While Colorado politics is in a state of flux, education has consistently maintained a position of prime importance and concern in the State. Public elementary and second education in Colorado is the most expensive governmental service provided by State and local government. This report examines Colorado's socioeconomic and political conditions and focuses in particular on organizations, governmental agencies, and persons affecting educational policymaking. The author looks first at the structure for education policymaking in the State. This structure includes the Colorado General Assembly, the Governor, and the State Education Agency. In the next section, she discusses the issues facing policymakers. Such issues as school finance, educational accountability, and school desegregation are discussed. The author then looks at the policymaking roles assumed by such participants as educational interest groups, the State education agency, the Governor, and the State legislature. A final section discusses the importance in policymaking of the Council on Educational Development, a coalition of 16 education and noneducation interest groups. (JF)