BY REPRESENTATIVES George, Bacon, Chavez, Gotlieb, Grossman, Kaufman, Keller, Mace, Morrison, Nichol, Reeser, Romero, Saliman, Sullivant, Tate, Tupa, Udall, Veiga, S. Williams, and Zimmerman;
also SENATORS Wham, Bishop, Chlouber, Hernandez,
Hopper, J. Johnson, Linkhart, Martinez, Matsunaka, Pascoe,
Perlmutter, Phillips, Reeves, Rupert, Tanner, Thiebaut, and Weddig.
CONCERNING IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EARLY EDUCATION AND
SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State
of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Part
28 of article 32 of title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended
BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
24322804. Early education
and school readiness program repeal.
(1) Legislative intent. (a) THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT IT IS IN THE STATE'S
BEST INTEREST TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS FOR ATRISK CHILDREN
BY SUPPORTING LANGUAGE SKILLS AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT BEFORE
CHILDREN START KINDERGARTEN. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S GOAL IN PROMOTING
SCHOOL READINESS IS TO IMPROVE FOURTH GRADE READING SCORES ON
THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT ADMINISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 227409,
C.R.S. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO FINDS THAT CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE
IN QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE MORE LIKELY
TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS ON SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT TESTS AND HIGHER
GRADE POINT AVERAGES AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO NEED PLACEMENT IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES OR TO REQUIRE DELINQUENCY SERVICES.
(b) IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THAT FUNDS FOR PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION BE USED FOR PURPOSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO INCREASING
THE READING READINESS AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND
ARE NOT INTENDED TO CREATE NEW CHILD CARE OR EARLY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS. THE FUNDS ARE INTENDED TO BE USED FOR:
(I) AGEAPPROPRIATE READING READINESS
TUTORING WHICH MAY INCLUDE PARENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO FURTHER
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN READING ACTIVITIES;
(II) THE PURCHASE OF AGEAPPROPRIATE
READING READINESS MATERIALS TO SERVE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS;
(III) GRANTS FOR NONPROFIT AND FORPROFIT
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE
HOMES TO BECOME ACCREDITED;
(IV) GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER
OR CAREGIVER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
(2) Definitions. AS
USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:
(a) "EESR PROGRAM" MEANS THE
EARLY EDUCATION AND SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM CREATED IN THIS SECTION.
(b) "JURISDICTION" MEANS A MUNICIPALITY,
COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
(c) "TARGET POPULATION" MEANS
CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH THE THIRD GRADE.
(3) Early education and school readiness
program. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE EARLY EDUCATION AND
SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM THAT, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS,
MAY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE COORDINATION OF
EARLY EDUCATION AND SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
TO HELP TO ACHIEVE SCHOOL READINESS GOALS FOR ATRISK CHILDREN
IN THE TARGET POPULATION.
(4) Administration. (a) THE
BOARD SHALL ADMINISTER THE EESR PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS. THE BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
LOCAL AFFAIRS SHALL SEEK INPUT AND DIRECTION FROM THE CHILDREN'S
CABINET IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE EESR PROGRAM. THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL ONLY BE IMPLEMENTED IF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATES FUNDS FOR THE EESR PROGRAM. IN ADMINISTERING
THE EESR PROGRAM, THE BOARD SHALL:
(I) SELECT THOSE JURISDICTIONS THAT WILL
RECEIVE GRANTS THROUGH THE EESR PROGRAM SO THAT NO MORE THAN ONE
JURISDICTION IN ANY GEOGRAPHIC AREA RECEIVES A GRANT UNDER THE
EESR PROGRAM;
(II) IDENTIFY THE AMOUNT OF EACH GRANT,
BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED BY THE JURISDICTION AND
THE NEEDS AND RESOURCES ASSESSMENT FOR THE JURISDICTION COMPLETED
PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (b) OF SUBSECTION (5)
OF THIS SECTION; AND
(III) ESTABLISH BENCHMARK INDICATORS FOR
ASSESSING THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE JURISDICTIONS THAT RECEIVE
GRANTS UNDER THE EESR PROGRAM.
(b) (I) ANY GRANT AWARDED THROUGH
THE EESR PROGRAM SHALL BE PAID FROM MONEYS APPROPRIATED OUT OF
THE GENERAL FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS FOR THE PROGRAM.
SUCH MONEYS, IN ADDITION TO ANY PRIVATE DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS,
OR GRANTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED
TO ACCEPT, SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE "EESR FUND", WHICH
FUND IS HEREBY CREATED. AT THE END OF ANY FISCAL YEAR, ALL UNEXPENDED
AND UNENCUMBERED MONEYS IN THE EESR FUND SHALL REMAIN AVAILABLE
FOR EXPENDITURE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT FURTHER APPROPRIATION
AND SHALL NOT BE CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR
ANY OTHER FUND.
