SB 18-225

Senate Bill 18-225, which has been signed into law, updates the definition of early college high schools in Colorado. It specifies that these schools must offer a curriculum designed for students to earn both a high school diploma and some form of postsecondary credential or at least 60 college credits within four years. The state board will review all designated early colleges to ensure they meet this new standard, and those that don’t comply will lose their designation as an early college. Additionally, the bill allows schools already designated as early colleges to continue receiving funding for students who enroll in postsecondary courses after completing high school during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years. This affects both educational institutions and students participating in these programs.

Official Summary

Joint Budget Committee. Under the existing statute, an early college is not subject to the requirements of the 'Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act'. The bill amends the definition of 'early college' to specify that an early college must provide only a curriculum that is designed to be completed within 4 years and includes concurrent enrollment in high school and postsecondary courses such that, when a student completes the curriculum, the student has attained a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential or at least 60 credit hours toward completion of a postsecondary credential. The state board of education must review all of the schools that it has designated as early colleges to ensure that each school meets the revised definition. A school that does not meet the revised definition will no longer be designated as an early college. The bill allows a school that is designated as an early college prior to passage of the bill to continue to receive funding through the school finance formula for students who, after completing 4 years of high school at an early college, enroll in postsecondary courses for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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