Education/Workforce Legislation -- Keywords: education, "workforce development" or "job training"
Short Title: Modifications To School Finance Admin
Sponsors: MIDDLETON / ROMER
Interim Committee to Study School Finance. Section 1 requires school districts to provide funding for capital construction to each qualified charter school in the district by making a monthly payment to the qualified charter school after the school district has received the monthly payment from the department of education (department). Section 2 requires the department to provide funding for capital construction to the state charter school institute by making a monthly payment to the institute and requires the institute to promptly remit the appropriate amount to each qualified institute charter school. Both sections 1 and 2 are conforming amendments necessary due to a change, made during the 2009 legislative session, in the way capital construction moneys are distributed to charter schools. Section 3 eliminates a local board of education's authority to negotiate business incentive agreements (BIAs) with a taxpayer who establishes a new business facility in the school district. Section 5 eliminates the provision allowing any school district that has entered into a business incentive agreement with a taxpayer to receive state share of total program funding in an amount equal to the amount of the incentive payment or credit to the taxpayer pursuant to the agreement. This funding is in lieu of property taxes that are not collected by the district due to the agreement. School districts were prohibited from entering into new agreements after May 22, 2003. Only 2 districts still have an agreement in place, and those agreements will expire in the 2010-11 budget year. Money has not been appropriated for funding the agreements since the 2006-07 budget year. Sections 4 and 10 make conforming amendments necessary due to the elimination of BIAs. Section 6. During the 2009 legislative session, the amount of additional local property tax revenues that a school district may receive was increased from 20% to 25% of the district's total program. To retain the additional 5%, the statute requires a district to notify the state board of education when it plans to seek voter approval to retain and spend the additional property tax revenues and to submit a proposal of what the district will do with the additional revenues. Section 6 eliminates the notification requirements but still allows a district to receive up to 25% of the district's total program from additional local property tax revenues. Section 7 eliminates the requirement that the department reduce a school district's state share of total program funding by an amount equal to the payment that the district receives as impact assistance in lieu of taxes from the division of wildlife. Section 11 eliminates the requirement that the district certify to the department the amount it receives from impact funds. Section 8. The general assembly is required to make an annual appropriation for matching funds pursuant to the "National School Lunch Act". Prior to the budget year in which the general assembly began to appropriate moneys for the matching funds, some school food authorities used moneys from the authority's general fund to subsidize school lunches. Those authorities are prohibited from using the matching fund moneys in lieu of the general fund moneys they were already spending on school lunches. Section 8 eliminates the prohibition. Section 9. In the 2008 legislative session, the general assembly increased the charter school capital construction appropriation and required that a specific amount of the increase be distributed to a charter school for the deaf and blind for the 2008-09 budget year only. Section 9 eliminates language that was necessary in connection with the distribution of these moneys. Section 12 is a conforming amendment necessitated by the repeal in section 9.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
02/04/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
04/09/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
04/13/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 04/15/2010
04/15/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/16/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/19/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
04/19/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
05/05/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
05/07/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
05/11/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
05/12/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
05/12/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/27/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
06/01/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
06/01/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/10/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Stable Funding For Small Sch Districts
Sponsors: MASSEY & ... / KING K.
Interim Committee to Study School Finance. The bill creates a stable funding pilot program for small school districts (small districts) that provides consistent total program funding for each of 5 consecutive budget years, beginning with the 2010-11 budget year (stable funding period), to allow a participating small district more predictability in its budgeting process. A small district that participates in the pilot program will receive total program funding equal to its total program funding for the 2009-10 budget year throughout the stable funding period. The total program funding calculated for a small district pursuant to the pilot program will be in lieu of total program as traditionally calculated. A small district may choose to participate in the pilot program during the first or second year of the stable funding period. A small district that chooses to participate in the pilot program shall participate for the entire remaining stable funding period. The total program funding for a small district that participates in the pilot program shall be altered from the 2009-10 budget year funding during the stable funding period only if there is a statewide increase in per pupil funding that is not related to the funded pupil count of a district or if the small district experiences an increase or decrease in pupil enrollment that is larger than a specified percentage over the small district's pupil enrollment for the 2009-10 budget year. A small district that participates in the pilot program must enter into memoranda of understanding or other agreements with one or more school districts or boards of cooperative services to jointly provide services for the districts and to share in the cost of providing the services. The state board of education will:
* Conduct a final review and evaluation of the pilot program with input from the participating small districts and recommend to the general assembly whether to continue the program; and
* Promulgate rules to implement the pilot program.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
02/11/2010 House Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: School Speech-language Pathology Asst
Sponsors: MASSEY / KING K.
