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
Access all information from the 3rd Annual CSFP Conference here.
CSFP At CASB Convention - December 7-9, 2023 School Finance 101 School Finance Changes Assessing School Board Mill Levy Discretion ESSER CASB New Member Booklet Governor Request on Mill Levies FAQ
CSFP at Englewood School Board - December 6, 2023
November 2023 Elections - Results Report - MLO Map 1988-2023
JBC Department of Education (School Finance) Briefing - December 6, 2023 Education Staff Budget Briefing Education Staff Budget Briefing *SUMMARY*
JBC Colorado Department of Early Childhood Briefing - November 30, 2023 Early Childhood Staff Budget Briefing Early Childhood Staff Budget Briefing *SUMMARY*
Special Session Bill Tracker
CSFP at CU Denver Presentation - November 14, 2023
November Advisory Meeting - November 10, 2023 Recording here Governor's Budget with OSPB ESSER Updates PSPF Community Investment
Property Tax Background and Talking Points
Governor Polis 24-25 Budget Request - November 1, 2023 Budget Presentation Budget Letter
Mill Levy Webinar - November 1, 2023 Recording here Powerpoint State/Local Share by District 2013-2023
October Advisory Meeting - October 20, 2023 Recording here PERA Updates presentation
CSFP at CASE Western Slope Superintendents Conference - October 19, 2023
School Finance Task Force Preparing for the School Finance Task Force information booklet CDE Task Force website School Finance Study Types information and resources. Meeting #1 - 8/29/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint Meeting #2 - 9/12/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint Meeting #3 - 9/25/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint Meeting #4 - 10/17/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint Meeting #5 - 10/31/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint Meeting #6 - 11/14/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint Meeting #7 - 12/5/2023
School Transportation Task Force CDE Task Force Website Meeting #1 - 9/26/2023 Recording of Live Stream Powerpoint
CSFP at Fall CASBO conference - September 27, 2023
September 2023 Economic Forecast - September 20, 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
Universal Preschool Update to the JBC - September 20, 2023
November What We're Reading "Undecided on Proposition HH? Here’s a guide". Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, November 5, 2023 "Senate GOP slows rush - Democrats kill Republican bills, aim for property tax relief, other help"-Nick Coltrain and Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, November 18, 2023. "Colorado task force charged with finding a long-term property tax solution won’t include people behind 2024 ballot measures" - Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun, November 29, 2023.
Universal Preschool Update to the JBC - September 20, 2023
CSFP at Fall CASBO conference - September 27, 2023
September What We're Reading - "School districts nationwide could face financial peril next year. Here’s how Colorado is preparing." Erica Breunlin, Chalkbeat. September 26, 2023.
CSFP and CASE New Superintendent Webinar - August 8, 2023 Presentation Recording here
CSFP at Adams 12 Board Meeting on Prop HH - August 16, 2023
August What We're Reading - "Colorado backtracks on full-time preschool for 11,000 kids with risk factors" - Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat, August 2, 2023
CSFP at BOCES Summer Conference Presentation - July 10th, 2023 CSFP at CASE Summer Conference Presentation - July 26, 2023 July What We're Reading - "More than 3,700 Colorado 4-year-olds qualify for extra preschool hours, with number likely to jump" - Erica Breunlin, Colorado Sun, July 24, 2023
ESSER Half-Way Survey Press Release - 6/1/2023
June 2023 Economic Forecast - June 20, 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 May Advisory Meeting - May 12, 2023 Recording here. UPK Financial Presentation
UPK Enrollment Survey Results - May 25, 2023
May What We're Reading - "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
Funding Formula Scenarios worksheet How to use?CSFP at CASE Western Slope Conference Presentation- 4/17/2023 CSFP at CASBO Presentation - 4/19/2023 School Funding Changes worksheet - updated 4/14/2023 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
April 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
- 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 - "Homeowners to face massive hikes . Jump in home values during pandemic will result in bigger bills" - Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, March 6, 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
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 Presentation "School Finance in Times of Uncertainty" at CASE Winter Conference - Feb 22, 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
Per Pupil Spending by District 22-23 - Released January 2023 CSFP Presentation to CU on School Finance - January 11, 2023 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 January Advisory Meeting - January 20th, 2023 Recording here. CDLS Online Learning Presentation Bell Policy Center on Property Tax Presentation
January 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
- 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