CO HB1124

Rural school districts may operate under the same automatic waivers of state statutes and state board of education rules that are granted to charter schools, subject to the same restrictions and conditions.

Rural school districts must notify the state board of education of their intent to operate under automatic waivers, and waivers remain in effect until the district notifies the state board otherwise or the state board revokes them.

Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, rural school districts may request a waiver from administering the school readiness assessment to kindergarten students if they can demonstrate alternative means of measuring student progress, such as teacher observation, Colorado READ Act assessments, or other statutory requirements.

"Rural school district" is defined as a Colorado school district with approximately 6,500 or fewer students that the Department of Education determines is rural based on district size, distance from large urban areas, and student enrollment.

Rural school districts may apply for additional waivers from state statutes and rules not included in the automatic waivers list through the standard waiver process.