For the data sources tracked (U.S. Census Bureau, Profile Data, Education Week Quality Counts, & National Center for
Colorado School Finance Project School finance research since 1995.
Trends in Per Pupil Spending Dollar Amounts Colorado Spends Less than the National Average Profile Data: Colorado spends less than US Average
U.S. Census: Colorado spends less than US Average
Ed Week: CO spends less than US Average
NCES: CO spends less than US Average
US Average
500
U.S. Average per Pupil Spending (baseline) 0
Per Pupil Spending
-500 Funding Gap between what CO spends per student and the National Average
-1000
-1500
-2000
-2500
Comparing a variety of sources; the funding gap between Colorado per pupil spending and the national average has continued to grow for almost two decades.
-3000 For the data sources tracked (U.S. Census Bureau, Profile Data, Education Week Quality Counts, & National Center for Education Statistics) Colorado’s gap between per pupil funding and the national average has grown from less than $500 per student in the early to mid-90s to between $1,800 and $2,700 less per pupil by FY 2011.
Winter 2014
1200 Grant Street – Denver, CO 80203 303-860-9136 – FAX: 303-832-1086 – cosfp.org
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Colorado School Finance Project School finance research since 1995.
Per Pupil Spending: National Trends Up or Stable, Colorado Trends Down Profile Data, Colorado U.S. Census, Colorado Ed Week, Quality Counts Colorado NCES, Colorado
Profile Data, US Average U.S. Census, US Average Ed Week, US Average NCES, US Average
12000 11500 11000 10500 10000
Per Pupil Spending
9500 9000 8500
CO History of Per Pupil Spending: A Comparison of Several Sources:
Blue Lines:National Trends
Colorado continues to fall further behind the national average. Data Sources: Education Week: Quality Counts National Center for Education Statistics Profile Data U.S. Census
8000 7500 Red Lines: Colorado Trends
7000 6500 6000 5500 5000 4500
In the 19 years between 1992 and 2011, Colorado’s student population increased by over 222,800 students to 808,139 students (CSFP State Profile data). As the number of public school students has increased, Colorado’s per pupil spending has fallen farther and farther behind the national average.
Find out more: Colorado’s PK-12 student population trends: Go to CSFP Student Trends. o Includes English Language Learners, Free Lunch and Reduced Lunch, Gifted & Talented, Homeless populations Education reforms have increased: CAP4K, Educator Effectiveness, Common Core standards, CSAP/PARCC Testing, graduation requirements. Go to the CSFP Timeline for School Finance & Education Reform.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NCES, Profile Data (Augenblick, Palaich & Associates), Education Week Quality Count
Winter 2014
1200 Grant Street – Denver, CO 80203 303-860-9136 – FAX: 303-832-1086 – cosfp.org
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