Interim Committee to Study School Finance. The bill allows the department of education to issue an emergency authorization to a school speech-language pathology assistant (SLP assistant) who has not yet met the statutory requirements for a school SLP assistant authorization.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/21/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
01/26/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
01/27/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
01/29/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/04/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/11/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/16/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/17/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
03/18/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/19/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/05/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/07/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/07/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/15/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Eligibility Child Care Assistance Prog
Sponsors: MASSEY & ... / STEADMAN
Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. Section 1 of the bill sets forth a legislative declaration concerning the need for consistent and stable child care. Section 2 clarifies certain aspects of the Colorado child care assistance program (program) that will help provide increased stability for children and families. The eligibility redetermination period is extended for all participants in the program from 6 months to 12 months, and, for a family enrolled in both the program and a head start program, the redetermination periods are aligned. A parent is not required to report any income or activity changes during the eligibility period. A parent shall not be determined ineligible for program moneys as a result of taking maternity leave or attending school. The bill allows an early care and education provider (provider) to perform pre-eligibility determinations that it then forwards to the county for final determination of eligibility. The provider may provide services to the family pending the county's final determination of eligibility but shall be reimbursed for those services only if the county determines the family is eligible for services.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
02/22/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/05/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/09/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/10/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/11/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/15/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/15/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
03/31/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/23/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/27/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/28/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/30/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
05/04/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/24/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/24/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/03/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Pub Sch Transparency Fin Info On-line
Sponsors: SCANLAN & ... / ROMER
Interim Committee to Study School Finance. This bill enacts the "Public School Financial Transparency Act", which requires school districts, district charter schools, boards of cooperative education, the state charter school institute, and institute charter schools (local education providers) to post financial information on-line, in a downloadable format, for free public access. Additionally, local education providers shall provide a link to, or web site information for, the department of education (department). The requirement for posting certain types of financial information is phased-in over 3 years. Commencing July 1, 2010, local education providers shall post adopted budgets, annual audited financial statements, at least quarterly financial statements, and salary schedules or policies on-line within a specified number of days after the reports or schedules are completed. Commencing July 1, 2011, local education providers shall post check registers and credit, debit, and purchase card statements on-line within a specified number of days after the statements are received. Commencing July 1, 2012, local education providers shall post investment performance reports or statements on-line within a specified number of days after receipt of those statements. The public will have on-line access to the posted information for a specified period. The bill requires the department's policies and procedures advisory committee, by January 1, 2011, to create a template for voluntary use by a local education provider for the posting of the required information. The template may include the type of electronic file posted as well as the information to be included in the posting.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/21/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
01/26/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
01/27/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
01/29/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/04/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/11/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/16/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
03/17/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
03/18/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/29/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/30/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/31/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/12/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Collegeinvest Lifelong Learning Savings
Sponsors: KERR A.
Under current law, anyone may open a college savings account (account) through collegeinvest for any beneficiary. The bill specifies that any adult may open an account for the benefit of himself or herself in furtherance of the adult's own postsecondary educational goals (lifelong learner). The bill directs collegeinvest to promote the use of accounts by lifelong learners and to develop and implement procedures to allow an employer to make a matching contribution to a lifelong learner's account for any contribution made by the lifelong learner. The bill directs collegeinvest to work with the financial institutions that manage the accounts to determine the savings options that would be most beneficial to lifelong learners and also directs the financial institutions to develop and implement a plan to expand the promotion of the college savings program to encourage adults to open accounts and participate as lifelong learners.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education + Finance
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education + Finance + Appropriations
02/01/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Finance
02/03/2010 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
02/12/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Higher Ed Safety Protocols Presentation
Sponsors: KING S. / CARROLL M.
