts 26.5% increase in assessed values" - Nick Coltrain, Greeley Tribune, Feb 6, 2023 - "Fears flare that Colorado free preschool could shortchange kids with learning delays"- Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat, Feb 6, 2023 - "A $60K Starting Salary for Teachers? Not a Single State Meets the Bar" - Libby Stanford, Education Week, February 24, 2023 - "Homeowners to face massive hikes . Jump in home values during pandemic will result in bigger bills" - Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, March 6, 2023
CSFP New Board Member Orientation Presentation at CASB - December 1-2, 2022 New Board Member Handbook
CSFP Presentation at Aurora Public Schools - December 6, 2022
JBC Staff Budget Briefing FY 2023-24 - Department of Early Childhood - December 8, 2022 Budget Brief Budget Briefing Summary
JBC Hearing for the Department of Education - December 9, 2022
December 2022 Forecast - December 20, 2022 Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Report Legislative Council Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation Consumer Price Index Forecast OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
November 2022 District Election Information Included are districts going for bond/BEST matching/MLO with their ballot language. 2022 Election Report November 2022 MLO Results MapCSFP to East Grand District 2 Presentation - November 1, 2022 Governor Polis's 23-24 Budget Request - November 1, 2022 Below are some highlights from the Governor’s press release pertaining to education and the rest of the state budget: 1. Funding will increase to $861 per pupil- assumes inflation at 8.3% 2. $35M buydown of the BS Factor to keep the BS Factor 3% of what is spent on K-12 Education 3. $325M in Prop EE invested in Universal Pre-K (this increases funding by $10M) 4. $6M to I-Matter program for student counseling 5. Increase funding of $29M to special education services 6. School safety investments of $8.4M 7. $1M Turnaround grants 8. $7M to CSI for Mill Levy Override Match Governor's Budget Proposal 2023-24 links • Budget Letter 23-24 • Budget Rollout Presentation 23-24 • Budget Navigator 23-24 • K12 Fact Sheet CSFP November Advisory Meeting - November 11, 2022 Recording here. School Finance Update presentation by Marc Carey and Craig Harper. JBC Staff Budget Briefing FY 2023-24 - Department of Education (Programs other than School Finance and Categoricals) - November 21, 2022 Budget Brief Budget Briefing Summary
- Morning Remarks with Tracie Rainey presentation
- Keynote Speaker Carol Hedges - "It's time for Audacity"
- Keynote Speaker David Flaherty - "Telling Your School District’s Story: Rebuilding Confidence and Trust Among Parents & Non-Parents"
- Morning Session with Tracie Rainey and Susan Meek - "Proactively Telling Your Story"
- ESSER I Key Takeaways Handout
- Legislative Council Economic & Revenue Forecast Report
- Legislative Council Presentation Slides
- Legislative Council Consumer Price Index Forecast
- OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report
- OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation Slides
- OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
- "Colorado legislature faces inflationary budget crunch as risk of recession grows" - Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun, September 22, 2022
"COVID relief money helps Colorado schools pay for math and reading curriculum" - Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat, Sept 21, 2022
Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance - August 16, 2022 • Interim School Finance Presentation • Funding for District Cost of Living • Cost of Living State Comparison • 2021 Cost of Living Memo • SB22-202 Fiscal Note • HB22-1390 Year Comparison by District • Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement
Rural Schools Distributions per HB20‐1427 - August 22, 2022
CSFP Staffing Survey Results - August 23, 2022 The Colorado School Finance Project sent out a survey to school districts asking for more information on unfilled positions. We want to thank the districts who responded to the survey. This information is invaluable as there have been many stories in the media about teacher and staffing shortages across the nation and Colorado. These are the results from the survey showing that districts are struggling to hire staff for this school year. In these results, we have also included information from a recent study on national teacher wages.
CSFP School Finance Discussion with DBO - August 29, 2022
Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance - August 30, 2022
• ESSER COVID Recovery Funding for Education Update from CDE
• Preliminary List of State Grant Programs
• 2022-23 BEST Applications & Approved Projects
August What We're Reading: - "What it takes to put a measure on the ballot" - Max Lubbers, CPR — August 5, 2022 - "A ‘National Teacher Shortage’? New Research Reveals Vastly Different Realities Between States & Regions" - Marianna McMurdock, The 74 — August 17, 2022 - "Colorado teachers earn 36% less than other college-educated workers, the worst gap in the country" - Erica Breunlin, Colorado Sun — August 22, 2022 (references This Report by Economic Policy Institute)- Legislative Council Economic & Revenue Forecast Report
- Legislative Council Presentation Slides
- Legislative Council Consumer Price Index Forecast
- OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report
- OSPB Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook Presentation Slides
- OSPB Colorado Outlook Supplemental Materials
- Democrats formalize plan for expanded preschool, early childhood department. But will Colorado have enough teachers?- Erica Breunlin, March 11, 2022
- Ballot measure would steer part of TABOR refunds to Colorado schools- Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat, March 4, 2022
- Education groups want more funding for teachers, so they're pushing a November ballot initiative that could do just that- Jenny Brundin, Colorado Public Radio, March 3, 2022
January/December What We're Reading:
- Colorado's 2022 legislative session began Wednesday. Here's your guide to get involved.- Sandra Fish, The Colorado Sun, January 12, 2022 - Funding, school ratings, workforce: Education issues we're watching in 2022- Jason Gonzales and Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat, January 7, 2022– How Staff Shortages Are Crushing Schools– Mark Lieberman, Education Week [will need to sign-in for access]
- The latest Nobel Prize winner: Researcher who helped show money matters for schools- Matt Barnum, Chalkbeat, October 13, 2021