HB 18-1002: Rural Colorado Grow Your Own Educator Act

• Creates teaching fellowship programs allowing rural school districts and higher education institutions to jointly train teacher candidates in their final year of educator preparation programs for guaranteed employment upon graduation.

• Provides $10,000 annual stipends to up to 100 teaching fellows per year, split 50% from state and 50% from participating institutions as state-based financial aid.

• Requires teaching fellows to commit to at least two full school years of employment with the rural school district; fellows must repay their stipend if they do not complete the employment commitment.

• Teaching fellows receive individualized preparation matching rural district needs, are assigned experienced supervising teachers, and are included in professional development and induction programs.

• Appropriates $530,448 to the Department of Higher Education for the 2018-19 fiscal year to implement rural teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development activities.