Welcome

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.

SAVE THE DATE- Colorado School Finance Project's Inaugural School Finance Conference, September 15, 2021 at Beaver Run in Breckenridge
June Forecast  

Legislative Council Staff 
  Economic & Revenue Forecast 
  Economic & Revenue Forecast Presentation 
  Consumer Price Index Forecast 

Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting  
  Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook  
  Presentation to the Joint Budget Committee  
  The Colorado Outlook: Supplemental Materials
CSFP's Legislative Wrap-up 2021 information and resources- Click 2021 ribbon
Public School Finance Act (SB21-268) runs from CDE- posted on 6/10/2021
Mill Levy and Tax Credits FY2020-21- UPDATED
June CSFP Advisory Meeting
  - Meeting Recording
  - Education Funding in 2021-22 (circle chart)
  - School Finance so far in 2021 Presentation- CSFP
  - ESSER $s: How they Makes a Difference Presentation- CSFP
      - Salida School District 2021 Education Reimagined
      - Boulder Valley School District Financial Transparency FY2020-21
      - Boulder Valley School District Community Engagement FY2020-21
  - School Finance Act with Factors FY21-22 spreadsheet
  - Potential Ballot Measures Presentation- Carol Hedges, CFI
      - Initiative 27 Fiscal Impact Statement
      - Initiative 27 Fiscal Summary
      - SB21-293 (Property Tax Reduction bill) Fiscal Note
      - Initiative 25 Fiscal Impact Statement
      - Initiative 25 Fiscal Summary

June What We’re Reading:

– How Colorado counts kids eligible for subsidized lunch is a recipe for school budget disaster– The Colorado Sun, June 15, 2021

– It’s Been 30 Years Since Colorado Redid Its School Funding Formula. Some Lawmakers Hope Now’s The Time– Colorado Public Radio, June 5, 2021 

JUNE 2021 
June Forecast  

Legislative Council Staff 
  Economic & Revenue Forecast 
  Economic & Revenue Forecast Presentation 
  Consumer Price Index Forecast 

Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting  
  Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook  
  Presentation to the Joint Budget Committee  
  The Colorado Outlook: Supplemental Materials
CSFP's Legislative Wrap-up 2021 information and resources- Click 2021 ribbon
Public School Finance Act (SB21-268) runs from CDE- posted on 6/10/2021

Mill Levy and Tax Credits FY2020-21- UPDATED
June CSFP Advisory Meeting
  - Meeting Recording
  - Education Funding in 2021-22 (circle chart)
  - School Finance so far in 2021 Presentation- CSFP
  - ESSER $s: How they Makes a Difference Presentation- CSFP
      - Salida School District 2021 Education Reimagined
      - Boulder Valley School District Financial Transparency FY2020-21
      - Boulder Valley School District Community Engagement FY2020-21
  - School Finance Act with Factors FY21-22 spreadsheet
  - Potential Ballot Measures Presentation- Carol Hedges, CFI
      - Initiative 27 Fiscal Impact Statement
      - Initiative 27 Fiscal Summary
      - SB21-293 (Property Tax Reduction bill) Fiscal Note
      - Initiative 25 Fiscal Impact Statement
      - Initiative 25 Fiscal Summary
June What We're Reading:
MAY 2021 
Colorado Supreme Court ruling on interrogatory for House Bill 21-1164 (Total Program Mill Levy Tax Credit)
Memo from Legislative Council Staff- Legislative Changes and Flexibility in Use of American Rescue Plan Funds- May 20, 2021
SB21-268- Public School Finance Act Reengrossed 5.17.21
SB21-268- Public School Finance Act
SB21-268- Public School Finance Act FISCAL NOTE
Colorado Department of Education DRAFT runs on SB21-268
May What We're Reading:   - Universal free lunch will help Colorado districts keep feeding kids. But could it also rob some schools of state funding?- The Colorado Sun, April 27, 2021   - Building for the future: Weld County school districts using bonds to renovate and add facilities- Chalkbeat Colorado, March 1, 2021
APRIL 2021 
Lake County School District Board of Education Presentation April 27, 2021