The bill requires institutions of higher education to conduct a 45-minute school safety presentation during new student orientation. The institution of higher education may determine the medium for presenting the information to new students, so long as the presentation includes specified information, such as information concerning communication with school safety personnel and various emergency safety protocols for school buildings. Additionally, the institution of higher education must make the same information available annually to returning students, faculty, and staff. Within 30 days after conducting a school safety presentation, an institution of higher education shall report to the department of higher education the number of students who attended the school safety presentation. For purposes of the bill, the term "institution of higher education" includes state institutions of higher education, junior colleges, area vocational schools, and technical colleges. The bill also defines 4 emergency safety protocols, including evacuation, lockdown, reverse evacuation, and shelter-in-place procedures and gives examples of when an institution of higher education may institute those emergency safety protocols. The resources of the school safety resource center may be available to institutions of higher education for use in developing the required school safety presentation.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/28/2010 House Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
02/08/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/12/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 02/17/2010
02/17/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 02/19/2010
02/19/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/22/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/24/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/10/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/15/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/19/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
03/22/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/05/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/07/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/07/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/15/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Ineligible Student Arbitration Appeal
Sponsors: SCHAFER S. / SPENCE
The bill requires a student who is found by a school, school district, or any organization or association to be ineligible to participate in an extracurricular or interscholastic activity or who is otherwise sanctioned to complete an appeal process before filing a petition or complaint with a group of sitting or retired judges or other group of neutral arbitrators.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/28/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
02/02/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 02/03/2010
02/03/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/04/2010 House Second Reading Passed
02/05/2010 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily
02/08/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/09/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/04/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/09/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/10/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
03/12/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/22/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/22/2010 Sent to the Governor
03/31/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Fort Lewis Cost Of Instruction
Sponsors: MIDDLETON / BACON
Currently, the state must fund 100% of the cost of tuition for Native American students enrolled at Fort Lewis college. The bill maintains that requirement for in-state students, but changes it to 100% of the cost of instruction for nonresident students.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/25/2010 House Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Corr Educ Vocational Prog Standards
Sponsors: MIKLOSI / NEWELL
The bill adds vocational programs to the educational programs that are offered by the department of corrections (department) pursuant to the "Correctional Education Program Act of 1990" (Act). The bill amends an objective of the Act to ensure that every person in a correctional facility who has an expectation of release from custody within five years receives adult basic education instruction if he or she lacks basic and functional literacy skills and has the opportunity to achieve functional literacy, be released possessing at least entry-level marketable vocational skills, and obtain the equivalent of a high school education. The bill establishes performance objectives for each educational and vocational program (program) offered under the Act (performance objectives). On or before December 31, 2010, the department will develop a plan to meet each performance objective. The bill requires the department of labor and employment to provide annually to the department data on current market trends and labor needs in Colorado. When considering an offender for transfer, the department shall take the offender's enrollment in a program into consideration unless the offender is granted parole or is placed into a community corrections program. If the department transfers an offender enrolled in a program to another facility, the offender shall have priority for placement in a comparable program if such a program exists at the facility. The bill requires the department to annually report certain information regarding the programs offered under the Act.
Status
01/15/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
02/01/2010 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/04/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/05/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/08/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/09/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
03/01/2010 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/05/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/08/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/09/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/10/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Lay Over Daily
03/11/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
03/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/22/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/22/2010 Sent to the Governor
03/31/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: K-12 Schools Emergency Safety Drills
Sponsors: KING S.
Commencing with the 2010-11 academic year, the bill requires primary and secondary public schools to conduct at least 2 emergency safety protocol drills each academic year in addition to fire evacuation drills. An emergency safety protocol drill may include the practice of evacuation, lockdown, reverse evacuation, or shelter-in-place procedures. The additional emergency safety protocol drills may be conducted at the same time as the fire evacuation drill by practicing, for example, a reverse evacuation procedure and a lockdown procedure following the fire evacuation drill. All schools of a school district, boards of cooperative services, and institute charter schools are included in the safety drill requirement. The bill defines "emergency safety protocol drill" to include the practice of 4 different emergency response procedures, including evacuation, lockdown, reverse evacuation, and shelter-in-place procedures, and gives examples of when a school may implement each emergency response procedure. The bill requires a school to notify community first responders prior to conducting the emergency safety protocol drill. A school may use the resources of the school safety resource center in developing emergency safety protocol drill procedures.
