HB18-1379 (Pettersen & Wilson/Hill) Public School Finance
Summary
The bill sets the statewide base per pupil funding amount for the 2018-19 budget year at $6,768.77, which represents an inflationary increase of 3.3 percent. The bill also reduces the budget stabilization factor by $150 million and distributes an additional $30 million to large and small rural districts. The bill adds 1,000 ECARE slots that may be used for preschool or full day kindergarten in the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP).
Position
The Children’s Campaign supports the bill. It reduces the budget stabilization factor and provides support to large and small rural school districts to improve student learning and the educational environment. It allows rural districts to use the funds to improve educator training and invest in initiatives to retain teachers. The bill also adds 1,000 ECARE slots which can be used for a half-day of preschool through CPP, for a full day of preschool or to add the second half of the day for at-risk kindergartners who would otherwise be in half-day programs.
Current Status
Passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the governor’s desk for signature
Previous Statuses
April 13, 2018
Assigned to the House Education Committee where it is scheduled to be heard on Monday, Apr. 16 at 1:30pm in Room 0112.
April 20, 2018
Passed the House floor this morning on a bipartisan vote of 54-7 (with 4 excused) and now heads to the Senate
April 27, 2018
Passed the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously and now heads to the Senate floor for debate
May 4, 2018
Passed the Senate on 2nd reading and is awaiting a final vote on 3rd reading in the Senate
