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 policy makers.
A recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) report using U.S. Census data indicates Colorado’s 4-year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) for 2015-16 is below the U.S. Average in all categories. For a closer look, the Colorado School Finance Project created a chart illustrating the graduation gaps between Colorado and the U.S. average.
What we’re reading: FutureEd: The school improvement gains nobody’s talking about, – December 17, 2018
What we’re reading: Denver Post: Colorado legislators plan to overhaul education funding system critics say disproportionately benefits wealthy districts (pdf). High-income areas with low poverty rates would replace state education aid by raising property taxes under bipartisan plan. January 6, 2019
What we’re reading: Denver Post: Where’s all that marijuana money? – Three part series:
- Where’s all that marijuana money? State’s pot dollars help schools, but maybe not as much as you think. Part 1 of 3.
- Video: Where has all the Marijuana Tax Money gone?
- Colorado communities pocket big bucks from legal marijuana, but threats loom for some. Part 2 of 3.
December 2018 Forecast
- Legislative Council staff
- Office of State Planning and Budget
What we’re reading: Denver Post: Colorado Economy; Front Range a GDP force, 10 of the state’s 64 counties account for 85 percent of engine, December 20, 2018
The State of Education, developed by the Education Leadership Council, December 2018, version 4.0. From the document: This document represents 18 months of effort from Coloradans across the state, led by the Education Leadership Council (ELC). The ELC was formed in June 2017 to create a vision and strategic plan for the education system, spanning from a person’s early childhood into the workforce.
What we’re reading: Coloradoan: Sacrificing Our Schools: These 8 school funding issues will challenge Colorado lawmakers in 2019
School Finance Interim Committee Meeting 12/11/2018 proposed bill. Additional information on Interim Committees is here. Click on tab: 2018 Interim Committee on School Finance (HB17-1340) for additional information.
CASB Convention: CSFP presentation – School Finance: What’s Next?
- Additional information on the Budget Stabilization / Negative Factor
- CSFP Timeline: School Finance and Education Reform
- Legislative and District Sample Timeline
Chalkbeat: Dear Governor: Here’s what Colorado educators want Jarod Polis to know about their schools. Additional information on our website about: Teacher Shortage, Supply, Retention
CSFP School Finance and Education Reform Timeline – December 2018 Update
School District Election Results for 2018: Bond, BEST, Mill Levy Override (MLO), Sales Tax
- 2018 School District Election Report – Final Results
- Map of Mill Levy Overrides as of 2018 elections
What we're reading: Education Week: The School Improvement Gains Nobody's Talking About, Commentary - December 17, 2018
What we're reading: Denver Post: Colorado legislators plan to overhaul education funding system critics say disproportionately benefits wealthy districts. High-income areas with low poverty rates would replace state education aid by raising property taxes under bipartisan plan. January 6, 2019
What we're reading: Denver Post: Where's all that marijuana money? - Three part series:
- Where's all that marijuana money? State's pot dollars help schools, but maybe not as much as you think. Part 1 of 3.
- Video: Where has all the Marijuana Tax Money gone?
- Colorado communities pocket big bucks from legal marijuana, but threats loom for some. Part 2 of 3.
December 2018 Forecast
- Legislative Council staff
- Office of State Planning and Budget
What we're reading: Denver Post: Colorado Economy; Front Range a GDP force, 10 of the state's 64 counties account for 85 percent of engine, December 20, 2018
The State of Education, developed by the Education Leadership Council, December 2018, version 4.0. From the document: This document represents 18 months of effort from Coloradans across the state, led by the Education Leadership Council (ELC). The ELC was formed in June 2017 to create a vision and strategic plan for the education system, spanning from a person’s early childhood into the workforce.
What we're reading: Coloradoan: Sacrificing Our Schools: These 8 school funding issues will challenge Colorado lawmakers in 2019
School Finance Interim Committee Meeting 12/11/2018 proposed bill. Additional information on Interim Committees is here. Click on tab: 2018 Interim Committee on School Finance (HB17-1340) for additional information.
