If the voters approve, creates the school performance grant fund (the fund) in the state treasury and requires the state treasurer annually to transfer to the fund the lesser of $50,000,000 or all excess state revenues that the state is authorized to retain for fiscal years 1999-2000 through 2003-04. Specifies that the transfers shall not be included in either state or local government fiscal year spending and that any transfer of revenue from the general fund to the fund is not an appropriation subject to the limitation on state general fund appropriations. Credits all interest earned on moneys in the fund to the fund and specifies that any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of any state fiscal year shall not revert or be transferred to the general fund.
Creates a performance grant review committee with the power to develop a performance grant application process through which school districts may apply for performance grants to fund programs that will improve academic performance in mathematics and science. Authorizes the committee to expend moneys from the school performance grant fund for performance grants for school districts to use to fund programs. Establishes the membership of the committee. Specifies the information school districts must include in grant applications. Requires the committee to consider specified criteria when considering a grant application, including criteria relating to the economic and academic status of the applicant school district, the likely effect of the applicable program on academic performance in mathematics and science, and the cost and cost-effectiveness of the applicable program.
EFFECTIVE upon the Governor's proclamation or thirty days after a canvass of the votes is completed, whichever occurs earlier.
S.B. 00-39 Special building and technology fund - building security technology. Allows school districts to use moneys in the special building and technology fund for the purchase and installation of building security technology.
APPROVED by Governor March 31, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 31, 2000
S.B. 00-49 Special education funding - children with disabilities - appropriation. Adjusts the 2000 long bill by increasing the general fund appropriation to the department of education, for public school finance, special education - children with disabilities, by $1,600,000 to implement section 22-20-114 (1) (b.8), as enacted by House Bill 00-1159, to provide more state funding to administrative units serving children with disabilities with no identifiable district of residence. Specifies that, if the additional amount appropriated by the act is more than actually needed to fully fund said section, the excess amount shall be distributed by the department of education for the regular special education - children with disabilities program.
Allows for the additional appropriation by reducing the appropriation made in the 2000 long bill to the capital construction fund for further appropriation to the department of transportation for highway construction projects by $1,600,000.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: (1) House Bill 00-1159 was signed by the Governor on April 28, 2000.
(2) This act was passed
without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the
effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
S.B. 00-98 Special building and technology fund - expenditures. Authorizes a school district to expend moneys in the school district's special building and technology fund for the maintenance of school structures in order to enhance the function, protect the value, and extend the economic life of the structures.
APPROVED by Governor March 30, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
S.B. 00-124 Read-to-achieve program - board - fund - appropriation. Establishes in the department of education a read-to-achieve program through which grants may be made to public schools to fund intensive reading programs for early elementary school pupils whose skills are below the level established for pupils at their grade level. Creates and specifies membership and terms for members of a board to solicit and review grant applications. Specifies minimum criteria for the board to consider in reviewing grants. Directs the board to submit to the state board of education a list of recommended schools to receive grants under the program. Requires the state board of education to approve or reject the entire list of recommended schools. Specifies additional requirements for schools to receive a subsequent grant.
Requires the read-to-achieve board to submit a report on or before February 4, 2004. Repeals the program on July 1, 2008, subject to a sunset review.
Establishes the read-to-achieve cash fund, and specifies that any unexpended moneys in the cash fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in the cash fund. Authorizes the state board of education to use up to 1% of the moneys in the cash fund for related expenses.
If a pupil is enrolled in a program after the 3rd grade level, authorizes the pupil to pass to the 4th grade for reading classes only if, at the end of the program, the pupil is assessed as reading at or above the 3rd grade level.
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, reduces by $7,000,000 the amount of federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant funds appropriated to the short term works emergency fund in the department of human services. Replaces $7,000,000 of general fund moneys appropriated to the department of human services for child welfare services with $7,000,000 of federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant funds.
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, appropriates $7,000,000 in general fund moneys to the read-to-achieve cash fund for implementation of the act.
APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 2, 2000
S.B. 00-133 School safety issues - safe school plan - reporting - information sharing - expulsion prevention programs - free speech limits - appropriation. Requires each school district board of education ("district board") to adopt a mission statement that makes safety a priority in each public school of the school district. Requires each district board to adopt a safe school plan, that includes a written conduct and discipline code that addresses several issues, including:
Instructs each district board to adopt a policy requiring school principals to report specified information concerning the learning environment in the school, including demographic information, the average size of classes at the school, and information regarding discipline actions taken at the school. Requires each district board to compile the reports and make them publicly available.
