Educator Recruitment and Retention Programs

C.R.S. tit. 23, art. 3.9

in effect

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-100.2 Legislative declaration

23-3.9-100.2. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds that: (a) Colorado suffers from a shortage of teachers and other educators due to various factors affecting the teaching profession, which include but are not limited to declining enrollment and completion of educator preparation programs, low educator compensation and benefits, an insufficient number of educators in certain content areas, and difficulty in filling educator positions in rural or isolated areas of the state; (b) Pursuant to House Bill 17-1003, enacted in 2017, the department of higher education and the department of education, with input from education and community stakeholders, analyzed teacher and other educator shortages and issued a report including recommendations for addressing these shortages; (c) As part of their findings, the department of higher education and the department of education determined that the state has educator shortages in early childhood education; science; mathematics; world languages; special education; and art, music, and drama; (d) Further, shortages in these content areas are more pronounced in rural and remote rural areas where school districts and rural schools face additional challenges, including inadequate teacher compensation, lack of affordable housing, and an inability to attract new teachers to rural communities; and (e) The department of higher education and the department of education found that one strategy for addressing teacher and other educator shortages in hard-to-fill positions due to teaching content area or geographic location is to offer loan repayment of educational loans for educators who serve in these hard-to-fill positions in the state. (2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that implementing a loan forgiveness program for educators employed in qualified positions in the state is necessary to ensure that the needs of students are met in all Colorado public schools.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-101 Definitions

23-3.9-101. Definitions. As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Approved program of preparation" means a program of study for preparation that is approved by the department of education pursuant to section 22-60.5-121 and that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure. (2) "Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education. (2.5) "Educator" means a teacher, principal, or special services provider, as those terms are defined in section 22-60.5-102; except that a special services provider need not be employed by a school district. (3) "Facility school" means an approved facility school as defined in section 22-2-402 (1), C.R.S. (3.5) Repealed. (3.7) "Qualified loan" means an educational loan incurred while completing a program of preparation, including an alternative preparation program approved pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, that leads to educator licensure pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, or a bachelor's or master's degree in the area in which the educator is employed in a qualified position. The commission shall determine if a loan is a qualified loan for purposes of the educator loan forgiveness program created in section 23-3.9-102. (4) "Qualified position" means: (a) A hard-to-staff educator position in a rural school or rural school district or in a facility school that is in a rural school district identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6); or (b) A hard-to-staff educator position in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school in a content shortage area identified pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6). (5) "Rural school" or "rural school district" means a public school or school district identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6). (6) "School" or "public school" means a public school as provided in section 22-1-101, including a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, an institute charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a school operated by a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of title 22.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-102 Educator loan forgiveness program - administration - fund - eligibility

