District lobbyist summarizes 2025 session: budget strain eased but school finance will need more funding
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Summary
Atwood told the board the 2025 legislative session closed May 7 after 120 days, with 562 bills passing; the joint budget committee used reallocations rather than deep cuts and swept roughly $230 million into the school finance act, but the new formula still needs an estimated $250–$500 million over coming years.
Amy Atwood, the district’s contract lobbyist with Atwood Public Affairs, told the Colorado Springs School District No. 11 board that the 2025 legislative session concluded after the constitutionally mandated 120 days on May 7 and left a mixed fiscal picture for education.
“At the end of the session, the budget picture looked different than we expected,” Atwood said, noting that lawmakers introduced about 733 bills and passed 562. Lawmakers used targeted reallocations across programs rather than broad cuts, she said, and the Senate added a statutory sweep — described in the report as the "Kids Matter" fund — that would move about $230 million into the school finance act to cover part of the budget stabilization factor.
Atwood identified two priorities she pursued for the district: protecting school funding and preserving local control over policy. She credited district staff engagement and testimony in keeping District 11’s experiences visible during negotiations on the new school finance formula.
Board members asked for specifics on several items Atwood raised. She said preschool remains a gubernatorial priority and that the Healthy Schools for All program is fully funded through December but could require additional local decisions if voters do not authorize keeping excess revenue. Atwood also said rulemaking is forthcoming on dyslexia screening and that DIBELS is hoped to qualify as an approved screener, delaying any costly mandate until implementation rules are clear.
Atwood warned that the new school finance formula will require significant additional funds over the next seven years — she estimated between $250 million and $500 million more than currently allocated — and said legislators are already talking about additional revenue measures that could go to voters.
The board requested follow-ups on bill-level impacts and directed staff to circulate Atwood’s written end-of-session report, which Atwood said is already posted on the district’s public board documents portal. The board received the presentation as information; no formal action was taken at the work session.
