School Finance Unit

Finance Guidance During COVID-19

CDE has created guidance around finance during the COVID-19 pandemic, including guidance on School Finance Funding, Federal CARES Act Money, TABOR emergency reserve, non-reimbursed costs and more.

COVID-19 Finance Q&A

About

The School Finance Unit provides support to school districts and legislature on the distribution of school finance formula funding and other funding streams. In addition, we provide support to districts and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) by assisting with submission of required financial data, providing reports of financial data and assisting with the implementation of various school finance legislation. The School Finance Unit also provides technical guidance and support through pupil counts and transportation funding audits to ensure districts comply with Public School Finance and Public School Transportation rules and law.

Colorado public schools receive funding from a variety of sources. However, most revenues to Colorado's 178 school districts are provided through the Public School Finance Act of 1994 (as amended).

In budget year 2024-25, this legislation provides for over $9.7 billion of funding to Colorado school districts via state taxes ($5.1 billion), local specific ownership (vehicle registration) taxes ($241.7 million), and local property taxes ($4.3 billion). Moneys provided via the Public School Finance Act of 1994 are available to each school district to fund the costs of providing public education.