Funding sources for K-12 schools are always an ongoing conversation between local education departments and administrators, with most schools historically relying on a patchwork of federal, state and local sources for financial support. These (almost inevitably), come with their own application deadlines, program-specific conditions, and eligibility requirements.
For a significant number of school administrators, the pressure to provide students, teachers and the community with what they need for success through funding is often cited as their top concern. The standard and availability of public education in the United States varies from state to state, with the level of school funding available usually dependent on the both the student population and identified priorities (salaries, modernization projects, to name two).
For example, a recent Pew Research report said that one in six teachers now work a second job, which is not ideal for the educational sector as a whole. Factor into the mix the current state of play around federal funding for K-12 schools in FY26 and beyond, then it becomes essential for schools and decision-makers to understand the potential funding streams from grants.
With that in mind (and as part of our Grant Finder blog series), here’s a look at some of the funding sources available for K-12 schools in Colorado.
In Colorado, K-12 schools spend an average of $16.410 per pupil, for a total of $14.3 billion annually. [2]
The majority of K-12 school funding comes from state and local levels. According to the most recent education data available, Colorado averages $4,269 per student in federal funding for public post-secondary education but receives less than 11% of its total funding for the K-12 student population from the federal government.
In terms of a percentage of taxpayer income, Colorado schools are more reliant on state and local funding – 2.68% as compared to 0.32% from federal sources. In addition, the state ranks 27th in K-12 school spending and 28th in funding.
Federal funding refers to financial support provided by the government to assist schools in various areas, including academic programs, infrastructure, technology, and student services. There is high variance in the amount of federal funding a K-12 school receives. Some districts receive zero federal dollars, while some can pay for as much as 75% of their expenses using federal funding. At a granular level, federal funding depends on factors like poverty level, student demographics, population density, and availability of state and local funding
Non-federal funding, by contrast, comes from state or local tax revenue streams such as property taxes, sales, income, or other taxes. Funds are then distributed to local districts using various formulas to determine eligibility criteria (student demographics, school performance, specific needs).
These funds are designed to ensure that all students have access to quality education and resources. In the Centennial State, for example, annual funding for K-12 education totals $14.1 billion or $16,197 per pupil.
Tuition, according to EDI’s data, accounts for 23.8% of all funding. It is important to note that K-12 teacher salaries are heavily dependent on the size of the school and, unsurprisingly, its location and funding sources. In Colorado, for instance, educators are paid an average of 39% less than comparable college graduates, according to CPR News, with a recent job posting for a science teacher in a rural part of the state reportedly staying open for four years.
Funding can be uncertain, and many administrators say that they don't have the resources available to accomplish everything they want to do. This becomes even more of a challenge when funding for school safety programs and related initiatives is factored into any ongoing financial optimization or budgeting strategy.
Grants are a funding source that can drive transformative impact for administrators, educators, and students. At the same time, grants can be difficult to identify and time-consuming to complete. Additionally, the window for applications has a finite lifespan, which often makes the need to get supporting documents to the relevant funding source a race against time.
Here is a curated list of grants that Colorado K-12 schools can use to fund district needs.
DOJ STOP Grant
COPS SVPP Grant
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
State HSGP
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
Stronger Connections Grant Program
At the time of writing, it should be noted that application deadlines for a number of federal grants that specifically fund school safety programs can vary and the window is likely to be closed for FY25.
If that is the case, then school administrators should ensure that they sign up for programs that are of interest at SchoolSafety.gov to ensure that they receive updates on new school safety-related grant opportunities when the window opens again for FY26.
However, the Colorado Office of School Safety is currently accepting FY26 School Access for Emergency Response (SAFER) grants – you can access this announcement here – and Enhance School Incident Response (ESSIR) grants (link)
Federal funding in Colorado can also to be subject to what is known as braiding or blending. Simply put, this is a process of combining funding sources or educational grants to maintain or support different aspects or levels of funding, This requires LEAs to understand the allowable uses of each funding source and the federal regulations or guidelines that apply.
Non-Federal or Other State Resources
If you are looking to apply for grants from non-federal/state resources or foundations, the process can seem daunting.
Colorado (as is the case for other states in this series) has a number of online grant-specific resources that can be accessed by school administrators to nail down financial assistance based on their specific needs. School safety, for example, is a key part of the state’s funding avenues, with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) providing support for schools that might experience a shooting or other violent event.
In addition, the department also offers direct grant applications through state funds received by the agency and aims to publicize these opportunities when they become available. Direct links to private or corporation foundations for funding are also accessible through the CDE.
The online availability of various grant and funding search engines (GrantWatch, TheGrantPortal, to name two) is another resource for K-12 school administrators. These keyword-heavy options can guide the school towards funding streams that will consider applications on a case-by-case basis. The caveat is that these resources often require the applicant to become a paid subscriber to access the features and keyword search functionality.
If this paid search option is not appealing, there are organizations that are dedicated to school safety programs or community initiatives, and who don’t live behind gated content. These additional resources include, but are not limited to:
School administrators should note that funding, for the most part, is more likely to be geared towards education and providing financial support for low-income or at-risk students and families. In fact, Colorado does have access to organizations that provide discretionary funding for, say, mental health or community investment. These include but are not limited to:
Applying for Grants
After identifying a potential funding source, preparing a strong application is important. Kokomo24/7® can work with your school district to assist and strengthen your application.
As a leader in school safety, our team is deeply experienced at mapping funding options to the solutions you need. We are happy to provide advice and support whenever you need it from our experts.
Request time with Kokomo24/7® to assist and strengthen your grant application!
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