JOINT RELEASE: School Finance Committee Advances Critical Proposals to Increase Colorado Special Education Funding By More Than $90 Million, Better Support At-Risk Students

Legislation will help ensure every Colorado student has the resources and support they need to thrive

DENVER, CO – The Colorado General Assembly Interim Committee on School Finance today voted to move forward three major proposals to revamp education funding allocations in Colorado and ensure that every student has an opportunity to succeed.

The draft legislation includes increasing funding for special education students by more than $93 million per year, and updating the formula that better identifies at-risk students to help make sure critical school resources go where they’re needed most. 

The bills will now move to consideration before the full legislature.

“Every Colorado student deserves a quality, public education, but the current level of state support for schools just isn’t getting the job done.” said Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “We’ve been working to fix that, and this legislation will help us get critical resources to the classrooms that need them most while making sure every student, regardless of ability, has what they need to succeed.”

“I’m thrilled we’ve reached bipartisan consensus on important changes to school funding that will prepare our students for success and ensure they have the resources in the classroom they need to thrive,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, Chair of the Interim Committee on School Finance and the JBC. “These reforms will increase funding to districts with higher numbers of at-risk and special education students to ensure every child has access to high quality public education. We’re making important progress to significantly reduce the budget stabilization factor, reform our school finance formula, and deliver on promises years in the making.”

“Colorado schools and students deserve nothing but the best, but right now they aren’t getting that from the state,” said Sen. James Coleman, D-Denver. “We are making record investments in our schools this year, and I am proud that we were able to find a bipartisan path forward to improve the way we fund our schools, better deliver critical support and resources, and set more Colorado students up for success.” 

“Over the last several months, we’ve engaged stakeholders across the education community to craft a more equitable school finance formula and increase funding for K-12 education to prepare our students for success,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Every child in our state, no matter where they live, must have access to a high quality public education and the tools they need to thrive. I’m excited for the session ahead and the historic opportunity we have to make record investments in public education and ensure at-risk students and our most vulnerable youth have the resources they need in their schools.”

Bill 1 will change how students who are at-risk of falling behind their peers due to socioeconomic factors are counted by expanding the definition to include students who are enrolled in programs like Medicaid. The new formula will create a more accurate picture of how many students are at-risk and where they attend school, which will allow the state to better direct resources where they are needed most.

Bill 2 will dramatically increase funding for more than 100,000 Colorado special education students, from about $220 million per year currently to more than $313 million per year. This increase will bring down student-teacher ratios, decrease class sizes, and help schools provide the tailored assistance and support special education students need to learn and receive the quality education they deserve. 

The Committee also advanced legislation that seeks to reprioritize how revenue from school trust lands are deposited in the Public School Fund.