First Extraordinary Session | 72nd General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThe 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...
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted almost every facet of the education system, including standardized tests and college entrance examinations. This memorandum provides scheduling updates on some of the country’s most relied upon placement and college entrance examinations and will...
In the midst of school closures across the state due to the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and state agencies are working to ensure that K-12 students continue to receive academic support. Legislative Council Staff is committed to providing members of the Colorado General Assembly and other...
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...
Summary Report for the School Safety Committee to the Legislative Council.
Three bills that were enacted during the 2019 legislative session significantly affected the financing of public schools in Colorado:
The financing of K-12 public education in Colorado over the past three decades has been affected by three constitutional amendments: the Gallagher Amendment, the TABOR Amendment, and Amendment 23. Combined with the results of key court cases, these amendments have created a complex educational...
House Bill 18-1379 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2018‑19. The bill was signed by the Governor on May 24, 2018, and became effective on that date. House Bill 18-1322, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to...
Legislative Council Staff conducts a study of the cost of living in each school district every two years to update the cost-of-living factors used in the state's school finance funding formula as required by state law. The first study was conducted in 1993, and a study has been...
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, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee, is required to conduct a review of the model used to forecast...
Senate Bill 17-296 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2017-18. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 2, 2017, and became effective on that date. Senate Bill 17-254, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to...
The final Residential Assessment Rate Study released by the Division of Property Taxation on April 17, 2017 estimates a residential assessment rate of 7.20 percent for 2017 and 2018. The General Assembly must pass a bill before this rate becomes law. Compared with the baseline forecast which...
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 2016. Property values grew rapidly in 2016, and are expected to continue to grow over the next few years. The...
This memorandum responds to your request for information on school discipline policies. Specifically, you were contacted by a constituent expressing concern about several incidents at her granddaughter’s elementary school in School District 27J. Please note that because Legislative Council...
This memorandum provides information regarding the regulation of school districts, charter schools, innovation schools, and home schools. Specifically, it describes the waivers to state law granted by the State Board of Education (SBE) to school districts, charter schools, innovation districts...
House Bill 16-1422 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2016-17. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 10, 2016, and became effective on that date. House Bill 16-1405, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to...
Legislative Council Staff conducts a study of the cost of living in each school district every two years, as required by state law. The results of the 2015 study indicate that the cost of living, adjusted by where employees live, increased in 177 of the 178 school districts in the state. In 137...
This memo discusses the scope of bullying in Colorado schools; summarizes the provisions and programs in Colorado state law related to bullying prevention, including safe school plans and criminal penalties; and provides information on training resources and best practices for preventing...
The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance has changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2015. Property values grew rapidly in 2015, and are expected to continue to grow over the next few years, helping to...