School funding is a hot topic in Colorado, so the Colorado Legislative Council recently published a new Issue Brief examining Colorado’s K-12 school funding rankings. According to the Brief, “public schools in Colorado are funded from a combination of federal, state, and local sources, totaling approximately $8.9 billion in FY 2012-13.” Using graphs and charts to illustrate, the Brief reports that Colorado ranks #39 in per-pupil funding as of 2011-12, the most recent data available. However, this ranking may have changed since then as a result of the changing budget situation. The Brief also points out that some differences in states’ rankings depend on the cost of living in various states and regions. For further resources on school funding in Colorado, see the following publications, available from our library:
- Understanding Colorado School Finance and Categorical Program Funding (annual)
- Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade (K-12) Funding Scenarios (2014)
- Public School Finance Act (annual)
- Revenues and Expenditures (annual)
- How to Spot the Differences Between Eagles and Hawks - August 16, 2021
- How Transportation Projects Help Tell the Story of Colorado’s Past - August 9, 2021
- Time Machine Tuesday: The Night the Castlewood Canyon Dam Gave Way - August 3, 2021