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: over 55 percent of Colorado’s low-income high school graduates and 52 percent of Hispanic graduates were not ready for college courses in 2017.1
Some point to a lack of funding as the reason for our education system’s underperformance and inequitable outcomes. Recently, there have been efforts at the ballot box to raise taxes to generate more school funding in a hope to improve student outcomes. There has been an increased focus on teacher pay with rallies at the State Capitol and a week-long teacher strike at Denver Public Schools. Also, there was a spotlight on increasing funding for early childhood education during the 2019 legislative session when Governor Jared Polis successfully secured additional dollars to support full-day Kindergarten. However, what is missing from public discourse is a common understanding of how K-12 public education is funded in Colorado and what the trends in revenues and spending have been over the past decade. Likewise, there is not a clear picture of what teachers are paid and how that differs across the state. This study provides baseline data and analysis to ground these important conversations in facts. Here are some of the key findings from this study. Funding for K-12 education is at an all-time high for Colorado. Total program funding, which includes local and state funding, reached $7.59 billion in Fiscal Year 2019-20, resulting in an average of $8,480 per pupil.