Status
01/19/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
02/11/2010 House Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Repeal Of School Reporting Requirements
Sponsors: BENEFIELD / STEADMAN
Current law requires the state board of education (state board) to adopt rules specifying the method for calculating the dropout rate for students enrolled in grades 7 through 12. The bill repeals the requirement that the state board also calculate the number of students who obtain a high school diploma after reaching 21 years of age and repeals the specific definition of "dropout". With regard to the "Colorado Basic Literacy Act", the bill repeals the requirements that school districts report information to the department of education. The bill also repeals the requirement that school districts submit their annual budgets to the department of education. The bill clarifies the circumstances under which the education data advisory committee (EDAC) may identify a data reporting request as mandatory, required to receive a benefit, or voluntary. The bill directs the EDAC to review the processes and timing for collecting student demographic data and recommend to the state board procedures for efficiently updating the data as necessary. The bill repeals reporting requirements concerning physically, morally, and mentally defective students; data from the in-home or in-school suspension grant program; and data from the pilot schools for expelled students. The bill requires institutions of higher education that report data concerning student remediation to report the data on an individual student basis as soon as practicable after the institution begins using the unique student identifiers assigned to students by the department of education.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
02/08/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/12/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 02/17/2010
02/17/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/18/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/19/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/10/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/15/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/23/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/29/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/30/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
03/31/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
04/01/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee
04/16/2010 First Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
04/27/2010 Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
04/28/2010 House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/24/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/24/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/10/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Alternative School Finance Models
Sponsors: MIDDLETON / JOHNSTON
The bill creates the alternative school funding models pilot program (pilot program) to encourage school districts and charter schools to collect data that will be used to compare the effects of alternative school funding models with those of the actual school funding method. A school district or charter school that chooses to participate in the pilot program will continue to receive its actual funding as provided in the "Public School Finance Act of 1994" while participating in the pilot program. A school district or charter school that participates in the pilot program may accept gifts, grants, and donations to offset the costs incurred. An advisory council, consisting of selected members of the general assembly, selected members of the state board of education (state board), selected members representing school districts and school executives, and the commissioner of education, will review applications submitted by school districts and charter schools to participate in the pilot program and will select the participants. A participating school district or charter school must participate in the pilot program for a minimum of 2 school years and will annually submit to the advisory council the data it collects, including identification of the funding differences the school district or charter school would experience if it were funded under an alternative school funding model. The advisory council will submit to the state board, the governor, and the general assembly an annual summary report of the data received from the pilot program participants. The advisory council may accept and expend gifts, grants, donations, and services in kind to offset the costs incurred in implementing the pilot program. The pilot program will repeal on July 1, 2015.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
02/08/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/11/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/12/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 02/17/2010
02/17/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/18/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/19/2010 House Third Reading Passed
02/24/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/17/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/22/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/25/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/26/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/31/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
04/01/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/16/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/19/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/19/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/29/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: School Bus Vehicle
Sponsors: BAUMGARDNER / KING K.
The bill defines the term "school vehicle", amends the definition of "school bus", and amends certain statutory provisions that refer to "school vehicle" and "school bus" to clarify when each term applies.
Status
02/02/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
02/22/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/25/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/26/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/01/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/18/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/23/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/25/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
03/26/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/31/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
04/01/2010 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/16/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/19/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/19/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/28/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Higher Education Flexibility
Sponsors: MORSE & ... / MIDDLETON & ...
