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March 14, 2023 HB 23-1231
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 23-0850
Rep. McLachlan; Pugliese
Sen. Marchman; Lundeen
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
March 14, 2023
House Education
Josh Abram | 303-866-3561
josh.abram@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: MATH IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☒ School District
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill requires educator training in math education, establishes a grant program to
provide free enrichment and academic supports in math, and encourages schools to
adopt strategies for improvement in math education. The bill increases state
expenditures beginning FY 2023-24.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2023-24, the bill requires an appropriation of $25.6 million to the Colorado
Department of Education.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 23-1231
Budget Year
FY 2023-24
Out Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue - -
Expenditures General Fund $25,594,530 $470,892 $466,992
Centrally Appropriated $112,146 $114,289 $114,289
Total Expenditures $25,706,676 $585,181 $581,281
Total FTE 5.8 FTE 5.9 FTE 5.0 FTE
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $3,839,180 $70,634 $70,049
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March 14, 2023 HB 23-1231
Summary of Legislation
The bill makes changes related to math education, including establishing educator training, technical
assistance, strategies for improvement, and a grant program to support math education.
Educator training. By January 2024, the bill requires that the Colorado Department of Education
(CDE) make available free, optional trainings for K-12 educators in math education using a train-the
trainer model. The training must include interventions and strategies to improve student proficiency
and assist students who are below grade level or struggling in mathematics.
The department must create and maintain a list of evidence-based curricula and assessment options
for math, and provide interventions for improving math achievement, including options that may be
available to parents remotely. If requested, CDE must provide technical assistance to rural and small
rural districts and schools, including interventions to help students struggling in math.
Local education providers. The bill requires that local education providers (LEPs) identify strategies
to assist students who are below grade level in math and set targets for increasing the student
achievement in math as part of the LEP’s annual improvement plan. The bill also encourages LEPs to
adopt procedures to support students to improve academic achievement in math, which may include
specified intervention strategies, making additional resources available to parents, and implementing
a train-the-trainer method that prepares educators to train others in best practices in math education.
Grant program. The bill creates the Colorado Academic Accelerator Grant Program in the CDE to
create community learning centers that provide free academic enrichment and support activities to
help students in science, technology, engineering, and math. Eligible grantees may include at least
one LEPs, community-based organizations, Indian tribes, or a public or private entity.
The CDE must administer the grant program based on rules adopted by the State Board of Education
(SBE). The bill establishes prioritization criteria for applicants and allowable uses for the funds. By
July 1, 2024, the CDE must contract with a third party evaluator to review and report on the impact
the grant program. The report must be submitted to the General Assembly by October 1 each year.
Funding. For FY 2023-24, the bill requires that the General Assembly appropriate $25 million to the
CDE for the grant program, with continuous spending authority through FY 2026-27. The department
may use up to five percent for monitoring and evaluation programs, and providing training and
technical assistance.
Ninth Grade Success Program. The bill changes the prioritization criteria for awarding grants from
the Ninth Grade Success Grant Program to include applicants with consistently low ranking
performance or that propose math-focused intervention strategies.
Early childhood education. The bill adds early numeracy to the continuing professional development
required of licensed preschool teachers, and requires the Department of Early Childhood to include
early numeracy in the department’s resource bank of preschool curricula.
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March 14, 2023 HB 23-1231
Higher education. The bill requires that the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE)
require educator preparation programs at institutions of higher education to train teacher candidates
in mathematics education, including interventions for students who are below grade level, who have
disabilities, or who are English language learners.
State Expenditures
For FY 2023-24, the bill increases state General Fund expenditures in CDE by $25.7 million, including
the $25 million appropriation required for the Math Accelerator Grant Program that will be spent over
several years. Expenditures for the first three fiscal years are shown in Table 2 and detailed below.
The bill also increases workload for the Department of Early Childhood and the Department of Higher
Education.
