Source: L. 88: Entire section added, p. 842, � 1, effective July 1. L. 90: (1) and (4) amended and (6) added, p. 1140, � 4, effective July 1. L. 91: (1) amended, p. 512, � 6, effective June 6. L. 96: (4) and (5) amended, p. 1237, � 81, effective August 7. L. 99: (6)(b) amended, p. 882, � 8, effective July 1. L. 2004: (1) amended, p. 202, � 17, effective August 4. L. 2017: Entire section repealed, (SB 17-297), ch. 210, p. 819, � 8, effective May 18.
23-1-119. Department directive - transition between K-12 education system and postsecondary education system. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that, in order for students to succeed at state-supported institutions of higher education, the Colorado public system of elementary and secondary education must have provided students with the skills and abilities necessary to make the transition to the postsecondary system. The general assembly further recognizes that the establishment of goals and standards for providing transition skills and abilities is the prerogative of the elementary and secondary public education system. The general assembly recognizes that, in establishing these goals and standards, the elementary and secondary education system should be in communication with the postsecondary education system regarding the skills and abilities that are needed to succeed in higher education. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly that the department, in consultation with the department of education, adopt necessary policies and procedures to facilitate the transition for students between the two systems.
(2) In consultation with the state board of education, appropriate school boards, and governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education, the department and the governing boards shall adopt necessary policies and procedures to promote the establishment of a mechanism for postsecondary institutions to report back to the secondary public education system concerning:
(a) The skills and abilities, and the level of proficiency thereof, that first-year students at such postsecondary institutions need to have in order to succeed;
(b) The level of proficiency in such skills and abilities currently exhibited by first-year students;
(c) The level of achievement currently exhibited by first-year students; and
(d) Any other information that will provide a better transition for students between the two education systems.
(3) In consultation with the state board of education, governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education, and appropriate school district boards, the department shall aid the elementary and secondary public education system and the postsecondary public education system in establishing a network to connect the faculty of postsecondary institutions with the teachers in school districts for the purpose of exchanging information.
(4) For purposes of this section, postsecondary means related to instruction of students over the age of seventeen years who are not enrolled in a regular program of kindergarten through grade twelve in a public, independent, or parochial school.
(5) Repealed.
(6) (a) The department shall establish an outreach team to provide training to and establish partnerships between the department and school districts, charter schools authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, charter schools authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of title 22 that operates one or more public schools to assist them in preparing students to transition from the K-12 education system. The team shall also provide outreach and training to individuals in workforce centers, individuals in correctional facilities, and foster youth.
(b) The training must include:
(I) Career advising as part of a student's individual career and education plans;
(II) Financial literacy, including information on the free application for federal student aid and the Colorado application for state financial aid;
(III) How to support the completion of federal and state financial aid applications;
(IV) The importance of, and return on investment of, all postsecondary options, including available state-supported websites and navigation tools on postsecondary and workforce opportunities;
(V) The availability of state funded scholarships and financial assistance for students; and
(VI) The department's role and mission.
(c) The training must be available to educators in conjunction with the training approved pursuant to section 22-2-127.1.
Source: L. 92: Entire section added, p. 557, � 1, effective March 25; (1) amended, p. 2184, � 62, effective June 2. L. 97: (1) amended, p. 951, � 10, effective August 6; (1) amended, p. 462, � 13, effective August 6. L. 99: (5) repealed, p. 849, � 2, effective May 24. L. 2006: (4) amended, p. 1214, � 8, effective July 1, 2007. L. 2008: (1), IP(2), and (3) amended, p. 1475, � 14, effective May 28. L. 2022: (6) added, (HB 22-1366), ch. 244, p. 1816, � 7, effective May 26.
Editor's note: Amendments to subsection (1) by House Bill 97-1253 and House Bill 97-1219 were harmonized.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2006 act amending subsection (4), see section 1 of chapter 265, Session Laws of Colorado 2006. For the legislative declaration in HB 22-1366, see section 1 of chapter 244, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.
