HB 14-1175 Summary

• The bill creates a legislative mandate for the Colorado Department of Education to study and develop strategies for recruiting, preparing, developing, and retaining minority teachers in elementary and secondary schools.

• The Department must submit a written report with findings and recommendations by December 1, 2014, including current statewide and district demographics, and present the report to the Governor, State Board of Education, and relevant legislative education committees by January 30, 2015.

• The bill establishes legislative findings that while 44% of Colorado students are minorities, only 12% of teachers are minorities, and that minority teacher representation has not kept pace with population growth and student diversity changes.

• $50,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2014-2015 to implement the study, with this amount offset by a $50,000 reduction to the controlled maintenance trust fund.

• The bill is titled "Aliyah's Law" and becomes effective August 6, 2014, subject to possible referendum petition approval by voters in November 2014.