(1) Any license shall expire as prescribed
in section 22-60.5-201, 22-60.5-210, 22-60.5-301, or 22-60.5-306, subject to the
provisions of section 24-4-104 (7), C.R.S., when applicable.
(2) Any initial license may be renewed upon submitting an application for
renewal, payment of the statutory fee, and evidence of satisfying any requirements
established by rule and regulation of the state board of education.
(3) (a) A licensee may renew his or her professional license by submitting an
application for renewal, paying the fee established by the state board of education
pursuant to section 22-60.5-112, and providing the affidavit of satisfactory
completion of ongoing professional development as described in paragraph (a.5) of
this subsection (3). A licensee need not be employed as a professional educator
during all or any portion of the term for which his or her professional educator
license is valid. Employment as a professional educator shall not constitute a
requirement for renewal of a professional license. Except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (e) of this subsection (3), the professional development activities
completed by an applicant for license renewal shall apply equally to renewal of any
professional educator license or endorsement held by the applicant.
(a.5) A licensee who seeks renewal of his or her professional license shall
sign and submit with the renewal application an affidavit in which the licensee
affirms under oath that he or she satisfactorily completed the ongoing professional
development activities specified in the affidavit; that the activities were completed
within the term of the professional license; and that, to the best of the licensee's
knowledge, the activities meet the requirements of this section and rules adopted
by the state board of education implementing this section. The department may
accept a licensee's affidavit of satisfactory completion of ongoing professional
development as proof of completion of the specified professional development
activities without further verification.
(b) A professional licensee shall complete the ongoing professional
development within the period of time for which the professional license is valid.
The professional development may include, but need not be limited to, in-service
education programs, including training in preventing, identifying, and responding to
child sexual abuse and assault; behavioral health training that is culturally
responsive and trauma- and evidence-informed; and laws and practices relating to
the education of students with disabilities in the classroom, including, but not
limited to, child find and inclusive learning environments; college or university
credit from an accepted institution of higher education or a community, technical,
or local district college; educational travel that meets the requirements specified in
subsection (3)(d) of this section; involvement in school reform; service as a mentor
teacher for teacher candidates participating in clinical practice or for novice
teachers, as defined in section 23-78-103; internships; ongoing professional
development training and experiences; and teacher externships pursuant to section
8-83-602.5. The state board of education, by rule, may establish minimum criteria
for professional development; except that the criteria must not:
(I) Specify any particular type of professional development activity as a
requirement or partial requirement for license renewal, except as provided in
subsection (3)(b.7) or (3)(f) of this section;
(II) Require completion of more than six credit hours or more than ninety
total clock hours of activities during the term of any professional license;
(III) Prescribe a schedule for completion of professional development activity
during the term of any professional license; or
(IV) Require prior approval or supervision of professional development
activities.
(b.5) In adopting minimum criteria for professional development activities,
the state board, by rule, may require all or a portion of the professional
development activities to be related to increasing the license holder's competence
in his or her existing or potential endorsement area; increasing the professional
licensee's skills and competence in delivery of instruction in his or her existing or
potential endorsement area; the teaching of literacy; increasing awareness and
knowledge of behavioral health concerns, responses, and strategies; or increasing
awareness of laws and practices relating to educating students with disabilities in
the classroom, including but not limited to child find and inclusive learning
environments.
(b.7) (I) Except as provided in subsection (3)(f) of this section for renewal of a
professional teacher license, in selecting professional development activities for
renewal of a special services, principal, or administrator license, in addition to the
other requirements set forth in this section, the special services, principal, or
administrator licensee shall complete a minimum of ten clock hours of professional
development hours required during the term of any special services, principal, or
administrator license in professional development activities relating to increasing
awareness of laws and practices relating to educating students with disabilities in
the classroom, including but not limited to child find and inclusive learning
environments.
(II) A licensee who has less than three years left in the license renewal
period on June 30, 2020, has until the end of the next applicable renewal period to
complete the requirements established in subsection (3)(b.7)(I) of this section and
may submit classes and activities completed within five years prior to June 30,
2020, to satisfy the requirements of subsection (3)(b.7)(I) of this section.
(III) Nothing in subsection (3)(b.7)(I) of this section prohibits a licensee from
applying a single professional development course or ability to one or more content
or hourly requirements established pursuant to this section or by rule of the state
board of education.
