As used in this part 21, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Department means the department of education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115.
(2) Rural school district means a school district in Colorado that the department determines is rural based on the geographic size of the school district and the distance of the school district from the nearest large, urbanized area, and the total student enrollment of the school district is six thousand five hundred or fewer students.
(3) State board means the state board of education created and existing pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution.
(4) Statewide education accountability and accreditation system means the system for accrediting schools and school districts described in article 11 of title 22 and as implemented by rules adopted by the state board.
(5) Task force means the accountability, accreditation, student performance, and resource inequity task force created in section 2-2-2102.
(6) Urban school district means a school district that the department does not consider a rural or small rural school district.
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (HB 23-1241), ch. 256, p. 1454, � 1, effective May 24.
2-2-2102. Accountability, accreditation, student performance, and resource inequity task force - appointments - meetings. (1) There is created the accountability, accreditation, student performance, and resource inequity task force to study academic opportunities, inequities, promising practices in schools, and improvements to the accountability and accreditation system.
(2) The task force members must be appointed on or before July 1, 2023. Following the appointment of the task force members pursuant to this subsection (2), the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the chairperson, and the president of the senate shall appoint the vice-chairperson. The task force consists of twenty-six members, and task force members are appointed as follows:
(a) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the following members:
(I) One school district superintendent who has expertise with the education accountability system;
(II) One school district superintendent who has experience as a school district superintendent in Colorado public schools;
(III) One representative of a statewide parent organization that focuses on education policy;
(IV) One representative of a statewide organization of teachers; and
(V) One representative of a statewide organization specializing in equity and inclusion;
(b) The president of the senate shall appoint the following members:
(I) One representative who serves as a member of the state board;
(II) One representative of a school district board of education;
(III) One representative of a statewide organization that focuses on education policy;
(IV) One representative who is an elementary school teacher with experience teaching in Colorado public schools; and
(V) One school district superintendent who has experience as a school district superintendent in Colorado public schools who represents an urban school district;
(c) The house of representatives minority leader shall appoint the following members:
(I) One representative of a school district board of education from a rural school district;
(II) One teacher who teaches middle school with experience teaching in Colorado public schools;
(III) One school district superintendent who has experience as a school district superintendent in Colorado public schools; and
(IV) One school district employee who oversees the local administration of the statewide education accountability and accreditation system;
(d) The senate minority leader shall appoint the following members:
(I) One representative of the governing board of the state charter school institute created pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22;
(II) One teacher who teaches in a rural school district;
(III) One superintendent who represents a rural school district that participates in the local accountability system grant program established in section 22-11-703 and who has experience as a school district superintendent in Colorado public schools; and
(IV) One school district employee of an urban school district who oversees the local administration of the statewide education accountability and accreditation system;
(e) The governor shall appoint the following members:
(I) One representative from the governor's office;
(II) One representative of a statewide organization that represents charter schools;
(III) One representative of a regional or statewide organization that focuses on education and workforce development;
(IV) One representative who is an expert in English language acquisition and bilingual education;
(V) One school district employee of a rural school district with experience overseeing the statewide education accountability and accreditation system;
(VI) One representative of a regional or statewide organization that represents educators, including those with experience in special education; and
(VII) One representative with experience as a charter school network leader, formed pursuant to section 22-30.5-104.7.
(f) The department shall appoint one representative from the department who focuses on the statewide education accountability and accreditation system.
(3) (a) No later than August 15, 2023, the department shall enter into a contract with a facilitator to guide the work of the task force. The department shall select a neutral facilitator who is not affiliated with a statewide organization described in subsection (2) of this section. For the duration of the task force, the department may enter into contracts as necessary for the task force to consider the issues described in section 2-2-2103.
(b) The department shall enter into a contract with a third party to draft the interim report described in section 2-2-2103 (3) and the final report described in section 2-2-2103 (4).
(4) (a) The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall convene the first meeting of the task force no later than September 1, 2023. The task force shall meet at least four times in 2023 and at least six times in 2024 to complete the duties specified in section 2-2-2103. The task force shall establish procedures to allow members of the task force to participate in the meetings remotely.
(b) The task force members shall serve without compensation but must receive reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses to attend task force meetings.
(c) If a vacancy occurs on the task force for any reason, the original appointing authority shall appoint a person who meets the requirements of the vacant position to fill the vacancy as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.
(5) The department shall provide information and staff support to the task force upon the request of the task force chairperson to the extent necessary for the task force to complete the duties described in section 2-2-2103. The department shall compile, analyze, and provide to the task force the data necessary for the task force to consider the issues identified in section 2-2-2103.
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (HB 23-1241), ch. 256, p. 1455, � 1, effective May 24.
2-2-2103. Accountability, accreditation, student performance, and resource inequity task force - duties - report. (1) (a) In completing the study required in this part 21, the task force, at a minimum, shall consider:
(I) Academic opportunities or inequities that may impact academic achievement gaps;
(II) Improvements to the accountability and accreditation system to expand and incentivize academic opportunities and address inequities;
(III) Promising practices in schools and school districts; and
(IV) Recommendations for legislation or rules, as necessary.
(b) To support the considerations of the task force set forth in subsection (1)(a) of this section, the task force may review:
(I) The results of the statewide education accountability systems audit report described in section 2-3-127, as said section existed prior to its repeal;
(II) The local accountability systems described in part 7 of article 11 of title 22;
(III) The results of the local accountability system grant program created in section 22-11-703;
(IV) The annual report and evaluation from the high school innovative learning pilot program created in article 35.6 of title 22;
(V) The results of the school transformation grant program created in section 22-13-103;
(VI) The interim and final reports from the secondary, postsecondary, and work-based learning integration task force created in part 2 of article 35.3 of title 22;
(VII) Promising practices from other states as identified by task force members; and
(VIII) Leading indicators or instructional practices that could be added to the accountability measures.
(2) The task force shall consult with parent organizations, student organizations, and additional stakeholders as needed to address questions necessary to finalize its findings and recommendations.
(3) On or before March 1, 2024, the task force shall submit an interim report, including its initial findings and recommendations on issues identified in subsection (1) of this section, to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees; the governor; the state board; the commissioner of education; and the department.
(4) On or before November 15, 2024, the task force shall submit a final report, including its findings and recommendations on issues identified in subsection (1) of this section, to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees; the governor; the state board; the commissioner of education; and the department.
(5) Any money the general assembly appropriates to the department for the implementation of this part 21 is available to the department through December 31, 2024.
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (HB 23-1241), ch. 256, p. 1458, � 1, effective May 24. L. 2024: (1)(b)(I) amended, (HB 24-1450), ch. 490, p. 3403, � 2, effective August 7.