Colorado House Passes $180.8 Million K-12 Funding Boost for 2026-27, Raising Per-Pupil Aid $449
Updated
Updated · Colorado House Democrats · May 12
Colorado House Passes $180.8 Million K-12 Funding Boost for 2026-27, Raising Per-Pupil Aid $449
2 articles · Updated · Colorado House Democrats · May 12
SB26-023 cleared the Colorado House 57-8, sending $180.79 million more to K-12 schools for 2026-27 and bringing total school funding to $10.178 billion.
Per-pupil funding would rise $449 to $12,325 under the bill, which lawmakers said preserves core education spending despite the state's budget deficit.
The measure keeps last year's student-centered finance formula in place at a 30% phase-in and uses a three-year averaging model to steady funding as enrollment declines.
A forecast $216 million from the Kids Matter Fund is helping lift the General Fund contribution, while lawmakers also added $14 million for universal preschool and $38 million for free school meals.
Since 2020-21, Colorado's total program funding has grown from $7.2 billion to about $10.2 billion, with per-pupil funding up from $8,100 to roughly $12,300.
With school funding at a record $10.2 billion, why does a multi-billion dollar shortfall persist in Colorado's education system?
Will the new school finance formula save rural districts or merely delay a crisis caused by declining student enrollment?
How could a Supreme Court ruling on religious freedom reshape access to Colorado's universal preschool program for thousands of families?
Colorado K-12 Funding Reform 2026-2035: New Formula, TABOR Ballot, and Persistent Budget Challenges
Overview
Colorado is set to introduce a new K-12 school finance formula in the 2026-27 school year, aiming to make funding more equitable for districts, especially those facing unique challenges. Despite the Joint Budget Committee ensuring the formula’s rollout as planned, they did not allocate enough funds to fully support it, raising concerns about the stability of the State Education Fund. This highlights the ongoing struggle to adequately finance public education, even as new frameworks are adopted. The situation is further complicated by legislative initiatives and ballot measures that could impact long-term funding and the future of Colorado’s schools.