CSFP April Advisory Meeting Materials: - Meeting recording - School Finance Update Presentation- Marc Carey and Kate Watkins, Legislative Council - Moody's Methodology Change Presentation- Mattie Prodanovic and Jason Simmons, Hilltop Securities - Budget Stabilization Factor as Percent of State Share - School Finance Factors with and without Budget Stabilization Factor - Analysis of Factors Workbook Explanatory narrative - Excel Workbook looking at Factors, Base Funding, and the Budget Stabilization Factor
USDA Announcement on Free Lunch Extension through June 2022 April 20, 2021
Public Education & Business Coalition Board Presentation April 20, 2021
ESSER III Colorado Allocation by School District
Western Slope April Advisory Meeting Presentation April 15, 2021
Salida School DIstrict Presentation April 13, 2021
Public Education Study Group materials 4.9.2021
  - Meeting recording
  - School Finance 101
UPDATED Colorado COVID-19 Public School Assistance 2021
Budget Stabilization Factor Chart 2008-2021: Reflects passage of SB21-053, supplemental
April What We’re Reading:   - How States Can Manage Uncertainty, Balance Budgets, and Help Communities in the Pandemic's Wake- Pew Charitible Trusts, March 22, 2021 – Universal free lunch will help Colorado districts keep feeding kids. But could it also rob some schools of state funding?– The Colorado Sun, April 27, 2021 – Colorado Senate adds special ed funding, chief equity officer position to 2022 budget– Chalkbeat Colorado, April 8, 2021 – Colorado’s 2022 budget boosts K-12 spending, restores higher ed cuts– Chalkbeat Colorado, April 5, 2021
MARCH 2021 
Public Education Study Group materials 3.26.2021
- A Look at Colorado Schools: Then and Now
- Timeline of Colorado’s School Finance & Education Reform 2019-20 thru 1982
- Timeline of Facts and Figures for Colorado Schools
2020-21 Budget Stabilization Factor by School District
March Forecast 

Legislative Council Staff
Economic & Revenue Forecast
Economic & Revenue Forecast Presentation
Consumer Price Index Forecast

Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting 
Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook 
Presentation to the Joint Budget Committee 
The Colorado Outlook: Supplemental Materials
CSFP March Advisory Meeting
Video Recording of Meeting
Potential Ballot Issues presentation- Carol Hedges, CFI
Nutrition Panel presentation
School Finance: National Perspective, At-Risk Count, & Power Equalization presentation- Justin Silverstein, APA, and Tracie Rainey, CSFP
  - Overview of Power Equalization
Build a Better Colorado Presentation March 10, 2021 
David Sciarra, Executive Director, Education Law Center 
Justin Silverstein, CEO, Augenblick, Palaich & Associates
CDE's Enrollment change 2020-21 to 2021-22
March What We're Reading/Watching:   - Building for the future: Weld County school districts using bonds to renovate and add facilities- Chalkbeat Colorado, March 1, 2021
FEBRUARY 2021 
CDE's Enrollment change 2020-21 to 2021-22
 Building a Better Colorado Presentation February 19, 2021 - 
School Finance Principles PowerPoint - Graphs on Colorado Education Spending and Revenues 2008 to 2019 
- Education Week Per Pupil Spending Comparison chart 2020 
- Percent of General Fund appropriated for K-12 Education
SB21-053- Supplemental Adjustment for 2020-21 School Year Bill Text
SB21-053 Supplemental Adjustment for 2020-21 School Year Fiscal Note
How School Finance Works 
CSFP's February Advisory Meeting:
Video recording of meeting
PERA Presentation by Ron Baker, Executive Director
Overview of Potential Tax Reforms- Carol Hedges, Executive Director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute
  - Tax Year 2020 Income Tax Limits and Range of EITC
CSFP Supplemental workbooks:
  - Potential Supplemental Model 2.11.21 District level
  - Estimated Budget Stabilization Factor Calculation
  - 2021 Midyear bill funds outside the formula- COVID Mitigation- Legislative Council
  - 2021 Midyear bill School Finance Formula Portion- Legislative Council
At-a-Glance: 2020-21 Colorado Public School Student Enrollment
February What We're Reading/Watching:   - As Colorado House and Senate reconvene, leaders pledge funds for K-12, higher education- Chalkbeat Colorado, February 16, 2021
JANUARY 2021 
Supplemental Budget Requests FY2020-21, Department of Education- January 2021
Comparison of HB20-1418, December CDE Funding Worksheet, and Governor's Supplemental Request Workbook
Supplemental Request Analysis- Amount of reduction by school district
University of Colorado at Denver's Education Policy Cohort Presentation booklet- CSFP's K-12 School Finance Packet- School finance discussion on January 19, 2021
CSFP’s January 2021 VIRTUAL Advisory Meeting: 
Video recording of meeting 
Growing Forward: Population & Economic Trends in Colorado - Elizabeth Garner, State Demography Office, Department of Local Affairs, January 2021
December 2020 Forecast- Kate Watkins, Legislative Council Staff
COVID Assistance Information from CDE and the Governor's Office
  - ESSER II
  - GEER II
CDE Allocation of Proposition EE dollars to Rural Schools - January 2021
CASB Conversations Webinar: Budgeting the Next Round of Federal Stimulus Dollars
   - Slides
   - Recording
A Look at School District Enrollment 2020-21
Mesa County Valley School District 51 Presentation to the School Board- January 5, 2021
January What We’re Reading/Watching:   - A guide to how Amendment 23, "the budget stabilization factor" and "the negative factor shape education spending in Colorado- The Colorado Sun, January 27, 2021 - Colorado teacher salaries rank below the national average. The recession is likely to keep them there. - The Colorado Sun, January 26, 2021
DECEMBER 2020 
December 2020 Forecast

