Colorado Finally Receives 2025 Federal School Funding, but Kids and Schools Deserve Consistent Investment
DENVER - A week ago, Colorado was still missing more than $64 million in federal education funding intended to support kids’ learning in the 2025–26 school year. These are dollars Congress had already approved and committed to states. The federal government's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had delayed releasing them, wreaking havoc in school budgets across the state.
Thanks to a multi-state lawsuit and swift, successful bipartisan advocacy by educators, community leaders, the Governor, and Colorado’s congressional delegation, the administration released $13.6 million in Title IV-B funds last week to support after-school and summer enrichment through 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
Now, following additional public pressure from lawmakers and states, the administration has announced the release of the remaining funds—roughly $5 billion nationally, including the more than $64 million still owed to Colorado. These include funding for English learner education, professional development for educators, school safety, technology, and migrant students. [More on the missing funds.]
“These education funds are a critical investment in communities and children,” said Madi Ashour, Director of K-12 Policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “They bring Colorado taxpayers’ money back to our state in the form of targeted, effective services and programs that help build great schools for kids.”
This is an important step forward. But the delay in funding has already disrupted critical planning and programming for Colorado’s school districts, just weeks before students return to the classroom.
“Unlike other states, Colorado can’t easily plug surprise budget leaks like these,” said Madi Ashour, K-12 Policy Director at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “We’re relieved the 2025 funding has been restored, but the uncertainty this episode caused, combined with the ripple effects of the budget bill Congress passed this summer, is already taking a toll on our schools.”
The Colorado Children’s Campaign urges federal leaders to take steps to prevent future disruptions to essential K–12 education funding. Consistent, timely investment is essential so that all children in Colorado have access to strong schools and opportunities to learn and grow.
Press Release: Children’s Campaign calls for federal government to remove ban on a Colorado health coverage policy that supports babies and toddlers
In this release
- New data on children ages 0-3 in each Congressional district who would be affected by a new federal ban on continuous enrollment policies.
- New, first-of-its kind report highlighting cost savings, health benefits resulting from continuous enrollment policies during COVID-19 pandemic
- Information about continuous enrollment in Colorado and the impact of recent federal policy changes.
DENVER – The Colorado Children’s Campaign is calling on federal policymakers and our congressional delegation to support children's health and reduce health care costs by allowing Colorado and other states to provide continuous enrollment in public health coverage to babies and toddlers.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this month that states are prohibited from implementing policies that would keep young children enrolled in public health coverage, despite evidence that they save money and promote health. Colorado planned to provide continuous enrollment in Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), which offer health coverage to children in low-income families, to eligible children under 3, beginning in 2026.
This will affect almost 144,000 Colorado babies and toddlers who are enrolled in Medicaid or CHP+, potentially increasing state and federal spending for their medical bills and reducing their access to health care.
The biggest impacts will be felt in Congressional District 8, which includes parts of Adams, Weld, and Larimer County, and District 4, which includes much of the Eastern Plains and parts of the Front Range.
| Congressional District | Babies & Toddlers Enrolled in Medicaid or CHP+, 2024 |
| District 1 (DeGette) | 20,802 |
| District 2 (Neguse) | 11,294 |
| District 3 (Hurd) | 16,554 |
| District 4 (Boebert) | 21,939 |
| District 5 (Crank) | 16,047 |
| District 6 (Crow) | 19,658 |
| District 7 (Petterson) | 12,556 |
| District 8 (Evans) | 25,003 |
Source: Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC)
Note: Data include children under 3 years old who were enrolled in Medicaid or CHP+ for at least one month in 2024.
“The federal government is interfering with Colorado’s ability to save taxpayers money while promoting the health of our state’s youngest children,” said Toni Sarge, the Director of Health Policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
“Health insurance is extremely expensive and is expected to get significantly more expensive next year because of the spending bill Congress passed this summer,” Sarge said. “The earliest years of a child’s life are often the years when a family’s economic stability is most tenuous and a parent is least able to spend thousands of dollars each year on coverage – let alone on medical bills. Continuous enrollment would help kids stay healthy and help their families – and the state – stay afloat financially.”
