Colorado ranks 47th out of 50 states in the percentage of dollars going directly to classroom instruction, according to one estimate.
On average, districts across the state spend 60 percent of their operating budgets in the classroom, according to Colorado Department of Education figures, but several are in the 40 percent range.
Proponents of Amendment 39 want to require all districts to spend 65 percent of their operating budgets on classroom expenses, including teacher salaries, books, supplies, librarians and even field trips. The measure’s definition doesn’t include items such as transportation, nurses and counselors or meals.
We were tempted to support Amendment 39 because we think school districts can and should do a better job of pushing more resources into classrooms. Plus, there’s no specific penalty if school districts don’t comply with the 65 percent threshold, and it could open up school district budgets to more public scrutiny. Even top school leaders admit there’s not enough transparency in their budgets.
However, we don’t believe the Colorado Constitution is the proper place for a state-mandated school funding formula that may or may not produce better-educated students and higher test scores.
We urge voters to vote “no” on Amendment 39.
We’d also urge school districts to look for ways to direct more money into classrooms. Teachers shouldn’t have to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets, for example.
Theresa Peña, president of the Denver Public Schools board, says many of the critical elements of The Denver Plan, DPS’s blueprint for turning around the district, wouldn’t be included in the 65 percent, including the assessment tests that began this year.
Schools, she said, need some flexibility in how they budget their money. For example, as school advocates were telling us that districts might want to beef up security in light of the Bailey school shooting, an Amish school was under siege. That’s not a classroom expense.
Voters also will see a Referendum J on their ballots, which calls for schools to spend 65 percent of their operating budget on classroom instruction but includes principals, support staff (counselors, nurses, bus drivers, food service workers), teacher training, college placement services and medical services as part of the definition. With that prescription, all school districts will meet the mandate and nothing will change.
So, vote “yes” on J if it makes you feel better, but it likely won’t change what’s happening in schools. If both proposals pass, Amendment 39 likely will supersede any conflicting provisions with Referendum J since 39 would be part of the state constitution.
