Colorado § 22-105.5-105 - Grant program eligibility - application - criteria - awards.

§ 22-105.5-105. Grant program eligibility - application - criteria - awards.

(1) To be eligible to receive a grant, an entity:

(a) Must be a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation pursuant to section 501 (c)(3) of the federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, with at least five years' experience providing affordable and comprehensive academic enrichment and related services to students in the state; and

(b) May, but is not required to, have a partnership with a school district in which the entity will provide affordable and comprehensive academic enrichment and related services to students.

(2) To receive a grant, an eligible entity must submit an application to the department. At a minimum, the application must include the following:

(a) Evidence that the entity meets the eligibility requirements described in subsection (1) of this section;

(b) Evidence of the entity's experience and ability to provide affordable and comprehensive academic enrichment and related services;

(c) Information concerning how the entity will provide academic enrichment and related services, including a specific plan to provide additional programming and services in science or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to students according to students' demonstrated needs in order to improve academic success and outcomes; and

(d) Information concerning the students that the eligible entity currently serves, or will be able to serve, as described in subsection (3)(b) of this section.

(3) (a) The department shall review the applications received pursuant to this section to determine eligibility for the grant program, and, subject to available appropriations, the state board shall award grants to eligible entities.

(b) Subject to available appropriations, the state board shall prioritize awarding grants to eligible entities that:

(I) Demonstrate that the entity currently serves, or will be able to serve with the grant award, students who are struggling in school and in need of academic enrichment;

(II) Demonstrate experience in providing academic enrichment to students;

(III) Currently serve, or will be able to serve with the grant award, students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals pursuant to the federal "Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq.;

(IV) Currently serve, or will be able to serve with the grant award, students who are English language learners;

(V) Have a primary mission to provide an out-of-school time program to students; and

(VI) Currently serve, or will be able to serve with the grant award, students at no cost if the student's family is unable to afford the program based on the student's household income.

(c) The state board shall award grants to eligible entities for a period determined by the state board. The state board shall determine the amount of the grants based on the number of students served in the out-of-school time program.

Source: L. 2024: Entire article added, (HB 24-1331), ch. 234, p. 1466, § 1, effective August 7.