The Colorado Children’s Campaign calls on CMS to support states’ ability to introduce similar policies that support kids’ health. The Campaign also supports new efforts in Congress to provide continuous health coverage to low-income children.
New Evidence of Continuous Enrollments’ Benefits for Health, Costs
This announcement comes as the Colorado Children’s Campaign is releasing new evidence of the benefits of continuous enrollment policies for health and health care costs. The report, “The Impact of Continuous Medicaid and CHP+ Enrollment on Children in Colorado,” was produced by the Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) on behalf of the Colorado Children’s Campaign, with the support of the Health Equity Fund, an initiative of The Colorado Health Foundation dedicated to advancing health equity across Colorado.
Researchers from CIVHC used real Coloradans’ health records to examine for the first time the health and financial implications of continuous enrollment policies, with a focus on children ages 3 and under.
Researchers found that when children kept health coverage consistently in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, families and the government spent less money on their health care and children were more likely to see a doctor for preventive care and less likely to be hospitalized.
The report’s findings include:
Continuous enrollment policies during the pandemic saved Colorado families and taxpayers money
- In 2022, average total medical bills were 3.2 times higher for children under 3 without continuous coverage than for children with continuous coverage
- In 2024, the families of children under 3 without continuous coverage spent an average of $2,000 more on medical bills than the families of children with continuous coverage
- Colorado could have saved up to $63 million in state, federal, and family spending in 2023 by giving all young kids continuous coverage
Continuous enrollment kept Colorado kids healthier and helped them get care in the right place at enrollment right time.
- In 2024, kids with continuous coverage were 1.5 times more likely to see a primary care doctor.
- In 2022, kids without continuous coverage were 7.5 times more likely to be hospitalized – which can be evidence that children did not get needed preventive care in a more appropriate setting when they needed it or that they lack a health care home.
- In 2022, kids without continuous coverage were 4.5 more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.
“During the pandemic, continuous enrollment worked – helping children get well-child visits when they need them, reducing hospitalizations, cutting families’ medical costs, and saving the state money,” Sarge said. “States should be able to learn from this successful policy. CMS’s new rule is a step backwards for efficiency and, most importantly, for children’s health.”
Policy Context
From 2020 until the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024, people who were enrolled in public health programs like Medicaid or CHP+ could maintain health coverage without having to constantly submit paperwork to prove their eligibility, regardless of changes in income or family circumstances. This temporary federal policy change, known as continuous enrollment, was intended to support people’s access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, Colorado’s legislature passed a law that built on the results of this successful policy. Babies and toddlers who have been enrolled in Medicaid would keep health coverage continuously before the age of three, beginning in 2026. The goal of this policy is to improve children’s health outcomes and reduce the administrative burden on families and the state.
Media Advisory: $80 million in federal funding for Colorado schools missing; implications of One Big Beautiful Bill
DENVER – The Colorado Children’s Campaign is available to comment on two recent federal policy developments that have implications for the well-being of Colorado children: The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, and the nearly $80 million missing from Colorado school districts.
One Big Beautiful Bill and kids’ health coverage, food benefits, and more
Last week, Congress passed a bill that dramatically changes how the federal government is using its resources. And Colorado's children, especially those in low-income families and immigrant households, will bear the brunt of those changes. Kids will lose support for food, health coverage, and other basic needs as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The Children’s Campaign team is analyzing what this bill means for Colorado children and has published a blog post highlighting provisions that will affect children's health coverage, food security, and more. These include:
- New work requirements for parents of older children and increased eligibility checks will strain Colorado’s system, and changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace will make health coverage less affordable.
- New work requirements, changes to the state’s funding responsibility, and changes to eligibility will likely lead to reduced SNAP benefits or coverage for kids.
- The Child Tax Credit increases temporarily for some families – but not those who need it most.
