HB 18-1412

HB 18-1412, also known as the Retaining Teachers Grant Program, is a Colorado law that provides grants to schools and school districts to help them keep teachers longer by implementing programs aimed at improving teacher retention. The Department of Education oversees this program, reviewing applications from local education providers and recommending grant recipients to the State Board of Education for approval. This bill was signed into law and aims to address the shortage of teachers in Colorado by supporting initiatives that make teaching more stable and attractive as a career. The program will end on July 1, 2022.

Official Summary

The bill creates the retaining teachers grant program (grant program) to assist school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) in implementing initiatives to improve retention of teachers. The department of education (department) is directed to implement the grant program by reviewing applications and recommending grant recipients and grant amounts to the state board of education (state board), which awards the grants. The department is also directed to provide information to local education providers concerning the grant program and provide assistance in writing grant applications if requested. Each grant is awarded for 3 years, subject to annual review by the department and renewal by the state board. The grants are paid from the retaining teachers fund created in the bill. The department must submit annual reports to the state board and to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly concerning implementation of the grant program, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program in reducing the teacher shortage in Colorado, any recommendations for changes to improve the effectiveness of the grant program, and a recommendation concerning continuation of the grant program. The grant program is repealed, effective July 1, 2022. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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