As used in this article 55, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(1) Accountability reporting means any requirement established in law that
mandates school districts to report or provide information relative to school
improvement to the state board or the department, including, but not limited to:
(a) Data collection and reporting requirements that are required pursuant to
part 5 of article 11 of this title in connection with school performance reports;
(b) Reporting requirements in connection with the administration of state
assessments pursuant to section 22-7-1006.3; or
(c) Requirements specified in the Education Accountability Act of 2009,
article 11 of this title.
(2) (a) Accountable education reform means any program or plan for
reforming preschool through twelfth-grade education in the state that complies
with accountability standards imposed by law on school districts in the state,
including, but not limited to, the requirements set forth in:
(I) Part 5 of article 11 of this title relating to school performance reports; and
(II) Part 10 of article 7 of this title.
(b) Accountable education reform includes any program or plan for
improving teacher quality.
(c) Accountable education reform includes any program for improving
student academic achievement that conforms with the requirements of federal
programs related to student achievement.
(3) Accountable programs to meet state academic standards include, but
are not limited to, programs designed to assist students in demonstrating improved
academic achievement on state assessments administered pursuant to section 22-7-1006.3. Accountable programs to meet state academic standards include, but
are not limited to, programs:
(a) For the purchase of additional or improved textbooks;
(b) To provide incentives to increase parental involvement;
(c) To improve literacy; or
(d) To provide assistance with English language proficiency beyond what is
currently provided pursuant to the English language proficiency program
established pursuant to section 22-24-104.
(4) Categorical programs includes only the following programs:
(a) Public school transportation as described in article 51 of this title;
(b) The English language proficiency program created in section 22-24-104;
(c) The expelled and at-risk student services grant program created in
section 22-33-205;
(d) Special education programs for children with disabilities as described in
article 20 of this title;
(e) Special education programs for gifted children as described in article 20
of this title;
(f) The grant program for in-school or in-home suspension described in
article 37 of this title;
(g) Career and technical education as described in part 1 of article 8 of title
23;
(h) Small attendance centers for which state aid is available pursuant to
section 22-54-122;
(i) The comprehensive health education program created in section 22-25-104; and
(j) Other current and future accountable programs specifically identified in
statute as a categorical program.
(5) Department means the department of education created and existing
pursuant to section 24-1-115, C.R.S.
(6) Federal taxable income, as modified by law means federal taxable
income as modified by sections 39-22-104, 39-22-304, 39-22-509, and 39-22-518,
and as apportioned and allocated under section 39-22-303.5, 39-22-303.6, or 39-22-303.7 to the extent federal taxable income is not being modified to effectuate a
refund of excess state revenues required pursuant to section 20 of article X of the
state constitution, earned on or after December 28, 2000.
(7) Inflation means the percentage change in the consumer price index for
the Denver-Boulder consolidated metropolitan statistical area for all urban
consumers, all goods, as published by the United States department of labor,
bureau of labor statistics, or its successor index.
(8) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2009, (SB 09-292), ch. 369, p. 1965, � 67,
effective August 5, 2009.)
(9) Performance incentives for teachers include, but are not limited to,
programs that:
(a) Promote teacher retention;
(b) Promote teacher recruitment;
(c) Promote teacher use of technology; or
(d) Provide salary incentives based in whole or in part on student
performance.
(10) Preschool programs includes, but is not limited to, the Colorado
preschool program created pursuant to section 22-28-104, as it exists prior to July
1, 2023, and the Colorado universal preschool program created in part 2 of article 4
of title 26.5.
(11) State board means the state board of education created and existing
pursuant to section 1 (1) of article IX of the state constitution.
(12) State education fund means the state education fund created
pursuant to section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution and section 22-55-103.
(13) State education fund revenues means revenues collected from a tax of
one-third of one percent on federal taxable income, as modified by law, of every
individual, estate, trust, and corporation, as defined in law, that are required to be
transferred to the state education fund pursuant to section 17 (4)(a) of article IX of
the state constitution.
(14) Statewide base per pupil funding means the amount specified for each
budget year in article 54 of this title 22.
(15) Statutory limitation on general fund appropriations means the
limitation on annual general fund appropriations set forth in section 24-75-201.1,
C.R.S.
(16) Student safety includes, but is not limited to, any plan, program, or
project designed to improve the safety of the physical environment of preschool
through twelfth-grade students while on property owned or under the control of the
school district.
(17) Technology education includes, but is not limited to, any plan,
program, or project designed to enhance the computer and telecommunication
skills of preschool through twelfth-grade students and teachers or improve
instruction through technology application.
(18) Total program or total program education funding means a district's
total program as determined pursuant to article 54 of this title 22.
(19) Total state funding for all categorical programs means the aggregate
amount of state funding for all categorical programs in any given fiscal year,
including any adjustments made to said funding through the enactment of a
supplemental appropriation bill or bills for that fiscal year.