HOUSE BILL 23-1198
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Titone and Lukens, Amabile, Bacon, Bird,
Boesenecker, Brown, deGruy Kennedy, Duran, English, Froelich, Garcia,
Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hamrick, Herod, Jodeh, Joseph, Kipp, Lieder, Lindsay,
Mabrey, McCormick, McLachlan, Michaelson Jenet, Ortiz, Ricks, Sharbini,
Story, Valdez, Velasco, Vigil, Willford, Woodrow, Young, McCluskie;
also SENATOR(S) Rich, Baisley, Ginal, Moreno, Mullica, Pelton B.,
Simpson, Will.
C
ONCERNING A STATEWIDE TEACHER EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE TEACHERS WORK
-BASED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN SPECIFIED DISCIPLINES
, AND, IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH
, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-83-601, amend (15);
and add (4.5), (5.5), (5.7), (10.5), and (12.5) as follows:
8-83-601. Definitions. As used in this part 6:
(4.5) "E
XTERNSHIP PROGRAM" MEANS THE STATEWIDE TEACHER
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM CREATED IN SECTION
8-83-602.5.
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act. (5.5) "K-12 TEACHER" OR "TEACHER IN A K-12 CLASSROOM" MEANS
A TEACHER TEACHING IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE
.
(5.7) "L
OCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER" MEANS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, A
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES THAT OPERATES A SCHOOL
, A DISTRICT
CHARTER SCHOOL
, OR AN INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL.
(10.5) "P
UBLIC SCHOOL" MEANS A SCHOOL IN THE STATE THAT
ENROLLS STUDENTS IN ANY OF GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH
GRADE
, INCLUDING A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT ,
AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-1-101 (1); A CHARTER SCHOOL, AS DEFINED IN
SECTION
22-30.5-103 (2); OR AN INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL, AS DEFINED
IN SECTION
22-30.5-502 (6).
(12.5) "STEM"
MEANS THE COMBINATION OF THE DISCIPLINES OF
SCIENCE
, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.
(15) (a) "Work-based learning" means learning that occurs, in whole
or in part, in the workplace that provides youth and adults,
INCLUDING
TEACHERS IN
K-12 CLASSROOMS, with hands-on, real-world experience and
training for skills development.
(b) "Work-based learning" includes activities such as job
shadowing, internships, externships, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships,
residencies, and incumbent-worker training.
(c) "W
ORK-BASED LEARNING" ALSO INCLUDES EXTERNSHIPS IN
STEM OR STEM-RELATED FIELDS TAILORED TO PROVIDE K-12 TEACHERS
WITH KNOWLEDGE TO IMPROVE CLASSROOM CURRICULUM
.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 8-83-602.5 as
follows:
8-83-602.5. Teacher externship program - creation - rules -
repeal. (1) (a) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2024, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
ESTABLISH A TEACHER EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE WORK
-BASED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
K-12 TEACHERS IN THIS STATE. THE PURPOSE
OF THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS FOR
K-12 TEACHERS TO IMMERSE
THEMSELVES IN A
STEM OR STEM-RELATED FIELD, OR OTHER FIELDS THAT
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 23-1198 WILL PROVIDE VALUE TO K-12 TEACHERS, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR
CLASSROOM CURRICULUMS IN A
STEM OR STEM-RELATED AREA AND
FOSTER STUDENT INTEREST IN JOBS AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT
STUDENTS MAY NOT BE EXPOSED TO WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE THEIR
K-12
TEACHERS GAIN THROUGH AN EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM .
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE EXTERNSHIP
PROGRAM MODEL AND DEVELOP CONSISTENCY IN OFFERING THE ABILITY FOR
K-12 TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN AN EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO APPLY FOR
GRADUATE CREDITS THROUGH AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
,
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDITS , AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT CREDITS
.
(2) (a) I
N ADMINISTERING THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM , THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO
STRIVE TO CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
K-12 TEACHERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN WORK
-BASED LEARNING. THE
DEPARTMENT MAY USE WORK
-BASED LEARNING INTERMEDIARIES SELECTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION
8-83-602 (3) TO AID IN CREATING AND FINDING
WORK
-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR K-12 TEACHERS.
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALSO COLLABORATE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM STANDARDS
CONCERNING
:
(I) T
HE NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED IN AN EXTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITY
;
(II) Q
UALIFICATIONS FOR K-12 TEACHER AND EMPLOYER
PARTICIPATION IN THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
; AND
(III) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS
TO RECEIVE DIRECT PAYMENTS
.
