Colorado § 23-3.3-1304 - Receipt and use of state funding.

§ 23-3.3-1304. Receipt and use of state funding.

(1) To receive state funding pursuant to the pilot program, an eligible graduate must graduate early from a high school participating in the pilot program. An eligible graduate who graduates early during the 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, or 2024-25 school year must commence a postsecondary program within eighteen months after graduating early, or the eligible graduate forfeits the state funding. An eligible graduate who graduates early during the 2025-26 school year must commence a postsecondary program no later than December 31, 2026, or the eligible graduate forfeits the state funding.

(2) (a) The department shall disburse state funding on behalf of the eligible graduate to the eligible graduate's postsecondary program within thirty business days after a request is made in the manner determined pursuant to commission policies and department guidelines. The eligible graduate's postsecondary program shall remit to the eligible graduate that portion of state funding remaining after payment of tuition, fees, and other expenses related to the student's cost of attendance that are payable to the postsecondary program. The eligible graduate shall use remaining state funding for the purposes described in subsection (2)(b) of this section. Notwithstanding any other requirements of this section, the department shall make all disbursements to eligible graduates' postsecondary programs required pursuant to this subsection (2)(a) no later than the close of the 2026-27 state fiscal year.

(b) State funding received pursuant to the pilot program must be used for tuition, fees, books, transportation, and other expenses associated with the eligible graduate's cost of attendance, as defined in section 23-3.3-1002, at the postsecondary program, as determined by the department pursuant to federal law, as well as any equipment needed to pursue work-based learning training.

(c) The postsecondary program shall ensure that the state funding is used in accordance with the requirements of this section. The department shall disseminate guidelines to participating postsecondary programs clearly describing the allowable uses of state funding under this section and establishing the expectation that the postsecondary programs ensure appropriate use of state funding.

(3) In order to receive funding as a postsecondary program pursuant to this part 13, the postsecondary program must have qualified instructors consistent with the postsecondary program's accreditation or authorization, and:

(a) A training program provider must be in compliance with all eligibility and quality requirements for funding under the federal "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act", 29 U.S.C. sec. 3101 et seq., referred to in this section as "WIOA", and be subject to the equal opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements of WIOA and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 38; and

(b) An institution of higher education shall comply with all state and local safety requirements and with federal laws prohibiting discriminating against students, including Title IX of the "Education Amendments of 1972", the "Americans with Disabilities Act", section 504 of the "Rehabilitation Act of 1973", Title VI of the "Civil Rights Act of 1964", and the "Age Discrimination Act of 1975", and any other federal discrimination statutes.

Source: L. 2021: Entire part added, (SB 21-106), ch. 486, p. 3481, § 5, effective July 7. L. 2026: (1) and (2)(a) amended, (HB 26-1176), ch. 20, p. 99, § 3, effective March 26.