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Read. Follow. Verify.Colorado School Finance Act increases per-pupil funding, alters funding formulas, and appropriates millions for K-12 education
Last action · May 28, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Barbara Kirkmeyer and 57 others
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What This Bill Does
The legislation sets statewide base per-pupil funding at $8,900.40 for the 2026-27 budget year—an increase of $208.60 to account for inflation—and establishes at $10,178,856,871. It modifies pupil count calculations, adjusts charter school funding provisions, repeals at-risk supplemental aid for charter schools, and enacts targeted appropriations and budget adjustments for the 2026-27 school year.
School districts across the state receive altered per-pupil allocations and funding formula options that directly dictate local operating budgets, teacher retirement allowances, and specialized program funding for students with disabilities and homeschool participants.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
School Districts
School districts experience modified pupil count calculation rules, revised total program funding distributions, and altered cost-of-living factor applications.
Charter Schools
Charter schools face altered distribution methods for total program funding and the repeal of at-risk supplemental aid.
School Administrators
Assistant superintendents, vice principals, and assistant principals become eligible to receive a salary without a reduction in PERA retirement benefits under specific conditions.
Students with Disabilities
Funding supporting out-of-home placements and individualized education programs shifts to a $1 million tuition reimbursement pool.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new base per-pupil funding amount for the 2026-27 budget year?
Can school districts use paper tests for state assessments?
How are charter schools affected by changes to total program funding?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- May 28, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledGovernor Signed
- May 19, 2026SenateFloorSigned by the President of the Senate
- May 19, 2026HouseFloorSigned by the Speaker of the House
- May 19, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledSent to the Governor
- May 13, 2026SenateSenate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- May 12, 2026HouseFloorHouse Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
Show 10 earlier actions
- May 12, 2026HouseFloorHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
- May 11, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
- May 11, 2026HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Apr 30, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
- Apr 29, 2026SenateFloorSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
- Apr 29, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced In House - Assigned to Education
- Apr 28, 2026SenateFloorSenate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Apr 24, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
- Apr 20, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Adopt amendment L.027
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Show 13 earlier roll calls
Adopt amendment J.004
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Adopt amendment J.007
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2
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Adopt amendment L.028
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Adopt amendment J.005
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Adopt amendment L.030
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Adopt amendment L.021
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Adopt amendment L.023
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Adopt amendment L.031
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Refer Senate Bill 26-023, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
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6
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Adopt amendment J.006
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Refer Senate Bill 26-023 to the Committee on Appropriations.
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8
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Refer Senate Bill 26-023, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
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7
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Refer Senate Bill 26-023, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
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Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 53 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
leg.colorado.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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