SCHOOL FUNDING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

Law ensures school districts do not experience significant funding reductions due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases

DENVER, CO– Governor Jared Polis today signed into law legislation sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan to protect school district funding that otherwise would have been reduced due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases.

“The legislature is doing everything we can to put students, teachers, and parents first as we recover from this pandemic and work to build back stronger,” said JBC Vice-Chair Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This funding boost protects schools across our state from catastrophic budget cuts at the worst possible time. I’m proud of how we brought together stakeholders from across the education community to craft this bipartisan solution.”

“Our students and educators were among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and I’m proud that we’re doing right by them today,” said House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Building back stronger means making sizable investments in education and working to give our schools the funding they need to get back on track and start bridging the COVID education gap.”

SB21-053, sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan, would buy down the Budget Stabilization Factor by $121 million and ensure that schools do not face consequential funding reductions due to pandemic-related enrollment decreases. In addition, the bill allocates an additional $85 million to districts in need, including $25 million to rural schools. Under the bill, all school districts will see their state share of total program funding restored to within two percent of what the legislature adopted in the 2020 School Finance Act. The bill passed by a vote of 52-11 in the House.