The Colorado Department of Education has the sole authority
to issue educator licenses and authorizations. Pursuant to sections
22-63-201 and
22-32-126, C.R.S., a Colorado
license or authorization is required for employment as a teacher, special
services provider, or principal in a Colorado school or school district. All
licenses and authorizations must be endorsed to indicate the grade
levels/developmental levels and specialization area(s) which are appropriate to
the applicant's preparation, training, and experience.
2.1
Definitions
2.01(1) Accepted institution of higher
education: An institution of higher education that offers at least the standard
bachelor's degree and is recognized by one of the following regional
associations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; Northwest Commission
on Colleges and Universities; Higher Learning Commission; New England
Commission of Higher Education; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
or Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
2.01(2) Administrator: Any person who may or
may not be licensed, but who administers, directs or supervises an education
instructional or education-related program, or a portion thereof, in any school
or school district, or nonpublic school in the state and who is not the chief
executive officer or an assistant chief executive officer of such
school.
2.01(3) Alternative
principal: Any person employed as the chief executive officer or an assistant
chief executive officer of any school in the state to administer, direct or
supervise the education instruction program in such school or nonpublic school
under a principal authorization and is actively participating in an alternative
principal program or an individualized alternative principal program.
2.01(4) Alternative principal program: a
program of study provided by a designated agency, as described in section
22-60.5-305.5(6),
C.R.S., for principal preparation designed to provide the information,
experience, and training to enable participants to develop the skills and
obtain experience and training comparable to that possessed by a person who
qualifies for an initial principal license.
2.01(5) Alternative teacher contract: A one-
or two-year contract, as described in section
22-60.5-207 C.R.S., entered into
by a holder of an alternative teacher license pursuant to section
22-60.5-201(1)(a),
C.R.S., or an interim authorization pursuant to 22-60.5-111(7), C.R.S., and a
school district, board of cooperative services, nonpublic school, or charter
school that provides or participates in, a one-year or two-year alternative
teacher program.
2.01(6)
Alternative teacher program: A one-year or two-year program of study and
training for teacher preparation for a person of demonstrated knowledge and
ability who holds an alternative teacher license or an interim authorization.
An alternative teacher program must meet the standards of and obtain the
approval of the state board of education and, upon completion, lead to a
recommendation for licensure by the designated agency providing the alternative
teacher program.
2.01(7)
Alternative teacher support team: A team established by the designated agency
for each holder of an alternative teacher license or an interim authorization
pursuant to 22-60.5-111(7), C.R.S., employed as an alternative teacher. At a
minimum, each alternative teacher support team must be composed of the
alternative teacher's mentor, the building principal and a representative of
the approved designated agency.
2.01(8) Alternative teacher: Any person
employed to instruct students in any public or nonpublic school in the state
under an alternative teacher license or interim authorization pursuant to
22-60.5-111(7) and actively participating in an alternative teacher
program.
2.01(9) Approved content
tests: assessments approved by the State Board of Education for the purpose of
evaluating the required subject matter knowledge and skills for a license,
authorization, and/or endorsement.
2.01(10) Approved induction program: A
program of continuing professional development for initial license-holders that
meets the requirements of and is approved by the State Board of Education, and
that upon completion leads to a recommendation for a professional license by
the school district or districts, charter school, nonpublic school, or the
institute providing such induction program.
2.01(11) Approved program of educator
preparation: A program of study for the preparation of educators, approved by
the State Board of Education, that prepares educator candidates to meet the
quality standards established pursuant to section
22-9-105.5 (10),
C.R.S. and the requirements for licensure endorsement(s) adopted by state board
rule pursuant to section
22-60.5-106, C.R.S. and which,
upon completion, leads to a recommendation for licensure.
2.01(12) Board of Cooperative Services
(BOCES): A regional educational service unit designed to provide supporting,
instructional, administrative, facility, community or any other services
contracted by participating members.
2.01(13) Board of education: The governing
body authorized by law to administer the affairs of any school district in the
state except junior and community college districts. "Board of education" also
includes a BOCES organized pursuant to section
22-5-101, C.R.S. 2.01(14) Charter
school: A school authorized by a school district pursuant to Part 1 of Article
30.5 of Title 22 or a school authorized by the state charter school institute
pursuant to Part 5 of Article 30.5 of Title 22.
2.01(14) Colorado Academic Standards: The
state academic standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a student
should acquire as the student progresses from preschool through elementary and
secondary education, as adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to
section
22-7-1005, C.R.S. The Colorado
Academic Standards are available at
www.cde.state.co.us.
2.01(15) Colorado Teacher of the Year: The
Colorado teacher selected as Teacher of the Year in the state program
administered by the Department and coordinated through the national teacher of
the year program.
2.01(16) Critical
teacher shortage: A grade level or content area in which a local education
provider (LEP) determines there is a severe need and impact on students and in
which an LEP has been unable to place an appropriately licensed teacher in the
vacant position(s) despite reasonable attempts to fill the position.
2.01(17) Department of Education or
Department: The Colorado State Department of Education (CDE) as defined in
section 24-1-115, C.R.S.
