An Analysis of the Charter School Facility Landscape in Colorado

In the Spring of 2017, the National Charter School Resource Center, (NCSRC), the Colorado League of Charter Schools (the League) and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (the Alliance) collaborated to collect data and information about charter school facilities and facilities expenditures in the state of Colorado. The data collection in Colorado was supported by the Charter School Facilities Initiative (CSFI), which is a national project developed by the League to research charter school facilities and facilities expenditures across the country. Colorado was first surveyed for the CSFI project during the 2007-08 school year. The current 2016-17 survey is intended to, in part, shed light on recent changes in the state's charter sector. The information contained in this report is based on the Charter School Facilities Survey and enrollment data collected for the 2016-17 school year. In addition, current findings with those from the prior state survey conducted in 2007-08 were compared. The policy conclusions are based on the charter school facility landscape in Colorado, the national facility landscape, and the collective expertise of the NCSRC, the League, and the Alliance. In 2016-17, Colorado charter schools served over 114,0004 students -- or nearly 13 percent of the roughly 905,000 public school students statewide. In 2016-17, 38 percent of Colorado charter school students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, as compared to 44 percent of students enrolled in traditional public schools across the state. Charter schools in Colorado serve a diverse student population -- 47 percent of students enrolled in charter schools in 2016-17 were students of color, as compared to approximately 46 percent of students enrolled in traditional public schools. Key findings include the following: (1) Colorado charter schools spend operating dollars on facilities and this spending varies across different ownership situations; (2) Colorado's charter sector is poised for continued growth, but state facility funding is not keeping pace with rising enrollment and real estate costs; (3) Facility costs for Colorado charter schools are increasing; (4) More districts in Colorado are sharing bond revenue with their authorized charter schools, but charter schools continue to lack access to state grant funding; (5) Many Colorado charter schools continue to lack the facility amenities, technology, and specialized instructional spaces they require to best implement their educational programs; (6) Physical education and recreational options may be limited for Colorado charter school students; and (7) Serving meals can be a challenge for many Colorado charter schools. The Charter School Facilities Survey found that Colorado charter schools face challenges in obtaining equitable access to facilities and facilities funding. The Conclusions section further expands on the policy solutions that can be utilized to address the facilities challenges of Colorado's charter schools.