Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade Social And Emotional Health Act

Colorado K-5 social and emotional heath act - pilot program - appropriation. The act creates the "Colorado K-5 Social and Emotional Health Act" (health act). Subject to available appropriations, the health act requires the department of education (department) to select up to 10 pilot schools (pilot school) to participate in a pilot program that ensures that a school mental health professional, as defined in the health act, is dedicated to each of grades kindergarten through fifth grade, with a ratio of mental health professionals to students of approximately one per 250 students. To the extent possible, the school mental health professional shall follow the same students through each grade. The general assembly shall appropriate the resources necessary for the pilot school to hire or contract with the additional school mental health professionals. The department shall select pilot schools that meet the characteristics outlined in the health act, including high poverty, ethnic diversity, and a large concentration of students in the foster care system.

Among other responsibilities consistent with the mental health professional's license, the school mental health professional shall provide needed services to students and their families in the pilot school, including providing services and supports to students with learning disabilities, identifying food insecurities, providing resources to develop and improve the social and emotional health of students, and helping eligible students and their families access public benefits. Services must be provided at school and during school hours, as appropriate.

The health act requires the department to employ or contract with a pilot program coordinator to oversee the implementation of the pilot program across the pilot schools.

The pilot program begins operation during the 2020-21 school year and repeals in July 2023. The department shall contract with a professional program evaluator (evaluator) to conduct a preliminary evaluation in 2022 and a final evaluation before the repeal of the pilot program. The evaluator shall establish the method for the collection and monitoring of the pilot schools' data throughout the pilot program. The evaluator shall evaluate the effectiveness of services provided by the pilot program on the academic, mental, and physical health and well-being of the student cohorts within the scope of the pilot program.

The health act authorizes the use of marijuana tax cash fund money and gifts, grants, or donations to fund the pilot program.

For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $43,114 and 0.4 FTE from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of education to implement the health act.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)