HB 18-1412: Retaining Teachers Grant Program

The bill creates the retaining teachers grant program (grant program) to assist school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) in implementing initiatives to improve retention of teachers. The department of education (department) is directed to implement the grant program by reviewing applications and recommending grant recipients and grant amounts to the state board of education (state board), which awards the grants. The department is also directed to provide information to local education providers concerning the grant program and provide assistance in writing grant applications if requested. Each grant is awarded for 3 years, subject to annual review by the department and renewal by the state board. The grants are paid from the retaining teachers fund created in the bill. The department must submit annual reports to the state board and to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly concerning implementation of the grant program, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program in reducing the teacher shortage in Colorado, any recommendations for changes to improve the effectiveness of the grant program, and a recommendation concerning continuation of the grant program. The grant program is repealed, effective July 1, 2022. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)  

CEA supports this bill as it recognizes that retaining educators is equally important to encouraging new educators to join the profession. This bill will help fund strategies to keep educators in the profession.