Long-term Fiscal Stability Commission. Section 1. The bill directs the council for a common course number system (council), in conjunction with the state institutions of higher education (institutions) and the guaranteed transfer program, to develop articulation agreements for 5 degree programs before January 1, 2011. After completion of the first 5 articulation agreements, the council will develop additional articulation agreements. Section 2. Under current law, each institution must ensure that no less than two-thirds of the students enrolled at each campus of the institution are in-state students. The bill applies the two-thirds in-state student requirement to the institution as a whole rather than each campus. Under current law, foreign students are included as out-of-state students for purposes of calculating the ratio between in-state and out-of-state students. The bill exempts institutions that meet certain criteria from the requirement that they include foreign students in the calculations for in-state and out-of-state students. Sections 3 and 4. Where, under current law, the department of higher education sets financial aid eligibility requirements, the bill gives institutions that authority. The bill removes the requirement that an institution that is an enterprise dedicate a percentage of its revenues to need-based financial aid if the institution increases tuition. Sections 5-7. Where institutions are currently subject to the state fiscal rules, the bill allows the institutions to adopt their own rules. Section 8. Where institutions are currently subject to information technology rules promulgated by the state chief information security officer, the bill allows the institutions to adopt their own rules. Section 9. Where institutions are required to provide various state entities with financial data, the bill permits an institution to provide only audited financial statements in those cases. Sections 10-14. Under current law, institutions must submit capital construction projects to the Colorado commission on higher education (CCHE) for approval and comply with other statutory provisions regarding capital construction projects. The bill allows the institutions to notify CCHE and the capital development committee of its projects.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
04/28/2010 Senate Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
04/29/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
05/04/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
05/05/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
05/05/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
05/06/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
05/07/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
05/10/2010 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments
05/11/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/20/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/24/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/26/2010 Sent to the Governor
06/07/2010 Governor Action - Intends to Sign
06/09/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Continuity Of Services In Kindergarten
Sponsors: HUDAK / BENEFIELD
Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. Contingent upon the receipt and allocation of certain federal moneys or upon receipt of gifts, grants, and donations, the bill authorizes the department of education (department) to distribute moneys to public schools through a grant program to provide continuity in the nature and quality of services that children in kindergarten receive after they have transitioned from the Colorado preschool program or a head start program to kindergarten. The public schools receiving the grant moneys shall determine the appropriate services to provide to the kindergarten children consistent with the provisions of the grant program. Public schools are encouraged to follow basic program standards established for the Colorado preschool program as they may apply to the kindergarten classroom and to implement evidence-based practices in early childhood education, which may include but need not be limited to smaller class size, fewer children per teacher, parental engagement, and specialized professional development for classroom staff. The department may provide technical assistance to local education providers in implementing the basic program standards in the kindergarten classroom and in implementing evidence-based practices in early childhood education in the classroom. The department shall develop and administer a process to distribute the grant moneys to public schools. The department is authorized to accept federal moneys or gifts, grants, or donations for the purposes of the grant program. The state board of education shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and administration of the grant program. The commissioner of education shall notify the revisor of statutes in the event federal moneys or gifts, grants, or donations are not received to implement the grant program or if there are no federal moneys or gifts, grants, and donations remaining to award grants. Upon receipt of notice, the provisions of the bill are repealed.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
02/11/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/16/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Weighted Student Funding Formula Grants
Sponsors: KING K. / STEPHENS
Interim Committee to Study School Finance. The bill makes legislative findings concerning the benefits of implementing weighted student funding formulas at the school district level. The bill creates in the department of education (department) a grant program to provide moneys to school districts for designing weighted student funding formulas and providing professional development for implementation of the formulas. The department will review the applications to ensure they meet the minimum specified requirements and award grants in the order applications are received. The grant program will be funded from any federal moneys or gifts, grants, or donations received by the department for the grant program. The commissioner of education will inform the revisor of statutes on July 1, 2011, that the department has or has not received sufficient moneys to implement the grant program, and the grant program will repeal on July 1, 2011, if the department has not received sufficient moneys by that date to implement the grant program.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
01/27/2010 Senate Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: School Awards Program Fund
Sponsors: KING K. / MERRIFIELD
Interim Committee to Study School Finance. The bill authorizes the department of education to accept gifts, grants, and donations to the school awards program fund to pay for banners and trophies for schools that are identified as eligible to receive awards under the Colorado school awards program.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
01/20/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/26/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
01/27/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
01/28/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
02/01/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
03/01/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/05/2010 House Second Reading Passed
03/08/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/18/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/18/2010 Sent to the Governor
03/29/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Duties Of College In Colorado
Sponsors: ROMER / MIDDLETON
