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Colorado’s new faculty finance system obtained some excellent news Thursday when Gov. Jared Polis modified course on his funds request for the upcoming yr.
In his up to date request for the 2025-26 funds, Polis requested lawmakers for $150 million to begin phasing in funding for the brand new system. That’s a $35 million improve from the funds the governor proposed in November, and would put the system on monitor to be phased in over six years.
Lawmakers handed the brand new system final yr. The system will extra equitably distribute state funding based mostly on the forms of college students districts train, and assist rural and smaller districts.
The updates to the governor’s funds are a part of a months-long course of. Such amendments from the governor happen yearly in the beginning of January.
With the state going through a funds shortfall as a result of improve in funding obligations, particularly for Medicaid, the blueprint Polis launched in November referred to as for Colorado to part within the system over seven years, as a substitute of the six lawmakers initially envisioned. However the state’s income forecast has improved barely since then, regardless that the state nonetheless should make cuts to steadiness the funds and fulfill obligations, in response to a information launch from Polis.
“Even in a good funds yr, these investments will assist all Colorado college students thrive,” Polis mentioned.
Polis’ November proposal sparked concern from faculty district leaders, in addition to members of the highly effective Joint Price range Committee.
Nonetheless, Polis didn’t defuse all controversy in his revised funds plan. He’s sustaining his want to vary how the state calculates pupil enrollment for the aim of the funds. The governor’s proposal would use a single yr rely of enrollment, as a substitute of a four-year common, to fund colleges.
District leaders have mentioned that the proposal hurts colleges in districts which are shedding college students. A four-year common permits colleges to minimize the funds impression of enrollment declines. Polis has countereded that the one yr of enrollment knowledge eliminates spending on “phantom college students,” or college students who’re now not enrolled in a district, and aligns the state with different states throughout the nation.
The Joint Price range Committee will take Polis’ supplemental funds requests into consideration, and draft the funds that lawmakers vote on through the session. Polis additionally included this stuff in his funds amendments launched Thursday:
- A further $12 million to help college students who’re in danger, resembling college students from lower-income backgrounds.
- $10 million extra for the Little one Care Help Program to assist handle new mandates that aren’t funded by the federal authorities.
- Nearly $30 million extra to help faculty meals for this and the subsequent funds yr.
- The restoration of $14.6 million for Colorado’s rural faculties and universities.
- A further $3.3 million for Colorado’s Common Preschool program for suppliers.
Jason Gonzales is a reporter masking greater training and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado companions with Open Campus on greater training protection. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.