Colorado General Assembly approves amendments to School Finance Act addressing bonding and funding needs

A significant discussion unfolded during the Colorado State Legislature's House Education meeting on April 7, 2025, focusing on amendments aimed at enhancing school funding mechanisms. The committee passed Amendment L6, which allows charter schools to pursue bonding options, a move that reflects growing demand for financial support in education. The amendment passed with a vote of 11 to 2, indicating strong backing from committee members.

Representative Bacon raised concerns about the overlap with a previous bill that enabled charter schools to seek bonds through local districts. However, it was clarified that this amendment specifically addresses a different program, which has seen increased demand. The discussion highlighted the need for clarity on the historical usage of bonding requests, with some members expressing a desire for more detailed data on the program's impact.

In addition, the committee discussed Amendment L10, which aims to ensure that the state meets inflationary growth requirements for the School Finance Act as mandated by Amendment 23. This amendment includes provisions for forming a working group to track potential shortfalls in K-12 funding. The language around a "smoothing factor" was intentionally left vague to allow for further discussions, particularly regarding operational costs in schools facing declining enrollment.

The committee emphasized the importance of these amendments in creating a more equitable funding formula for education, with members acknowledging the hard work that has gone into these legislative efforts. The passage of these amendments marks a critical step towards addressing the financial needs of Colorado's schools and ensuring that all students have access to quality education.