(1)As used in
this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)Administrative unit has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-20-103.
(b)Board of cooperative services or BOCES means a board of
cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one
or more public schools.
(c)Center means the technical assistance center created in subsection (2)
of this section.
(d)Remote school district means a school district in Colorado, irrespective
of pupil enrollment, that is more than fifty miles from the nearest large, urbanized
area.
(e)Rural school district means a school district in Colorado that the
department determines is rural, based on the geographic size of the school district,
the distance of the school district from the nearest
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(1) As used in
this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Administrative unit has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-20-103.
(b) Board of cooperative services or BOCES means a board of
cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one
or more public schools.
(c) Center means the technical assistance center created in subsection (2)
of this section.
(d) Remote school district means a school district in Colorado, irrespective
of pupil enrollment, that is more than fifty miles from the nearest large, urbanized
area.
(e) Rural school district means a school district in Colorado that the
department determines is rural, based on the geographic size of the school district,
the distance of the school district from the nearest large, urbanized area, and a
total enrollment of six thousand five hundred or fewer students.
(2) (a) There is created in the office the technical assistance center to
provide technical assistance to school districts and related administrative units
serving students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs who need to be
served by an approved facility school but are unable to access an approved facility
school due to lack of proximity to an approved facility school or other factors. The
center shall prioritize technical assistance to rural school districts, remote school
districts, and other school districts and related administrative units that face
significant obstacles to providing supports to serve students with exceptionally
severe or specialized needs.
(b) Technical assistance may include:
(I) Training;
(II) Professional development;
(III) Coaching;
(IV) Supports for resource sharing and collaboration between administrative
units, approved facility schools, school districts, or BOCES; and
(V) Direct supports to administrative units to ensure the administrative unit
provides a free and appropriate public education for students with exceptionally
severe or specialized needs.
(3) (a) Beginning in the 2023-24 budget year, the center shall assess the
needs of school districts, prioritizing rural school districts, remote school districts,
and other school districts and related administrative units that face significant
obstacles to providing supports to serve students with exceptionally severe or
specialized needs.
(b) Beginning in the 2024-25 budget year, the center shall provide technical
assistance to school districts, prioritizing rural school districts, remote school
districts, and other school districts and related administrative units that face
significant obstacles to providing supports to serve students with exceptionally
severe or specialized needs.
(4) The qualified third-party evaluator described in section 22-2-405 (4) shall
study the effectiveness of the center, which must include feedback from school
districts and administrative units that use the services of the center.
(5) Subject to available appropriations, the center may extend support
services to school districts and related administrative units to improve services for
students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs, including through grant
programs and direct and contracted services.