Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 24-0740.01 Jane Ritter x4342
SENATE BILL 24-156
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE "COLORADO COLLEGE101
P
REPARATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM".102
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 creates the "Colorado College Preparation and Enrichment
Program" (program) in the department of higher education (department),
to be administered by the office of educational equity (office). The
purpose of the program is to create partnerships between local education
providers (K-12 schools) and institutions of higher education (IHE). The
goals of the program are to increase the number of students who graduate
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Buckner and Coleman,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
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. from high school, matriculate to an IHE, and ultimately graduate from an
IHE.
The department shall appropriate $500,000 annually to each IHE
that participates in the program. An IHE may opt out of the program at
any time.
Each participating IHE shall partner with eligible K-12 schools,
beginning in eighth grade, to provide a number of services to encourage
students to apply to an IHE, apply for financial aid, and ultimately be
accepted at an IHE. Participating IHEs shall create guaranteed admissions
pathways so participating students are provided with the exact steps
necessary for admission.
Once enrolled in an IHE, participating students will be identified,
organized, and monitored in cohorts at each IHE. A primary contact
person will be appointed to communicate with and coordinate services for
students from participating K-12 schools. As part of the allowable uses
for program funding, each IHE may provide a number of services to
students, including targeted academic and financial advising, community
building, initiatives focused on retention and on-time completion, and
recruitment and outreach and multi-language marketing.
Eligibility criteria are set forth for both the IHEs and K-12 schools.
The office shall submit an annual report to the department on the
overview of the program and the program's return on investment. The
department shall include this report in its annual "SMART Act" hearing.
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 demand for qualified workers persists statewide, and4
opportunities exist to equip Colorado workers and learners with the skills5
they need to advance and meet the needs of businesses;6
(b) Increasingly, the vast majority of top jobs in the state require7
some type of postsecondary education. Although Colorado employers are8
feeling the strain of labor shortages, they are simultaneously increasing9
their reliance on postsecondary credentials and bachelor's degrees to fill10
high-quality jobs.11
(c) At the individual level, quality education is a path to greater12
SB24-156-2- economic opportunity. Approximately one out of two of the children born1
into poverty today will remain poor. With a college degree, that statistic2
greatly improves to just one out of six.3
(d) For African American males, the long-term impact of4
credential completion is even starker: Among those who don't complete5
high school, 68 percent will be incarcerated by the age of 34. With a high6
school diploma, that rate falls to 21 percent; with a college degree, only7
six percent of those men become incarcerated.8
(2) The general assembly further finds that:9
(a) Despite nearly 50 percent of high school student graduates10
enrolling in postsecondary education in the fall semester after high school11
graduation, the data suggests that equity gaps continue in higher12
education for students of color, low-income students, and students from13
rural communities;14
(b) In addition, a January 2023 report published by the Center on15
Children and Families at Brookings suggests college enrollment rates16
vary greatly depending on the socioeconomic status of a student's family.17
Approximately 89 percent of students from well-off families go to18
college, compared to 64 percent of students from middle-class families19
and 51 percent of students from low-income families.20
(c) However, data shows that every $1,000 in grants translates into21
a 1.5 to 2 percentage point increase in degree completion, according to22
the American Education Research Association; and23
(d) The Hunt Institute states that effective wraparound services in24
postsecondary education refer to holistic support to ensure a student's full25
range of needs is addressed. This can include academic, health,26
socioemotional, familial, financial, and logistical support.27
SB24-156
-3- (3) Therefore, the general assembly declares that it is in the best1
interests of the people of the state of Colorado to create partnerships2
between school districts and other local education providers and3
institutions of higher education to deliver resources and programming to4
increase high school and postsecondary credential completion to improve5
Coloradans' economic mobility and fuel the state economy.6
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 82 to title7
23 as follows:8
ARTICLE 829
Colorado College Preparation and Enrichment Program10
23-82-101. Short title. T
HE SHORT TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE 82 IS11
THE "COLORADO COLLEGE PREPARATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM".12
23-82-102. Definitions. A
S USED IN THIS ARTICLE 82, UNLESS THE13
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :14
(1) "D
EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER15
EDUCATION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-1-114.16
(2) "I
NSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION " MEANS A TWO- OR17
FOUR-YEAR STATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN COLORADO.18
