On September 3, 2015, the Independence Institute and the Reason Foundation co-sponsored an in-depth panel and speaker event titled “Student-Based Budgeting in Colorado” at the Denver DoubleTree Hilton. Featuring financial experts from three of Colorado’s student-based budgeting districts, as well as five national expert speakers, the event drew 60 people to attend, including administrative and board leaders from 16 different school districts. Also represented were Colorado-based education reform advocacy groups, local foundations, and one member of the State Board of Education.

Complete video footage of the Sept. 3 event can be viewed through a YouTube playlist that breaks down the video into seven individual event segments.

Each of the speaker’s electronic presentation files can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

• Ben DeGrow, Independence Institute, Sr. Education Policy Analyst, Introduction
• Bonnie Betz, Douglas County School District, Chief Financial Officer, Panel Presentation
• Kate Kotaska, Denver Public Schools, Executive Director of Budget and Finance, Panel Presentation
• Brett Ridgway, District 49 (Falcon), Chief Business Officer, Panel Presentation
• Brett Ridgway, D49, Full Workshop
• Amanda Warco, Edunomics, Research Associate
• Lisa Snell, Reason Foundation, Director of Education
• Jess Gartner, Jason Becker, and Rosalyn Curato, Allovue

Other Key Student-Based Budgeting Resources:

• Ben DeGrow, Independence Institute, Colorado Student-Based Budgeting on the Rise
• Independence Institute video podcast, “Student-Based Budgeting: A Quick Colorado Primer”
• Aaron Smith, Reason Foundation, “Student-Based Budgeting Helps Principals Be More Effective Educators”
• Edunomics, Student-Based Allocation (SBA) 101 Infographic
• Edunomics, “What portion of district funds follow students?”
• Edunomics, “Denver Public Schools: Making More Money Follow Students”
• Edunomics, “Boston Public Schools: Weighting What Matters”