CASB Convention: CSFP presentation - School Finance: What's Next?
- Additional information on the Budget Stabilization / Negative Factor
- CSFP Timeline: School Finance and Education Reform
Chalkbeat: Dear Governor: Here's what Colorado educators want Jarod Polis to know about their schools. Additional information on our website about: Teacher Shortage, Supply, Retention
Joint Budget Committee: Education Briefing Documents for FY 2019-20
- Briefing Document for the Department of Education, Summary, December 2018
- Briefing Document for the Department of Education, Full Report, December 2018
CSFP School Finance and Education Reform Timeline - December 2018 Update
School District Election Results for 2018: Bond, BEST, Mill Levy Override (MLO), Sales Tax
- 2018 School District Election Report - Final Results
- Map of Mill Levy Overrides as of 2018 elections
Legislative and District Sample Budget Timeline - 2018-19 District Budget
2018 Elections - What do they Mean for Fiscal Policy? - presentation by Carol Hedges, Colorado Fiscal Institute at the November 2018 CSFP Advisory Committee meeting.
District Election Preliminary Results - 11/17/2018, 8:30 AM Subject to change as new information becomes available. Be sure to "refresh" your device to view the most recent update.
Amendment 73 Impact Calculator
- Colorado Ballot Information Booklet - 2018 Blue Book - Colorado Legislative Council Staff
- Text of Amendment 73 is Unambiguously Limited to School District Taxes - infographic
- Legal opinion refuting claims Amendment 73 would alter assessment rates for non-school taxing entities
- In support:
- Grand Junction Sentinel: Vote yes on 73
- Craig Daily Press: Our kids are worth it
- Aurora Sentinel: Don't fall for false arguments against Amendment 73 - it's a fair, realistic way to fund needy schools
- The Coloradoan: Approve Amendment 73 with a watchful eye on local school spending
- Colorado Secretary of State website page: 2017-18 Initiative Filings, Agendas & Results
DRAFT of 2018 School District Elections - information is subject to change as more current information becomes available. Elections: Bond, BEST, Mill Levy Override (MLO), Operational Mill Levy, Full Day Kindergarten MLO, Transportation MLO, Sales Tax. Information posted as of 10/31/2018.
In early October, CSFP asked Superintendents, CFOs/Budget Managers and BOCES Directors what they are experiencing in teacher recruitment / retention issues. We received responses from over 70 districts and BOCES across the state. Following are some of their responses by school district region or BOCES.
- North Central School Districts
- Northeast and Southeast School Districts
- Northwest School Districts
- Metro and Pikes Peak School Districts
- Southwest School Districts
- West Central School Districts
- BOCES
Additional information on Teacher Shortage, Supply, Retention
CSFP Advisory Committee Meeting - Western Slope presentation
The Colorado Sun: Colorado is near the bottom of states in school funding. That's why there are nearly 40 bond and mill levy override questions on ballots this fall.
Summary Report to Legislative Council - Gallagher Interim Committee 2018, Bill A, Bill B, Bill C - October 2018
Colorado Ballot Information Booklet - 2018 Blue Book - Colorado Legislative Council Staff
- Legislative Council Staff Blue Book Press Release 10-11-2018
- Notice of Correction in Amendment 73 Ballot Analysis
Responses by Superintendents and CFO/Budget Managers to CSFP's query about Teacher Retention and Recruitment Concerns in their district: Colorado School District Teacher Recruitment Retention - first email 10/11/2018 - more will be added over the month of October. We have received responses from over 60 of Colorado's 178 districts.
CSFP map of Colorado School Districts on 4-day weeks for 2018-19 School Year, (updated December 2018). Some districts choose to have a 4-day week. For others, it is a financial decision. Colorado has 178 school districts. Source: Colorado Department of Education and districts.