(3) "L
OCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER " MEANS:19
(a) A
SCHOOL DISTRICT;20
(b) A
CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT21
PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF TITLE 22;22
(c) A
CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER23
SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART 5 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF TITLE 22;24
(d) T
HE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE CREATED PURSUANT25
TO SECTION 22-30.5-503;26
(e) A
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES CREATED AND OPERATING27
SB24-156
-4- PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 5 OF TITLE 22 THAT OPERATES ONE OR MORE1
PUBLIC SCHOOLS;2
(f) A
FACILITY SCHOOL APPROVED PURS UANT TO SECTION3
22-2-407;
OR4
(g) A
N INDIAN TRIBE OR TRIBAL ORGANIZATION .5
(4) "O
FFICE" MEANS THE OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL EQUITY WITHIN6
THE DEPARTMENT.7
(5) "P
ROGRAM" MEANS THE COLORADO COLLEGE PREPARATION8
AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION9
23-82-103.10
23-82-103. Colorado college preparation and enrichment11
program - established - purpose - goals - administration - services.12
(1) T
HE COLORADO COLLEGE PREPARATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM13
IS ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE14
OF EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO CREATE15
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS AND INSTITUTIONS16
OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WITH THE GOALS OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF17
STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL , MATRICULATE TO AN18
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND ULTIMATELY GRADUATE FROM19
AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION . SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT OF20
THESE GOALS DRIVES ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND POSITIVE SOCIAL21
OUTCOMES.22
(2) T
HE DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE OFFICE, SHALL APPROPRIATE23
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO EACH INSTITUTION OF24
HIGHER EDUCATION THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO25
SECTION 23-82-104. EACH PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION OF HIGHER26
EDUCATION SHALL USE THE APPROPRIATION PURSUANT TO THIS27
SB24-156
-5- SUBSECTION (2) ONLY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM .1
(3) I
NSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL PARTNER WITH2
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS BEGINNING WITH THE EIGHTH GRADE AND3
THROUGH THE TWELFTH GRADE TO PROVIDE , AT A MINIMUM, THE4
FOLLOWING:5
(a) T
OOLS TO FOSTER A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE, INCLUDING6
INTRODUCING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COURSE PLANNING FOR HIGH7
SCHOOL;8
(b) A
SSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE9
PATHWAYS, SUCH AS COURSE OFFERINGS, CORRESPONDING NON-ACADEMIC10
SUPPORT, AND EXPLORATORY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS COLLEGE TOURS ;11
(c) A
N INITIAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY EXISTING12
RESOURCES, GAPS IN COLLEGE-GOING SUPPORTS, AND REGIONAL TRENDS13
THAT IMPACT POSTSECONDARY COMPLETION ;14
(d) C
OUNSELORS FROM AND TRAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONS OF15
HIGHER EDUCATION WHO ARE PRESENT AT PARTNER MIDDLE AND HIGH16
SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE COLLEGE ADVISING , INCLUDING EXPLORATION ,17
APPLICATION, AND FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION SUPPORT; AND18
(e) I
NTENSIVE, COHORT-BASED WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR19
STUDENTS WHEN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PARTNER DOES NOT HAVE20
SUCH A PERSON ON STAFF , SUCH AS PROGRAMMING AND GUIDANCE21
COUNSELORS.22
(4) P
ARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT23
RECEIVE AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE PROGRAM SHALL CREATE24
GUARANTEED ADMISSIONS PATHWAYS SO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE25
PROVIDED WITH THE EXACT STEPS NECESSARY FOR ADMISSION .26
(5) T
HE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL IDENTIFY ,27
SB24-156
-6- ORGANIZE, AND MONITOR EACH GROUP OF STUDENTS AS A COHORT . THE1
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL ADDITIONALLY APPOINT A2
PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATING3
WITH AND COORDINATING SERVICES FOR STUDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING4
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS AS THEY ENROLL AND PROGRESS THROUGH5
THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION . INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER6
EDUCATION SHALL USE PROGRAM FUNDING TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING7
SERVICES, AT A MINIMUM, TO STUDENTS WHO MATRICULATED TO A8
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY FROM A PARTNER LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER :9
(a) S
MALL FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED10
TO, BOOK SCHOLARSHIPS, TRANSPORTATION, AND EMERGENCY FUNDS;11
(b) T
ARGETED ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL ADVISING , COMMUNITY12
BUILDING, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING;13
(c) O
THER INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON RETENTION AND ON -TIME14
COMPLETION;15
(d) A
DVISING SUPPORT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ,16
ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, HOLISTIC STUDENT SUCCESS ADVISING , AND17
COHORT DEVELOPMENT ;18
(e) P
ROGRAM ADVERTISING AND MARKETING ; AND19
(f) R
ECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH AND MULTI -LANGUAGE20
