Building a stronger teacher workforce requires the thoughtful orchestration of multiple processes working together in a human capital system. This white paper presents a framework that can be used to take stock of current efforts to enhance the teacher workforce in school districts or educational organizations, as well as their underlying theories…

The author presents the results of a study conducted to determine the extent of public-school-district-financed, prekindergarten programs; the types of children enrolled in these programs; and the types of teaching certificates required of teachers for these programs. (MB)

Recent policy changes at the state and federal levels have made schools the focus of accountability. However, under current district budgeting practices, it is difficult to assess how resources are distributed between schools and whether every school is afforded the same opportunity to meet its educational goals. This paper addresses one key…

This brief examines two components of Colorado's school-finance act: state aid and local property taxes. It describes how the Department of Education accounts for about 41 percent of the state General Fund appropriations, the vast majority of which is used for the school-finance act. Roughly 10 years ago, the General Assembly set property taxes…

This document examines Colorado's size factor, which is intended to compensate for differences in per-pupil costs that are attributable to economies of scale; the formula provides additional money based on each district's enrollment. The report is organized by the following three areas: (1) background on Colorado's size factor, including a…

This report presents a variety of statistical and financial data on Colorado's public schools, as required by the Colorado Revised Statutes (1973), Chapter 22-2-112(1). This volume is the 1976 edition of the report, which presents data up through the 1974-75 school year. Section 1 consists of tables that present all information required by the…

This report discusses some of the financial problems facing Colorado public schools. Fiscal reform recommendations designed to improve educational quality and to provide educational equality are offered to citizens and elected leaders. Education finance problems are discussed within the context of (1) the professional staff, (2) the educational…

Data on 174 Colorado school districts were used to measure districts' responses (as indicated by per-pupil expenditures) to their own fiscal capacity and to state aid that changes over time. Colorado's modified guaranteed tax base (GTB) formula was analyzed and a model constructed that took into account the formula's limits on district spending…

The authors' review of several studies on school district fiscal response to state aid formulas precedes a summary of their research results from case studies of Colorado and Minnesota. The studies reviewed examined factors influencing district fiscal capacity and expenditure changes made in response to aid formulas, especially to…

School district administration and staffing patterns are examined in this report prepared in response to CRS 22-2-118, which requires the Colorado Department of Education to conduct a study to determine where savings of state and local funds may be realized. Section 1 offers an analysis of district staffing patterns from existing data. The second…

This report presents a variety of statistical and financial data on Colorado's public schools, as required by the Colorado School Laws, Chapter 123-1-13(1). This volume is the 1973 edition of the report, which presents data up through the 1971-72 school year. Included in the report are (1) a series of graphs summarizing significant statewide data…

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the issue of statewide tax and expenditure limitations (TELs). Through the use of public opinion surveys and case studies of the campaigns, the author explains the politics of the TEL issue. Chapter 1 uses a multivariate analysis to determine whether or not differences exist in the voting…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that surveyed charter school principals and special education directors in Colorado to determine their attitudes about charter school services for students with special needs, to determine how charter schools fund special education services, and to create a data-based foundation for making…

A 1977 restudy of Colorado school finance, following a 1974 study of the effects of the state's 1973 finance reforms, indicates that Colorado school finance is still unequal. Colorado's school finance program is essentially a resource equalization plan (also known as a "guaranteed tax base" or "district power equalization"…

This publication reports on the general condition of K-12 education in the state of Colorado. It summarizes current efforts to restructure the educational system based on student and national goals, and provides information on Colorado's educational performance, school district personnel, and major state programs. Section 1 describes the need for…