Colorado § 22-1-153 - Access to opportunity task force - creation - members - duties - report - definitions - repeal.

§ 22-1-153. Access to opportunity task force - creation - members - duties - report - definitions - repeal.

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Department" means the department of education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115.

(b) "Opportunity gaps" means disparities in students' access to educational opportunities and disparities in academic outcomes, including, but not limited to, achievement, growth, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness, experienced by groups of students based on factors such as race, socioeconomic status, geography, disability status, and English learner status. Such disparities may be influenced by differences in access to necessary supports inside and outside the classroom, high-quality instruction, stable learning environments, and qualified educators, as well as by school, district, and state-level policies and practices.

(c) "Rural public school" means a public school in Colorado that the department determines is rural based on the geographic size of the public school's school district and the distance from the nearest large, urbanized area, and the total student enrollment of the school district is six thousand five hundred or fewer students.

(d) "State board" means the state board of education created and existing pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution.

(2) The access to opportunity task force is created in the department to study how to expand access to effective public schools and practices for every Colorado student.

(3) The access to opportunity task force consists of members appointed as follows:

(a) The president of the senate shall appoint the following members:

(I) One member who is a representative of the state board;

(II) One member who is a representative of a community organization with a focus on closing opportunity gaps;

(III) One member who is a metro Denver school leader at a Colorado public school with a demonstrated track record of meaningfully narrowing opportunity gaps; and

(IV) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that represents educators;

(b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the following members:

(I) One member who is a school leader at a rural public school;

(II) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that represents teachers;

(III) One member who is a representative of a statewide parent organization that focuses on education policy and closing opportunity gaps; and

(IV) One member who is a representative of an organization that works directly with or at a facility school;

(c) The house of representatives minority leader shall appoint the following members:

(I) One member who is a school leader at a public school in southern Colorado with a demonstrated track record of meaningfully narrowing opportunity gaps;

(II) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that represents superintendents; and

(III) One member who is a school teacher in a Colorado public school classroom with a demonstrated track record of meaningfully narrowing opportunity gaps;

(d) The senate minority leader shall appoint the following members:

(I) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that focuses on education policy and closing opportunity gaps;

(II) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that represents educators with a particular focus on education policy and closing opportunity gaps; and

(III) One member who is a school leader at a Colorado public school that is a community school as defined in section 22-32.5-103 and that has a demonstrated track record of meaningfully narrowing opportunity gaps;

(e) The governor shall appoint the following members:

(I) One member who is a representative of the governor's office;

(II) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that represents charter schools;

(III) One member who is a school leader at a public school in northern Colorado with a demonstrated track record of meaningfully narrowing opportunity gaps; and

(IV) One member who is a recent graduate of a Colorado public high school with a demonstrated track record of meaningfully narrowing opportunity gaps; and

(f) The commissioner of education, or their designee, shall appoint one representative of the department who focuses on addressing opportunity gaps.

(4) The appointing authorities shall make their initial appointments to the task force no later than July 1, 2026.

(5) Each member of the task force serves at the pleasure of their respective appointing official. If a task force vacancy occurs, the original appointing authority shall, within fourteen days after the vacancy, appoint a new task force member who satisfies the membership requirements of the vacated seat.

(6) Task force members do not receive compensation or reimbursement for expenses.

(7) (a) The task force shall allow for remote participation in each meeting of the task force.

(b) The commissioner of education, or their designee, shall convene the first meeting of the task force no later than one month after the commissioner of education, or their designee, has determined that the task force has received an amount of gifts, grants, and donations sufficient to begin its work described in this section or July 31, 2026, whichever is later.

(c) At or before the first task force meeting, the president of the senate shall appoint the task force chair and the speaker of the house shall appoint the task force vice-chair. The chair of the task force shall convene the task force meetings after the first meeting. The task force shall meet at least four times and shall complete its duties no later than January 1, 2027.

(8) The department shall contract with an independent third-party entity to facilitate task force meetings, assist in conducting the study required pursuant to subsection (10) of this section, and prepare a written report summarizing the study's findings and the recommendations of the task force issued pursuant to subsection (12) of this section. The independent third-party entity must be a preapproved vendor from the department's price agreement list.

(9) The department shall provide information and staff support, other than the staff support provided by the third-party entity described in subsection (8) of this section, to the task force and third-party entity upon the request of the task force chair to the extent necessary for the task force to complete its duties described in this section. The department shall provide the third party secure access to data currently collected by the department to allow the third party to compile, analyze, and provide to the task force the data necessary to consider the issues described in subsection (10) of this section.

