CO HB1282

Establishes a Ninth-Grade Success Grant Program providing $2,000,000 annually from the State Education Fund to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2024-25 through 2027-28.

Requires reporting beginning March 15, 2026, on ninth-grade performance including the number and percentage of first-time ninth-grade students who fail to earn at least four core credits or fail one or more core credits, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, English language learner status, and individualized education program status at the school, district, and state levels.

Designates the program funding as an accountable program to meet state academic standards, allowing it to draw from the State Education Fund under Article IX, Section 17(4) of the Colorado Constitution.

Appropriates $74,950 for technology services and $1,925,050 for the grant program administration, with a reduction of $792,444 and 0.6 FTE from existing general fund appropriations.

Makes one-time technology-associated costs in fiscal year 2024-25 exempt from administrative spending caps and repeals this exemption effective January 1, 2026.