2022 Legislative Impacts on Educator Preparation

Colorado House Bill 22-1220 enacts numerous changes - and opportunities - for those pursuing educator preparation

Some of these changes, including a variety of available stipends, are overseen by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). Others, including those around alternative preparation and licensure requirements, will be under the Colorado Department of Education's purview.

For more information about these initiatives, please review the following FAQs:

CDE

Interim Authorization for Alternative Preparation

In addition to the alternative teacher license, where candidates demonstrate content competency upon enrollment, HB 22-1220 allows for individuals who have not yet demonstrated content competency to obtain an interim authorization instead. Visit this webpage for more information.

Content Exams / Demonstration of Content Competency

House Bill 22-1220 introduced additional options first-time Colorado teacher license candidates may use to demonstrate depth of content knowledge. All of the options, now referred to as "multiple measures of content competency," will be available to these first-time Colorado teacher license candidates submitting applications on or after Aug. 1, 2023. Visit this webpage for more information.

CDHE (Colorado Department of Higher Education)

Educator Stipends

House Bill 22-1220 established a number of stipend and loan forgiveness programs, to be overseen by CDHE, to help candidates cover their educator preparation costs.

Q: What is the Student Educator Stipend Program ?

A: The student educator stipend program awards monies to a qualifying candidate's educator preparation program to compensate them for their student teaching/clinical experience in an academic residency position. Candidates placed in a 16-week residency may receive up to $11,000, while those in a 32-week residency may qualify for up to $22,000. Please review this fact sheet for more information and how to determine eligibility.

Q: When will the Student Educator Stipend Program funds be available for candidates who are student teaching?

A: Funds will be disbursed accordingly to educator preparation programs by Aug. 1, 2022, for the programs to then allocate to eligible students. Please contact CDHE's director of educator preparation with any questions.

Q: What is the Student Educator Test Stipend Program?

A: The student educator test stipend awards monies to Colorado preparation programs to reduce financial barriers for students preparing for the assessments of professional competencies required for licensure (listed at right*). These stipends may be sued for test preparation materials, registration fees and related travel costs for eligible students. Please review this fact sheet for more information and how to determine eligibility.

Q: When will the Student Educator Test Stipend Program funds be available to help cover content exam fees and related expenses?

Loan Forgiveness

Q: Where can I find information on educator loan forgiveness?

A: Please visit CDHE's website for more information about educator loan forgiveness.

*These assessments include the following PRAXIS exams: Early Childhood Education #5024, Early Childhood Special Education #5691, Elementary Education #5901, Special Education #5354, Teaching Reading #5205 and School Counselor #5421.

This webpage will be updated as more information becomes available.