23-3.9-102. Educator loan forgiveness program - administration - fund - eligibility. (1) (a) The general assembly authorizes the commission to develop and maintain an educator loan forgiveness program for implementation beginning in the 2019-20 academic year for payment of all or part of the principal and interest of the qualified loans of an educator who is hired for a qualified position. Money in the educator loan forgiveness fund, created in subsection (1)(b) of this section, may be used only for repayment of qualified loans through the educator loan forgiveness program. The commission is authorized to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations for the educator loan forgiveness program. The commission shall transmit all money received through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the educator loan forgiveness fund, created in subsection (1)(b) of this section. The commission shall develop loan repayment policies that ensure that money in the educator loan forgiveness fund is used for the repayment of qualified loans of educators employed in qualified positions. (b) There is created the educator loan forgiveness fund, which consists of all money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly for the educator loan forgiveness program and any gifts, grants, and donations received for that purpose. Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department of higher education for the educator loan forgiveness program. At the end of any fiscal year, all unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund remains in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or any other fund; except that on August 30, 2033, any unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund shall be transferred to the general fund. (c) Subject to available appropriations, the commission shall annually approve applications for the educator loan forgiveness program. If more new participants apply than can be approved based on the money available in the educator loan forgiveness fund, the commission shall: (I) First, approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a rural school district or rural school and in a content shortage area; (II) Second, approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a rural school district or rural school; and (III) Third, approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a content shortage area. (d) In approving applications for each group of applicants identified in subsections (1)(c)(I), (1)(c)(II), and (1)(c)(III) of this section, the commission shall: (I) Consider first those applicants who hold educator licenses issued pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22 and prioritize the approval of those applications based on the length of time each applicant has been employed under the license, beginning with those who have been employed the longest; and (II) Consider second those applicants who do not hold educator licenses issued pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22 and prioritize the approval of those applications based on the length of time the applicant has been employed as an educator. (2) In addition to any qualifications specified by the commission, to qualify for the educator loan forgiveness program, an educator must: (a) Graduate from a program of preparation that leads to educator licensure pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22; (b) Meet licensure requirements pursuant to section 22-60.5-201 (1)(b) or (1)(c), section 22-60.5-301 (1)(a) or (1)(b), or section 22-60.5-210; (c) Repealed. (d) Contract for a qualified position, as defined in section 23-3.9-101, no earlier than June 2019 and no later than the end of the 2027-28 academic year; and (e) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2019.) sure pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22; (b) Meet licensure requirements pursuant to section 22-60.5-201 (1)(b) or (1)(c), section 22-60.5-301 (1)(a) or (1)(b), or section 22-60.5-210; (c) Repealed. (d) Contract for a qualified position, as defined in section 23-3.9-101, no earlier than June 2019 and no later than the end of the 2027-28 academic year; and (e) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2019.) (f) Be liable for an outstanding balance on a qualified loan. (3) An educator who qualifies pursuant to subsection (2) of this section may be eligible for up to five thousand dollars in loan forgiveness for each year of employment in a qualified position for up to a total of five years. (3.5) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2019.) (4) If an educator qualifies for the educator loan forgiveness program through employment in a qualified position and in a subsequent academic year the position is no longer identified as a qualified position pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, the educator may continue to participate in the educator loan forgiveness program if the educator continues in the same position in the same location or in a different position that is a qualified position. (5) If an educator qualifies for the educator loan forgiveness program and subsequently transfers to a nonqualifying position, the educator forfeits participant status pursuant to this section. (6) (a) For purposes of defining a "qualified position" pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the department of education shall annually identify: (I) Rural school districts based on the geographic size of the district and the distance of the district from the nearest large, urbanized area; (II) Rural schools, which may include but are not limited to individual schools of a school district even though the school district as a whole is not identified as a rural school district if the department of education determines that, as a function of geographic characteristics, the school is experiencing educator shortages that are not experienced by other schools of the school district; (III) Content shortage areas, which may include those identified by the department of higher education and department of education in their November 2017 report, "Colorado's Teacher Shortages: Attracting and Retaining Excellent Educators", as well as other content shortage areas specific to Colorado that develop over the course of the educator loan forgiveness program. The department of education may identify content shortage areas generally and for specific geographic areas of the state. (IV) Hard-to-fill educator positions due to geography or content shortage area, or both. (b) As part of its annual identification of rural schools, school districts, and content shortage areas, the department of education shall consider education and community stakeholder feedback.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-103 Reporting

23-3.9-103. Reporting. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I) to the contrary, on or before December 15, 2019, and on or before December 15 each year thereafter in which an educator is participating in the program, the commission shall prepare an annual report that includes, but is not limited to, the content shortage areas identified by the department of education; the number of applications received and the number of participants awarded loan forgiveness, the public schools in which the participants are employed, and demographic information for the participants; the approved teacher preparation program attended by the participants; and the amount of money applied toward loan forgiveness and the sources of the money. The report must also include, for all participants awarded loan forgiveness, the length of time each participant has remained in the program and has remained teaching in the public school or within the same school district. The commission shall provide notice to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, that the report is available to the members of the committees upon request.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-104 Repeal of part

