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January 31, 2022 HB 22-1002
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 22-0436
Rep. Weissman; Bacon
Sen. Buckner
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
January 31, 2022
House Education
Anna Gerstle | 303-866-4375
Anna.Gerstle@state.co.us
Bill Topic: FIFTH YEAR HIGH SCHOOL CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☒ School District
The bill makes changes to the ASCENT program, including removing the cap on the
number of participating students. The bill increases state expenditures and school
district revenue and expenditures on an ongoing basis.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2022-23, the bill requires an appropriation of $3.67 million to the Colorado
Department of Education.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 22-1002
Budget Year
FY 2022-23
Out Year
FY 2023-24
Revenue
- -
Expenditures General Fund $3,671,597 $5,375,834
Centrally Appropriated $8,259 $8,556
Total Expenditures $3,679,856 $5,384,390
Total FTE 0.5 FTE 0.5 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $550,740 $806,375
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January 31, 2022 HB 22-1002
Summary of Legislation
The bill modifies the Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment (ASCENT) program,
which allows selected students to enroll in postsecondary courses and be included in a local education
provider’s (LEP) pupil enrollment during the year following the student’s fourth year of high school.
Participating students. The number of participating students, which is determined through the
budget process, is currently capped at 500 students. Students must be designated by the Colorado
Department of Education (CDE) to participate. The bill removes the limit on the number of students
who can participate, and allows the LEP to designate eligible students for participation instead of the
CDE.
The bill reduces the number of credit hours of postsecondary work ASCENT students are required to
complete prior to the student’s twelfth grade year from 12 to 6. LEPs must report to CDE the estimated
number of ASCENT participants for the upcoming school year, and CDE must report the total
estimated participants to the General Assembly as part of its budget request.
Non-tuition costs. Beginning in FY 2022-23, CDE must distribute to each LEP an amount equal to
3 percent of the per pupil extended high school funding amount for each participating ASCENT
student. The LEP must make this amount available to reimburse students for non-tuition expenses,
such as books, fees, and transportation. If the General Assembly does not appropriate a sufficient
amount to fund these distributions, CDE must reduce each LEP’s distribution by the same percentage.
The bill requires the Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board to adjust its policies to allow an LEP to
apply to CDE for a waiver allowing students to participate in the ASCENT program in their second
year after twelfth grade if certain criteria are met. It also modifies reporting requirements and College
Opportunity Fund provisions to align with the changes to the ASCENT program.
Repayment for concurrent enrollment courses. The bill repeals provisions requiring students who
do not complete concurrent enrollment courses to repay the amount of tuition paid by the LEP on the
student’s behalf.
Assumptions
The fiscal note assumes that 400 additional students in FY 2022-23, and 575 additional students in
FY 2023-24 will participate in the ASCENT program. This is based on the following data and
assumptions:
on average, LEPs have requested 795 slots in each of the last four years, or 295 more than the
500 slots that have been available;
lowering the number of credit hours that must be completed will increase the number of
participants; and
due to the initial implementation time frame, the initial increase in participating students will
occur over two years.
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January 31, 2022 HB 22-1002
The fiscal note assumes that beginning in FY 2023-24, funding for the program will be based on the
actual number of expected participants, as reported to CDE by LEPs, and actual extended high school
per pupil funding after the application of the budget stabilization factor. The fiscal note assumes that
the budget stabilization factor will remain constant at the FY 2021-22 level set in the 2022 supplemental
school finance bill, as approved by the Joint Budget Committee.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in CDE by $3.7 million in FY 2022-23 and $5.4 million in
FY 2023-24. Expenditures are shown in Table 2 and detailed below. Expenditures are from the
General Fund.
Table 2
Expenditures Under HB 22-1002
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24
Department of Education
Personal Services $36,238 $39,533
Operating Expenses $675 $675
Capital Outlay Costs $6,200 -
State Share of School Finance $3,399,048 $5,052,260
Distributions for Non-Tuition Expenses $229,436 $283,366
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$8,259 $8,556
Total Cost $3,679,856 $5,384,390
Total FTE 0.5 FTE 0.5 FTE
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation.
Colorado Department of Education. Beginning in FY 2022-23, CDE requires 0.5 FTE in the Office of
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness to support the expanded program, including providing
technical assistance, guidance, and outreach to additional districts, supporting data collection and
reporting, handling participation requests, and supporting districts that expand concurrent
enrollment opportunities. Standard operating and capital outlay costs are included; personal services
in FY 2022-23 are prorated for the General Fund paydate shift.
School finance. By increasing participation in the ASCENT program, the bill increases the state share
of school finance. ASCENT students are funded at a standard rate, expected to be $8,498 in FY 2022-23,
and $8,787 in FY 2023-24, after application of the budget stabilization factor. Assuming 400 additional
students participate in FY 2022-23, and 575 additional students participate in FY 2023-24, the bill
increases the state share of school finance by $3.4 million in FY 2022-23, and by $5.0 million in
FY 2023-24. The state share of school finance is paid from a combination of General Fund and State
Education Fund.
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January 31, 2022 HB 22-1002
Distributions for non-tuition expenses. The bill requires that the CDE distribute an amount equal to
3 percent of the per-pupil extended high school funding amount to LEPs to reimburse each student
for non-tuition expenses. This amount is estimated at $229,436 in FY 2022-23, and $283,366 in
FY 2023-24, based on estimated extended high school per pupil funding rates after the budget
stabilization factor, and assumed program participation. This amount is estimated at $255 per
ASCENT student in FY 2022-23.
Institutions of higher education. Institutions of higher education that provide concurrent enrollment
to students through the ASCENT program will have additional enrollment and tuition revenue from
expansion of the program. State funding for institutions of higher education is partially allocated
based on changes in enrollment and degrees awarded. To the extent the bill increases enrollment and
degrees awarded, an institution's allocation of state funding may increase. No change in
appropriations for higher education is required.
Centrally appropriated costs. Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs associated
with this bill are addressed through the annual budget process and centrally appropriated in the Long
Bill or supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These costs, which include employee
insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments, are shown in Table 2.
Other Budget Impacts
General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund
appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve beginning in FY 2022-23. Based
on this fiscal note, the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by
$550,740 in FY 2022-23, and by $806,375 in FY 2023-24, which will decrease the amount of General
Fund available for other purposes. Should the expenditures be paid out of the State Education Fund,
the General Fund reserve requirements will not apply.
School District
The bill increases revenue and expenditures for school districts whose students participate in
ASCENT. Districts will have additional workload to designate participating students, conduct
outreach, and support students enrolling in postsecondary opportunities, as well as to distribute
funds to the institutions of higher education. Districts will also receive extended high school funding
for those students through the school finance formula, and an allocation of funding to reimburse
students for non-tuition expenses. This amount is estimated at $255 per ASCENT student in
FY 2022-23, or 3 percent of the extended high school per pupil funding rate, after the application of
the budget stabilization factor. Districts will see a minimal reduction in workload and revenue, as
parents are no longer required to reimburse the district for the cost of tuition if their student does not
complete the course.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his signature.
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January 31, 2022 HB 22-1002
State Appropriations
For FY 2022-23, the bill requires a General Fund appropriation of $3,671,597 to the Colorado
Department of Education, and 0.5 FTE. Of this amount, $3,399,048 is for the state share of school
finance.
State and Local Government Contacts
Education Higher Education School Districts
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit: leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes.