02/02/2026
📣 Join us for February’s First Fridays with University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs: Education Finance at a Crossroads in Colorado
📆 Friday, February 6
⏰ 8:30–10:00 a.m.
💲 Free
👉 Register: https://cvent.me/mRnRxZ
📍 In-Person: Terrace Room (2nd floor), Lawrence Street Center, 1380 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80204
💻 Virtual: Zoom link provided upon registration
This First Friday event will examine education funding in Colorado, a relatively wealthy state that nonetheless invests comparatively little in its education system. Recent national data show that Colorado’s K–12 teachers are the lowest paid in the country when compared to similarly educated professionals, a challenge shaped in part by the constraints of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Speakers include:
- Paul Teske, University of Colorado Denver SPA (moderator)
- Parker Baxter, University of Colorado Denver SPA
- Brenda Dickhoner, Ph.D., Ready Colorado
- Daniel G. Thatcher, J.D., National Conference of State Legislatures
- Tracie Rainey, Colorado School Finance Project (CSFP)
The panel will explore Colorado’s education spending levels across the continuum, including early childhood education, K–12, and higher education, with particular attention to recent K–12 school finance legislation that changes how funds are allocated across districts (HB24-1448 and HB25-1320). Panelists will also discuss allocation of funds within districts.
This conversation comes at a pivotal moment. Colorado is experiencing a decline of more than 1% in student enrollment, with even sharper drops in many metro-area districts. These trends are reshaping the fiscal landscape and the future of education statewide.
👉 Register: https://cvent.me/mRnRxZ