23-3.9-104. Repeal of part. This part 1 is repealed, effective September 1, 2033.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-301 Definitions - repeal

23-3.9-301. Definitions - repeal. As used in this part 3, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Academic residency" means a sixteen-week or a thirty-two-week intentional clinical experience for student educators who are placed in a school- or community-based setting. (2) "Approved program of preparation" means an approved educator preparation program, as defined in section 22-60.5-121 (1)(b), including a preparation program for school counselors, or an alternative teacher program, as defined in section 22-60.5-102 (5). (3) "Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education created and existing pursuant to article 1 of this title 23. (4) "Department" means the department of higher education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-114. (5) "Educator" means a teacher or a school counselor. (6) "Educator test stipend program" means the educator test stipend program created in section 23-3.9-303. (7) "Eligible student" means a student who is: (a) Enrolled in an approved program of preparation; (b) Eligible for financial assistance because the student's expected family contribution does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution; and (c) (I) For the 2022-23 and 2023-24 state fiscal years, eligible for financial assistance because the student's expected family contribution does not exceed three hundred percent of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution. (II) This subsection (7)(c) is repealed, effective January 31, 2027. (8) "Institution of higher education" means a public postsecondary institution authorized by the commission to offer approved programs of preparation. (9) "School counselor" means a person who holds a special services provider license with a school counselor endorsement issued pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22 or who is otherwise endorsed or accredited by a national association to provide school counseling services. (10) "Student educator" means an educator candidate who is participating in an academic residency and placed in a school- or community-based setting. (11) "Student educator stipend program" means the student educator stipend program created in section 23-3.9-302. (12) "Teacher" means a person employed to instruct students enrolled in a public school.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-302 Student educator stipend program - created - guidelines - appropriation - legislative declaration - definition - repeal

