Before I became governor, Colorado ranked 18th in education. Last year, we ranked third. according to the just-released comprehensive measures used by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is especially meaningful because the ranking , looking at enrollment in preschool, graduation rates and national test scores in K鈥�12 schools and graduation rates in higher education. This score reflects the hard work of Colorado鈥檚 educators, the support of families, and the dedication of our students.
Over my almost eight years as governor, we have pursued a consistent vision: every child should be able to start learning earlier, attend a free public school that meets their needs, receive strong academic instruction, continue learning beyond the traditional school day and school year, and graduate into an affordable pathway to college or a good career.
I wish it were as simple as just one thing we did. But these six focus areas have boosted our state’s education system to the top:
1. An early start
One major reason I ran for governor was to make sure every child could attend preschool and kindergarten for free. In my first year, we delivered free full-day kindergarten throughout Colorado, saving parents around $500 per month for a full school day. We then successfully created free universal preschool, preparing our young learners for success while saving families thousands of dollars a year.
Universal preschool moved Colorado from 27th to third among states in the percentage of four-year-olds enrolled in preschool. Nearly 73% of eligible four-year-olds now participate. The data shows that investing early is more effective — and less expensive 鈥� than trying to repair learning gaps years later. Put simply, every child deserves a strong start.
2. Increased funding for schools with better direction
For years, Colorado balanced its budget by withholding constitutionally required education funding through the Budget Stabilization Factor.
In 2024, we eliminated that deficit and fully funded Colorado schools at the level required by our state Constitution for the first time since 2009. We also enacted the first major overhaul of Colorado鈥檚 school-finance formula in nearly 30 years, directing more resources toward students experiencing poverty, English learners, students with disabilities, and districts with greater needs.
And because it is even more difficult for a hungry kid to learn, I鈥檓 grateful that Colorado voters approved Healthy School Meals for All. Now everyone who wants it gets breakfast and lunch free.
Average per-pupil funding increased from $8,480 in the 2019鈥�20 school year to $11,452 in 2024鈥�25. Average teacher salaries increased approximately 42%, from $52,728 in 2017鈥�18 to $74,909 in 2025鈥�26.
3. Expanding public-school choice
Colorado鈥檚 tradition of public-school choice predates my administration, and during the last eight years, we have expanded and protected choice while working to make it fairer and more accessible.
There鈥檚 something magical about making a deliberate choice about what school to attend; empowering parents with choice leads to families thinking about what path and option works for each child鈥檚 learning style. Today, nearly 40% of Colorado public-school students — more than 347,000 children 鈥� attend a public school other than the one assigned to them based on their address. That share has increased by more than six percentage points since the 2016鈥�17 school year.
Denver Public Schools, for example, uses enrollment zones that guarantee students a seat at one of several schools rather than at one specific school, empowering each family with a real choice.
Colorado currently has 262 public charter schools serving 136,627 students — nearly 16% of statewide public-school enrollment. The most recent comparable federal data placed Colorado second among states in the share of public-school students attending charter schools.
We have worked to make funding fairer. In 2024, we provided full mill-levy equalization for schools authorized by the Charter School Institute. In 2026, we required districts considering capital-construction ballot measures to聽be more responsive to charter schools.
4. Focus on fundamentals and measurable outcomes
We have used science and data to guide policy.
In 2019, we strengthened implementation of the READ Act, emphasizing phonetics and evidence-based reading instruction and better preparation for teachers. And in 2023, we enacted a statewide strategy to improve mathematics instruction by creating evidence-informed training for educators, including strategies for students who are below grade level, students with disabilities, and multilingual learners. We also expanded the Ninth Grade Success Program to prevent students from falling behind in the critical high school transition, and created the Colorado Academic Accelerator Program, which supports community learning centers offering free mathematics and STEM instruction outside regular school hours.
Colorado also supports high-impact tutoring, an intensive, data-driven model centered on frequent, sustained interaction between students and tutors. We developed free mathematics-intervention toolkits for teachers, families, tutors, and out-of-school-time programs.
