As used in this article 76, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Commission means the Colorado commission on higher education created in section 23-1-102.
(2) Educator preparation program means an educator preparation program approved by the department of education pursuant to section 22-60.5-121 and that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure.
(3) Institution of higher education means a public, private, or proprietary postsecondary institution authorized by the commission to offer educator preparation programs.
(4) Rural school or school district means a school or school district that the department of education has determined to be rural. Rural school or school district includes a charter school or institute charter school that falls within the geographic range of a rural school district, as determined by the department of education.
(5) Special services provider means a person, other than a teacher, principal, or administrator, who provides professional services in direct support of an instructional program. Special services providers includes speech language pathologists, psychologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, nurses, and social workers.
Source: L. 2016: Entire article added, (SB 16-104), ch. 234, p. 945, � 1, effective June 6. L. 2018: IP amended and (5) added, (SB 18-085), ch. 233, p. 1455, � 2, effective August 8. L. 2023: (2) amended, (SB 23-258), ch. 334, p. 2012, � 19, effective August 7.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 23-258, see section 1 of chapter 334, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.
23-76-103. Rural education coordinator - request for proposals - reporting requirements. (1) (a) On or before July 1, 2017, the department of higher education shall establish one rural education coordinator to represent a rural region of the state. The rural education coordinator must be based in an institution of higher education. The purpose of the rural education coordinator is to:
(I) Provide an emphasis on access to teacher preparation programs that focus on rural education;
(II) Increase rural teacher recruitment;
(III) Develop an educator pipeline to rural schools and school districts; and
(IV) Provide support mechanisms for rural schools and school districts, boards of cooperative services, and alternative educator preparation providers.
(b) On or before September 1, 2016, the department of higher education, in collaboration with the department of education, the commission, and interested representatives from the education community and rural areas of Colorado, shall develop and release a request for proposals to fund a rural education coordinator. The request for proposals must include criteria for selection, timelines, data collection requirements, and reporting requirements.
(c) On or before January 1, 2017, the department of higher education shall select an institution of higher education to house a rural education coordinator for five years, based on available appropriations. An institution of higher education that has an existing rural education coordinator is eligible to be selected by the department of higher education for funding pursuant to this section.
(2) The selected institution of higher education shall collect data on the work of the rural education coordinator, as required per the request for proposals, and provide a written summary report annually to the department of higher education. Prior to the completion of the five-year funding period, the department of higher education and the department of education shall evaluate the effectiveness of the funded rural education coordinator and make recommendations for continued funding.
Source: L. 2016: Entire article added, (SB 16-104), ch. 234, p. 945, � 1, effective June 6.