Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, Inc. (APA), a Denver-based consulting firm, will be working in partnership with Picus Odden & Associates (POA), Afton Partners (Afton), and Colorado school finance expert Tracie Rainey to conduct the Colorado Input Based Financial Adequacy Study. The study team brings decades of experience conducting input-based adequacy studies across the country. An input study focuses on identifying the resources necessary to allow students, teachers, schools, and districts to meet state requirements and goals. The study team will implement two input-based adequacy approaches– the professional judgment (PJ) and evidence-based (EB) approaches– that both heavily reply on the expertise and experience of Colorado educators to identify resources and provide policymakers with an estimate of the costs to meet these standards. 

The study also includes three other main tasks: (1) a landscape analysis of current resourcing in Colorado schools and districts, (2) a community survey to understand how different stakeholders perceive and prioritize the resources needed to meet the needs of students and families, and (3) an examination of the current resources for special education students. In addition to these tasks, the study will examine the strengths and weaknesses of the current finance system along with the impacts of budget stabilization factor, COVID-19, and the wealth and income of communities. Finally, the study team will also examine teacher recruitment and retention strategies and the differences in costs of living/costs of doing business in districts across the state.  

The study began in early May and a final report will be delivered in December of this year.

The study team intends to be responsive to stakeholders and provide regular communication throughout the process, including providing updates here. Study team leaders Justin Silverstein, Michaela Tonking, and Tracie Rainey can be reached at jrs@apaconsulting.net, mht@apaconsulting.net, and raineytracie@gmail.com respectively.