HB 24-1282

House Bill 24-1282 in Colorado allocates $2 million from the state education fund each year for three years starting in 2024 to support ninth-grade success programs. These programs help ninth graders develop skills needed for high school graduation and future careers. Additionally, the bill requires annual reports to include specific performance measures for ninth graders at public schools and districts, aiming to reduce dropout rates and improve graduation rates. The governor signed this bill into law on May 18, 2024, making it effective immediately.

Official Summary

Under current law, the ninth-grade success grant program (grant program) provides funding to local education providers and charter schools to implement a ninth-grade success program to assist ninth-grade students to develop the skills needed to successfully graduate high school and succeed in their education and careers. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriated $2 million from the state education fund to the department of education (department) for the grant program and reduced the general fund appropriation in the long bill for the grant program by $792,444. The act requires the general assembly to appropriate $2 million from the state education fund to the department for the grant program in the 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 state fiscal years. Under current law, the office of dropout prevention and student re-engagement (office) submits an annual report to the state board of education, the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, and the governor regarding findings and recommendations to reduce the student dropout rate and increase graduation and completion rates. Starting with the report submitted in March 2026, the act requires the office to include certain ninth-grade performance measures for each public school, school district, the charter school institute, and the state as a whole. APPROVED by Governor May 18, 2024 EFFECTIVE May 18, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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