HB 23-1198

HB 23-1198, also known as the Teacher Externship Program for STEM Disciplines, aims to help K-12 public school teachers in Colorado gain practical experience and expand their knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The bill requires the Department of Labor and Employment to create a program that provides work-based learning opportunities for these teachers, allowing them to apply what they learn for professional development credits. It also allocates funding to support teacher compensation during externships and reports on the program's progress annually. The program starts in January 2024 and will end in September 2025. Governor Polis signed this bill into law on May 22, 2023, making it effective from August 7, 2023.

Official Summary

The act requires the department of labor and employment (department) to establish, on or before January 1, 2024, a teacher externship program to provide work-based learning opportunities for kindergarten through twelfth grade public school teachers (K-12 teachers) in order for the teachers to gain knowledge and expand their curriculum in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and other disciplines that may be of value to a particular school district. The department is required to establish at least one externship model and develop consistency in offering the ability for teachers to apply for graduate credits, career and technical education credits, and professional development credits. The act requires the department to collaborate with the department of education to establish minimum standards for the work-based learning opportunities. The department is authorized to allocate money directly to local education providers for teacher compensation and to work-based intermediaries, if applicable, to defray the costs of placing the teachers in externships with employers. The act requires the department to compile and report data on the externship program on an annual basis. The director is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of providing compensation to teachers who participate in the program. The executive director of the department may promulgate rules to implement the program. The program is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2025. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $223,039 from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the division of employment and training to implement the teacher externship program and authorizes the department to expend a portion of the 2023-24 state fiscal year appropriation that is not expended prior to July 1, 2024, in the 2024-25 state fiscal year for the same purpose. APPROVED by Governor May 22, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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