Directs each district board to enter into agreements with law enforcement officials, the juvenile justice system, and social services to help maintain a safe school environment. Requires each district board to adopt the following policies:
Grants immunity from civil and criminal liability to teachers and other persons who act in good faith in implementing the safe school policies. Allows the state board of education ("state board") to withhold a school district's state share of total program funding if the school district is in willful noncompliance with the safe school reporting requirements.
Allows public schools and school districts to release information directly related to a student and maintained by a school or by a person acting for the school under conditions consistent with applicable provisions of the federal "Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974" (FERPA) and all federal regulations adopted in relation thereto. Specifically allows release of information:
Allows the principal of a school or the principal's designee access without a court order to juvenile court records of a juvenile who is or will be enrolled in such principal's school. Allows the principal of a school or the principal's designee access to a juvenile probation officer's records of a juvenile who is or will be enrolled in such principal's school. Requires the prosecuting attorney to notify the principal of a juvenile's school when a petition is filed in juvenile court against a juvenile enrolled in the school and to disclose information contained in the arrest and criminal records information pertaining to that juvenile.
Allows a district board to adopt a dress code policy for teachers and other school employees. Allows a school district to disclose specified performance or disciplinary records of a teacher to a school district at which the teacher has applied for employment.
Specifies that a school district may provide educational services, similar to those services provided to expelled students, for students who are at risk of suspension or expulsion from school ("at-risk students"). Expands the entities with which the school district may contract for such educational services to include charter schools and nonpublic, nonparochial schools, so long as the services provided by a nonpublic, nonparochial school have been previously approved by the state board. Allows any school district, charter school, nonpublic, nonparochial school, board of cooperative services, or pilot school providing services to expelled or at-risk students to apply for moneys through the expelled and at-risk student services grant program ("grant program"). If an expelling school district contracts with another entity for provision of educational services to expelled students, increases the amount of school district funding that the expelling school district must transfer to the other entity from 80% of the district per pupil operating revenues to 95% of the district per pupil revenues.
Requires the state board to adopt rules specifying criteria to be used to measure the effectiveness of educational services provided through the grant program. If a grant applicant has received funding through the grant program in the preceding 5 years, requires the grant applicant to provide information regarding the effectiveness of the applicant's educational services. Requires the state board to annually award at least 45% of the moneys appropriated to the grant program to applicants who provide services to students from multiple school districts.
States that any student enrolled in a public school may be subject to being declared an habitually disruptive student for purposes of suspension or expulsion. Requires each student who is declared an habitually disruptive student and the student's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian to be notified in writing and by telephone or other means of the definition of "habitually disruptive student" and the mandatory expulsion of such students. Repeals the requirement that an habitually disruptive student receive a remedial discipline plan prior to expulsion.
Specifies that students' rights of free expression do not extend to expression that threatens violence to property or persons.
Appropriates $2,000,000 to the department of education for implementation of the provisions of the act concerning educational services for expelled and at-risk students.
APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 2, 2000
S.B. 00-160 Administrative personnel - qualifications for employment - exception from licensure. Allows the board of education of a school district to set its own qualifications for the hiring of administrators in the school district. Clarifies that licensure is not a condition of employment for administrators.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 26, 2000
S.B. 00-181 K-12 capital construction - state assistance in funding construction projects - appropriation. Makes legislative findings concerning K-12 capital construction funding. Establishes 3 methods for providing state assistance to school districts for capital improvements as follows:
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the capital expenditures reserve to the department of education for the 2000-01 fiscal year.
Makes the creation of the school capital construction expenditures reserve and the appropriation of general fund moneys to the reserve and to the school construction and renovation fund contingent on a final state court order under which the state will provide financial assistance to school districts for capital construction (thus allowing the general fund appropriation to be made outside the state's statutory appropriations limit) and under which the Giardino v. Colorado State Bd. of Education lawsuit is dismissed.