The bill transfers the college in Colorado division from the department of higher education to the department of education and specifies in statute the duties of the college in Colorado division. The bill also makes conforming amendments.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
02/25/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/02/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/03/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 03/05/2010
03/05/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
03/10/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
03/22/2010 House Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
05/10/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
Short Title: Program Results For Educator Preparation
Sponsors: JOHNSTON / MERRIFIELD
Beginning July 1, 2011, the bill requires the department of education (department) to prepare an annual report on educator preparation program effectiveness using data collected through the educator identifier system from an educator in his or her first 3 years of placement. The department shall make the report available to the public on its web site. The state board of education will promulgate rules regarding the methods of data collection and the content of the report. The state board is further required to use the report in its review of educator preparation programs. The bill creates the state preparation and readiness of educators program fund for use by the department in implementing the provisions of the bill, and specifies that the department is not required to implement the bill until it receives sufficient moneys to do so.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
01/13/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
01/13/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/13/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
01/14/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
01/14/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
01/14/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
01/14/2010 House Second Reading Passed
01/15/2010 House Third Reading Passed
01/15/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
01/15/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
01/15/2010 Sent to the Governor
01/15/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Contract Renewal For K-12 Teachers
Sponsors: SPENCE
The bill increases from 3 to 5 years the required length of continuous employment that a probationary teacher shall have before being classified as a nonprobationary teacher. Once a teacher is classified as a nonprobationary teacher, he or she shall be given a 5-year contract that shall be renewed every 5 years thereafter if the teacher receives a satisfactory final cumulative written evaluation report at the end of the 5-year period. If the board of education of the employing school district is not going to renew the nonprobationary teacher's contract, the board will provide written notice to the teacher and provide him or her with the reasons why the contract is not being renewed. The bill makes conforming amendments.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
05/10/2010 Senate Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Educ Services For Juv Charged As Adult
Sponsors: HUDAK / LEVY
The bill requires a school district to provide educational services during the school year to a juvenile who is held, pending trial as an adult, in a jail located within the school district. The school district is also required to comply with the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" if the juvenile has a disability. A school district is not required to provide educational services to a juvenile who has already graduated from high school or to a student who has received a GED, unless the student has a disability. A school district also does not have to provide educational services if:
* The juvenile refuses to receive the services, but the official in charge of the jail (official) must offer the services at least weekly and the school district must provide them upon the juvenile's acceptance; or
* The school district or the official determine that an appropriate and safe environment in which to provide the educational services is not available. If this occurs, the official must notify the juvenile's parents, his or her attorney, and the court. The school district that provides the educational services may include the juvenile in its pupil enrollment if the school district is providing the services as of October 1 or may seek reimbursement from another school district or charter school if the juvenile was included in the other district's or charter school's pupil enrollment for the applicable budget year. If the juvenile was not included in the state's pupil enrollment, the school district may seek reimbursement from the department of education. The school district may also seek excess costs tuition from the juvenile's school district of residence if the juvenile is receiving special education services. The official that receives a juvenile for holding pending trial as an adult must request educational services from the school district in which the jail is located and cooperate with the school district to provide an appropriate and safe environment in which to provide the services. The official will annually compile specified information concerning educational services received by the juveniles in the jail and report the information to the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety. The division of criminal justice will release the information upon request by a member of the public.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Appropriations
01/27/2010 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/16/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/20/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
04/21/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
04/21/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
04/21/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary + Appropriations
05/03/2010 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Appropriations
05/05/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
05/06/2010 House Second Reading Passed
05/07/2010 House Third Reading Passed
05/19/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Sent to the Governor
05/24/2010 Governor Action - Intends to Sign
05/25/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Immunization Information School Children
Sponsors: BOYD / RIESBERG
The bill requires the state charter school institute and each school district board of education to adopt and implement a policy requiring each school to annually provide parents and legal guardians with a paper or email copy of a standardized immunization document developed and updated, as instructed, by the department of public health and environment.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health and Human Services
02/03/2010 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/08/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/12/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/15/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
02/17/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
03/01/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/05/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/08/2010 House Third Reading Passed
03/09/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
03/18/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
03/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
03/18/2010 Sent to the Governor
03/29/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Categorical Ed Programs
Sponsors: STEADMAN / PENISTON
