Budget & finance
They plan to file legislation that would allow the state to ask voters to essentially exempt $4.5 billion in current education funding from TABOR to allow the state to keep more money for schools and other priorities.
He focused on his wins, including full-day kindergarten and the implementation of universal preschool.
What’s the makeup of education committees? Where can I find bills? Here’s the information you need to keep track of education issues during the 2026 legislative session.
Five state lawmakers joined Chalkbeat Colorado for our 2026 Legislative Preview to discuss education topics likely to surface during the session. Here’s what they said.
Polis appears to be the second Democratic governor to opt into a tax-credit program that is expected to expand private school choice. An education coalition wants him to reconsider.
Lawmakers cut to a Colorado FAFSA coordinator means school counselors won’t get data they can use to help students struggling to fill out the form.
After proposing changes to the state’s K-12 funding formula last year, Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal plans to fulfill changes made during this year’s session.
About 1,800 schools participate in Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, which offers students free breakfast and lunch.
It’s unclear how much the lawsuit has cost the district and how much fundraising appeals by the district and other groups have raised.
Colorado’s Proposition MM asks voters to increase taxes on households that make over $300,000 a year to provide additional funding for its free school meals program and SNAP.
Colorado’s Proposition LL asks voters to keep extra money raised for the state's Healthy School Meals for All program.
The Protect Colorado’s Future coalition is made up of 13 liberal advocacy groups. They hope to get a measure on the 2026 ballot to change tax policy and raise money for schools and other services.
Colorado lawmakers called a special session to address the 2026 federal budget, including a cut to spending on food benefits.
‘The beauty of this rebuild is that it provides equity,’ said Jen Koeppe, the director of construction management and support for Aurora Public Schools.
The nearly $80 million in federal education funds are meant to support teacher training, immigrant students, after-school programs, and more.
Teachers and school district leaders spoke with Gov. Jared Polis about the impact of the withheld federal education funding.
Colorado hasn’t received about $70 million in federal education funds after the Trump administration refused to release billions in K-12 dollars.
Lawmakers needed to balance a $1.2 billion budget hole. They were still able to secure increases for K-12 and higher education budgets.
Colorado Senate lawmakers approved a resolution this week promising to figure out how to boost education funding.
The Colorado Youth Advisory Council is made up of 40 students between the ages of 14 and 19 and has helped create laws. But lawmakers will end the council’s ability to draft bills.