HB 17-1082

HB 17-1082, also known as the BEST Building Excellent Schools Today Act Technology Grant Funding, updates Colorado's BEST program by including technology expenses under its funding scope. This means that schools can now receive grants for things like computers, devices, and other tech tools needed for teaching and learning. The bill requires the BEST board to inform schools about these new technology grant opportunities each year and to report on how this funding is being used. Since it has been signed into law, Colorado public schools are now eligible to apply for these technology grants to enhance their educational resources.

Official Summary

Section 1 of the bill amends the definition of 'capital construction' used for purposes of the 'Building Excellent Schools Today Act' (BEST) to include 'technology', as defined in section 3. Section 3 defines the term 'technology' for purposes of BEST to include hardware, devices, or equipment necessary for individual student learning and classroom instruction, including access to electronic instructional materials, or necessary for professional use by a classroom teacher. Section 2 incorporates the new definition of 'technology' into the existing requirement that the BEST board's public school facility capital construction guidelines address technology. Section 3 also clarifies that the public school capital construction assistance board (BEST board) may provide financial assistance to public schools in the form of technology grants and requires the BEST board to annually notify potential applicants for financial assistance that it will accept applications for technology grants. Section 4 requires the project lists in the BEST board's annual report to include sublists of technology projects for which financial assistance has been awarded or applied for and denied.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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