APPROVED by Governor May 9, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
S.B. 00-186 Education reform - academic performance and improvement grades - school report cards - school improvement plans - independent charter schools - transportation tokens - school awards - new assessments - accountability - home-based educational programs - opt-in for human sexuality and reproduction classes - college sophomore assessment - repeals. Enacts education reform measures.
School report cards. Requires the department of education ("department") to establish a state data reporting system, including computer capabilities and procedures, to produce school report cards. Specifies how the school academic performance and school improvement grades and the designations of school improvement will be calculated. Establishes the format of the school report cards.
Beginning August 2001, requires the department to deliver school report cards by August 15 of each year and requires the department to establish a web site on which school report card information will be placed. Authorizes the department to produce a school report card for a nonpublic school if the nonpublic school pays all costs associated with the report cards.
Authorizes the state board of education ("state board") to establish an assessment team for schools that receive an academic performance grade of "D". Requires other state departments and agencies to assist the department in coordinating services to such schools. Requires the state board to notify school districts by June 15 of any schools in the district that will receive an academic performance grade of "F". Authorizes the local school board to submit a school improvement plan and specifies when the state board may recommend that an "F" school be converted to an independent charter school. Requires the state board to notify the school district when a school within the district is entitled to an award under the school awards program.
Establishes as one of the duties of the commissioner of education, maintaining academic performance and safety environment records of all public schools. Prohibits the state board from waiving any requirements necessary to prepare the school report cards. Prohibits the state board from waiving requirements related to assessments and school report cards for charter schools.
Accreditation of school districts. Requires all school district accreditation indicators relating to statewide assessments to be consistent with the methodology for determining academic performance grades. Specifies that initial school district accreditation contracts shall take effect July 1, 2001.
Independent charter schools. Establishes a procedure for converting to independent charter schools those schools that receive a failing academic performance grade. Whenever the state board recommends that a school be converted to an independent charter school, requires the state board to issue a request for proposals. Requires the state board to specify what is to be included in the responses to the request for proposals. Establishes a review committee to review the requests for proposals and to make recommendations to the state board. Directs the state board to select one applicant to negotiate with the local school board for a charter for an independent charter school. Specifies the process for negotiating the independent charter.
Requires the local board of education to grant a charter by May 30. If the school improves its academic performance grade to a "D" or better, authorizes the independent charter school and the local board to agree that the school may stay under the supervision of the district rather than converting to an independent charter school. Specifies the options available to an independent charter school at the end of the term of the independent charter. Specifies that other provisions of the "Charter School Act" apply to independent charter schools.
Transportation token program. Creates a program to provide transportation assistance for eligible students who attend a school that receives an academic performance grade of "D" or "F".
School awards program. Amends the excellent schools program as follows:
Assessments. Expands the Colorado student assessment program so that all students enrolled in public schools will take assessment tests in reading, writing, and mathematics every year from third grade through tenth grade. Requires all eleventh grade students enrolled in public schools to take a college entrance examination. Specifies those students whose grades are not counted for school report cards or accreditation.
Local accountability. Requires the board of education of each school district to appoint or create a process for the election of a school district accountability committee. Specifies the membership of the school district accountability committee. Waives this requirement for any school district that established a comparable committee prior to January 1, 2000. Requires the school district accountability committee to consult with school advisory councils before making recommendations to the state board.
Requires each public school to establish a school advisory council, and specifies membership on the council. Waives this requirement for any school that established a comparable council prior to January 1, 2000. Establishes duties and a minimum number of meetings for school advisory councils.
Requires any pilot program established by the state board to focus on basic skills.
Non-public home-based educational programs. Authorizes parents who are providing a non-public home-based educational program to their children to report to any school district in the state, not just the school district in which they reside. Specifies that test scores for a child participating in a non-public home-based educational program shall not be considered for awarding school academic performance grades or accreditation. Requires the consent of the parent for determining placement of a child in a grade level whenever the child returns to public school. Specifies how a child participating in a non-public home-based program can participate in extracurricular or interscholastic activities at a public or private school.
Comprehensive health education. Requires prior written approval from a parent or guardian before a student can participate in a program discussing sexuality and human reproduction. As part of the law-related education program, requires instruction on the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Repeals the recommendation for the D.A.R.E. program as part of the law-related education program.
