Title: Dollars and Data: A Look at K-12 Education Funding in Colorado | Common Sense Institute
Headings: Dollars and Data: A Look at K-12 Education Funding in Colorado
Dollars and Data: A Look at K-12 Education Funding in Colorado
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Here are some of the key findings from this study.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
METHODOLOGY
STATE CONTEXT
SCHOOL FINANCE ACT
SCHOOL FINANCE FUNDING SUMMARY
STUDENT POPULATION TRENDS
TRENDS IN EDUCATION REVENUE
LOCAL FUNDING
TAX TERMS
TRENDS IN EDUCATION SPENDING
INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT EXPENDITURES
EXPENDITURE EXAMPLES
TRENDS IN TEACHER SALARIES AND TURNOVER
TEACHER SALARIES
ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES
TEACHER TURNOVER
TEACHER SALARY AND TURNOVER SUMMARY
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX A: LIST OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY REGION
APPENDIX B: PER PUPIL REVENUES BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2017
APPENDIX C: MILL LEVY OVERRIDES BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2017
APPENDIX D: PER PUPIL EXPENDITURES BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2017

Content: At the same time, spending on benefits increased by 1.5 percentage points, largely due to the doubling of annual PERA payments needed to cover the growing unfunded liability. Spending on administrative functions, student support services, and operations also increased as a share during this time. Looking at teacher salaries in more depth reveals that average salaries vary dramatically around the state and within the Metro Denver region. At a regional level, urban and suburban salaries are outpacing rural salaries even as the cost of living in the rural areas is also increasing. For instance, in 2017 the average salary for the Metro region was $56,621, which is 39 percent greater than the Southeast region’s average salary of $38,157. A state report estimates that teacher salaries in 95 percent of the state’s rural districts are below their area’s cost of living. Within regions, salaries also vary immensely. Boulder Valley School District is at the high end of the metro region with average salaries of $72,994. Less than an hour east of Boulder, average salaries are $24,400 lower in School District 27J, which serves students in Brighton and parts of Thornton and Commerce City. At the same time, teacher turnover is low in comparison to other jobs.