23-1-119.1. Department directive - notice of postsecondary educational opportunities and higher education admission guidelines. (1) Annually, beginning in the spring of 2006, upon receipt of the names and mailing addresses of students enrolled in the eighth grade from the board of education of each school district in Colorado and the state charter school institute, the department shall provide notice of postsecondary educational opportunities to the parents or legal guardians of all eighth-grade students enrolled in public schools in the state. Beginning January 1, 2021, the department shall provide such notice and disseminate related information through the free online career, education, and training resource created pursuant to section 24-46.3-106, if available. Otherwise, such notice is subject to available appropriation. At a minimum, the notice shall specify:
(a) The Colorado commission on higher education's higher education admission guidelines and an explanation that compliance with the higher education admission guidelines is necessary for acceptance, but is not a guarantee of admission, to a state-supported institute of higher education;
(b) A student's potential need for remedial education and any related financial obligations that may fall to the student's parent or legal guardian if the student desires to apply to a state-supported, four-year college or university in Colorado but does not meet the higher education admission guidelines;
(c) A student who fails to pass a course listed in the higher education admission guidelines may enroll in a gateway course, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b.5), with additional supports through supplemental academic instruction, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(e), successful completion of which will satisfy the requirements of the higher education admission guidelines;
(d) The availability of and instructions for acquiring information regarding financial assistance to attend an institution of higher education, including stipend amounts, tuition, and other financial aid;
(e) The annual state stipend amount as determined pursuant to section 23-18-202;
(f) The annual cost of in-state tuition for attendance at a public higher education institution in the state;
(g) The amount of the student's share of tuition as determined pursuant to section 23-18-207; and
(h) Notification that the stipend amount and the amount of tuition may change annually.
Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 445, � 2, effective August 8. L. 2008: IP(1) amended, p. 1476, � 15, effective May 28. L. 2019: (1)(c) amended, (HB 19-1206), ch. 133, p. 606, � 22, effective April 25. L. 2020: IP(1) amended, (HB 20-1396), ch. 138, p. 600, � 4, effective September 14.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 19-1206, see section 1 of chapter 133, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.
23-1-119.2. Commission directive - notice of college preparatory courses for high school students. (1) The commission shall adopt a policy on or before October 1, 2005, to:
(a) Obtain, on or before June 1 of each school year, from the appropriate test administrators the names and mailing addresses of all students enrolled in Colorado public schools who take a standardized, curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam or a precollegiate exam;
(b) Beginning in the spring of 2006, send an annual notice concerning college preparatory courses to the parent or legal guardian of each student who takes a standardized, curriculum-based, achievement, college entrance exam or a precollegiate exam. The commission shall send the notice to the parent or legal guardian prior to the start of a student's twelfth-grade year if the student took the standardized, curriculum-based, achievement, college entrance exam, or prior to the start of a student's eleventh-grade year if the student took the precollegiate exam. Beginning January 1, 2021, the department shall provide such notice and disseminate related information through the free online career, education, and training resource created pursuant to section 24-46.3-106, if available. Otherwise, such notice is subject to available appropriation. At a minimum, the notice must include:
(I) A detailed description of what constitutes an inadequate score in mathematics, writing, or reading, based on the higher education admission guidelines established by the commission;
(II) Information regarding a student's ability to take basic, precollegiate skills courses while enrolled in a public high school; and
(III) Notice that a student's parent or legal guardian may contact the school in which the student is enrolled if he or she desires to develop a plan for the student to address the course work needed to meet the higher education admission guidelines adopted by the commission.
Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 519, � 1, effective May 24. L. 2015: (1)(a) and IP(1)(b) amended, (HB 15-1323), ch. 204, p. 727, � 43, effective May 20. L. 2020: IP(1) amended, (HB 20-1396), ch. 138, p. 600, � 5, effective September 14.