- 104 (58%) of Colorado's school districts are on 4-day weeks
- 91 Districts - All schools on 4-day weeks
- 13 Districts - 1 or some schools on 4-day weeks
- Colorado Charter School Institute - some schools on 4-day weeks
- 1 BOCES on 4-day week
CSFP Advisory Committee
- Initial Considerations for School Funding Models - Senator Zenzinger, Workbook presented to the Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance - September 17, 2018 Workshop
- K-12 Education Budget Outlook: Kate M. Watkins, Chief Economist, Legislative Council Staff
- Alternatives to Gallagher Amendment Interim Study Committee
- Bill 1 - Repeal Gallagher
- Bill 2 - Property Tax Classification Short-term Rental Units
- Bill 3 - Property Tax Residential Assessment Rate
- Bill 4 - Backfill Property Tax Loss to Fire Protection District
- Bill 5 - Backfill Property Tax Loss to Library District
- Bill 6 - pulled
- Bill 7 - Regional Residential Assessment Rates for Property Tax
- Bill 8 - Backfill Property Tax Loss to Certain Special District
- Gallagher Amendment Proposal Considerations - Legislative Council
- Field Update
Statuory Process for Reorganizing School District Boundaries:
- Office of Legislative Legal Services: Overview of statutory process for reorganizing school district boundaries - Jan 2017, Revised September 2018
- Additional / Historical information on Consolidation / Deconsolidation of District Services is available here.
Summer / Fall 2018: Challenge to the constitutionality of the transportation section (Section 7) of HB18-1306 by CASE/CASB and several school districts.
CASE Press Release
Governor Hickenlooper's letter to the Members of the Colorado House of Representation - June 1 2018
The Bill and Fiscal Note
HB18-1306 - Concerning Ensuring Educational Stability for Students in Out-of-Home Placement
HB18-1306 - Fiscal Note
Colorado Ballot Information Booklet - 2018 Blue Book - Colorado Legislative Council
September 2018 Forecast
- Legislative Council
- Office of State Planning & Budget
School Finance Interim Committee - September 17, 2018 Workshop
- September 17, 2018 (Workshop) note: recordings are not available for workshops
Alternatives to the Gallagher Amendment Interim Study Committee - Proposed Legislation
- Bill 1 - Repeal Gallagher
- Bill 2 - Property Tax Classification Short-term Rental Units
- Bill 3 - Property Tax Residential Assessment Rate
- Bill 4 - Backfill Property Tax Loss to Fire Protection District
- Bill 5 - Backfill Property Tax Loss to Library District
- Bill 6 - pulled
- Bill 7 - Regional Residential Assessment Rates for Property Tax
- Bill 8 - Backfill Property Tax Loss to Certain Special District
DRAFT of 2018 School District Elections - information is subject to change as more current information becomes available. Elections: Bond, BEST, Mill Levy Override (MLO), Operational Mill Levy, Full Day Kindergarten MLO, Transportation MLO, Sales Tax. Information posted as of 10/1/2018, 3:30 PM Update.
Colorado's Legislative History of Mill Levy Overrides from 1988 - 2018
High Achieving States Across 6 Benchmarks: Summary of academic rankings of the top 10 states incorporating 6 benchmarks sourced from a variety of sources: ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), McKinsey/US News - Best States, and EdWeek, Quality Counts.
CASE DBO Presentation: School Finance: Now What? Amendment 73
July 13, 2018 Gallagher Interim Committee Meeting - CSFP Interim Committee information is available on CSFP's Interim Committee page.
- October 3, 2018
- August 21, 2018
- July 18, 2018
- Agenda July 13, 2018
- Presentations:
- Colorado Assessors' Association
- JBC: Property Tax, School Finance, and the Gallagher Amendment
- Pueblo City-County Library
- Department of Local Affairs
Historical information is available on our Historial Info page, by calendar year.