(10) The study conducted by the task force must consider:

(a) The current state of opportunity gaps across Colorado, identifying where gaps are geographically most prevalent and persistent, and the disaggregated subgroups of students most impacted by the gaps;

(b) The Colorado public schools and districts with a demonstrated track record of closing opportunity gaps based on academic outcomes as a necessary starting point, with the understanding that opportunity gaps are influenced by multiple factors and that the task force may choose to consider additional sources of data that emphasize student success and well-being;

(c) The programs, strategies, practices, and conditions, including, but not necessarily limited to, conditions of policy, resource allocation, community involvement, school philosophy, and school climate, of the schools and districts identified in subsection (10)(b) of this section that most contribute to success in closing opportunity gaps;

(d) The nonfinancial barriers that prevent effective schools and practices from being replicated and expanded across Colorado and what policy changes are necessary to remove those barriers within existing resources;

(e) States and new approaches to schools and schooling that have demonstrated promise and sustained progress in closing opportunity gaps and what policies and practices have enabled them to be successful in closing opportunity gaps; and

(f) How Colorado can redesign its education system to better support innovation, continuous improvement, and future-ready learning models while maintaining accountability for academic outcomes.

(11) (a) The intent of the general assembly is that the cost of implementation of this section is funded entirely by gifts, grants, and donations and that further gifts, grants, and donations continue throughout the course of the study. The general assembly shall not appropriate money from the general fund for the implementation of this section.

(b) The department may accept and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources to implement this section. The task force shall not implement this section unless the department receives an amount of gifts, grants, and donations that the commissioner of education, or their designee, deems necessary to implement this section. Within thirty days after receipt of a gift, grant, or donation, the department shall post on its website the source and amount of the gift, grant, or donation received in support of the task force.

(c) The study and written report described in subsections (10) and (12) of this section are contingent on money being available to carry out the study and the written report. If money is not available for the task force or for the third-party entity described in subsection (8) of this section to carry out the duties required pursuant to this section, the task force or the entity is not required to carry out its duties. A contract with a third-party entity contracted with pursuant to subsection (8) of this section that provides services related to facilitation and the study and written report is contingent on gifts, grants, and donations being available for that purpose.

(12) On or before January 1, 2027, the task force shall submit a written report with findings and recommendations to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees; the governor; the state board; the commissioner of education; and the department. The written report must include a minority report if one is requested by a member of the task force. If the first meeting of the task force is not until after July 31, 2026, the deadline to complete the written report required pursuant to this section must be adjusted to allow five months between the first meeting and the written report deadline.

(13) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

Source: L. 2026: Entire section added, (SB 26-170), ch. 410, p. 2576, § 1, effective June 4.

ARTICLE 2

Department - Commissioner

PART 1

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - COMMISSIONER

22-2-101. Short title.

22-2-102. Definitions.

22-2-103. Department of education.

22-2-104. Offices and positions - nature.

22-2-105. State board of education - composition.

22-2-105.5. State board of education - definitions - vacancies - procedure for filling.

22-2-106. State board - duties - rules.

22-2-106.5. State board - duties with regard to student data - memorandum of understanding.

22-2-107. State board - power.

22-2-108. Federal financial assistance.

22-2-109. State board of education - additional duties - teacher standards - principal standards - rules.

22-2-110. Commissioner of education - oath - qualifications - tenure.

22-2-111. Commissioner of education - office - records - confidential nature.

22-2-112. Commissioner - duties - report - legislative declaration.

22-2-113. Commissioner - powers.

22-2-113.5. Educational programs for pupils in foster homes or placed by child placement agencies - study - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-113.8. Department of education - additional local revenues - distribution to schools - annual report.

22-2-114. Department of education - special programs. (Repealed)

22-2-114.1. Dropout rates - collection of data on grades seven through twelve.

22-2-115. Early childhood education program - study - report to general assembly. (Repealed)

22-2-116. Additional power - waiver of reporting requirements - review of reporting requirements.

22-2-116.5. Department of education - student-level course completion data.

22-2-117. Additional power - state board - waiver of requirements - rules.

22-2-118. Department of education - study of school district administration and staffing patterns. (Repealed)

22-2-119. Department of education - inquiries concerning prospective employees - background investigation fee.

22-2-119.3. Department of education - educator preparation program students - record check - fee - definitions.

22-2-119.5. Department of education - duty to report - convictions.

22-2-120. Department of education - study of optimum school size and the feasibility of school district reorganization. (Repealed)

22-2-121. Department of education - funding for national academic award winners. (Repealed)

22-2-121.5. National academic contest fund - balance of moneys - transfer. (Repealed)

22-2-122. Grants to schools and school districts.

22-2-122.5. COVID-19 learning impacts - extended learning opportunities - funding - combined application, reporting, and evaluation process - rules - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-123. Eligible facilities education task force - creation - membership - duties - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-124. Family literacy education grant program - rules - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-125. Loan program for capital improvements in growth school districts - use of public school fund.

22-2-126. On-line education programs - study - report - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-127. Financial literacy - resource bank - technical assistance - definitions - appropriation.

22-2-127.1. Stipends for financial aid training - definitions - appropriation - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-127.3. Holocaust and genocide studies - resource bank - technical assistance - definitions.

