Colorado lawmakers eye funding cuts and stricter rules for homeschool enrichment programs

AI Summary

Colorado lawmakers want to spend less money on extra classes for students who go to school at home. These classes are called enrichment programs. They include subjects like art and music, but also activities like horseback riding and jiu-jitsu. Right now, the state spends about $100 million a year on these programs. Some leaders are worried that the money is being used for expensive hobbies that regular public school students have to pay for themselves. Lawmakers are considering a new law to cut the funding for these programs in half. Instead of paying about $6,000 per student, the state would pay about $3,000. Some people who run these programs say they help kids who don't learn well in a regular classroom. However, other officials say the state needs to save money because public schools are already facing big budget cuts and losing students.