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2017 Colorado School District Cost of Living Analysis

Introduced House Bill 18-1379

House Bill 14-1298 as Introduced FY 2014-15 Compared with FY 2013-14

The Legislative Interim Committee on School Finance was created to study issues related to school funding and to consider alternative school finance funding formulas during the 2017 and 2018 interims.

2014 Summary of Major K-12 Education Legislation

Pursuant to Section 22-55-104 C.R.S., Legislative Council Staff, in consultation with the State Auditor, the State Treasurer, the Department of Education (CDE), the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), is required to conduct a review of the model used to forecast revenue to and expenditures from the State Education Fund and the spending requirements for the Public School Finance Act of 1994 by February 1 of each year.  This report provides a forecast of the State Education Fund revenue and expenditures within the budgetary framework for school f

Reading competency is pivotal to the academic development of Colorado’s students.  State law targets the early elementary grades as the essential time and location for developing the reading skills necessary for successful academic achievement in later grades.  This issue brief provides an overview of the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act, and discusses recent changes to state funding for READ Act implementation.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado’s newest state department, began operations in July 2022 to provide a range of programs and services that support young children, families, and the professionals that serve them.  This issue brief provides an overview of the CDEC, including its creation, programs and services offered through the department, and budget for FY 2022-23.

This memorandum summarizes the primary funding changes for school finance that were enacted during the 2023 legislative sessions.

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance have changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2013. Property values have stabilized and are expected to grow modestly over the next few years, helping to boost the local contribution to school finance. Similarly, income tax receipts are growing faster than anticipated, increasing deposits into the State Education Fund and the General Fund.

Pursuant to Section 22-55-104 C.R.S., Legislative Council Staff, in consultation with the State Auditor, the State Treasurer, the Department of Education (CDE), the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), is required to conduct a review of the model used to forecast revenue to and expenditures from the State Education Fund and the spending requirements for the Public School Finance Act of 1994 by February 1 of each year.

During the 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to scholarships and financial assistance; student compensation and academic credit; concurrent enrollment; admission requirements; and higher education funding.

During the 2018 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to higher education. Specifically, the legislature considered measures regarding the transfer of credit, student admissions, teacher preparatory programs, and military experience and workforce readiness.

During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to higher education.  Specifically, the measures concern student loans and financial aid, college and career access and readiness, teacher preparation and retention, and the administration and governance of state institutions of higher education.

Report No. 2023-TE19

The purpose of this publication is to help readers understand how Colorado finances its public elementary and secondary schools.  The major focus is an explanation of the funding formula included in the Public School Finance Act of 1994, including amendments made to the act in 2019.  Several illustrations are provided to help readers calculate funding under the formula.  The booklet also describes several other provisions of law that relate to school district funding.  These provisions include a description of revenue that is earmarked for specific functions, other local

Report No. 2022-TE8

Pursuant to Section 22-55-104, C.R.S., Legislative Council Staff, in consultation with the State Auditor, the State Treasurer, the Department of Education (CDE), the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), is required to conduct a review of the model used to forecast revenue to and expenditures from the State Education Fund and the spending requirements for the Public School Finance Act of 1994 by February 1 of each year.

House Bill 24-1448 enacted a new school finance formula, to begin in FY 2025-26 and be phased in over a 6-year period. This memorandum provides an overview of the new formula, the six‑year phase‑in period, and the parameters that would result in pausing implementation of the new formula. It does not include provisions of HB24-1448 that are not directly related to the new formula, including changes to mill levy override limits, the mill levy override match program, and capital construction funding.

This memorandum summarizes the primary funding changes to school finance for FY 2024-25. Several enacted bills during the 2024 legislative session and August 2024 special session substantively impact the financing of public schools in Colorado.

Senate Bill 15-267 as Introduced by the General Assembly

FY 2015-16 Compared with FY 2014-15

The model developed by the Pacey Economics Group in February 2001 was updated to reflect actual data for the current budget year and Legislative Council Staff's December 2006 revenue forecast. The result in the short term is projected state aid costs that are higher than revenue changes, increasing the estimated annual growth rate for General Fund appropriations for school finance to 6.95 percent in order to avoid more significant increases in the near future.

State law defines "achievement gap" as the difference in academic achievement attained by student groups on the statewide assessments and "growth gap" as the differences among student groups in the rates of academic growth.1 Achievement gaps are observable between racial or ethnic groups of students in Colorado, as well as between socioeconomic groups and genders. This issue brief provides a statistical overview of the achievement gap in Colorado.

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Interim Committee to Study the Every Student Succeeds Act. This committee was created pursuant to Legislative Council Executive Committee approval of Interim Committee Letter 2016-6. The purpose of this committee is to study new federal legislation requiring state actions related to education.