SB 25-154

Senate Bill 25-154, known as "Access to Educator Pathways," makes it easier for currently licensed Colorado teachers to add new endorsements to their teaching licenses. Teachers can now show they have the necessary skills by providing good grades in relevant coursework instead of just taking additional tests. If spots are not filled using this method, teachers can use a "multiple measures pathway" to prove their competencies. The bill also includes provisions for colleges and universities to participate more easily in teacher recruitment programs. Since it has been signed into law, the changes described will now be implemented in Colorado's education system.

Official Summary

The act allows a currently licensed Colorado teacher seeking to add an early childhood education endorsement, early childhood special education endorsement, elementary education endorsement, or special education generalist endorsement to demonstrate professional competencies by submitting evidence of achieving sufficiently high education coursework grades on coursework aligned with relevant standards as approved by the department of education. If the applicant spots for the multiple measures pathway are not filled, the act allows currently licensed Colorado teachers who are seeking additional licensure endorsements to demonstrate professional competencies using the multiple measures pathway. The act clarifies that 4-year institutions of higher education that offer programs of off-campus instruction and that have courses included in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix or that are part of a statewide degree transfer agreement may participate in the teacher recruitment education and preparation program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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