In a year defined by a $1.5 billion budget deficit, K-12 education funding was protected, including funding for charter schools. While spending cuts were made in other areas, support for schools remained intact.

Ready Colorado also helped advance several key priorities, including continued implementation of the state’s student-centered school funding formula, preservation of full funding for state-authorized charter schools, greater charter school involvement in local bond and mill levy planning, and the creation of initiatives focused on improving alignment between education and workforce systems and expanding opportunity for historically underserved students.

At the same time, Ready Colorado successfully opposed legislation that would have reduced educator evaluation frequency, weakened statewide assessment and accountability systems, and imposed additional state regulations on scholarship granting organizations participating in the new federal tax credit scholarship program. These measures ultimately failed to advance.

Continues implementation of Colorado’s new student-centered school funding formula, advancing it to 30% implementation and maintaining three-year averaging. The bill also preserves full funding for state-authorized charter schools through Mill Levy Override Equalization.

STATUS: Signed by the Governor.

Establishes a task force to identify schools and districts successfully closing opportunity gaps and to study how those practices can be expanded statewide. The group will examine policies, conditions, and barriers affecting academic outcomes for historically underserved students.

STATUS: Passed both Chambers, Awaiting Governor’s Signature

Requires school districts to formally consider charter school facility needs when developing bond and mill levy proposals, increasing transparency and charter participation in planning discussions. The bill does not mandate funding for charter projects but ensures their needs are part of the public process.

STATUS: Signed by the Governor.

Would have allowed effective and highly effective nonprobationary teachers to be evaluated once every three years instead of annually, while maintaining annual evaluations for lower-rated teachers. Opponents argued the change would weaken accountability and reduce oversight of classroom performance.

STATUS: Died in first committee (House Education 10-3)

Originally proposed reducing Colorado’s assessments to the federal minimum and pursuing a waiver to eliminate testing altogether. After being amended to create a task force studying testing time, the bill continued to face opposition over accountability concerns and duplication of previous reform efforts.

STATUS: Died on the calendar

Would have imposed state-level regulations on Colorado’s participation in the new federal tax credit scholarship program. Opponents argued the bill could create conflicts with pending federal rules, expose taxpayers to legal costs, and discourage charitable contributions.

STATUS: Died in first committee (House Education 11-2)