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.
JOIN US FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL CSFP CONFERENCE! Find more details here.
VIDEO
Find your district’s fact sheet HERE. 2024 Colorado Adequacy Study 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) Individual district fact sheets Individual district Presentations Strategic School Finance Training: La Junta, CO - June 26-27, 2025Agenda New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP) Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP) Grants Management (CDE) June 2025 Economic Forecast - June 18, 2025Report Presentation Consumer Price Index Forecast Presentation Report Materials June Advisory Meeting - June 13, 2025Recording of MeetingMill Levy Resources • Types of Mill Levies for Schools • Why Local Funding Matters • Individual District Mill Levy Information May CSFP Advisory Meeting - May 16, 2025Recording of meetingLegislative Update - Legislative CouncilCSFP Presentation to Southeast BOCES Principals CSFP Presentation to Superintendent Advisory Committee Strategic School Finance Training: Alamosa, CO - May 1-2, 2025Agenda New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP) Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP) Grants Management (CDE) CSFP presentation to PEBC Lunch and Learn CSFP at CASBO Conference April CSFP Advisory Meeting - April 18, 2025Voter Sentiment with Magellan Strategies Colorado Fiscal Outlook with CFI/Bell Policy CSFP at Western Slope Superintendents Conference CSFP at BOCES Quarterly Meeting CSFP at Southern Superintendents Conference March Economic Forecast - March 17, 2025Report Presentation Consumer Price Index Forecast Presentation Report Supplemental Materials March CSFP Advisory Meeting - March 7, 2025Recording of meetingPERA Update presentation Presentation from the State Demographer New NCES Designation vs Previous spreadsheet NCES Locale Designation vs CDE Designation Strategic School Finance Training: Haxtun, CO - February 20-21, 2025Agenda Workshop Tool New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP) Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP) Grants Management (CDE) CSFP at CASE Winter Leadership Conference February CSFP Advisory Meeting - February 7, 2025Recording of MeetingAIR Presentation on the Adequacy Study APA Presentation on the Adequacy Study BEST grant Updates Special Education and the Adequacy Study Strategic School Finance Training: Greeley, CO - January 30-31, 2025Agenda Workshop Tool New School Finance Act and State Budget (CSFP)Strategic Budgeting and Putting it Into Action (CDE / CSFP) Grants Management (CDE) January CSFP Advisory Meeting - January 10, 2025Recording of MeetingSchool Finance Update - Legislative Council StaffAdequacy Study Presentation - Justin Silverstein, APADistrict Runs Spreadsheet on Averaging ProposalOuray Proposed Budget 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 June/July What We're Reading: "Colorado school districts brace for upcoming budget crunch" J essica Seaman, Denver Post , June 30, 2025."Lawsuit challenges Trump administration’s $7 billion education funding freeze ", Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat , July 14, 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.
CSFP at the CASB Winter Convention - December 5-6, 2024
School Finance 101
School Finance 201
Strategic Budgeting Session
JBC Briefings and Hearings for CDEC and CDE
Early Childhood:
FY 2025-26 Early Childhood Staff Budget Briefing
FY 2025-26 Early Childhood Staff Budget Briefing *SUMMARY*
FY 2025-26 Early Childhood Hearing
Dept of Ed:
FY 2025-26 Education [(Assistance to Public Schools (Public School Finance/ Categorical Programs)] Staff Budget Briefing
FY 2025-26 Education [(Assistance to Public Schools (Public School Finance/ Categorical Programs)] Staff Budget Briefing *SUMMARY*
FY 2025-26 Education (All Divisions except Public School Finance/ Categorical Programs) Staff Budget Briefing *SUMMARY*
FY 2025-26 Education (All Divisions except Public School Finance/ Categorical Programs) Staff Budget Briefing
FY 2025-26 Education Hearing
December Economic Forecast + K12 Enrollment Forecast - December 19, 2024
• 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'S ANNUAL STATE PROFILE REPORT
The 2024 State Profile compares audited data noting changes between 2022-23 to the base year of 1992.
