Past Excessive College is our free month-to-month publication overlaying larger schooling coverage and practices in Colorado. Signal as much as get it delivered to your inbox early.
Colorado lawmakers accredited a state finances for subsequent yr that has extra money for schools, universities, and Okay-12 colleges. However the improve is lower than what was promised or requested.
Lawmakers finalized the $43.9 billion spending plan for the 2025-26 yr earlier this week after months of debate about how one can shut a $1.2 billion spending shortfall. The shortfall was brought on by elevated prices for packages reminiscent of Medicaid and voter-approved caps on state spending.
Lawmakers had promised extra funding for Okay-12 colleges by way of a college finance components rewrite final yr. However the shortfall means the rise will likely be about $16 million lower than initially anticipated.
Schools and universities may even get far lower than larger schooling leaders requested. As an alternative, lawmakers will enable them extra flexibility in elevating tuition charges to cowl bills.
The finances additionally offers will increase for the state’s early childhood initiatives.
Gov. Jared Polis might want to signal the finances invoice to provide it closing approval.
Right here’s what’s within the 2025-26 finances:
- The finances will deliver whole Okay-12 state and district spending to $10 billion subsequent yr and improve spending per pupil to a median of $11,852, or a rise of $412 over the $11,440 common this yr. The finances consists of about $256 million extra in state spending than final yr.
- Virtually each college district, aside from 21 which have declining enrollment, will get a funding improve. The state funds colleges on a per-student basais, however a “maintain innocent” provision means the 21 districts with declining enrollment received’t get much less funding.
- Colorado will cap the Constructing Glorious Faculties Immediately grant program, which helps districts fund building tasks, at $150 million, saving $45 million subsequent yr.
- The finances and an accompanying invoice nonetheless into account suggest to fund the Wholesome College Meals for All program, which offers free college lunches for each pupil, for under half of the 2025-26 college yr and reduce the variety of eligible colleges statewide. Lawmakers need to get a measure earlier than voters in November to extend funding for this system, which might eradicate the necessity to scale it again.
- Lawmakers made cuts to highschool grant packages. For example, the state will save $5 million by decreasing high-impact tutoring program grants.
- Schools and universities will get $38.4 million extra subsequent yr for operations and pupil monetary assist, bringing larger schooling common fund spending, which incorporates museums, to about $1.7 billion. The $38.4 million improve is lower than the extra $95 million that faculty leaders mentioned they want.
- Schools and universities will likely be allowed to extend resident tuition by 3% and non-resident tuition by 3.5% subsequent yr. These will increase would enable colleges to gather about $3 billion whole in tuition subsequent yr.
- The state will spend about $14 million extra on the Division of Early Childhood, bringing whole spending to $802 million. That features $318 million extra normally fund spending, or about $24 million greater than final yr.
- The state’s Common Preschool Program, which presents free preschool to all 4-year-olds within the state, will get $6 million extra subsequent yr for its operations.
- The finances additionally will increase funding for the state’s Early Intervention program by $12.6 million. This system offers help companies for infants and toddlers with disabilities or these prone to developmental delays.
- And lawmakers preserved a pilot program that will increase wages for some baby care employees throughout the state. The state will spend $2.9 million to proceed this system.
Jason Gonzales is a reporter overlaying larger schooling and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado companions with Open Campus on larger schooling protection. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org