22-2-127.4. Black historical and cultural studies - advisory committee - resource bank - technical assistance - definitions.

22-2-127.5. Computer science programs - resource bank.

22-2-127.7. Marijuana education materials - resource bank - technical assistance.

22-2-127.8. Social media impacts on mental health education literacy - resource bank - technical assistance - reporting - definition.

22-2-127.9. Mental health education literacy - resource bank - technical assistance.

22-2-128. Department of education - reciprocal agreements with adjacent states - report.

22-2-129. Department of education - approved supplemental education services providers - list. (Repealed)

22-2-130. Supplemental online education grant program - legislative declaration - definitions - creation - eligibility - award - fund.

22-2-131. Data technology system - comprehensive review - requirements - report - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-132. Department of education - career and technical education authorization - rules.

22-2-133. Assessment and identification of students with literacy challenges including dyslexia - training and technical assistance - collaboration with higher education - report.

22-2-134. Unique student identifier - early childhood education - rules. (Repealed)

22-2-134.5. Early childhood education programs - quality rating system - report. (Repealed)

22-2-135. Food allergy and anaphylaxis management - rules.

22-2-136. Additional duty - state board - individual career and academic plans - standards - rules.

22-2-137. State schools - legislative declaration - feasibility study - authority to contract - funding.

22-2-138. State environmental education plan - fund created.

22-2-139. Memorandum of understanding - notification of risk - rules.

22-2-140. Digital learning study - legislative declaration - definitions - notice of funding through gifts, grants, and donations - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-141. Early literacy assessment tool - request for proposals - software - hardware - training - distribution - legislative declaration.

22-2-142. (Reserved)

22-2-143. Discipline strategies pilot program - created - reporting - rules - definitions - legislative declaration - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-144. Bullying prevention and education policies - short title - study.

22-2-145. Media literacy - committee - report - strategic plan - resource bank - definition - rules.

22-2-146. Department of education - COVID-19-related education loss - strategies - resources - legislative declaration.

22-2-146.5. Department of education - improving mathematics outcomes - training and technical assistance - report - definitions.

22-2-146.6. Colorado academic accelerator grant program - report - rules - definitions - repeal.

22-2-146.8. Department of education - improving science outcomes - teacher professional development - report - appropriation - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal.

22-2-147. Menstrual hygiene products accessibility grant program - eligibility - report - rules - definitions.

22-2-148. Secondary school student substance use - committee - definitions - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-149. Summer electronic benefits transfer for children program - duties.

22-2-150. Department of education - implementation of oral health screening statewide - report - definitions - repeal.

PART 2

SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT

22-2-201 to

22-2-203. (Repealed)

PART 3

DATA REPORTING AND TECHNOLOGY

22-2-301. Short title.

22-2-302. Legislative declaration.

22-2-303. Definitions.

22-2-304. Education data advisory committee - creation - duties - approval.

22-2-305. Data dictionary - legislative declaration - creation - contents - report.

22-2-306. Advance notice - legislative declaration - data collection - data submission changes - website update - submission windows.

22-2-307. Data reporting requirements - interpretation of federal law - suspension - information on required data.

22-2-308. Data reporting requirements - office of legislative legal services.

22-2-309. Student data - accessibility - transparency - accountability - short title - definitions. (Repealed)

22-2-310. Data reporting - instructional hours - report.

22-2-311. Colorado statewide longitudinal data system - postsecondary workforce readiness programs.

PART 4

FACILITY SCHOOLS UNIT

22-2-401. Legislative declaration.

22-2-402. Definitions.

22-2-403. Office of facility schools - created.

22-2-404. Facility schools board - created - membership.

22-2-405. Facility schools office - duties.

22-2-406. Facility schools board duties - curriculum - graduation standards - report - rules.

22-2-407. List of approved facility schools - application - criteria - rules.

22-2-407.5. Facility schools - sustainable model of education for facility students - work group - created - membership - duties - reporting requirements - funding.

22-2-408. Approved facility schools - funding.

22-2-409. Notification of risk.

22-2-410. Administration - licensing - reports.

22-2-411. Shared operational services grant program - creation - report - rules - definitions - repeal. (Repealed)

22-2-412. Technical assistance center - creation - definitions.

PART 5

TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

22-2-501. Legislative declaration.

22-2-502. Definitions.

22-2-503. Teaching and learning conditions survey.

22-2-504. National certification compensation - definition - study.

22-2-505. Minority teacher recruitment - short title - legislative declaration - study - report. (Repealed)

PART 1

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - COMMISSIONER

Editor's note: This part 1 was numbered as article 1 of chapter 123, C.R.S. 1963. The substantive provisions of this part 1 were repealed and reenacted in 1964, resulting in the addition, relocation, and elimination of sections as well as subject matter. For amendments to this part 1 prior to 1964, consult the Colorado statutory research explanatory note beginning on page vii in the front of this volume.