Shaping the Path Toward Equity: A Critical Policy Analysis of Colorado's School Finance System

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Allocating Resources for Success and Equity: Examinations of Funding Policies and Implementation

Abstract

Colorado’s school-finance system is particularly inequitable because of a series of tax-limiting policies which, combined, have led Colorado to one of the lowest funded per pupil states in the country (Resnick et al., 2015). Situated within the context of two pandemics— the novel coronavirus and systemic racism—the purpose of this study is to explore policy alternatives to improve Colorado’s school-finance system. This study utilizes a new methodological approach, Youth Critical Policy Analysis for Action and Advocacy (YCPA3), where youth join a critical policy analysis as co-researchers and lead disseminating the findings through action and advocacy. The findings of this study will be illustrated in a policy road map for wide distribution across various state stakeholders and decision makers.

Author

• Amy Schwartz, BuildStrong Education