Schools in Colorado are starting new rounds of improvements for construction and modernization, with billions of dollars coming from both state and federal coffers. This is part of a system-wide effort to create a safe, modern learning environment after years of insufficient funding to support construction. 

In 2024, voters passed a series of funding initiatives for schools, including enough bond authority for districts statewide to provide funding for improvements that cover everything from building replacements to campus security upgrades.

Adams 12 and other districts have already started construction over the summer, with projects including roof replacements, new paving, and new playground installations at eight different schools. In Aurora, Laredo Elementary is set to be completely rebuilt under a billion-dollar bond package approved by voters.

The pace of work picked up this summer with the Trump Administration lifting a freeze on federal grants, releasing $66 million in federal education funding that had been frozen for Colorado schools.

Local officials had cautioned that the freeze was slowing down progress on projects, but with federal money flowing, several upgrades are back on track. One of the reports says that federal funds will now pay for projects related to safety, HVAC systems, and classroom programs.

The funding release follows months of uncertainty regarding construction, causing districts to scramble to determine construction timelines in relation to the money shortage. Officials in particularly rural districts emphasized that delayed grant dollars put critical projects, even basic boiler replacements and roof repairs, at risk of falling behind schedule. Now that money is again flowing, leaders say schools can receive overdue upgrades and plan with significantly more financial stability.

Similarly, policy think tanks are wrestling with how to engage in long-term sustainable education funding. For example, the Common Sense Institute has suggested implementation of funding reform that ties together classroom learning with career outcomes, while advocates like the Colorado Children’s Campaign caution that one-time grants can’t fix the systemic underfunding of public schools.

These investments reflect efforts in other states. As Contractor News has previously reported, California is pursuing a $10 billion school bond program, and a national survey found that one-third of U.S. schools have never experienced a significant renovation.

With several Colorado campuses actively under construction now, the improvements will boost facility safety and mitigate maintenance expenses in the long term, allowing for facilities better suited to accommodate growing enrollments. For many communities, the projects are more than just physical infrastructure. They are a representation of a renewed commitment to education after years of uncertain funding.