Retaining Teachers Grant Program

Teacher shortage - retaining teachers grant program - appropriation. The act 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 act. 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 The grant program is repealed, effective July 1, 2022.

For the 2018-19 fiscal year, the act appropriates $3,000,000 to the retaining teachers fund and gives continuous spending authority to the department for purposes of the grant program.

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