Amendment 23

In November 2000, Colorado voters made an important investment in public education by passing an amendment to the state constitution, which was intended to provide a stable, predictable funding base for Colorado school districts. [Colo. Const. Article IX, Sec. 17.] Amendment 23 currently requires annual per pupil funding increases at the rate of inflation. The funding increases at the rate of inflation also apply to categorical programs.

Starting in fiscal year 2010–11, the legislature added a new “negative factor” to the 1994 School Finance Act, originally called the State Budget Stabilization Factor. The negative factor acts to reduce funding of the factors. The negative factor does not change the base per pupil funding received. In the 2013–14 fiscal year, the negative factor is approximately $1 billion.