College sophomore assessment examination. Authorizes the Colorado commission on higher education to administer, during the spring semesters of 2000 and 2001, a standardized, college-level assessment to students at one or more state-supported institutions of higher education during the second year of postsecondary education. Requires a report and a decision item if the test is to be administered in fiscal years thereafter.
Repeals. Repeals the authority of the state board to temporarily wave regulatory requirements. Repeals school district capital improvement zones. Repeals the duty of the state board to analyze the use of technology in schools and whether the education system addresses diverse learning needs and to make recommendations for incentives for school districts to achieve academic excellence. Repeals the requirement for an annual public meeting to discuss the effectiveness of standards-based education. Repeals the public education incentive program. Repeals the limitation that not more than 24 hours per year may be spent on parent-teacher conferences and in-service programs.
APPROVED by Governor April 10, 2000
EFFECTIVE April 10, 2000
S.B. 00-195 Professional competencies - subject matter - special waiver - teacher preparation programs - nonpublic institutions - minimum hours. Requires the state board of education ("state board") to identify by rule those professional competencies required of applicants for provisional teacher licenses and professional teacher licenses. Limits those professional competencies to the scope of the subject matter to be taught and specifically to the state model content standards.
Upon application of a school district or board of cooperative services, allows the state board to grant a waiver of the requirement that applicants for provisional teacher licenses demonstrate professional competencies. Such a waiver may be granted by a two-thirds vote of the state board if it is demonstrated that:
Clarifies that teacher preparation programs provided by nonpublic institutions of higher education shall be approved if, in addition to current requirements, the program contains a requirement of a minimum of 800 hours of supervised, field-based experience.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 26, 2000
H.B. 00-1040 Waiver of statutes and rules - exceptions - request by school district or principal - notice and hearing - duration. Repeals and reenacts the provisions allowing waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements imposed on school districts. Allows the state board of education ("state board") to grant a waiver if it determines that the waiver would enhance educational opportunity and quality within the school district and that the costs of complying with the requirements for which a waiver is requested significantly limit educational opportunity within the school district. Requires any school district applying for a waiver to specify how it will comply with the intent of the waived statute or rule. Prohibits the state board from granting waivers of the public school finance act or the exceptional children's educational act.
Permits a principal of a public school to initiate a request for a waiver. Allows the school district to either adopt such request and forward it to the state board or not adopt the request. Limits the scope of the request to the specific school where the request originated, unless otherwise designated by the school district. Requires any school district with a funded pupil count of 3,000 or more pupils to include with the waiver application evidence of the consent of a majority of the accountability committee, the licensed administrators, and the teachers.
Requires a school district board of education, in applying for a waiver, to adopt, in a public meeting that includes a public hearing, a resolution stating the intent to apply for a waiver and specifying the statutes and rules for which a waiver will be requested. Requires the school district to post notice of such meeting and publish such notice in a newspaper in the county. Requires the school district board of education to meet and consult with the school district accountability committee at least 60 days prior to the public meeting and hearing.
Specifies that a waiver shall remain in place until the school district holding the waiver requests revocation or until the state board of education receives evidence of good and just cause for revocation. Directs that, if the state board of education revokes a waiver, the revocation must occur in a public meeting and hearing. Clarifies that waivers requested by charter schools are governed by the applicable provisions of the charter school act.
APPROVED by Governor May 15, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1124 Charter school building - planning and siting - public school bonds or loans - capital expenditures. Clarifies that all decisions regarding the planning, siting, and inspection of charter school facilities are made in the same manner as decisions regarding the planning, siting, and inspection of public schools generally and as specified by contract with the school district. Sets forth the time frame for submission of a site development plan and review and comment on the plan, including a public hearing, if any.
Limits the bringing of legal actions questioning the legality of school bonds or loans to within 30 days after the bonds are authorized or a loan is executed Clarifies that the definition of "capital outlay expenditures" applies to expenditures by purchase or lease and includes software licensing agreements. Specifies that "equipment" includes items set forth in the administrative financial policies and procedures handbook.
Allows expenditures from the capital reserve fund for installment purchase agreements and leases with an option to purchase entered into by a charter school and for leasing agreements without an option to purchase entered into by a school district or a charter school. Allows expenditures for software licensing agreements in excess of $1,000.