Legislative Council staff
Economic & Revenue Forecast
Presentation to the Joint Budget Committee
  - K-12 Enrollment Forecast (slides 26-33)
  - Assessed Valuation Forecast (slides 34-37)
  - School Finance Outlook (slides 38-42)
Consumer Price Index Forecast

Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting
Colorado Economic and Fiscal Outlook
Presentation to the Joint Budget Committee
The Colorado Outlook: Supplemental Materials
Colorado Department of Education Hearing with the Joint Budget Committee on December 16, 2020 materials
CDE Budget Worksheet Comparison Worksheets- CSFP tool to help school districts compare CDE's June projection to December model released on Monday, December 7, 2020. 
- Excel format
- Google Sheets
Adams 12 Leadership Academy Presentation 12.8.2020
Material from Mill Levy Certification Webinar on HB20-1418
 - Mill Levy Setting Presentation
 - Copy of Bond Debt Service Model Template
 - Mill Levy Calculation Checklist
 - Mill Levy Certification Template
 - Video recording of webinar (skip to 36:00 for beginning of presentation)

Additional resources for reference: 

De-Brucing by district- Leg Council-updated 12.2020

Joint Budget Committee: Education Briefing Documents for FY 2021-22
State Budget Briefing FY2021-22
FY2021-22 Budget Briefing Summary
Colorado COVID-19 Public School Assistance 2020
CSFP Briefing document: Mill Levy changes in the 2020 School Finance Act (HB20-1418) 
Joint Budget Committee: Education Briefing Documents for FY 2021-22
State Budget Briefing FY2021-22
FY2021-22 Budget Briefing Summary
Bayfield School District Presentation- December 3, 2020
2020 State Profile Data: Our annual profile information depicts changes in K-12 funding and counts (comparing the base year of 1992-93 to 2013-14 to 2017-18 to 2018-19). Data is audited so lags behind current information.

  - 2020 State Profile Overview: a 1-page overview of areas of concern for K-12
  - 2020 Overview Highlights & Charts: 2-page document with highlights and charts.
  - CSFP 2020 State Profile Data: 4 tables and Notes page 
       - Table 1: Enrollment, Special Education, Free and Reduced Lunch, English language learners (ELL), and Gifted Students
       - Table 2: Number of Teachers, Teachers per 1,000 students, Average Salary (comparing CO and National)
       - Table 3: Per Student Current Spending and Revenues
       - Table 4: Relationship between State/Local Revenue for K-12 Public Education and Personal Income
       - Notes and Terms: Footnotes for all tables are located on this page.
December What We’re Reading/Watching:   
Millions in Colorado school funding at risk because of COVID-19 enrollment declines– The Denver Post, December 17, 2020
About 30,000 Colorado students choose not to enroll in public school this year (Tracie Rainey interviewed in video)– The Denver Channel, December 16, 2020
Colorado’s public school enrollment has dropped by 30,000 students. That could spell financial disaster for districts. – Colorado Sun, December 15, 2020
CDC report: Coronavirus mitigation efforts to reopen schools could cost up to $442 per student– K-12 Dive, December 14, 2020
CDC recommends mitigation strategies that schools can adopt to minimize the risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-1 in school settings – Center for Disease Control and Prevention, December 11, 2020
Across U.S., schools’ worst budget fears have been avoided. No one’s celebrating yet. – Chalkbeat, December 7, 2020
NOVEMBER 2020

