CO SB258

Transfers authorization and oversight of Colorado educator preparation programs from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to the Department of Education and State Board of Education effective after the 90-day period following legislative adjournment.

Establishes new statutory section 22-60.5-121 creating comprehensive requirements for educator preparation programs including content standards, clinical experience minimums (800 hours for teachers, 300 hours for principals), reading instruction, special education, behavioral health training, and mathematics instruction for elementary and secondary educators.

Creates a seven-member advisory committee to provide input on educator preparation program authorization, reauthorization, endorsement areas, standards development, and strategies to increase educator diversity and support Colorado's hiring needs.

Requires the Department of Education to conduct periodic reviews of educator preparation programs on a five-year cycle with authority to grant approval, conditional approval, probationary status, or deny approval based on minimum requirements and quality standards.

Appropriates $108,990 from the educator licensure cash fund for the 2023-24 fiscal year to support 0.8 FTE in the Department of Education's Office of Professional Services to administer the new consolidation.