MARKETING TO DRAW IN STUDENT PARTICIPANTS .21
23-82-104. Eligibility - program resources - institutions of22
higher education. (1) E
ACH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE23
STATE IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AND PARTNER WITH24
ELIGIBLE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS , ALTHOUGH AN INSTITUTION OF25
HIGHER EDUCATION MAY OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM AT ANY TIME26
THROUGH WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE OFFICE .27
SB24-156
-7- (2) A PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL1
PROVIDE RESOURCES TO PARTNER LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS .2
R
ESOURCES MAY INCLUDE AND MAY BE USED FOR , BUT ARE NOT LIMITED3
TO, SUPPORT STAFFING, FINANCIAL AID EDUCATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY,4
COLLEGE PREPARATION PROGRAMS WITH ACADEMIC SUPPORT , PEER5
MENTORS, ACADEMIC COACHES, AND COLLEGE PLANNING.6
23-82-105. Eligibility - local education providers. (1) T
O BE7
ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AND PARTNER WITH AN8
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MUST9
DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR EIGHTH THROUGH TWELFTH10
GRADE STUDENTS INCLUDING , BUT NOT LIMITED TO:11
(a) L
OW FAFSA COMPLETION RATES;12
(b) H
IGH PERCENTAGE OF FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS;13
(c) H
IGH PERCENTAGE OF FREE- AND REDUCED-LUNCH STUDENTS;14
(d) I
NCOME METRICS SUCH AS TITLE I DESIGNATION;15
(e) D
EMONSTRATED COLLEGE APPLICATION OR MATRICULATION16
GAPS, EITHER IN-SCHOOL COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE OR WITHIN17
DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS AT THE SCHOOL ;18
(f) L
OW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES ;19
(g) H
IGH TRUANCY RATES;20
(h) "T
URNAROUND", "PRIORITY IMPROVEMENT ", OR21
"
IMPROVEMENT" DESIGNATIONS ON THE DISTRICT PERFORMANCE22
FRAMEWORK; OR23
(i) R
ELATIVELY HIGH POPULATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION OR24
E
NGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER STUDENTS .25
23-82-106. Reporting requirements. (1) O
N OR BEFORE26
O
CTOBER 1, 2025, AND EVERY OCTOBER 1 THEREAFTER, THE OFFICE27
SB24-156
-8- SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT . THE REPORT MUST1
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM 'S RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND2
INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM:3
(a) A
LIST OF PARTICIPATING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS BY4
NAME AND LOCATION AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT EACH LOCAL5
EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM FOR THAT6
ACADEMIC YEAR;7
(b) F
OR PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS, THE GRADUATION RATE,8
THE COLLEGE MATRICULATION RATE , AND, AS APPROPRIATE, THE NUMBER9
OF STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER10
EDUCATION;11
(c) R
ECRUITMENT RATES AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION12
DISAGGREGATED BY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP , INCOME, GENDER, AND FIRST13
GENERATION STUDENTS;14
(d) M
ATRICULATION PIPELINE RATES BY LOCAL EDUCATION15
PROVIDERS;16
(e) R
ETENTION RATES PER ACADEMIC YEAR , PERSISTENCE, AND17
CREDITS TO ON-TIME GRADUATION;18
(f) P
ARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM , INCLUDING ADVISING19
APPOINTMENTS, FAFSA COMPLETION ASSISTANCE, AND INTERNSHIPS;20
(g) I
NCENTIVES TO DUAL COLLEGE CREDITS AND CREDENTIAL21
COMPLETION; AND22
(h) O
VERALL STUDENT PERCEPTION OF ATTENDING AN INSTITUTION23
OF HIGHER EDUCATION.24
(2) B
EGINNING IN JANUARY 2026, AND IN JANUARY EVERY YEAR25
THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE , AS PART OF ITS26
PRESENTATION DURING ITS"SMART ACT" HEARING REQUIRED BY SECTION27
SB24-156
-9- 2-7-203, INFORMATION CONCERNING PROGRAM OUTCOMES BASED ON THE1
ANNUAL REPORTS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS2
SECTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-1363
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN THIS4
SUBSECTION (2) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.5
23-82-107. Funding. (1) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE6
APPROPRIATIONS, FOR THE 2024-25 STATE FISCAL YEAR, AND EACH STATE7
FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, FUNDING FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE8
82
MUST BE BASED ON THE ONGOING ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMPONENTS9
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 23-18-303.5 (2) FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE10
RETENTION OF UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENTS .11
(2) I
N DETERMINING THE FUNDING FOR SPECIALTY EDUCATION12
PROGRAMS SPECIFIC TO LOCAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND AREA TECHNICAL13
COLLEGES, THE FUNDING MUST BE AN AVERAGE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF14
THE FUNDING RECEIVED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION15
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ARTICLE 82 THROUGH ONGOING16
ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMPONENTS AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION17
23-18-303.5
(2).18
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act19
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the20
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except21
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V22
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this23
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take24
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in25
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the26
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.27
SB24-156
-10-