Colorado Bill Proposes Millions in Funding for Schools Dealing with Influx of Indigent Migrant Students
Written by: Marianne Partisan
The Colorado Joint Budget Committee has unanimously approved a draft bill that would allocate an additional $24 million in funding for schools that have seen a recent influx of immigrant students.
House Bill 24-1207, known as the School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students, aims to address the challenges faced by school districts, particularly in Denver, where a large number of non-English speaking indigent migrant students have enrolled.
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State Representative Emily Sirota, a proponent of the bill, has acknowledged the need from school staff and teachers who require additional resources to meet the unexpected needs of these new students. The bill seeks to provide funding for hiring additional paraprofessionals and teachers, as well as other necessary services.
Denver Public Schools alone has received over 3,400 immigrant students since July, with at least 2,000 of them enrolling after the October enrollment count. As a result, the district missed out on $17.5 million in funding.
The proposed bill aims to address this issue by distributing $24 million to districts that have enrolled new arrival students with limited English proficiency and whose enrollment in Colorado public schools is their first in the United States.
The funding distribution would follow a tiered system, with districts that have the highest number of immigrant students receiving the most money. The amounts range from $15,000 for 1-5 students to $750,000 for districts with 501 or more students.
Additionally, districts experiencing an increase in enrollment due to these new students could receive an additional $4,500 per student.
The bill's proponents argue that this funding is necessary to support the education of these immigrant students and ensure that they have the resources they need to succeed. However, critics argue that this is yet another example of Colorado's sanctuary city policies placing the burden of Denver’s irresponsible immigration policies on the shoulders of taxpayers.
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Governor Jared Polis has expressed support for the bill, stating that funding school districts is a top priority. His spokesperson emphasized the need to ensure that districts receive adequate funding to educate students where they are currently attending school.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, the debate over responsible immigration policies and the financial implications they have on local communities will continue. It remains to be seen how this funding will be used and if it will effectively address the challenges faced by schools dealing with a seemingly endless influx of indigent migrants.
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