1. 2024 State Profile Overview (1-page overview)
2. 2024 State Profile Charts & Highlights (2 pages)
3. The 2024 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
December What We're Reading:"Working group recommends prioritizing rural Colorado districts in program meant to ease funding gaps ", Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat , December 5, 2024.
" Key Colorado lawmakers want to keep free school meals for all students despite budget shortfall" , Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat, December 6, 2024.
"After hopes of progress, some Colorado school districts fear deep cuts under Gov. Polis’ proposed budget" , Erica Breunlin, Colorado Sun , December 18, 2024.
4th Annual CSFP Conference in September 18th, 2024 in Vail, CO
Access all presentations, resources, and videos here .
September Economic Forecast - September 19th, 2024
• 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 - Cortez, CO
September 26-27, 2024
Full Detailed Agenda
Colorado Context for School Finance - CSFP
Fund Balance Basics - CDE
Strategic School Finance - CDE/CSFP
Revenue and Expenditure Optimization - CDE
Review School Finance Formula Changes - CSFP
Base Teacher Salary - CDE
Declining Enrollment and Forecast - CDE
Putting it into Action - CSFPSeptember What We're Reading
"Seven citizen measures on ballot: Initiatives going to Colorado voters in Nov. include abortion, ranked-choice voting" , Seth Klamann, Denver Post , September 2, 2024.
"With schools, money does indeed matter; so does how we spend it" , David S. Knight and Pooya Almasi, Seattle Times, August 30, 2024.
"The clock is ticking: Time is running out for local governments to use share of $350B COVID-19 relief funds" , David A. Lieb, Associated Press , September 15, 2024.
"Private School Choice in the 2024 Election, Explained ", Mark Lieberman, Education Week , September 19, 2024.
"Colorado state budget woes grow as property tax cuts, Medicaid costs and economic slowdown take a toll ", Brian Eason, Colorado Sun , September 19, 2024.
CSFP at COSPRA Conference - June 6-7, 2024
Mastering the Message: School Finance & Legislative Updates for PR Pros Leveraging ESSER Insights: Building Lasting Collaborative Partnerships with the Community CSFP to West Grand School Board on new legislation - June 11, 2024 June Economic Forecast - June 20, 2024 June What We're Reading
" Disparities in local tax revenue for Colorado schools are growing, causing inequities and concern" Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat , June 11, 2024.
"Colorado ends budget year $164M in the red with potential tax cuts looming on November ballot ", Brian Eason, Colorado Sun , June 21, 2024
CSFP at the Superintendent Advisory Committee - May 2, 2024 CSFP at CASBO Spring Conference - May 1-3, 2024 May Advisory Meeting - May 10, 2024
Recording of Meeting
HB24-1448 New School Finance Formula Presentation - CSFP
Newcomer Funding + SB24-188 Public School Finance Presentation - CSFP
SB24-233 Property Tax Bill Presentation - CSFP
Property Tax Legislation and Ballot Initiatives - Greg Sobetski
Teacher Housing - Eagle County and RBC May What We're Reading
"Colorado approved $24 million for migrant students. Here’s how much each school district will get." Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat, May 3, 2024.
"Property tax agreement elusive while land-use bills advance," Seth Klamann, Denver Post, May 6, 2024
"How will Colorado’s new funding formula affect rural districts? It depends. " Jason Gonzalez, Chalkbeat, May 3, 2024.
"Colorado lawmakers reach last-minute bipartisan property tax deal that averts cuts to K-12 funding" , Jesse Paul and Brian Eason, Colorado Sun , May 6, 2024.
"Will voters overrule fix to property tax spike?" Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, May 14, 2024.
March Advisory Meeting - March 8, 2024
Recording of Meeting
Changing a State Finance Formula - Justin Silverstein, APA
Healthy School Meals for All Update - CDEMarch Economic Forecast - March 15, 2024
• 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