(II) THE BOARD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
TIME LINES ADOPTED FOR THE YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 24322802 (3), SHALL
SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR APPROVAL A LIST OF THE JURISDICTIONS
CHOSEN TO RECEIVE GRANTS. THE GOVERNOR SHALL EITHER APPROVE OR
DISAPPROVE THE ENTIRE LIST OF JURISDICTIONS BY RESPONDING TO THE
BOARD WITHIN TWENTY DAYS. IF THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT RESPONDED TO
THE BOARD WITHIN TWENTY DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE LIST, THE LIST
SHALL BE DEEMED APPROVED. NO GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED THROUGH
THE EESR PROGRAM WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR.
(5) Qualified jurisdictions. (a) TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE EESR PROGRAM, A JURISDICTION SHALL APPLY TO
THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH TIME LINES AND GUIDELINES ADOPTED
BY THE BOARD FOR THE YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM
PURSUANT TO SECTION 24322802.
(b) TO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE EESR
PROGRAM, A JURISDICTION SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(I) A DESCRIPTION OF ITS SERVICE AREA;
(II) A NEEDS AND RESOURCES ASSESSMENT
OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE JURISDICTION
THAT INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN
AT OR BELOW ONE HUNDRED TWENTYFIVE PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL, THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN IN THE TARGET POPULATION,
AND THE AGGREGATE SCORES FOR THE FOURTH GRADE READING ASSESSMENT
ADMINISTERED IN THE JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 227409, C.R.S.;
(III) A PLAN TO SERVE THE CHILDREN IN
THE TARGET POPULATION AND THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED THAT ARE
CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SET FORTH IN
SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION;
(IV) IDENTIFICATION OF A LOCAL COORDINATING
GROUP THAT INCLUDES ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDERS, IF APPLICABLE, WHO SHALL RESIDE WITHIN
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY:
(A) STATEFUNDED LOCAL CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCIES;
(B) THE COLORADO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM PLANNING
COUNCIL;
(C) THE LOCAL HEAD START PROGRAM;
(D) EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CLUSTERS;
(E) FORPROFIT CHILD CARE CENTERS;
(F) NONPROFIT CHILD CARE CENTERS;
(G) FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES;
(H) CHILD CARE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS;
(I) COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES;
(J) THE LOCAL FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER;
(K) THE LOCAL FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM;
(L) TEEN PARENT PROGRAMS;
(V) IN ADDITION TO THE PERSONS SPECIFIED
IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH (b), A PLAN TO INCLUDE
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE LOCAL COORDINATING GROUP:
(A) A BUSINESS LEADER;
(B) A MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE;
(C) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY
IN THE JURISDICTION;
(D) A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL
BOARD;
(E) A REPRESENTATIVE OF LOCAL PUBLIC EARLY
CHILDHOOD AND EARLY ELEMENTARY TEACHERS;
(F) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES;
AND
(G) THE DIVISION OF CHILD CARE LICENSING
SPECIALIST ASSIGNED TO THE JURISDICTION.
(6) Role of the local coordinating
group. THE LOCAL COORDINATING GROUP SHALL:
(a) MEET TO ORGANIZE ITSELF AND ELECT
FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS A CHAIRPERSON WHO SHALL SERVE A TWOYEAR
TERM AND MAY NOT SUCCEED HIMSELF OR HERSELF FOR A CONSECUTIVE
TERM;
(b) DEVELOP THE PLAN DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH
(III) OF PARAGRAPH (b) OF SUBSECTION (5) OF THIS SECTION;
(c) OVERSEE THE PLAN'S IMPLEMENTATION;
(d) ADMINISTER THE FUNDS PROVIDED TO JURISDICTIONS
UNDER THIS SECTION; AND
(e) REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROGRAMS
FUNDED BY THE EESR PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS.
(7) Selection criteria. THE BOARD
SHALL DEVELOP AN EQUITABLE FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION THAT ALLOWS A JURISDICTION
TO RECEIVE A PREFERENCE IF THE JURISDICTION CAN DEMONSTRATE:
(a) COORDINATION WITH ONE OF THE TWELVE
PILOT SITES FOR CONSOLIDATED CHILD CARE SERVICES CREATED PURSUANT
TO ARTICLE 6.5 OF TITLE 26, C.R.S.; OR
(b) A HIGH DEGREE OF INTERAGENCY
COLLABORATION AND PROVISION OF MATCHING FUNDS OR INKIND
SERVICES.
(8) Repeal. THIS SECTION IS REPEALED,
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001.
SECTION 2. Safety clause.
The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that
this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, and safety.
____________________________ ____________________________
Charles E. Berry Tom Norton
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
____________________________ ____________________________
Judith M. Rodrigue Patricia K. Dicks
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
APPROVED________________________________________
_________________________________________
Roy Romer
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF COLORADO