§ 22-60.3-204 — Program eligibility - financial assistance - funding - report

Colorado § 22-60.3-204

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 22: Education
• Art.: Teacher Residency Expansion Program

Text

(1) (a) A member of the armed forces who seeks to receive financial assistance
through the program must submit a program application within three years after
retirement or separation from the military. If a program application is not submitted
within three years after retirement or separation, a member of the armed forces is
not eligible for financial assistance through the program, but is eligible to receive
counseling and referral services.

(b) As a condition of receiving financial assistance through the program, an
applicant must agree to teach for a period of three years in a rural or small rural
school district or in an educator shortage area, as determined by the state board of
education. If an applicant does not fulfill the service condition of the program, the
applicant shall repay the awarded financial assistance to the department in
accordance with the rules promulgated by the state board.

(c) A member of the armed forces or a nonmilitary-affiliated educator
candidate may apply to the program to receive financial assistance of up to ten
thousand dollars for the tuition cost of an educator preparation program in which
the applicant is enrolled. An applicant must apply to the department in accordance
with the rules promulgated by the state board.

(2) The department shall review each application received and determine
whether the applicant meets the following criteria for participation in the program:

(a) If the applicant is a member of the armed forces, the applicant has an
honorable discharge status or is currently serving in one of the armed forces;

(b) (I) The applicant has a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an
accredited institution of higher education at the time of application; or

(II) The applicant is currently employed as a paraprofessional in a school
district, charter school, or board of cooperative services and is working toward a
baccalaureate degree as required to pursue a professional teaching license; or

(c) (I) The applicant meets state career and technical education
requirements; or

(II) Has the equivalent of eighteen semester hours of postsecondary
enrollment and six years of military experience in a career or technical field.

(3) Subject to available appropriations, the department shall provide one-time financial assistance of up to ten thousand dollars paid from the amount
appropriated for the program to a qualified program participant for the tuition cost
of the educator preparation program in which the qualified program participant is
enrolled. The department shall distribute the financial assistance for a qualified
program participant to the educator preparation program in which the qualified
program participant is enrolled.

(4) The general assembly shall annually appropriate money to fund the
program, including an amount for the direct and indirect costs incurred by the
department in implementing the program.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2021: Entire part added, (SB 21-185), ch. 246, p. 1331, � 6, effective September 7. L. 2022: (1)(b) amended, (HB 22-1390), ch. 237, p. 1748, � 12, effective May 26. L. 2025: (2)(b)(II) amended, (HB 25-1307), ch. 443, p. 2553, � 2, effective August 6.