2020 November Colorado School District Election Results

2020 Mill Levy Override Map 
Colorado Education Association Presentations
DAY ONE: School Finance in Colorado: A Historical Perspective Statehood to 2008- November 16, 2020 
DAY TWO: School Finance in Colorado: A Historical Perspective 2009-Present- November 17, 2020
CSFP’s November 2020 VIRTUAL Advisory Meeting:

Video Recording of meeting 
FY2021-22 Budget Request Governor Polis- Lauren Larson, Grace Glover, Aaron Ray and Luke Teater, Office of State Planning and Budgeting
Distance to the Base & Changes to School Finance in 2020- Justin Silverstein and Tracie Rainey, CSFP
2020 Election Results and Recap- Lisa Weil, Great Education Colorado
2020 State Profile Data: Our annual profile information depicts changes in K-12 funding and counts (comparing the base year of 1992-93 to 2013-14 to 2017-18 to 2018-19). Data is audited so lags behind current information.

  - 2020 State Profile Overview: a 1-page overview of areas of concern for K-12
  - 2020 Overview Highlights & Charts: 2-page document with highlights and charts.
  - CSFP 2020 State Profile Data: 4 tables and Notes page 
       - Table 1: Enrollment, Special Education, Free and Reduced Lunch, English language learners (ELL), and Gifted Students
       - Table 2: Number of Teachers, Teachers per 1,000 students, Average Salary (comparing CO and National)
       - Table 3: Per Student Current Spending and Revenues
       - Table 4: Relationship between State/Local Revenue for K-12 Public Education and Personal Income
       - Notes and Terms: Footnotes for all tables are located on this page.

A look at Colorado average teacher salaries over time- Colorado School Finance Project report, November 11, 2020

ELECTIONS PAGE 2020
2020 State Ballot Information Booklet (the Blue Book)- Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly
Local Ballot Measure Tracker link from the Colorado Health Foundation
Governor's FY20201-22 Budget Request- November 2, 2020

2020 State Ballot Information Booklet (the Blue Book)- Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly

Amendment B resources:
  - The Gallagher Amendment- Legislative Council Staff, July 30, 2020
  - Amendment B explained: What repealing the Gallagher Amendment would mean for Colorado and your property taxes- The Colorado Sun, September 29, 2020
  - Gallagher's Effect on Tax Rates Over Time graph
  - Amendment B: Repeal Gallagher Amendment, Explained- Colorado Public Radio, October 12, 2020

Proposition 116 Tax Calculator- created by Colorado Fiscal Institute
 - CFI Prop 116 Tax Calculator - Google Spreadsheet
 - CFI Prop 116 Tax Calculator- Excel format
November What We're Reading:   
  - More contribution hikes, benefit cuts may be needed to close $4.5 billion hole in Colorado's PERA- The Colorado Sun, November 21, 2020
 - Drop in School Lunch Participation Leaves Budget Shortfalls- CT Examiner, November 8, 2020
 - Colorado voters give a big boost to education funding by passing local and statewide measures- The Denver Channel, November 6, 2020
 - Colorado's older teachers facing a crossroads: Risk coronavirus or retire- The Colorado Sun, November 5, 2020
OCTOBER 2020 
October Pupil Count- Where are the Students? Presentation to DBO- Tracie Rainey and Justin Silverstein, October 28, 2020
ELECTIONS PAGE 2020  
DRAFT of 2020 School District Elections-  Elections: Bond, BEST, Mill Levy Override (MLO), Operational MLO, and Transportation MLO.  Information posted as of 10/12/2020. 2020 State Ballot Information Booklet (the Blue Book)- Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly Amendment B resources:  - The Gallagher Amendment- Legislative Council Staff, July 30, 2020 - Amendment B explained: What repealing the Gallagher Amendment would mean for Colorado and your property taxes- The Colorado Sun, September 29, 2020 - Gallagher's Effect on Tax Rates Over Time graph - Amendment B: Repeal Gallagher Amendment, Explained- Colorado Public Radio, October 12, 2020 Proposition 116 Tax Calculator- created by Colorado Fiscal Institute - CFI Prop 116 Tax Calculator - Google Spreadsheet - CFI Prop 116 Tax Calculator- Excel format
Internet Connectivity Across Colorado- Institute of Education Sciences
Estes Park School Board Presentation- Tracie Rainey, October 13, 2020
Teacher Salary Comparison by 24/7 Wall St.- October 12, 2020
CSFP’s October 2020 VIRTUAL Advisory Meeting:

