(1) In addition to any other duties
that may be required by law, the office shall:
(a) Develop and maintain, as described in section 22-2-407, the list of
approved facility schools and the list of approved facility schools that receive
accreditation;
(b) Make recommendations to the facility schools board regarding the
curriculum for use in the approved facility schools;
(c) Make recommendations to the facility schools board regarding
graduation requirements for students in approved facility schools. The unit's
recommendations shall follow the comprehensive guidelines for high school
graduation requirements specified by the state board pursuant to section 22-2-106
(1)(a.5);
(d) Maintain, and make available as provided by law, student information and
records for the students who receive educational services from approved facility
schools;
(e) Ensure that each student who receives educational services from an
approved facility school and who, upon leaving the facility, will reside in Colorado
receives a unique identifying number, as provided in rules adopted pursuant to
section 22-11-104, if the student has not already been assigned a number by the
department; and
(f) Communicate and collaborate with the state department of human
services, the county departments of human or social services, and referring
agencies regarding the placement and transfer of students in facilities, including
but not limited to communication concerning academic testing prior to and
following placement and other academic and achievement testing.
(2) In complying with the duties specified in subsection (1)(d) of this section,
the office shall:
(a) Adopt data reporting protocols and records transfer procedures for use
by approved facility schools; and
(b) In purchasing a data system to maintain the records of students who are
receiving educational services from approved facility schools, ensure that the data
system selected is compatible with the system used by school districts in serving a
majority of the students enrolled in public schools of the state.
(3) The office shall create, maintain, and annually publish:
(a) The accreditation outcome reports that the office develops for each
approved facility school pursuant to section 22-2-406 (4)(c) on the office's public
website; and
(b) A list of independent national accreditation organizations that are
approved by the facility schools board pursuant to section 22-2-406 (4)(a)(IV).
(4) (a) The office shall contract with a qualified third-party evaluator to
evaluate and report whether the work group recommendations made pursuant to
section 22-2-407.5 resulted in more effective services and better access to those
services for students with exceptionally severe and specialized needs. The office
shall consult with the work group and qualified third-party evaluator to evaluate
and report the following:
(I) Whether the number of approved facility school placements for students
with exceptionally severe or specialized needs has stabilized or increased;
(II) Whether reliance on homebound and out-of-state placements has
decreased;
(III) Whether administrative units that are unable to access approved facility
school placements due to geographic or other constraints receive sufficient
support from the technical assistance center created in section 22-2-412 to provide
effective services to students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs;
(IV) Whether parents, guardians, advocates, county departments of human or
social services, and other interested parties assess that the work group's
implementation plan described in section 22-2-407.5 (4) has had a positive impact
on services for students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs; and
(V) Any other measure of success the office, work group, and third-party
evaluator determine necessary.
(b) On or before September 1, 2026, the qualified third-party evaluator shall
submit a report to the work group and the office summarizing the measures and
recommendations described in subsection (4)(a) of this section. The report must be
included in the October 1, 2026, report required pursuant to section 22-2-407.5
(4)(e).
(5) (a) The office shall assemble stakeholders, including members of the
work group, to analyze and recommend changes to the methods used for
calculating tuition costs for approved facility schools pursuant to section 22-20-109 (2).
(b) As part of the October 1, 2023, report required pursuant to section 22-2-407.5 (4)(e), the office shall summarize the stakeholder recommendations
described in subsection (5)(a) of this section, including whether statutory or rule
updates are required to implement the recommendations.
(c) On or before July 1, 2024, the state board shall consider the proposed
changes and promulgate rules implementing the new methods used for calculating
tuition costs.
(d) As part of the October 1, 2024, report required pursuant to section 22-2-407.5 (4)(e), the office shall include an update describing the tuition changes
adopted as of July 1, 2024.