Bipartisan school funding update increases resources to support at-risk students, English language learners, special education students, and rural areas.
The committee will also pass bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in higher education costs and reduce barriers to completing higher education degrees and certificate programs.
denver, colorado –The House Education Committee today passed two bipartisan bills aimed at supporting Colorado students.
HB24-1448, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskey and Vice President Jennifer Bacon, would improve Colorado's funding by increasing funding for rural schools, at-risk special education, and English language learner students. It will revamp an outdated and unfair school financing system. SB24-164, also sponsored by McCluskey, would improve transparency requirements for higher education institutions and expand the rights of higher education students to seek transfer credits.
“A student-centered update to Colorado’s public school financing formula is a bold move to improve equity in school funding and provide a high-quality education to all Colorado students, regardless of where they live.” It’s one step.” said Democratic Rep. Julie McCluskey of Dillon. “Based on recommendations from the Public School Finance Task Force and in collaboration with school districts and education leaders across the state, this plan will increase funding for students with the highest needs and support communities and districts that have historically been underfunded. Provide additional resources to small school districts. Investing in quality education means promoting lifelong success for learners and making state education funding more equitable and student-centered. I'm very proud of this bipartisan effort.”
“For more than 30 years, Colorado has had a now outdated and inequitable school funding formula that has failed to meet the needs of our most vulnerable students.” said Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “It’s clear that the formula needs to change, which is why we support this bill that puts students first. Colorado's public education funding is at its highest level in decades by increasing funding for students with disabilities, English language learners, and special education students. This bill overhauls the way schools are financed to better meet the educational needs of all learners.”
HB24-1448passed on an 8-3 vote and is also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, and Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. It would update Colorado's school financing formula, which hasn't changed significantly in more than 30 years.
The current formula is confusing and overly complex, built around district-centered factors rather than student needs. Rather than directing funding to low-income students, English language learners, and special education students, it would direct more funding to wealthier districts. State data shows that at-risk students, English language learners, and special education students are not achieving the same levels of achievement compared to other students, and since 1994 shows that current school funding formulas fail to meet and respond to the needs of these students.
This law is Recommendations School Finance Task Force reaches overwhelming consensus to provide more resources to students who need them most, especially at-risk students, special education students, and English language learners .
Colorado public schools are currently receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding, and these changes will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year and be phased in over six years. , these new resources will be funneled into historically large numbers of schools. Districts serving students and English language learners who are underfunded, have fewer real estate assets, and are more at risk. Once fully implemented, there would be $852 million in programs for at-risk students and $852 million in programs for English language learners, in addition to the $375 million in constitutionally mandated special assistance funding. $142.7 million would go into programs for special education students, and $240 million would go into programs for special education students. Education by category. Once fully funded, remote and rural areas will receive an additional $255 million under the scheme.
The new formula puts students first by increasing the weight of at-risk English language learner students and adding new special education components. At-risk populations, English language learners, and special education weights are all set at 25 percent. This is an increase from the current weight of 12 percent for at-risk individuals, 8 percent for English language learners, and no official weight for special education. . In accordance with the law and the 23rd Amendment, categorical funding for special education will continue to increase.
The new formula is simpler and better considers district characteristics by modifying the “order of operations” to emphasize student needs. This eliminates the multiplicative factor that changes base funding per student. This creates a cascading financial impact throughout the equation that is currently difficult to trace. Rather, the factors that increase funding for smaller districts and higher-cost-of-living districts would be additive and easier to understand. It would also create a new remote factor to support local schools and do no harm to school districts that currently fall below statutory funding.
Access the school finance simulator here See the impact for individual school districts.
SB24-164, It passed the committee unanimously, with the backing of Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs. The bill would facilitate the transfer of college credits, increase transparency in higher education reporting, and ensure the rights of students enrolled in higher education institutions.
“Creating a more inclusive, transparent, and student-centered higher education system in Colorado means putting students first.” McCluskey added. “This bill will make it easier for students pursuing higher education in Colorado to understand the cost of their degrees and certificates and complete their education, and will help students transferring from community colleges qualify for the classes they took at the university.” It will ensure that you will receive credit at other institutions. ”
Transparency requirements include:
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Transparency in the cost of post-secondary education.
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Seamless transfer of general education and transfer pathway courses.
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Transparency regarding whether credits are approved or rejected by the institution.and
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You can appeal an institution's decision not to accept transfer credit.
A major challenge facing transfer students is the transferability of post-secondary credits. On average, a transfer student loses one semester's worth of credits, leading to loss of time and money. Colorado's higher education framework has current methods to facilitate transfer between higher education institutions, including transferable lower-division courses, common course numbers, and guaranteed transfer pathways. SB24-164 builds on this framework by strengthening student rights and facilitating the transfer of course credits.