(c) In selecting professional development activities for the renewal of a
professional license pursuant to this section, each licensee shall choose those
activities that will aid the licensee in meeting the standards for a professional
educator, including but not limited to the following goals:
(I) Knowledge of subject matter content and learning, including knowledge
and application of standards-based education pursuant to part 10 of article 7 of this
title;
(II) Effective use of assessments in planning for instructional delivery and in
individualizing student instruction;
(III) Effective teaching of the democratic ideal;
(IV) Recognition, appreciation, and support for ethnic, cultural, gender,
economic, and human diversity to provide fair and equitable treatment and
consideration for all;
(V) Effective communication with students, colleagues, parents, and the
community;
(VI) Effective modeling of appropriate behaviors to ensure quality learning
experiences for students and for colleagues;
(VII) Effective leadership to ensure a school community that is committed to
and focused on learning;
(VIII) Consistently ethical behavior and creation of an environment that
encourages and develops responsibility, ethics, and citizenship in self and others;
(IX) Achievement as a continuous learner who encourages and supports
personal and professional development of self and others;
(X) Effective organization and management of human and financial
resources to create a safe and effective working and learning environment;
(XI) Awareness of warning signs of dangerous behavior in youth and
situations that present a threat to the health and safety of students and knowledge
of the community resources available to enhance the health and safety of students
and the school community, youth mental health, safe de-escalation of crisis
situations, recognition of signs of poor mental health and substance use, and
support of students. Training provided pursuant to this subsection (3)(c)(XI) must be
provided using culturally responsive and trauma- and evidence-based practices;
and
(XII) Awareness of laws and practices relating to educating students with
disabilities in the classroom, including but not limited to child find and inclusive
learning environments.
(d) To be accepted as a professional development activity, educational travel
shall be applicable to the endorsement area of the professional licensee's license,
as demonstrated by the professional licensee.
(e) In selecting professional development activities for renewal of a
professional principal license, the professional licensee shall select activities that
are specific to improving his or her skills as a principal. In addition, if the school
district in which the professional licensee is employed has identified, pursuant to
section 22-9-106, specific areas in which he or she needs improvement or, pursuant
to section 22-32-109 (1)(jj), specific professional development programs to assist
the professional licensee in improving his or her skills as a principal, the
professional licensee shall complete activities in those identified areas or shall
complete those specific programs. In reviewing the professional licensee's
application for license renewal, the department shall deny the application for
renewal if the professional licensee does not comply with the requirements
specified in this paragraph (e).
(f) (I) In selecting professional development activities for renewal of a
professional teacher license only, in addition to the other requirements set forth in
this section, except for those set forth for special services, principal, or
administrator licenses in subsection (3)(b.7) of this section, the professional teacher
licensee shall complete a minimum of ten clock hours of the professional
development hours required during the term of any professional license in training
relating to:
(A) Behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma- and
evidence-informed; and
(B) Increasing awareness of laws and practices relating to educating
students with disabilities in the classroom, including but not limited to child find
and inclusive learning environments.
(II) The ten clock hours required pursuant to subsection (3)(f)(I) of this
section may be obtained through any combination of courses related to subsection
(3)(f)(I) of this section, so long as at least one of the required clock hours is related
to behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma- and evidence-informed and one of the required clock hours is related to increasing awareness of
laws and practices relating to educating students with disabilities in the classroom,
including but not limited to child find and inclusive learning environments.
(III) A professional teacher licensee who has less than three years left in the
license renewal period on June 30, 2020, has until the end of the next applicable
renewal period to complete the requirements established in subsection (3)(f)(I) of
this section and may submit classes and activities completed within five years prior
to June 30, 2020, to satisfy the requirements of subsection (3)(f)(I) of this section.
(IV) Nothing in subsection (3)(f)(I) of this section prohibits a professional
teacher licensee from applying a single professional development course or activity
to one or more content or hourly requirements established pursuant to this section
or by rule of the state board of education.
(V) The behavioral health training required pursuant to subsection (3)(f)(I) of
this section may include programs such as:
(A) Mental health first aid specific to youth and teens;
(B) Staff development training modules concerning how to prevent teen
suicide;
(C) Interconnected systems framework for positive behavioral interventions
and supports and mental health;
(D) Training approved or provided by the school district where the teacher is
employed;
(E) Training concerning students with behavioral concerns or disabilities;
(F) Training modules concerning child traumatic stress; and
(G) Any other program or training that meets the requirements of this
subsection (3)(f).
(4) Any applicant whose application for renewal of any license has been
denied may appeal to the state board of education. If the state board of education
finds that the applicant has met the criteria established by this section and by rule
and regulation of the state board of education, the renewal of the license shall be
approved by said board.
(5) Any person whose professional license or master certificate is not
renewed may reinstate his or her professional license or master certificate by
submitting to the department of education such information or other evidence as
may be necessary to cure the defect that resulted in nonrenewal of the professional
license or master certificate and by paying the reinstatement fee set by the state
board of education pursuant to section 22-60.5-112. Such curative information or
evidence includes but is not limited to evidence of completion of professional
development requirements, as specified in subsection (3) of this section, where the
license or master certificate is not renewed because of failure to complete such
requirements. Prior to reinstatement, any licensee whose professional license or
master certificate is not renewed shall be deemed to not hold a professional license
or master certificate. No person shall be required to demonstrate professional
competencies in order to reinstate a professional license or master certificate.