- Changes to student loans could affect the early childhood workforce and other professionals who provide essential care.
- Increases in funding for immigration enforcement will affect children’s well-being.
Missing federal funding for schools and education
Nearly $80 million in federal funding that had been committed to schools has not yet arrived, just weeks before school starts. Without these funds, districts will face immediate cash flow challenges that threaten everything from professional development to mental health support. The state typically begins distributing these funds in July, allowing school districts to pay staff salaries, launch summer and early-year programming, and provide vital services for students. The Children's Campaign has published a blog post describing the missing funding and why it matters.
Here’s what’s missing:
- Title 1-C (Migrant Education) $7,895,641: Supports Colorado’s 4,000+ migrant students (kids whose parents travel seasonally for U.S. agriculture jobs).
- Title II-A (Effective Instruction) $25,973,650: Pays for professional development, hiring and retaining of high-quality teachers.
- Title III-A (English Language Acquisition) $11,140,491: Supports academic resources for English-learning students.
- Title IV-A (Flexible Block Grant) $13,529,610: Money that schools can spend to provide well-rounded learning experiences, improving school conditions for learning, or technology and digital literacy skills.
- Title IV-B: (Out-of-school Time Academic Enrichment) $13,609,461: Provides after-school and summer learning programs in high-poverty areas to support working families.
- CDC Grant for Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement $264,145: Supports healthy eating, physical activity, and the management of chronic conditions in schools.
- Adult Education and Family Literacy $2,151,197: Equips parents and adults with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary for economic self-sufficiency.
If Congress does not act, here is what is at stake for Colorado’s students and schools:
- Districts will face impossible trade-offs between school safety, student mental health, arts, STEM, and enrichment—critical supports funded across Title II, III and IV funding. Safe, welcoming schools support working-class families, improve learning, and prevent gun violence and youth substance abuse.
- Thousands of educators will go without the professional learning and instructional support funded by Title II. High-quality instruction is the biggest driver of improved student outcomes.
- Over 120,000 multilingual learners across Colorado could lose access to targeted language development and family engagement programs under Title III. MLs are in almost every classroom in Colorado. All students suffer when their classmates suffer.
- Rural districts and small systems—where federal funds represent a larger share of the budget—will be disproportionately harmed.
The Children’s Campaign is calling on Congress to clarify the status of this funding and make sure that this money reaches Colorado children.
Statement: Federal requests for Colorado Medicaid data put kids at risk
DENVER – The safety, health, and privacy of thousands of Colorado children is at risk due to an unprecedented request from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for our state to share the personal data of people who get health coverage through Colorado’s Medicaid program, including their addresses and immigration status.
Colorado families trust our health care system and providers with the health and safety of their children,” said Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children's Campaign. “This request is already stirring fear and uncertainty for the thousands of Coloradans who have taken a step to support their families’ health by enrolling in public health coverage. Sharing this data would be a devastating betrayal of their trust.”
The Associated Press reports that CMS has already shared the personal information of Medicaid enrollees from other states, including their immigration status, with the Department of Homeland Security.
Colorado provides public health coverage for children and pregnant women who are undocumented immigrants through programs like Emergency Medicaid and Cover All Coloradans. Having health coverage as a child is associated with positive health and educational outcomes and also supports the financial stability of families and health providers.
While our immediate concern is for Colorado’s immigrant community and immigrant children, we should all be concerned about the implications of this request,” Tritten said. “This information is collected so that our state can effectively provide health coverage to people who need it. It was never intended to be used to target individuals for immigration enforcement.”
The Colorado Children’s Campaign commends Colorado’s efforts to make sure that children can go to the doctor when they need to and that families are not needlessly bankrupted by medical bills, regardless of their immigration status. Providing health coverage for children is an investment in our state’s future.
More than one in three children in Colorado – nearly 580,000 children – have health coverage through Medicaid. As of this spring, approximately 10,000 children had coverage through Cover All Coloradans, which serves immigrant children and pregnant women regardless of immigration status.
