Colorado Legislature Referred K-12 Funding Measure to Voters
The proposed measure would increase state education funding by two percent annually for the next decade.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Administration
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The Colorado state legislature has referred Proposition NN to voters, a measure that would mandate a two percent annual increase in state K-12 education funding. This policy change aims to sustain these investments over the next ten years by adjusting the state fiscal year spending limit.
Why it matters
The proposed funding aims to stabilize classroom resources by increasing teacher pay, improving teacher retention, lowering class sizes, and expanding access to career and technical courses. These investments are structured to occur annually through an adjustment to the state spending cap.
Proposition NN proposes a consistent two percent annual growth in public K-12 funding sustained over a 10-year period. The measure includes a requirement for an annual independent audit of all education expenditures to ensure accountability.
The players
Colorado State Legislature
The state lawmaking body responsible for drafting and passing legislation, including Senate Bill 26-135.
The details
The funding increase would be achieved by raising the state annual fiscal year spending limit, a mechanism designed to provide more resources without implementing new tax hikes. Under the provisions of Senate Bill 26-135, the legislature seeks to prioritize consistent financial growth for schools. To ensure transparency, the measure mandates regular, independent audits of how these additional funds are spent by school districts.
Timeline
The funding increase is proposed to last for the next ten years.
The Home Front
This proposal represents a shift in how Colorado manages public education costs relative to its established fiscal year spending limit. It follows a growing trend of states seeking to stabilize school budgets through long-term adjustments to state-level financial policy.
Families with students should monitor how these proposed changes might impact local school staffing, class sizes, and vocational programming availability. Keep an eye on local ballot information to understand how the final vote on Proposition NN may affect your district's future resources.
The takeaway
Proposition NN seeks to guarantee a two percent annual increase in K-12 funding for a decade to boost teacher retention and class variety. Residents should review the full text of the measure before the election to understand its impact on their specific school district.
Further reading
Learn more about local school funding and oversight in the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRDO.
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