CO SB122

Creates the Empowerment Scholarship Program in the Department of Education to provide scholarships for eligible students to pursue alternative educational opportunities outside public schools.

Transfers 80% of the statewide average district per pupil funding to an administering entity for each eligible student, prorated if the student enrolls after the budget year begins.

Eligible students include Colorado residents in grades K-12 who withdraw from public school enrollment and meet one of five criteria: have a disability requiring special education, have a 504 accommodation, live on a federally recognized Indian reservation, are or were in foster care, or are siblings of students with existing accounts.

Scholarship accounts can be used only for defined eligible expenses including nonpublic school tuition, home-based education costs, tutoring, standardized tests, industry credentials, before/after-school programs, and special education services.

Requires annual audits by the Department of Education to ensure eligible students meet program requirements and parents spent funds only on eligible expenses, with legal action to recover any illegally distributed funds.