The Colorado Children's Campaign calls on Colorado's leaders to continue to protect this data and commit to making our state a place where all children and families can thrive.
Colorado Children’s Campaign releases 2025 KIDS COUNT in Colorado! Data Book
DENVER - The Colorado Children’s Campaign is pleased to release the 2025 KIDS COUNT in Colorado! Data Book. This annual report tracks child well-being at the state and county levels in health, K-12 education, early childhood, and economic security.
The 2025 KIDS COUNT report highlights the growth of Colorado’s developing early childhood system; the responsiveness of public health programs to a changing policy and economic environment; and improvements in school attendance and graduation rates.
However, it also finds a significant number of children experiencing homelessness and living in households that are struggling to make ends meet. Test scores in both reading and math remain lower than before the pandemic, and the state is seeing troubling trends in use of early prenatal care and in oral health.
“Kids and families in Colorado are benefiting from the state’s investments in their well-being. That includes access to preschool through the universal preschool program, support for family bonding through FAMLI, and public health coverage through Medicaid or CHP+,” said Maya Gould, Vice President of Research at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. "But too many children are growing up in households facing precarious financial situations – and we know that can affect a child’s current and future opportunities and well-being," she said.
The 2025 KIDS COUNT in Colorado! Data Book finds that although the median income in Colorado is higher than in most states, nearly 30% of families in Colorado are facing financial insecurity, according to a new analysis from the United Ways of Colorado. And the number of children experiencing homelessness increased significantly between 2023 and 2024 according to multiple data sources.
“When we understand the problems children are facing, we can work as a community to solve them,” said Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children's Campaign. “The KIDS COUNT in Colorado! Data Book brings together information from a wide range of sources to help us understand what’s working well and opportunities for Colorado’s children.”
KIDS COUNT in Colorado! is part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's national KIDS COUNT project and complements the 2025 national data book, which will be released in June 2025. KIDS COUNT serves as an important source of information on children and families for decision-makers and child advocates.
This year’s project was also made possible through the support of The Anschutz Foundation, the Buell Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, and the Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Colorado.
County information: The report includes county data sheets that offer snapshots of how each of Colorado’s counties is faring across a range of data indicators. These data sheets are included in the PDF of the report and will be available online.
Print copies: Print copies of the report in English and Spanish, including county data profiles, are available by request.
Release Information: Please contact Vice President of Communications Jackie Zubrzycki at jackie@coloradokids.org if you would like more information or to arrange an interview.
About the Colorado Children’s Campaign: The Colorado Children’s Campaign is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization committed since 1985 to realizing every chance for every child in Colorado. We advocate for the development and implementation of data-driven public policies that improve child well-being. For more information, please visit coloradokids.org.
About the Annie E. Casey Foundation: The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nation’s young people by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit www.aecf.org. KIDS COUNT® is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Statement: The "Big, Beautiful Bill" Will Create Big Problems for Colorado Kids
Last night, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would cause Colorado children to lose health coverage and make it harder for families to afford medical care, food, and other basic needs.
This bill cuts federal spending on programs that support kids and would create new strains on our state’s budget. If it passes, Colorado will struggle to support K-12 education, early childhood, and other programs that help kids learn, grow, and flourish – and that help make our communities work for everyone.
Investing in kids’ well-being pays off – but this bill prioritizes tax breaks for well-off adults at the expense of our ability to care for children.
Four of Colorado’s congressional representatives voted to support this bill, which passed by one vote.
- In Rep. Lauren Boebert’s district, nearly 45,000 children were enrolled in Medicaid in 2024 and over 9,000 households with children received SNAP
- In Rep. Jeff Hurd’s district, more than 78,000 children were enrolled in Medicaid and nearly 18,000 families received SNAP
- In Rep. Gabe Evans’ district, more than 86,000 children were enrolled in Medicaid and 16,500 families received SNAP
- In Rep. Jeff Crank’s district, 65,000 children were enrolled in Medicaid and more than 13,000 households with children received SNAP
The Colorado Children’s Campaign calls on our state’s senators to oppose these cuts and create a budget that helps kids and communities thrive.
