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GREELEY, CO – Representative Mary Young today moderated a roundtable discussion at Greeley Central High School with Greeley-Evans School District 6 leaders on recent legislative efforts to increase public school funding and drive more resources to Greeley schools.
Panelists discussed the positive local impact of HB24-1448, the new public school finance formula, which will increase funding for rural and underfunded districts and SB24-188, the 2024 School Finance Act, which boosts funding for schools by eliminating the budget stabilization factor (BSF).
“Increasing funding for public schools has been one of my top priorities, and I’m so proud that Greeley schools will soon see significantly more state resources because of recent legislation I supported,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “This roundtable discussion allowed us to dive deeper into our recent efforts to modernize Colorado’s school finance formula to better support our students. I’m extremely proud of our law to pay off the budget stabilization factor and invest more than ever in public education because our students and teachers deserve it.”
“I’d like to thank Rep. Young for bringing us all together to discuss some of the positive legislative efforts to uplift and invest in our state’s public schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “The new school finance formula will directly impact our students with the greatest needs and direct more funding to Greeley-Evans School District 6 to help make up for the shortfalls we have seen in past years due to the Budget Stabilization Factor. We know modernizing the school finance formula didn’t happen overnight and this is a great first step. This formula will better support our students, teachers, and families.”
“When it comes to education funding, HB24-1448 took a students-first approach, which meets our students where they are in Greeley 6,” said Chief Financial Officer Meggan Sponsler. “This roundtable discussion offered some insight into the new funding plan, which benefits districts like ours by allowing us to direct resources to our most impacted students and provide additional learning opportunities for all. I’m proud of our lawmakers’ efforts to not only invest in public education, but to ensure those investments prioritized students first.”
“Education funding should be top of mind for our elected officials and this year’s impressive legislative efforts directly and positively impact Greeley-Evans School District 6,” said School Board President Michael Matthews. “The new funding formula will allow our district to enhance wrap-around services to students and their families, provide more learning opportunities for our students and support the social and emotional needs of the students we serve.”
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Greeley-Evans School District 6 will receive nearly $3.2 million more per year or $19.1 million more once the new formula is fully implemented after six years. Additionally, this district will receive a 1.2 percent increase in per pupil funding, bringing the average to $11,894 per pupil and a 72.1 percent increase in English Language Learner, at-risk, and special education funding.
Representative Young has championed additional education legislation in 2024 including laws to create a new medical school in Northern Colorado, remove barriers for school psychologists to work in Colorado schools, ensure students with disabilities receive a full day of instruction, and combat the overdose epidemic in Colorado schools.