The bill eliminates the requirement that the allocation of the increases in funding for categorical education programs be reflected in the annual general appropriation bill. Instead, the general assembly will annually pass a bill, other than the annual general appropriation bill, that establishes the allocation of the increases in funding for categorical education programs. The staff of the joint budget committee will make recommendations annually to the education committees of the house of representatives and senate concerning the allocation of the increases in funding for categorical education programs. The bill repeals the Colorado comprehensive health education fund and credits the moneys remaining in the fund on the repeal date to the state public school fund. The bill requires the department of education to increase annually the amount of moneys distributed to each administrative unit for each child with disabilities receiving special education services from the administrative unit, which increase shall reflect the percentage increase in funding for special education programs for children with disabilities from the previous budget year to the current budget year. The bill amends provisions of the education statutes to replace the term "student whose dominant language is not English" with "student with limited English proficiency". The bill makes conforming amendments.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
02/11/2010 Senate Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
02/25/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/03/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/08/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/09/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/10/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
03/22/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/25/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
03/26/2010 House Second Reading Laid Over to 04/01/2010
04/01/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/02/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/05/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/09/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/16/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/16/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/19/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/29/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Institutions Apply For COF For Students
Sponsors: BACON / MERRIFIELD
The bill allows an institution of higher education to apply for stipends from the college opportunity fund on behalf of an admitted student using the information in the student's admission application if the student agrees.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
02/17/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
04/16/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
04/23/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/27/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/28/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
04/28/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
04/28/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
05/03/2010 House Committee on Education Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
05/05/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
05/07/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
05/10/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed
05/11/2010 House Third Reading Passed
05/19/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/20/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/20/2010 Sent to the Governor
05/26/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Suppl Approp Dept Of Education
Sponsors: KELLER / POMMER
Supplem ental appropriations are m ade to the department of education. Shading denotes HOUSE am endm ent. Double underlining denotes SENATE am endm ent. Capital letters indicate new material to be added to existing statute. Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute.
Status
01/13/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations
01/14/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations
01/15/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/15/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed
01/19/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
01/19/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations
01/20/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations
01/21/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
01/26/2010 House Second Reading Passed
01/27/2010 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily
01/28/2010 House Third Reading Passed
01/28/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
01/28/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
01/28/2010 Sent to the Governor
01/28/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Mesa State College Program Authority
Sponsors: PENRY / BRADFORD & ...
The bill amends the role and mission of Mesa state college to include additional liberal arts and sciences, professional, and technical degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Status
01/15/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
02/25/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/01/2010 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily
03/02/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/03/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/04/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
03/25/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
04/01/2010 House Second Reading Passed
04/02/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/05/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/12/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/12/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/12/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/21/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Institute Charter Schools
Sponsors: KING K. / MASSEY
Sections 1 and 3 of the bill authorize an institute charter school to participate as a member of a board of cooperative services (BOCES). Sections 2 and 4 of the bill clarify that a BOCES may contract with an institute charter school to provide a building, building maintenance, or educational or other services and that an institute charter school may contract with the BOCES. Section 5 of the bill directs the institute to study the feasibility and effect of identifying institute charter schools as local education agencies for purposes of federal law and to report its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the general assembly. Under section 6 of the bill, the institute will create a separate account within the state charter school institute fund in which to hold any moneys received by the institute as a result of its operations as a school food authority. The moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the institute. Sections 7 to 10 of the bill change the name of the "institute charter school capital construction assistance fund" to the "institute charter school assistance fund" (fund). These sections further authorize the state charter school institute board to award from the moneys in the fund a grant or interest-free loan to an institute charter school for the purpose of addressing a facility or special education services funding emergency, as defined by rule of the board. Section 11 of the bill extends from 60 to 75 days the length of time the board has to rule on an institute charter school application. Section 12 of the bill repeals the requirement that the institute collect and provide to school districts upon request certain information concerning students enrolled in institute charter schools.
