Bill Summary:

The act directs the department of higher education and the department of education to convene a workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce (workgroup).The department of higher education and the department of education shall select the members of the workgroup. The departments may seek recommendations or nominations from interested stakeholders. The workgroup members must be representative of the racial and ethnic diversity of the Colorado student population by ensuring that at least 50% of the workgroup is comprised of persons from historically underrepresented minority groups.The workgroup shall investigate barriers to the preparation, retention, and recruitment of a diverse educator workforce and shall consider strategies to increase diversity in the educator workforce. The act includes specific issues for the workgroup to consider.The workgroup shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the general assembly no later than September 30, 2022. The workgroup may submit interim findings and recommendations during the 2022 legislative session.Under current law, the department of higher education reports annually concerning educator preparation programs, including enrollment, graduation rates, outcomes of graduates, and performance on assessments administered for licensure. The act requires the department of higher education to include the required information disaggregated by the candidates' or graduates' gender, race, and ethnicity. Further, the information contained in the annual report must be posted on the department of higher education's and the department of education's websites.The act appropriates $20,115 from the general fund and provides 0.3 FTE to the department of education to implement the act and appropriates $7,400 from the general fund to the department of higher education to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)  

CEA Position Rationale: CEA, and several locals/units, have the goal of increasing educator diversity and supporting pathways for professional licensure. CEA remains committed to increasing the diversity of licensed professionals in our classrooms. 

Tier: 3