Governor Jared Polis of Colorado is proposing changes to how students are counted in the state, in an effort to cut $147 million from the education budget for the next fiscal year. He wants to switch from using a 5-year average of student enrollment to a single year count to determine per-pupil funding for districts. This proposal has sparked concern among district leaders, who fear that smaller districts will face significant cuts if even a few students leave.
During a legislative hearing, Cherry Creek School District Chief Financial Officer Scott Smith testified that this change could result in drastic cuts for smaller districts, forcing them to lay off teachers and potentially close schools. Many districts in Colorado are experiencing declining enrollment, leading to closures in recent years. Smith emphasized the importance of discussing declining enrollment with state leaders, but believes that underfunding schools should not be a quick fix for a budget shortfall.
School leaders are advocating to have a seat at the table and engage in discussions about good policy rather than simply cutting funding to address budget challenges. The state budget is expected to be finalized in March or April, and the fate of education funding in Colorado will depend on negotiations between state leaders and district representatives.