Status
01/22/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
02/17/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
02/22/2010 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily
02/24/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
02/25/2010 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily
02/26/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/02/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
03/25/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
04/01/2010 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/02/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/05/2010 House Third Reading Passed
04/09/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/16/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
04/16/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/19/2010 Sent to the Governor
04/29/2010 Governor Action - Signed
Short Title: Quality Full-day Kindergarten Incentives
Sponsors: SHAFFER B. / SOLANO
The bill encourages school districts to implement full-day kindergarten programs that meet specified quality criteria by providing additional per pupil funding for children enrolled in the program. The criteria include requiring the full-day kindergarten program to be available to every child of kindergarten-age who resides in the school district and whose parents choose to enroll him or her in full-day kindergarten, as well as other program-quality criteria. In each budget year in which a school district implements a full-day kindergarten program that meets the specified criteria, the school district will receive 1.3 of the district's per pupil revenue for each child enrolled in the full-day kindergarten program. The commissioner of education will verify each school district's certification of a full-day kindergarten program that qualifies for the increased funding. The bill exempts a school district that receives 1.3 per pupil funding for full-day kindergarten students from the statutory provision that provides hold-harmless full-day kindergarten funding and from other statutory restrictions on the use of full-day kindergarten funding. Two years after the bill is enacted, the legislative service agencies will conduct a post-enactment review to determine whether the bill, as implemented, is achieving the desired results and benefits specified in the legislative declaration in section 1 of the bill.
Status
02/01/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
02/25/2010 Senate Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
Short Title: Principal And Teacher Effectiveness
Sponsors: JOHNSTON & ... / SCANLAN & ...
The bill creates a strategy based on educator effectiveness to develop greater opportunities for educators and enhance education for students throughout Colorado. Section 1 makes legislative findings. Section 2 adds definitions. Section 3 requires the state board of education (state board) to work with the governor's council for educator effectiveness (council), as created by executive order, to promulgate rules concerning a system to evaluate the effectiveness of educators (system). Section 4 repeals the state licensed personnel performance evaluation council. Section 5 references the council and lists additional duties for the council. Among those duties are developing recommendations for the state board regarding teacher evaluations and granting and revoking nonprobationary status. The council is also charged with developing a set of guidelines for establishing levels of effectiveness for different categories of educators, making recommendations regarding career ladders for teachers and principals, and making recommendations concerning a state plan for the equitable distribution of highly effective teachers and principals. If the council fails to make recommendations to the state board by December 31, 2010, the state board shall, on or before March 1, 2011, promulgate rules concerning any of the items concerning which the council was charged to make recommendations. Section 6 requires a school district board of education or board of cooperative services to meet or exceed the guidelines established by the state board when creating its performance evaluation system. Standards are provided for a school district board of education to use when evaluating principals. Sections 7 and 10 redefine a probationary teacher as a teacher who has not completed 3 consecutive years of demonstrated effectiveness or a nonprobationary teacher who has had 2 consecutive years of demonstrated ineffectiveness, as defined by rule of the state board. Sections 8 and 11 require teacher placement by mutual consent of the teacher and the receiving school. Each teacher employment contract shall contain a provision stating that the teacher may be assigned to a particular school only upon the consent of the receiving school. If a teacher is unable to secure a position after 2 hiring cycles, he or she will be placed on unpaid leave without benefits until he or she earns a position, at which time his or her benefits and years of experience will be reinstated. Section 9 allows demonstrated effectiveness to be a factor in cancelling employment contracts when there is a justifiable decrease in the number of teaching positions.
Status
04/12/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
04/12/2010 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
04/21/2010 Senate Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
04/22/2010 Senate Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
04/23/2010 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
04/26/2010 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/29/2010 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/30/2010 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments
05/03/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
05/03/2010 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education + Appropriations
05/06/2010 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
05/10/2010 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
05/10/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily
05/11/2010 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
05/12/2010 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments
05/12/2010 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/18/2010 Signed by the President of the Senate
05/18/2010 Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/19/2010 Governor Action - Intends to Sign
05/19/2010 Sent to the Governor
05/20/2010 Governor Action - Signed