Table 2
CDE Expenditures Under HB 23-1231
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
Educator Training and Improvement Planning
Personal Services $286,245 $312,267 $312,267
Operating Expenses $4,725 $4,725 $4,725
Capital Outlay Costs $26,680 - -
Math Education Training $167,850 $150,000 $150,000
Math Curricula and Assessment Review $99,880 - -
Technical Assistance $9,150 $3,900 -
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$62,088 $67,833 $67,833
FTE – Personal Services 3.2 FTE 3.5 FTE 3.5 FTE
Training Programs Subtotal $656,618 $538,725 $534,825
Math Accelerator Grant Program
Personal Services $228,434 $213,514 $213,514
Operating Expenses $3,510 $3,240 $3,240
Capital Outlay Costs $20,010 - -
Tech Assistance and Staff Travel $20,000 $20,000 $20,000
Professional Evaluator $40,000 $40,000 $40,000
Community Learning Center Grants $5,938,046 $5,973,246 $5,973,246
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
$50,058 $46,456 $46,456
FTE – Personal Services 2.6 FTE 2.4 FTE 2.4 FTE
Grant Program Subtotal $6,300,058 $6,296,456 $6,296,456
Total $6,956,676 $6,835,181 $6,831,281
Total FTE 5.8 FTE 5.9 FTE 5.9 FTE
1
Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation. Page 4
March 14, 2023 HB 23-1231
Colorado Department of Education. The CDE will have increased expenditures for training, curricula
and assessment evaluation, grant program administration, among other tasks.
Personal services. The CDE will add a total of 5.9 FTE. Of that amount, 3.5 FTE will be in the Teaching
and Learning Unit to manage a statewide stakeholder engagement process for the curricula and
assessment review, manage a request for proposals process and oversee third party contracts for math
education training, deliver training and technical assistance in math education, and manage
modifications to the improvement planning process. CDE will also add 2.4 FTE across several units
to develop, implement, and manage the Math Accelerator Grant Program, including a program
manager, program assistant, and administrative and accounting staff. Personal services cost includes
standard operating and capital outlay costs. FTE and costs have been prorated in FY 2023-24 for the
General Fund pay date shift, and also account for staff time associated with establishing the grant
program.
Math education training. CDE will procure web-based and in-person train-the-trainer programs for
schools and districts that request it. Assuming that 75 schools or districts request the training at a per-
educator cost of $200, total expenses are estimated at $150,000.
Curricula and assessment review. The bill requires that CDE consult with stakeholders to create and
publish evidence based curricula and assessments for math education. Cost estimates are based on
the department’s experience with outreach and stakeholder engagement necessary to implement the
READ Act, and includes convening stakeholders, staff and stakeholder travel and lodging, venue
rental, and substitute teachers.
Professional evaluation. The bill requires that CDE engage a contract evaluator for the grant program,
estimated at $40,000 annually.
Community learning center grants. Grants to LEPs, community-based organizations, and consortia is
the largest cost component of the grant program. Assuming an initial appropriation of $25 million,
and accounting for administrative expenses to create and implement the grant program, about
$6.0 million is available annually for grants to create community learning centers. The actual amount
of grant awards and the fiscal year of expenditures must be determined by the department.
Department of Early Childhood. The bill increases workload for the Department of Early Childhood
to incorporate early numeracy into the rules for early childhood professional development.
Department of Higher Education. The bill increases workload for the Department of Higher
Education to incorporate math training into education preparation program requirements.
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.
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March 14, 2023 HB 23-1231
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. Based on this fiscal note, the
bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the amounts shown in
Table 1, decreasing the amount of General Fund available for other purposes.
School District
School district workload increases to provide additional training opportunities to educators, engage
as stakeholders in development of math curricula and assessment lists, and to modify elements of
school and district improvement planning. LEPs that create a community learning center will have
grant assistance from CDE available to implement additional math interventions and supports for
students.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his signature.
State Appropriations
For FY 2023-24, the bill requires a General Fund appropriation of $25,594,530 to the Colorado
Department of Education, and 5.8 FTE.
State and Local Government Contacts
Education Early Childhood Education Higher Education
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.