CO SB178

Amends the Colorado K-5 Social and Emotional Health Pilot Program to require the Department of Education to distribute funding directly to selected pilot schools

Removes previous optional selection criteria including metropolitan districts, ethnic/cultural diversity, out-of-home placement students, adjudicated delinquent students, and diverse workforce hiring plans

Requires the State Board to adopt rules for calculating per-school funding distribution based on: student-to-counselor ratios, chronic absenteeism dropout risk, dropout rates, graduation rates, and student diversity including refugee populations

Pilot schools must still be located in districts with high youth suicide rates and serve high-poverty populations with food insecurity

Takes effect 90 days after legislative adjournment, subject to potential referendum in November 2026