Video Recording of meeting
September 2020 Forecast & the Blue Book Process- Kate Watkins, Legislative Council Staff
October Count Slide- Justin Silverstein, APA and Tracie Rainey
Gallagher Amendment: Impacts on Schools & Local Services and Why Now is the Time to Repeal It- Senator Chris Hansen
Be a Public Education Voter resources- Great Education Colorado
Education Funding and Taxation Policy Presentation to Great Schools Thriving Communities- Justin Silverstein, APA and Tracie Rainey, October 7, 2020
Average Teacher Salary Comparison Chart using Business.org data
October What We're Reading:   - School Bank Accounts Are Dwindling, As Third Wave of COVID-19 Takes Hold- Huffington Post, October 28, 2020 - Amendment B: Repeal Gallagher Amendment, Explained- Colorado Public Radio, October 12, 2020
SEPTEMBER 2020 
CDE Memo: Student October Count Data Respondents/Audit Contacts- September 25, 2020
Average Teacher Salary Comparison Chart using Business.org data


Colorado Joint Education Committees' Meeting agenda and presentations- September 23, 2020 - Agenda - Overview and Statewide Snapshot from CDE - Managing COVID-10 Symptoms and Exposure - Colorado Charter School Institute - PTA and Parents on Reopening Schools - Addressing Barriers to Remote and In-Person Learning - Canon City Schools- How We Opened - North Routt Community Charter School - The Pinnacle Charter School - Budget and Funding Impacts from CDE - Colorado's Public Charter Schools and COVID - Overview of Possible Special Education Funsing Scenarios - Audio from meeting
Beginning in May 2020, the CSFP collected district budget cut realities from school districts and monitored media reports, as well. Our findings are below:
District Reported Budget Conversations 
Budget Cuts from Media Sources
Trends in district cuts 2020-21
CSFP Presentation to the Public Education and Business Coalition, September 21, 2020
- PowerPoint Presentation in orginal format
- PowerPoint Presentation created for grayscale printed
                                                                                                ELECTIONS PAGE 2020
DRAFT of 2020 School District Elections-  Elections: Bond, BEST, Mill Levy Override (MLO), Operational MLO, and Transportation MLO.  Information posted as of 9/21/2020.
2020 State Ballot Information Booklet (the Blue Book)- Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly
The Gallagher Amendment- Legislative Council Staff, July 30, 2020
September 2020 Forecast - presentations to JBC CSFP’s September 2020 VIRTUAL Advisory Meeting: 
CSFP Student Count and Funding Charts (2019-20 data):
- Emergent bilingual students (English language learners, according to CDE)
- Gifted and Talented
- Students experiencing homelessness
- Special Education
- Students eligible for free and reduced lunch
2020 Quality Counts Grading of State Spending Per Pupil (pp) on Education- 

For the second year in a row, Colorado received an F on Education Week's Quality Counts spending matrix.
September 2020 What We’re Reading:  
AUGUST 2020 
Update on free lunch from the Federal Government
- Colorado school reopening updates: School districts can continue serving free meals to all students- Chalkbeat, September 1, 2020
- Press Release: USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids Through December 31, 2020- USDA, Food and Nutrition Services, August 31, 2020

Four-Day Week Information:
- Map of Four-Day Week School Districts in Colorado, August 2020
- School Districts with four-day weeks in Colorado 2001-2021 chart
- Four Day School Week Manual 2020-21- Colorado Department of Education
- Research paper: Are All Four-Day School Weeks Created Equal? A National Assessment of Four-Day School Week Policy Adoption and Implementation - Oregon State University, June 2020
Creede School District Presentation- CSFP, August 7, 2020
Colorado School Finance Project's School Finance and Education Reform Timeline 2019-20 to 1982
What We're Reading: - As the financial crisis hits Colorado, PERA's new oversight commission is sidelined- The Colorado Sun, August 4, 2020
JULY 2020 

Beginning in May 2020, the CSFP collected district budget cut realities from school districts.  
District Reported Budget Conversations
Budget Cuts from Media Sources
Trends in district cuts 2020-21

Learn about Initiative 271- Fair Tax Colorado Information- Click here What does Initiative 271 mean for your district? Colorado Association of School Board

Want to know what happened in the 2020 Legislative Session?- Click here

Mill Levy/Local Revenue Resources- Click Here

School finance related COVID Articles