Key lawmakers said today they were appalled to learn school districts are collecting millions of education dollars from the state's taxpayers for time students spend passing between classes.

The lawmakers also chided some state and local education officials for failing to take the issue seriously when it was raised recently by state Board of Education Vice Chair Bob Schaffer. Schaffer sent a memo today to members of the Senate and House Education committees and the Joint Budget Committee, telling them that more than $145 million a year is spent on "passing periods" at 32 school districts. 

The Senate's assistant GOP leader called  the practice "a disgrace."

"Think how many at-risk kids could benefit if we spent that money in class," said Sen. Nancy Spence, of Centennial, the ranking Republican on the Senate Education Committee. "Imagine how many charter schools $145 million could open."