SB 24-156

Abstract

The bill creates the "Colorado College Preparation and Enrichment Program" (program) in the department of higher education (department), to be administered by the office of educational equity (office). The purpose of the program is to create partnerships between local education providers (K-12 schools) and institutions of higher education (IHE). The goals of the program are to increase the number of students who graduate from high school, matriculate to an IHE, and ultimately graduate from an IHE. The department shall appropriate $500,000 annually to each IHE that participates in the program. An IHE may opt out of the program at any time. Each participating IHE shall partner with eligible K-12 schools, beginning in eighth grade, to provide a number of services to encourage students to apply to an IHE, apply for financial aid, and ultimately be accepted at an IHE. Participating IHEs shall create guaranteed admissions pathways so participating students are provided with the exact steps necessary for admission. Once enrolled in an IHE, participating students will be identified, organized, and monitored in cohorts at each IHE. A primary contact person will be appointed to communicate with and coordinate services for students from participating K-12 schools. As part of the allowable uses for program funding, each IHE may provide a number of services to students, including targeted academic and financial advising, community building, initiatives focused on retention and on-time completion, and recruitment and outreach and multi-language marketing. Eligibility criteria are set forth for both the IHEs and K-12 schools. The office shall submit an annual report to the department on the overview of the program and the program's return on investment. The department shall include this report in its annual "SMART Act" hearing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)