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To: CO JOINT BUDGET Committee: Senator Jeff Bridges Representative Shannon Bird Senator Judy Amabile Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer Representative Emily Sirota Representative Rick Taggart
Return Homeschool Enrichment Funding to Public Schools — Protect Colorado’s Public Education System
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Dear Joint Budget Committee,
We, the undersigned residents, parents, educators, staff and taxpayers of Colorado, respectfully urge the Joint Budget Committee to eliminate all state funding for homeschool enrichment programs and return those funds exclusively to Colorado’s public school system.
According to the FY 2026-27 education funding figures prepared for the General Assembly, the state continues to face significant pressure on the education budget and must make difficult decisions about how limited resources are allocated.
The remainder of FY2025-2026 and all of FY2026‑27 Education Funding Figure should be reserved entirely for Public Education. Please cut all Homeschool Enrichment. Organizations like ERBOCES should be immediately audited, investigated, and made to return all funds used for religious and sectarian curriculums in Homeschool Enrichment.
Public schools are constitutionally required to serve every child, regardless of income, disability, language status, or background. These schools must provide transportation, special education, mental health services, meals, and safe facilities for all students. When funding is diverted to optional enrichment programs outside the public system, the students who remain in public schools are forced to do more with less.
Homeschool enrichment programs are a choice, we respect. Public education is a responsibility, we must fund it. Presently Pueblo County D70 and D60 are suffering as a result of these programs funnelling millions from our neighborhood schools.
At a time when districts across Colorado are facing staff cuts, larger class sizes, deferred maintenance, and reduced student services, the state should not be subsidizing enrichment opportunities for families who have chosen to educate outside the public system.
We respectfully request that the Joint Budget Committee:
• Eliminate all state-funded homeschool enrichment allocations. Do not reduce it to only 0.25 FTE but eliminate it.
• Redirect the funds to the School Finance Act and per-pupil funding for neighborhood schools.
• Prioritize classroom instruction, teacher retention, and student services in public schools
• Ensure that limited education dollars are used where the state has the greatest obligation
Colorado’s public schools educate the vast majority of our children and carry the full weight of the state’s educational mission. Budget decisions should reflect that reality.
We ask you to act in the best interest of all students by restoring these funds to the public schools that serve them every day.
In Solidarity with Public Ed In Colorado,
Puebloans for Public Education
#WeAreD70
#WeAreD60
Dear Joint Budget Committee,
We, the undersigned residents, parents, educators, staff and taxpayers of Colorado, respectfully urge the Joint Budget Committee to eliminate all state funding for homeschool enrichment programs and return those funds exclusively to Colorado’s public school system.
According to the FY 2026-27 education funding figures prepared for the General Assembly, the state continues to face significant pressure on the education budget and must make difficult decisions about how limited resources are allocated.
The remainder of FY2025-2026 and all of FY2026‑27 Education Funding Figure should be reserved entirely for Public Education. Please cut all Homeschool Enrichment. Organizations like ERBOCES should be immediately audited, investigated, and made to return all funds used for religious and sectarian curriculums in Homeschool Enrichment.
Public schools are constitutionally required to serve every child, regardless of income, disability, language status, or background. These schools must provide transportation, special education, mental health services, meals, and safe facilities for all students. When funding is diverted to optional enrichment programs outside the public system, the students who remain in public schools are forced to do more with less.
Homeschool enrichment programs are a choice, we respect. Public education is a responsibility, we must fund it. Presently Pueblo County D70 and D60 are suffering as a result of these programs funnelling millions from our neighborhood schools.
At a time when districts across Colorado are facing staff cuts, larger class sizes, deferred maintenance, and reduced student services, the state should not be subsidizing enrichment opportunities for families who have chosen to educate outside the public system.
We respectfully request that the Joint Budget Committee:
• Eliminate all state-funded homeschool enrichment allocations. Do not reduce it to only 0.25 FTE but eliminate it.
• Redirect the funds to the School Finance Act and per-pupil funding for neighborhood schools.
• Prioritize classroom instruction, teacher retention, and student services in public schools
• Ensure that limited education dollars are used where the state has the greatest obligation
Colorado’s public schools educate the vast majority of our children and carry the full weight of the state’s educational mission. Budget decisions should reflect that reality.
We ask you to act in the best interest of all students by restoring these funds to the public schools that serve them every day.
In Solidarity with Public Ed In Colorado,
Puebloans for Public Education
#WeAreD70
#WeAreD60
Why is this important?
Because our community relies on having educated children.
How it will be delivered
Digitally