“This budget bill will be bad for kids’ health, bad for the financial stability of families and communities, and bad for the quality and efficiency of our government,” said Toni Sarge, Director of Health Policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “Even one child losing the ability to go to the doctor or have enough to eat is one child too many – and this bill will likely result in thousands of Colorado children going without.”
“We can be proud of our efforts to make sure children can get food and medical care when they need it,” she said. “Cuts at this scale will lead to real, negative changes in Colorado’s ability to provide a wide range of services and supports for all of our state’s children, now and in the future.”
Things to know about federal funding and Colorado kids
- Federal funding has played a critical role in helping Colorado meet the basic needs of children in our state.
- The bipartisan advocacy group First Focus on Children estimates that current budget proposals could end 30% of our nation’s investment in children and nearly 50% of its investment in babies and toddlers.
- Federal support for Medicaid has helped bring Colorado’s uninsured rate for children below 5% - down from 13% in 2013.
- Nearly 580,000 Colorado children are enrolled in Medicaid. Medicaid covers about two in five births in the state.
- The families of about one in four Colorado children use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help afford groceries.
- More than 15,000 kids have health coverage through Cover All Coloradans, which provides coverage regardless of immigration status. Regardless of the fact this program is funded entirely by state dollars, this bill would penalize Colorado with a significant drop in federal funding if Colorado continues to offer it.
- The new bill would likely raise premiums for families who get their health coverage through Colorado’s health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado. These changes could return us to a situation where health insurance is unaffordable for many middle-income families.
The Colorado Children’s Campaign Celebrates the Legislature’s Investment in Children During the 2025 Legislative Session
DENVER - Despite a more-than-$1 billion budget shortfall, legislators developed and approved plans to support K-12 education, universal preschool, improvements to assistance for children living in deep poverty, health coverage for children and pregnant women, and other efforts to help Colorado children thrive during the 2025 legislative session.
Read the Colorado Children’s Campaign’s legislative impacts report.
“Colorado’s lawmakers on both sides of the aisle demonstrated their commitment to children this year,” said Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “Even with significant budget challenges, this year’s legislative session resulted in significant changes that will help children access health care, quality education and preschool, and resources to support their basic needs.”
“When we work together, we can make sure children can go to the doctor, attend safe and excellent schools, and have what they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” Tritten said. “Supporting our children now is an investment in our state’s future.”
The state will begin implementing a new K-12 school funding formula (HB25-1320) and will channel an additional $256mto Colorado’s school districts, taking steps to make sure resources for education are reaching children who need them most.
Other legislative and budget successes for kids this year include:
- Sustaining Healthy School Meals for All (HB25-1274)
- Supporting Students & School Climate (HB25-1248)
- Modernizing the Tony Grampsas Youth Services (TGYS) Program (SB25-197)
- Strengthening the TANF program (HB25-1279)
- Implementing the Family Affordability Tax Credit (HB25-1335)
- Budget Wins:
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- Implementing the new K-12 funding formula
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- Funding Equity for Public Charter Students
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- Sustaining and Expanding Universal Preschool
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- Protecting Child Care Assistance
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- Implementing Cover All Coloradans
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- Protecting the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
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- Beginning Continuous Coverage for Young Children
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- Increasing cash assistance for kids in deep poverty
Learn more about these efforts in our legislative impacts report.
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Statement: Colorado Kids Deserve Better School Funding. A New Proposal Will Help.
DENVER - Teachers from across Colorado are rallying today to call for better funding for Colorado’s K-12 schools. At a moment when federal investment in education is uncertain and at risk, Colorado’s leaders must do all they can to make sure our state gets education funding right.
The Colorado Children’s Campaign supports a new proposal recently shared by Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie that would mean that every school district in the state receives more funding in 2025 than in 2024 – and commits to making sure resources get to the schools and students who need it most. The proposal is far from a cut: It would increase public education funding by $231 million, a 2.4% increase over the 2024-25 school year.
