Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 24-0417.02 Jacob Baus x2173
HOUSE BILL 24-1305
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING CHANGES TO PROGRAM S TO BENEFIT STUDENTS WHO101
EARN POSTSECONDARY COURSE CREDIT WHILE ENROLLED IN102
HIGH SCHOOL.103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill expands the types of programs a pathways in technology
early college high school (p-tech school) may focus on beyond science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Under current law, the college opportunity fund program provides
a stipend for eligible undergraduate students in Colorado. Generally, an
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 21, 2024
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Lindstedt and Lukens,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Baisley and Michaelson Jenet, Buckner
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. eligible undergraduate student is ineligible to receive a stipend for more
than 145 credit hours during the student's lifetime. The bill makes an
exception to this lifetime limitation for college-level credit hours earned
while the eligible undergraduate student was enrolled in a concurrent
enrollment program, the accelerating students through concurrent
enrollment program, the teacher recruitment education and preparation
program, or a p-tech school.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) The pathways in technology early college high school,4
commonly referred to as a p-tech school or program, model has proven5
successful in fostering collaborations between kindergarten through6
twelfth grade schools, higher education, and industry partners to deliver7
a free associate degree to students upon high school graduation;8
(b) The success of the p-tech schools and programs in Colorado9
is evident with the establishment of twenty different programs across10
Colorado school districts, in both rural and urban school districts; and11
(c) To ensure continued success, it is important that p-tech schools12
and programs evolve by creating greater flexibility within the p-tech13
model.14
(2) Therefore, the general assembly finds it prudent and necessary15
to update the p-tech model to ensure students have the ability to pursue16
a focus beyond science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and17
to be rewarded for valuable higher education achievement during high18
school.19
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-35.3-103, amend20
(1) as follows:21
22-35.3-103. Pathways in technology early college high schools22
1305-2- - design - requirements - approval. (1) A pathways in technology early1
college high school, or p-tech school, is a public school that includes2
grades nine through fourteen and is designed to prepare students for3
high-potential careers in industry, INCLUDING THE MAJOR INDUSTRY4
CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED IN THE COLORADO TALENT REPORT PRODUCED5
PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-46.3-103 (3), WHICH INCLUDES LIFE, PHYSICAL,6
AND SOCIAL SCIENCES; ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING; COMPUTERS7
AND MATHEMATICS; INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR;8
BUSINESS AND FINANCE; CONSTRUCTION AND EXTRACTION ; COMMUNITY9
AND SOCIAL SERVICES; AND TRANSPORTATION AND MATERIAL MOVING10
OCCUPATIONS, by enabling them to graduate with a high school diploma11
and an industry-recognized associate degree. Students in a p-tech school12
may also earn pre-apprenticeship certificates and other13
industry-recognized certificates in addition to an associate degree. A14
p-tech school is operated as a collaborative effort by a local education15
provider, a community college, and one or more local high-growth16
industry employers. Throughout grades nine through fourteen, a p-tech17
school integrates high school and college courses and certificate programs18
that are informed by current and projected industry standards and focused19
on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with mentoring, job20
shadowing, internships, pre-apprenticeship training, and other workplace21
education experiences.22
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-18-202, amend23
(5)(c)(III) and (5)(f) as follows:24
23-18-202. College opportunity fund - appropriations -25
payment of stipends - reimbursement - report. (5) (c) (III) For an26
eligible undergraduate student who has completed one or more college27
1305
-3- courses while enrolled in high school pursuant to the "Concurrent1
Enrollment Programs Act", article 35 of title 22, or while designated as2
an ASCENT program participant pursuant to section 22-35-108 or as a3
TREP program participant pursuant to section 22-35-108.5, or while4
enrolled in a pathways in technology early college high school pursuant5
to article 35.3 of title 22, all college-level credit hours earned by the6
student while so enrolled
DO NOT count against the lifetime limitation7
described in subsection (5)(c)(I) of this section. except that credit hours
8
earned from enrollment in a developmental education course, as defined9
in section 23-1-113 (11)(b), do not count against the lifetime limitation. 10
(f) Notwithstanding the lifetime-credit-hour limitation established11
pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (5) SUBSECTION (5)(c) OF THIS12
SECTION and in addition to the provisions of paragraph (e) of this13
subsection (5) SUBSECTION (5)(e) OF THIS SECTION, a state institution of14
higher education may annually grant a one-year waiver of the15
lifetime-credit-hour limitation for up to five percent of the eligible16
undergraduate students enrolled in the state institution of higher17
education. In granting the waivers under this paragraph (f), the state18
institution of higher education shall, upon request, grant a waiver to an19
eligible undergraduate student for courses taken pursuant to the20
"Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act", article 35 of title 22, C.R.S., or21
for courses taken while enrolled in a pathways in technology early college22
high school pursuant to article 35.3 of title 22. C.R.S. For any remaining23
portion of the institution's five percent of eligible undergraduate students24
who may receive waivers, the institution shall give priority to students25
who are seeking job retraining.26
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act27
1305
-4- takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the1
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except2
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V3
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this4
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take5
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in6
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the7
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.8
1305
-5-