(c) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO SELECT APPROPRIATE EMPLOYERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT :
(I) E
ACH EMPLOYER SELECTED FOR THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS
ABLE TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCE IN A
STEM OR STEM-RELATED FIELD OR IN
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 23-1198 OTHER APPROPRIATE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS AS DETERMINED BY EACH
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT HAS A
K-12 TEACHER WHO WOULD LIKE
TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
; AND
(II) THE K-12 TEACHERS WHO ARE PLACED WITH EACH EMPLOYER
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED
TO THE CLASSROOM TO PROVIDE RELEVANT AND CURRENT INFORMATION TO
STUDENTS IN SUBJECT MATTERS THAT PROVIDE VALUE TO THE
K-12
TEACHER'S LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER.
(3) F
OR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYERS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
, THE DEPARTMENT MAY
ALLOCATE MONEY DIRECTLY TO LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS FOR TEACHER
COMPENSATION AND TO WORK
-BASED INTERMEDIARIES, IF APPLICABLE, TO
DEFRAY THE COSTS OF PLACING A
K-12 TEACHER IN AN EXTERNSHIP WITH AN
EMPLOYER
.
(4) A
K-12 TEACHER WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE EXTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
:
(a) M
AY BE COMPENSATED BY THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER ,
EMPLOYER, OR ANOTHER ENTITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE EXTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
; AND
(b) MAY APPLY FOR, AS APPLICABLE:
(I) P
ROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT AS REQUIRED BY SECTION
22-60.5-110 FOR LICENSE RENEWAL;
(II) G
RADUATE CREDITS THROUGH AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR
UNIVERSITY
; AND
(III) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDITS .
(5) (a) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL GATHER THE FOLLOWING DATA
REGARDING THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
:
(I) T
HE NUMBER OF EMPLOYER PARTICIPANTS ;
(II) T
HE NUMBER OF K-12 TEACHER PARTICIPANTS;
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 23-1198 (III) THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS WITH K-12 TEACHERS
PARTICIPATING IN THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
; AND
(IV) A REVIEW FROM EACH K-12 TEACHER WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON THE VALUE FOUND IN
THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
.
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT THIS DATA ON ITS WEBSITE AT
LEAST ANNUALLY AND SHALL SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
.
(6) T
HE DIRECTOR MAY SEEK AND ACCEPT GIFTS , GRANTS, AND
DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE PURPOSES OF
PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
.
(7) I
F A TEACHER PARTICIPATING IN THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS
SUBJECT TO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OR MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE TEACHER
'S SALARY AND THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OR MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING IS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS SECTION
, THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT OR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TAKES
PRECEDENT OVER ANY PAYMENT AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION
.
(8) T
HE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT MAY
PROMULGATE RULES TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION
.
(9) T
HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-60.5-110, amend
(3)(b) introductory portion as follows:
22-60.5-110. Renewal of licenses. (3) (b) A professional licensee
shall complete such
THE ongoing professional development within the
period of time for which such THE professional license is valid. Such THE
professional development may include but need not be limited to in-service education programs, including training in preventing, identifying, and responding to child sexual abuse and assault; behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma- and evidence-informed; and laws and practices relating to the education of students with disabilities in the
PAGE 5-HOUSE BILL 23-1198 classroom, including but not limited to child find and inclusive learning
environments; college or university credit from an accepted institution of
higher education or a community, technical, or local district college;
educational travel that meets the requirements specified in subsection (3)(d)
of this section; involvement in school reform; service as a mentor teacher
for teacher candidates participating in clinical practice, as defined in section
23-78-103; internships; and
ongoing professional development training and
experiences;
AND TEACHER EXTERNSHIPS PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-83-602.5.
The state board of education, by rule, may establish minimum criteria for
professional development; except that such
THE criteria shall not:
SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year,
$223,039 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment for use
by the division of employment and training. This appropriation is from the
general fund and is based on an assumption that the division will require an
additional 0.8 FTE. To implement this act, the division may use this
appropriation for the STEM teacher externship program. Any money
appropriated in this section not expended prior to July 1, 2024, is further
appropriated to the division for the 2024-25 state fiscal year for the same
purpose.
SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
PAGE 6-HOUSE BILL 23-1198 November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official
declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
____________________________ ____________________________
Julie McCluskie Steve Fenberg
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
____________________________ ____________________________
Robin Jones Cindi L. Markwell
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 7-HOUSE BILL 23-1198