APPROVED by Governor May 12, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1136 Learning improvement grant program - creation. Creates the learning improvement grant program to provide grants to schools for programs designed to enhance the literacy and reading comprehension skills of early elementary school students. Authorizes the read-to-achieve board ("board") to award the grants. Specifies some criteria for awarding grants and authorizes the board to adopt additional criteria. Directs the department of education to report to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives on the effectiveness of the programs that receive grants. Instructs the department of education to seek any available funding for literacy programs. Creates the learning improvement fund for funding literacy programs.
APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 2, 2000
H.B. 00-1151 Professional educator licenses - issuance to holders of out-of-state licenses or certificates - comparable standards - experience. Permits the state board of education to grant professional licenses to teachers, special services providers, principals, and administrators if:
Clarifies that such applicants need not have:
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1159 School finance - study of funding education programs for children with disabilities - special education funding - appropriation. Increases statewide base per pupil funding from $3,878 to $4,001.70. Changes the calculation of the minimum per pupil funding for the 2000-01 budget year and years thereafter. Provides that no district shall have a size factor of less than 1.0194 for the 2000-01 budget year and a size factor of less than 1.0268 for the 2001-02 budget year. Further modifies the size factor table for the 2002-03 budget year and budget years thereafter. Changes the calculation of a district's cost of living factor for the 2000-01 budget year and budget years thereafter. Changes the calculation of a district's at-risk factor to provide that districts with a funded pupil count of greater than 50,000 will receive a higher factor. Makes an additional appropriation to the department of education of $8,963,832 to fund the school finance act for the 2000-01 fiscal year (this amount is in addition to the appropriation for school finance in the long bill).
Clarifies that school districts are not authorized to seek voter approval to impose additional mill levies except as authorized in the "Public School Finance Act of 1994" and that voter approval to receive additional revenues within its constitutional fiscal year spending limitations does not constitute voter approval to exceed said mill levies specified under the act.
Requires the department of education to conduct a study of funding education programs for children with disabilities and to report its findings, including any recommendations for legislation, to the general assembly by October 1, 2000. Makes an appropriation of $50,000 to the department of education to fund the study.
For the 2000-01 budget year and budget years thereafter, provides that $500,000 will be distributed to administrative units serving children with disabilities with no identifiable district of residence. Appropriates such amount to the department of education for the 2000-01 fiscal year.
Provides additional moneys to fund the school finance program for the 2000-01 fiscal year by:
1) Transferring an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 to the state public school fund that would otherwise revert to the general fund at the end of the 1999-2000 fiscal year; and
2) Appropriating $550,000 of general fund moneys that otherwise would be appropriated to the capital construction fund for further appropriation to the department of transportation for highway construction projects.
APPROVED by Governor April 28, 2000
EFFECTIVE April 28, 2000
H.B. 00-1173 Teachers - development activities - grant program - appropriation. Creates the teacher development grant program ("grant program") to provide moneys to schools for use in providing a teacher development schedule of activities. Specifies that teacher development activities shall be research-based activities that have been proven effective in improving teacher skills.
Beginning October 1, 2000, instructs the state board of education ("state board") annually to award teacher development grants to selected schools. Specifies that each grant shall continue for 2 years, subject to a one-year progress review. Limits each 2-year grant to a maximum of $20,000. Allows a school to reapply upon expiration of a grant. Requires the state board to adopt rules for implementation of the grant program. Instructs the department of education ("department") to solicit public and private moneys for implementation of the grant program.
Allows any public school to participate voluntarily in the program by submitting a grant application. Requires a school, prior to submitting the application, to submit information concerning the proposed teacher development activities to the board of education of the school district in which the school is located. Requires the board of education to provide a statement of support or opposition for the application, including reasons underlying the board's support or opposition. Specifies the minimum information to be included in the grant application.
Creates the teacher development advisory council ("council"), appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, to review the applications received and to submit a list of recommendations to the state board concerning selection of grant recipients. Identifies membership of the council. Requires the state board to either accept or reject the entire list of proposed grant recipients. Upon rejection of the list, allows the council to submit a replacement list. Specifies the criteria that the council shall apply in selecting recipients. Prohibits the council from awarding a grant to a school that has made ineffective use of federal funds. Directs the council to review the annual progress reports submitted by grant recipients and to make recommendations to the state board concerning any recipients whose grant should be discontinued for failure to make adequate progress in achieving the goals identified in the grant application.