“How we fund our public schools matters. The changes to the school funding formula Colorado committed to in 2024 are still necessary to ensure we are using our resources to support students in the best way we can,” said Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “Children across the state, especially in rural Colorado and in places where many students are living in poverty, learning English, or have special education needs, will benefit from a plan that increases funding and ensures predictability and sustainability.”
In 2024, legislators, leaders, and educators worked together to make landmark improvements to how the state funds public education, including a new school funding formula (House Bill 24-1448) that will prioritize students living in poverty, students who are learning English, and students who have special needs as well as rural school districts. However, the state is facing serious budget constraints and cannot fund the formula at the level it planned to without significantly cutting other vital services for Colorado kids and families, including Medicaid.
The new proposal makes adjustments to reflect that budget reality and school districts’ concerns while also maintaining the state’s commitment to improving its approach to school funding.
“This year’s budget challenges and teachers’ calls for more consistent financial support for schools highlight the way Colorado’s archaic tax policies, especially TABOR, limit our state’s ability to make changes that meet our communities’ needs and that reflect our state’s values,” Tritten said. “Coloradans care about children, and we should work to create a system that allows Colorado to use its resources to support their education and well-being.”
Read our blog post on this topic: Kids deserve better school funding. What can Colorado do in a tight budget year?
New Report: Medicaid Plays Significant Role for Kids in Colorado’s Small Towns and Rural Communities
Medicaid (Health First Colorado) plays a larger role in providing health coverage to people living in small towns and rural communities in Colorado than it does in metropolitan areas, a trend that is particularly striking among children, according to an extensive analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF).
“Nearly two out of every five rural Colorado kids get their health coverage through Health First Colorado,” said Toni Sarge, Director of Child & Family Health at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “Cutting or capping Medicaid spending in Colorado would leave thousands of kids – in rural areas and across the state – without health coverage.”
The report found that in Colorado, children and adults living in rural areas and small towns are more likely than those living in metro areas to rely on Medicaid for their health insurance. Report findings included:
- 37.4 percent of children in Colorado small towns and rural areas rely on Medicaid/CHIP for their coverage, compared to 33.1 percent in metro areas.
- Among Colorado adults younger than 65, 18.4 percent of those in small towns and rural areas get their coverage through Medicaid/CHIP, compared to 14.7 percent in metro areas.
“Medicaid is critically important to the families and health care systems in rural Colorado,” said Sarge. “Across the state – but especially in rural areas – Medicaid protects families from excessive medical debt and covers a large share of residents in nursing homes, births, and maternal care. Medicaid funding also keeps our rural hospitals running. Many of these institutions would cease to exist without federal funding, leaving thousands of Coloradans without a way to access care.”
For the full report, as well as interactive maps featuring a county-level breakdown of Medicaid coverage, visit https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/01/15/medicaids-role-in-small-towns-and-rural-areas/. This report primarily relies on data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS).
The Center for Children & Families (CCF), part of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, is an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center founded in 2005.
State of the State 2025: Prioritizing new public school funding formula now is critical for Colorado’s kids
DENVER – The Colorado Children’s Campaign supports Gov. Jared Polis’ commitment in his State of the State address to fully funding the state's K-12 education system and to begin using a better approach to funding public schools in 2025.
The new school funding formula created by Colorado’s legislature in 2024 is our most powerful tool for improving public education. Implementing it in a timely and sustainable way will make sure that our schools are equipped to serve all children in our state.
“Colorado’s kids deserve every opportunity to succeed. By implementing a student-centered Public School Funding Formula on time and sustainably, we can ensure every child has access to quality education—regardless of ZIP code, background, or learning needs,” said Heather Tritten, President & CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
“We applaud Governor Polis’s leadership and strongly urge the legislature to prioritize the implementation of the updated formula. Our students have waited decades for this. The time to act is now.”