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
*NEW* School Finance Bill (SB23-287) Fiscal Note Comparison Spreadsheet - with rural funding CDE District Spending Spreadsheet
UPK Enrollment Survey Results - May 25, 2023
CSFP May Advisory Meeting - May 12, 2023 Recording here. UPK Financial Presentation
CSFP April Advisory Meeting - April 21, 2023 Recording here. UPK Presentation by Dr. Lisa Roy Costing-out/adequacy study Information Residential/Non-Residential Assessed Value by district Legislative Initiatives Tracker
School Funding Changes worksheet - updated 4/14/2023
CSFP at CASE Western Slope Conference Presentation- 4/17/2023 CSFP at CASBO Presentation - 4/19/2023
CSFP Presentation at Lake County School District - 3/29/2023
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
SB23-136: Adjustments to School Funding Fiscal Year 2022-23 Fiscal Note
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'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 • Workgroup Meeting #5 - December 12, 2022
April/May What We're Reading - "There’s a lot packed into Colorado’s $38.5 billion budget. Here are six things you need to know about it." - Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun, April 3, 2023 -"Bill would add protections for students facing expulsion" - Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat, April 17, 2023. - "Colorado’s increased tobacco taxes are generating more money than expected. State lawmakers want to keep the surplus." - Jesse Paul, April 17, 2023. - "Denver-area assessors warn of major spike in property taxes as Colorado legislature rushes to provide relief" - Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun, April 26, 2023 - "Tens of thousands of Colorado families have been matched with a universal preschool provider. Another 2,300 will have to apply again." - Erica Breunlin, Colorado Sun, April 26, 2023. - "Big property tax hikes in ’24" - Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, April 26, 2023 - "Use our calculator to determine what your new property tax bill would be under the Colorado legislature’s relief plan"- Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun, May 3, 2023. -"What the 10-year Colorado property tax proposal would mean for you"- Andrew Kenney, CPR, May 4, 2023
March What We're Reading - "Homeowners to face massive hikes . Jump in home values during pandemic will result in bigger bills" - Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, March 6, 2023
February What We're Reading: - "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
- 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