Requires each grant recipient to submit to the department a progress report after the first year of the grant and a final report upon expiration of the grant specifying the progress made in achieving the goals identified in the application. Specifies the minimum required contents of the reports. On or before January 15, 2002, and on or before each January 15 thereafter, instructs the department to submit to the governor, the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, the council, and the board of education for each school district in which a grant recipient is located a state report on the grant program. Specifies the contents of the report. Creates the teacher development fund for payment of teacher development grants.
Appropriates $2,000,000 to the teacher development fund for implementation of the grant program.
APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 2, 2000
H.B. 00-1202 Public schools - release of student information - surveys - parental consent. Requires school districts to comply with the federal "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act" regarding education records of students. Prohibits school districts from releasing education records or directory information of a student without first receiving written consent of the student's parent or legal guardian.
Directs school districts to comply with the federal "Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act" regarding surveys, analyses, or evaluations given to students. Requires a school or school district employee who requires participation in a survey, analysis, or evaluation in a public school's curriculum or other school activity to obtain the written consent of a student's parent or legal guardian before administering the survey, analysis, or evaluation designed to reveal certain information. Requires a parent or legal guardian to be given two weeks' notice to obtain information about the means, purposes of, and access to the information derived from the survey, analysis, or evaluation. Excepts from the notice provisions: Public school employees releasing information in connection with an emergency, child abuse reporting requirements, or a court order; students preparing or participating in an survey, analysis, or evaluation while working under the supervision of a journalism teacher or sponsor; and health professionals acting as agents of a school district who are evaluating an individual child.
Requires a school district to provide a notice containing specified information to parents and legal guardians at the time of requesting consent for release of information. Limits the consent of a parent or legal guardian to the specific instance for which it was given. Requires the school district to retain consent forms.
Requires each school district annually to send notice of rights under the act to each student's parent or legal guardian. Specifies that any right accorded to a parent or legal guardian pursuant to the act transfers to the relevant student when the student attains 18 years of age.
Allows the department of education to suspend or revoke, for a period not less than 90 days, a license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization of an individual found by the state board to have violated the privacy rights established by the act.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1219 School district accreditation - rules. Repeals the statutory provisions specifying standards and procedures for accrediting public schools and school districts, and replaces them with a general directive to the state board of education ("state board") to accredit school districts. Requires that the school districts submit recommendations for improvements in education, based on goals and objectives adopted by the state board. Directs each building advisory accountability committee or school advisory council to adopt goals and objectives pursuant to a charge and time lines developed by the school district board of education.
Requires the state board to adopt rules to administer the accreditation process. Requires such rules to be consistent with baseline performance years and the methodology for calculating academic performance grades for schools and to consider school district performance on statewide assessments and district progress in meeting goals and objectives. Clarifies that statewide assessments are not to be the sole indicator for determining accreditation. Directs the state board to adopt the state goals and objectives before January 1, 2001, and to consider the state model content standards and state assessments when adopting such goals and objectives.
VETOED by Governor May 26, 2000
H.B. 00-1222 School districts - hiring of nonlicensed employees during critical shortages - retirement benefits - employer contributions - PERA requirements. Empowers a school district board of education to adopt a resolution, effective for up to one year, declaring a critical shortage of nonlicensed employees. Permits a school district, after adoption of the resolution, to hire persons receiving retirement benefits from the public employees' retirement association ("PERA") or from the public school teachers retirement fund or the school district retirement plans, as nonlicensed employees. Permits the nonlicensed employees hired to receive a salary from the school district without a reduction in the retirement benefits such persons already receive from PERA, the public school teachers retirement fund, or a school district retirement fund. Requires a school district to make employer contributions on such salaries under certain circumstances. Exempts PERA service retirees hired as nonlicensed employees pursuant to a critical shortage resolution from PERA membership requirements. Prohibits a PERA benefit recalculation upon the termination of any such PERA service retiree's employment.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1251 Magnet school - repeal of planning board. Sunsets the magnet school planning board.
APPROVED by Governor March 24, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
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The information on this page is presented as an informational service only and should not be relied upon as an official record of action or legal position of the State of Colorado, the Colorado General Assembly, or the Office of Legislative Legal Services.