The results extend beyond test score improvements. Colorado鈥檚 four-year graduation rate increased from 80.7% for the Class of 2018 to 85.6% in 2024鈥�25, while the dropout rate fell to 1.6%. Graduation rates have also risen substantially among economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, English learners, homeless students, and students attending Title I schools.
5. Learning does not stop at 3 p.m. — or at the end of May
Summer and out-of-school learning are an important, and sometimes underappreciated, part of our education strategy. Tutoring, academic enrichment, science and mathematics experiences, art, recreation, mentoring, and social-emotional support help kids catch up, learn new things, and give working families safe, constructive places for their children to learn and grow.
In 2022, Colorado directed more than $21 million in federal recovery funding to expanded-learning programs operated by school districts, charter schools, community organizations, libraries, and institutions of higher education. That investment supported 23 afterschool programs and 37 summer opportunities, including 19 programs serving rural communities.
We then moved beyond temporary pandemic assistance. In 2024, Colorado created our first state funding stream specifically dedicated to summer and out-of-school-time programs, appropriating $3.5 million annually for 2024鈥�25, 2025鈥�26, and 2026鈥�27.
And this year, when House Bill 1355 would have cut the program鈥檚 final-year funding in half, I vetoed it. That preserved $1.75 million and kept the full $3.5 million available for organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs and other community partners serving children and families. Even in a difficult budget year, this was an investment worth protecting.
6. Affordable paths beyond high school
Education does not end with a high-school diploma. We have worked to make that diploma, and what comes with it, more meaningful, while reducing the cost of college, technical education, and workforce training.
Colorado Promise reimburses eligible students from families earning $90,000 or less for out-of-pocket tuition and fees covering as many as their first 65 college credits at a Colorado public institution.
Career Advance Colorado provided zero-cost training through Colorado鈥檚 community and technical colleges in nursing, education, early-childhood education, construction, firefighting, forestry, and law enforcement. The program covered tuition, fees, course materials, and other costs in high-priority fields where Colorado needs more skilled workers.
Care Forward Colorado has similarly provided free training for more than 10,000 health-care professionals, including certified nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, and medical assistants.
We鈥檙e not just saving students money on tuition, we鈥檙e saving students money on all of the other costs that go into pursuing higher education. Through the Open Educational Resources grant program, we鈥檝e made high-quality instructional material open access. Students have saved nearly $60 million in textbooks, and now 46 degree programs have zero textbook costs along the way.
New federal tax credits that parents can use for private school tuition complement Colorado鈥檚 existing Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which provides a state tax credit for qualifying donations supporting child care, including preschool. I recently signed legislation extending that credit for another ten years, through 2038.
The work continues
Our number one ranking belongs to Colorado鈥檚 educators, students, families, advocates, school leaders, community organizations, community colleges, and universities. Yet our ranking does not mean every school is where it needs to be or every child has the opportunities they deserve. Significant achievement gaps remain. Too many students still struggle with reading, mathematics, attendance, mental health, or the cost of continuing their education. Our school day and school year are still too short. Colorado still ranks towards the bottom when it comes to dedicated funding for K-12 education. Educators are still not paid what they deserve.
But becoming number one in the United States shows what is possible when we combine investment with accountability, early education with academic rigor, strong neighborhood schools with meaningful public-school choice, classroom instruction with summer and out-of-school learning, and traditional college degrees with affordable career-connected credentials.
Being number one in the United States is hardly the finish line in a global economy. On the 2022 international PISA assessment, American students performed above the OECD average in reading and science, but below average in mathematics. Only 66% of American students reached the baseline level of mathematics proficiency, compared with an OECD average of 69%, and the highest-performing countries were far ahead of both.
We need to do more–in Colorado and across the country鈥攖o help every child reach their potential. We are proud of how far Colorado has come. But we know that our work has only begun.
Gov. Jared Polis is finishing his final year in office due to term limits. He took office in January 2019 as the 43rd governor of Colorado.
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