23-3.9-302. Student educator stipend program - created - guidelines - appropriation - legislative declaration - definition - repeal. (1) (a) There is created in the department the student educator stipend program, referred to in this section as the "stipend program". The purpose of the stipend program is to award stipend money to an eligible student to reduce the financial barriers to entering the educator workforce while the student is a student educator. (b) The commission shall adopt any necessary policies and the department shall adopt any necessary guidelines to implement and administer the stipend program. The department shall collect data to measure the effectiveness of the stipend program, which data must include, but need not be limited to: (I) The total number of eligible students served by each approved program of preparation; (II) The total amount of stipend money each eligible student receives each year; (III) A survey of eligible students to measure the eligible students' experience with the stipend program; (IV) The demographic data of each eligible student aggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (V) The reported number of hours each eligible student works a second job to earn income; (VI) A comparison of eligible students' financial burdens with the national average of financial burdens imposed on students enrolled in teacher and counselor preparation programs; and (VII) The data correlation between eligible students who receive stipends through the student educator stipend program and the subsequent placement and retention of those eligible students as educators, to the extent the data is available. (2) (a) To qualify to participate in the stipend program, a student must be an eligible student and placed as a student educator in Colorado or within one hundred miles of the Colorado state border. No later than July 1, 2022, and no later than July 1 each year thereafter, each approved program of preparation shall notify the department of the eligible students who qualify for the stipend program. (b) (I) No later than August 1, 2022, and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, the department, subject to available appropriations, shall disburse to each approved program of preparation money to distribute as stipend money to each eligible student, plus additional money to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. The approved program of preparation shall distribute stipend money, using the standard methods for allocating state-based financial aid or as wages for employment, to each eligible student in monthly installments. (II) An eligible student placed as a student educator in a sixteen-week academic residency may receive a stipend of eleven thousand dollars, and an eligible student placed as a student educator in a thirty-two-week academic residency may receive a stipend of twenty-two thousand dollars. (III) The stipend amounts set forth in subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section must be annually adjusted by the rate of inflation. The amounts must be rounded to the nearest dollar. As used in this subsection (2)(b)(III), "inflation" means the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor bureau of labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items paid by all urban consumers, or its applicable successor index. of this section must be annually adjusted by the rate of inflation. The amounts must be rounded to the nearest dollar. As used in this subsection (2)(b)(III), "inflation" means the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor bureau of labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items paid by all urban consumers, or its applicable successor index. (IV) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (2)(b)(II) and (2)(b)(III) of this section, if the amount appropriated in a state fiscal year is insufficient to fully fund stipends for the total number of eligible students for that state fiscal year, the department shall reduce the amount distributed to each approved program of preparation by the same percentage that the deficit bears to the amount required to fully fund the total number of eligible students who qualify for the stipend program. Each approved program of preparation shall reduce the stipend amounts distributed to each eligible student in proportion to the deficit. (3) The general assembly shall annually appropriate money to the department to implement this section, including money to pay the costs of implementing and administering the stipend program, which may include the direct costs incurred by the approved program of preparation in operating the stipend program. (4) (a) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department thirty-nine million dollars from the economic recovery and relief cash fund created pursuant to section 24-75-228 to fund stipends for eligible students. (b) The department or the stipend recipients shall spend or obligate any money received pursuant to this subsection (4) in accordance with section 24-75-226 (4)(d). (c) The department and any person who receives money from the department, including each stipend recipient, shall comply with the compliance, reporting, record-keeping, and program evaluation requirements established by the office of state planning and budgeting and the state controller in accordance with section 24-75-226 (5). (c.5) For purposes of this subsection (4) only, the commission shall approve the criteria of eligible students, including first consideration for students whose expected family contribution does not exceed three hundred percent of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution. (d) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective January 31, 2027. (5) (a) The general assembly shall appropriate to the department of education money from the state education fund to fund stipends for eligible students. The department of education shall transfer spending authority from the appropriation made pursuant to this subsection (5)(a) to the department of higher education for the same purpose. (b) The general assembly finds and declares that, for purposes of section 17 of article IX of the state constitution, awarding stipend money to an eligible student to reduce the financial barriers to entering the educator workforce while the student is a student educator is a critical element of accountable education reform, accountable programs to meet state academic standards, and class size reduction, and therefore the department and eligible student may receive funding from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-303 Educator test stipend program - created - guidelines - repeal

23-3.9-303. Educator test stipend program - created - guidelines - repeal. (1) (a) There is created in the department the educator test stipend program, referred to in this section as the "stipend program". The purpose of the stipend program is to award stipend money to an approved program of preparation to reduce financial barriers for eligible students by paying the fees and costs, which may include travel and lodging costs, associated with the assessment of professional competencies required for licensure and required endorsements pursuant to sections 22-60.5-203 and 22-60.5-212. (b) (I) The commission shall adopt any necessary policies and the department shall adopt any necessary guidelines to implement and administer the stipend program. (II) In its adoption of any necessary policies pursuant to subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section, the commission shall create a formula for calculating the amount of stipend money awarded to each approved program of preparation based on the total number of eligible students in an approved program of preparation and the amount required to pay the fees and costs associated with the assessment of professional competencies for licensure and the required endorsement for each eligible student. (c) The department shall collect data to measure the effectiveness of the stipend program, which data includes, but need not be limited to: (I) The total number of eligible students served by each approved program of preparation; (II) The total amount of stipend money each eligible student receives each year; (III) A survey of eligible students to measure the eligible students' experience with the stipend program; (IV) The demographic data of each eligible student aggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (V) The reported number of hours each eligible student works a second job to earn income; (VI) A comparison of eligible students' financial burdens with the national average of financial burdens imposed on students enrolled in teacher and counselor preparation programs; and (VII) The data correlation between the eligible students who receive stipend money through the educator test stipend program and the subsequent placement and retention of those eligible students as educators, to the extent the data is available. (2) (a) To qualify to participate in the stipend program, a student must be an eligible student. No later than July 1, 2022, and no later than July 1 each year thereafter, each approved program of preparation shall notify the department of the number of eligible students who qualify for the stipend program. (b) (I) No later than August 1, 2022, and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, the department, subject to available appropriations, shall disburse to each approved program of preparation stipend money, plus additional money to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. The approved program of preparation shall distribute the stipend money to each eligible student to pay the fees and costs associated with the assessment of professional competencies for licensure and the required endorsement. (II) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, if the amount appropriated is insufficient to fully fund the total number of eligible students, the approved program of preparation shall reduce the stipend amounts paid to each eligible student in proportion to the deficit. ated with the assessment of professional competencies for licensure and the required endorsement. (II) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, if the amount appropriated is insufficient to fully fund the total number of eligible students, the approved program of preparation shall reduce the stipend amounts paid to each eligible student in proportion to the deficit. (c) The approved program of preparation shall determine the number of times an eligible student may be reimbursed if the student must retake the assessment of professional competencies. (3) The general assembly shall annually appropriate money to the department to implement this section, including money to pay the costs of implementing and administering the stipend program, which may include the direct costs incurred by approved programs of preparation in operating the stipend program. (4) (a) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department three million dollars from the economic recovery and relief cash fund created pursuant to section 24-75-228 to fund stipends for eligible students. (b) The department or the stipend recipient shall spend or obligate any stipend money received pursuant to this subsection (4) in accordance with section 24-75-226 (4)(d). (c) The department and any person who receives money from the department, including each stipend recipient, shall comply with the compliance, reporting, record-keeping, and program evaluation requirements established by the office of state planning and budgeting and the state controller in accordance with section 24-75-226 (5). (c.5) For purposes of this subsection (4) only, the commission shall approve the criteria of eligible students, including: (I) First, consideration for eligible students whose expected family contribution does not exceed three hundred percent of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution; and (II) Second, consideration for graduates of an approved program of preparation who were placed as student educators before passing the assessment of professional competencies in state fiscal years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. (d) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective January 31, 2027.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-304 Reporting requirements

23-3.9-304. Reporting requirements. (1) The department shall include the following data concerning the student educator stipend program and the educator test stipend program in the annual report required in section 22-60.5-121 (5): (a) The total number of eligible students receiving stipend money for the student educator stipend program in the preceding state fiscal year; (b) The total number of approved programs of preparation and eligible students receiving stipend money for the educator test stipend program in the preceding state fiscal year; (c) The total number of eligible students, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, participating in the student educator stipend program and educator test stipend program; (d) The data correlation between the eligible students who receive stipends through the student educator stipend program and educator test stipend program and the subsequent placement and retention of those eligible students as educators, to the extent the data is available; (e) The name of the approved program of preparation where each eligible student is enrolled; (f) The total amount of stipend money awarded to each approved program of preparation; (g) The total amount of stipend money awarded to each eligible student for the student educator stipend program in the preceding state fiscal year; (h) The total amount of stipend money awarded to each eligible student for the educator test stipend program in the preceding state fiscal year; (i) A summary of data collected from the eligible students and the approved program of preparation concerning the effectiveness of each stipend program, as described in sections 23-3.9-302 (1)(b) and 23-3.9-303 (1)(c); (j) For the purposes of section 23-3.9-302, the name of the school- or community-based setting where each eligible student is completing the eligible student's academic residency; (k) For the purposes of section 23-3.9-303, the total number of times each eligible student sits for the assessment of professional competencies required pursuant to sections 22-60.5-203 and 22-60.5-212; (l) For purposes of section 23-3.9-303, the assessment passage rate for each eligible student who sits for the assessment of professional competencies required pursuant to sections 22-60.5-203 and 22-60.5-212; (m) For purposes of section 23-3.9-303, the demographic data of eligible students, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, who sit for the assessment of professional competencies required pursuant to sections 22-60.5-203 and 22-60.5-212; (n) For purposes of section 23-3.9-303, the assessment passage rate for each approved program of preparation; and (o) Recommendations, if any, for legislative or regulatory changes to facilitate the effective implementation of the student educator stipend program and the educator test stipend program. (2) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I) to the contrary, the reporting requirements set forth in subsection (1) of this section continue indefinitely.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-401 Definitions

23-3.9-401. Definitions. As used in this part 4, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) and (2) Repealed. (3) "Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education. (4) "Educator" means a teacher, principal, or special services provider as defined in section 22-60.5-102 (19). (5) "Facility school" means an approved facility school, as defined in section 22-2-402 (1). (6) "Qualified loan" means an educational loan incurred while completing a program of preparation, including an alternative teacher preparation program approved pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, that leads to educator licensure pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, or a bachelor's or master's degree in the area in which the educator is employed in a qualified position. (7) "Qualified position" means: (a) A hard-to-staff educator position in a rural school or rural school district, or in a facility school that is in a rural school district, identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6); (b) A hard-to-staff educator position in a content shortage area identified pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6) in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school; or (c) An educator position in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school. (8) "Rural school" or "rural school district" means a public school or school district identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6). (9) "School" or "public school" means a public school that serves any of grades kindergarten through twelve and that derives its support, in whole or in part, from money raised by a general state or school district tax. A public school includes a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or by the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind pursuant to section 22-80-102 (4).

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-402 Temporary educator loan forgiveness program - administration - eligibility

23-3.9-402. Temporary educator loan forgiveness program - administration - eligibility. (1) (a) The general assembly authorizes the commission to develop and maintain a temporary educator loan forgiveness program for implementation in the 2022-23 state fiscal year for payment of all or part of the principal and interest of the qualified loans of an educator who is hired for a qualified position. The commission shall determine whether a loan is a qualified loan for purposes of the temporary educator loan forgiveness program. The commission shall develop loan repayment policies that ensure the money is used for the repayment of qualified loans of educators employed in qualified positions. (b) The general assembly shall appropriate to the commission ten million dollars from the economic recovery and relief cash fund created pursuant to section 24-75-228 to fund the temporary educator loan forgiveness program. The commission or a loan forgiveness recipient shall spend or obligate any money received pursuant to this section in accordance with section 24-75-226 (4)(d). (c) No later than July 1, 2023, the commission shall approve applications. If more new participants apply than can be approved based on the money available, the commission shall: (I) First, approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a rural school district or rural school; (II) Second, approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a content shortage area; and (III) Third, approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school. (IV) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2023.) (d) In approving applications for each group of applicants identified in subsections (1)(c)(I), (1)(c)(II), and (1)(c)(III) of this section, the commission shall first consider those applicants who hold educator licenses pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22 and prioritize the approval of those applications based on the length of time each applicant has been employed under the license, beginning with those who have been employed the shortest length of time. (2) In addition to any qualifications the commission specifies, to qualify for the temporary educator loan forgiveness program, an educator must be liable for an outstanding balance on a qualified loan. (3) An educator who has received money from the educator loan forgiveness program created in section 23-3.9-102, student educator stipend program created in section 23-3.9-302, or educator test stipend program created in section 23-3.9-303 is not eligible for loan forgiveness money pursuant to this part 4. (4) An educator who qualifies pursuant to subsection (2) of this section is eligible for up to five thousand dollars in loan forgiveness.

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-403 Reporting

23-3.9-403. Reporting. The commission, and any person who receives money from the commission, including each loan forgiveness recipient, shall comply with the compliance, reporting, record-keeping, and program evaluation requirements established by the office of state planning and budgeting and the state controller in accordance with section 24-75-226 (5).

C.R.S. § 23-3.9-404 Repeal of part

23-3.9-404. Repeal of part. This part 4 is repealed, effective January 31, 2027.

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