CLOSURES

closing or consolidating, K-8 schools on average spend more than middle schools per student. One school, Coal Creek Canyon K-8, which is serving about 100 students, is spending $21,994 per student, more than 28% over the average per student cost at the district’s other K-8 schools.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

$9 billion Colorado education budget signed, but still doesn’t meet obligations for full funding

Jason Gonzales

Chalkbeat Colorado

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the school nance act on Monday that will make signi cant increases in K-12 spending statewide next year. / Nathan W. Armes for Chalkbeat

Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed into law Colorado’s school nance act, laying the path toward eliminating a state practice used since the Great Recession that holds back money from e school nance bill also will fund state-authorized charter schools at a level similar to other schools starting in 2023-24, adding more than $42 million for those schools. State-authorized charter schools don’t get a cut of locally raised tax dollars as district schools do. means a stronger education system for Colorado, including better teacher pay, smaller class sizes, and more funding for the arts. e constitution requires Colorado to increase funding yearly by the rate of student population growth plus in ation. e state withholding, however, has meant schools haven’t gotten what’s required by its school nance formula. more next year on special education, increasing total spending to about $340 million, or a 13% increase. e bill also will provide optional training for teachers and parents, o er evidence-based resources for math programs, and require teacher preparation programs to train prospective educators in math instruction.

In the 2023-24 school year, the state will spend more than $9 billion on education and withhold $141 million from schools. Statewide, spending per student next year will increase to $10,614, $1,000 more per student than this year.

Rural schools will get $30 million more to help with their higher costs related to smaller student populations. Colorado rural schools have gotten similar state aid since 2017.

Polis, surrounded by lawmakers, educators, and students at ornton Elementary School, also signed two bills on Monday that will boost special education funding and provide statewide support for math instruction.

Together, the bills represent a signi cant investment in K-12 education statewide and a promise to fully meet the constitutionally set minimum for education spending by the 2024-25 school year.

“We are catching up to where we should be for all public schools next year, and that’s very exciting news for Colorado kids,” he said during the bill signing.

Since 2009, lawmakers have diverted money that should go to K-12 schools to fund other priorities, a practice known as the Budget Stabilization Factor. is year’s school nance law, however, aims to eliminate that practice by the next budget year. e state has withheld over $10 billion from schools since 2009.

State Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, an Arvada Democrat who chairs the Joint Budget Committee that helps craft the budget and school nance act, said the state will also meet its obligation to fully fund its share of special education.

Polis also signed a bill that will invest more in teaching math after state and national tests showed students lost ground in that subject during the pandemic. e state will spend $25 million via three-year grants for after-school math tutoring programs that will be run by school districts, charter schools, and community groups.

Zenzinger said now that the state is on track to fully fund schools within the next budget cycle, she wants lawmakers to rethink what it costs to fully educate a student.

“It’s going to be really, really important that once we have established full funding, whether that is then adequate,” Zenzinger said.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

Thu 6/01

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs: GoldenGrass Music Festival 2023 @ 7pm New Terrain Brewing Company, 16401 Table Mountain Pkwy, Golden

Daniella Katzir

Music: Daniella Katzir Band at Den‐ver Orchid Lounge @ 7pm Orchid Denver, 1448 Market St, Denver

Sat 6/03

Denver Makers Market @ Lakewood Casa Bonita Parking Lot @ 10am / Free

Rockin Block Party @ 5:30pm Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, 801 South Yarrow Street, Lakewood. hca@lake wood.org, 303-987-7850

Soundularity: Intrinsic Collective: 360 Healing Music

Journey @ 6:30pm

Intrinsic Collective, 922 Washing‐ton Ave suite 200, Golden

CD Ghost @ 8pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Drifting Roots with Weege @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Mon 6/05

Finn O'Sullivan: Sofar Sounds @ 7:30pm

Sofar Sounds, Denver

Julia Wolf @ 8pm

Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver

Sunstoney @ 8pm

Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 1624 Market St, Denver anees @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Somatoast @ 8:30pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Fri 6/02

The Back Box Presents: Skysia with M�nity & Stoik @ 7pm

The Black Box, 314 E 13th Ave, Denver

VINCINT

@ 8pm Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver

Denver Makers Market @ Casa Bonita, 6677 West Colfax Avenue, Denver. dmmvendors@gmail.com, 720-525-5645 veggi @ 1pm X Denver, 3100 Inca St, Denver

Giant Walking Robots @ 5:30pm Goosetown Station, 514 9th St, Golden

Fresh Fruit @ 8pm Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 1624 Market St, Denver

Sun 6/04

Taylor Scott Band: Taylor Scott & Jon Wirtz duo @ 11am Gregory Plaza, Denver

FORGOTTEN SPACE @ 6pm So Many Roads Brewery, 918 W 1st Ave, Denver

Club Seating: Paramount TheatreStraight Up With Stassi Live @ 7pm / $49.50

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm, Denver

Tue 6/06

Kurt Travis @ 6pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

WHOKILLEDXIX @ 8pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Wed 6/07

City Park Denver Public Art Sunset Tour @ 7pm Denver Arts and Venues, Varies Locations for Public Art Tours, Denver

NOT A TOY @ 7pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Todd Day Wait @ 7:30pm

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Spirit Mother @ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver