Section 22-2-146.8 - Department of education - improving science outcomes - teacher professional development - report - appropriation - legislative declaration -definitions(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:(a) "Children with disabilities" has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-20-103.(b) "Colorado academic standards for science" means evidence-informed standards for student learning in science as adopted by the state board of education.(c) "Eligible teacher" means a person who is licensed pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22 or is authorized pursuant to section 22-60.5-111 to teach and who is employed by a local education provider in the state to provide science instruction. "Eligible teacher" also includes an educator who is employed by an Indian tribe or tribal organization in the state to provide science instruction.(d) "Evidence-informed" means a program or practice in science that relies on peer-reviewed evidence to establish a basis for accelerating learning. "Evidence-informed" includes evidence-informed curricula, interventions, acceleration strategies, and assessment options.(e) "Local education provider" means a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 this title 22, or a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates more than one public school.(f) "Rural school district" means a school district in Colorado that the department determines is rural based on the geographic size of the school district and the distance of the school district from the nearest large, urbanized area.(g) "Small rural school district" means a school district in Colorado that the department determines is rural based on the geographic size of the school district and the distance of the school district from the nearest large, urbanized area and that enrolls fewer than one thousand students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.(h) "Standard" has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-7-1003.(2) The department shall contract with a Colorado institution of higher education in accordance with the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of title 24, to make available no later than the beginning of the 2025-26 school year a free, optional professional development program hosted on a regional basis around the state that includes an opportunity for both in-person and virtual participation and that is designed to enhance pedagogy around the Colorado academic standards for science. The Colorado institution of higher education selected for the contract may partner with other non-profits or third-party providers that offer professional development opportunities to teachers that enhance pedagogy around the Colorado academic standards for science. The professional development program must: (a) Be designed to enhance student instruction around the Colorado academic standards for science, including coverage of the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and cross-cutting concepts provided by the standards;(b) Include evidence-informed interventions and strategies to grow and accelerate student proficiencies in science to help students who are below grade level or struggling in science, Children with disabilities, gifted students, and students who are English language learners;(c) Include, but need not be limited to, content aligned with Colorado academic standards for science, which include cultivation of scientific inquiry and best practices;(d) Incentivize eligible teacher participation by offering ongoing professional development credit toward licensure renewal pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22;(e) Be structured to give local education providers and teachers planning professional development activities sufficient time to pursue ongoing professional development credit toward licensure renewal pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22; and(f) Prioritize professional development for eligible teachers employed at local education providers located in rural school districts and small rural school districts if demand exceeds program capacity.(3) On or before January 30, 2027, the department shall report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees, and the state board on the number of eligible teachers, disaggregated by license type and local education provider, who participated in the professional development program created in this section.(4)(a) The general assembly declares that, for purposes of section 17 of article ix of the state constitution, a professional development program to enhance pedagogy around the Colorado academic standards for science is an important element in implementing accountable programs to meet state academic standards and may therefore receive funding from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article ix of the state constitution.(b) For the 2024-25 budget year, the general assembly shall appropriate three million dollars from the state education fund to the department. Any money appropriated pursuant to this section that is not expended prior to July 1, 2025, remains available for expenditure for the same purpose in the 2026-27 budget year without further appropriation. At the end of the 2026-27 budget year, the money that is unexpended or unencumbered reverts to the state education fund.Added by 2024 Ch. 239,§ 2, eff. 8/7/2024.2024 Ch. 239, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).