2.01(18) Designated agency: A school district
or districts, a BOCES, an accepted institution of higher education, a nonprofit
organization, a charter school, nonpublic school, the institute, or any
combination thereof, that is responsible for the organization, management and
operation of an alternative teacher program or an alternative principal
program.
2.01(19) Diversity: The
backgrounds of all students and school personnel.
2.01(20) Endorsement: The designation on a
license or an authorization of grade level(s) or developmental level(s),
subject matter, or service specialization in accordance with the preparation,
training and experience of the holder of such license or authorization.
Endorsements typically reflect major areas of specialization.
2.01(21) Field-based experiences: Experiences
conducted at a school site, school administration center, school clinic, or
community agency. These experiences may include classroom observations;
tutoring; assisting school principals, administrators, teachers or special
services providers; participation in school- and community-wide activities;
student teaching or internships.
2.01(22) Individualized alternative principal
program: Created in collaboration between a school district, charter school,
the institute, or nonpublic school and an individual identified as requiring
principal preparation, it is a plan of preparation that aligns to the Principal
Quality Standards in section 6.00 of these rules and comprises coursework,
practicums, and other educational requirements the individual will complete
while serving as a principal or assistant principal under a principal
authorization in the collaborating school district, charter school, the
institute or nonpublic school.
2.01(23) Institute: The state charter school
institute created pursuant to section
22-30.5-503, C.R.S.
2.01(24) Licensure: The official recognition
by a state governmental agency that an individual has met state-mandated
minimum requirements and is approved to practice as a duly certified/licensed
educator in the state.
2.01(25)
Local education provider (LEP): A school district, a charter school authorized
by a school district pursuant to Part 1 of Article 30.5 of Title 22, C.R.S., a
charter school authorized by the State Charter School Institute pursuant to
Part 5 of Article 30.5 of Title 22, C.R.S., or a BOCES created and operating
pursuant to Article 5 of Title 22, C.R.S. that operates a public
school.
2.01(26) Mentor
administrator: Any administrator who is designated by a school district or
districts, charter school, nonpublic school, or the institute providing an
approved induction program for initial administrator license-holders, who has
demonstrated outstanding administrative skills and school leadership and who
can provide exemplary modeling and counseling to initial administrator
license-holders participating in an approved induction program.
2.01(27) Mentor principal: Any principal who
is designated by a school district or districts, charter school, nonpublic
school, or the institute providing an approved induction program for initial
principal license-holders, who has demonstrated outstanding principal skills
and school leadership and who can provide exemplary modeling and counseling to
initial principal license-holders participating in an approved induction
program.
2.01(28) Mentor special
services provider: Any special services provider who is designated by a school
district or districts, charter school, nonpublic school, or the institute
providing an approved induction program for initial special services
license-holders, who has demonstrated outstanding special services provider
skills and school leadership and who can provide exemplary modeling and
counseling to initial special services license-holders participating in an
approved induction program.
2.01(29) Mentor Teacher:
2.01(29)(a) A teacher who holds a
professional license designated by a school district, charter school, or
nonpublic school employing an alternative teacher, who has demonstrated
outstanding teaching and school leadership and who can provide exemplary
modeling and counseling to alternative teachers participating in an alternative
teacher program; or
2.01(29)(b) Any
teacher who is designated by a school district or districts, charter school,
nonpublic school, or the institute providing an approved induction program for
initial teacher license-holders, who has demonstrated outstanding teaching and
school leadership and who can provide exemplary modeling and counseling to
initial teacher license-holders participating in an approved induction
program.
2.01(30)
Nonpublic School: Any independent or parochial school that provides a basic
academic education. Neither the State Board of Education nor any local school
board has jurisdiction over the internal affairs of any independent or
parochial school in Colorado.
2.01(31) Practicum: An intensive experience
in which candidates practice and demonstrate professional skills and knowledge.
Student teaching and internships are examples of a practicum.
2.01(32) Principal: Any person who is
employed as the chief executive officer or an assistant chief executive officer
of any school in the state and who administers, directs or supervises the
education instruction program in such school or nonpublic school.
2.01(33) Qualified, licensed teacher: An
individual who holds a valid Colorado teaching license in the grade level and
subject endorsement area(s) in which that individual teaches or will
teach.
2.01(34) Rural school
district: A school district in Colorado that the Department determines is
rural, based on the district's geographic size and its distance from the
nearest large, urbanized area, with a total student enrollment of 6,500
students or fewer students.
2.01(35) School: Any of the public schools of
the state.
2.01(36) School
district: Any school district organized and existing pursuant to law, but not
including junior or community college districts. "School district" includes a
BOCES organized pursuant to 22-5-101, C.R.S.
2.01(37) Special services provider: Any
person other than a teacher, principal or administrator who is employed by any
school district, charter school, nonpublic school or the institute to provide
professional services to students in direct support of the education
instructional program.
2.01(38)
Specialization area: The sequence of courses and experiences in the academic or
professional area that the candidate plans to teach, for the grade level(s) or
developmental level(s) at which the candidate plans to teach, and/or for the
services that the candidate plans to provide. Examples of specialty areas
include science (grades 7-12), elementary education (grades K-6), early
childhood education (ages birth-8), reading specialist (grades K-12) and
physical education (grades K-12).,
2.01(39) State Board of Education: The
Colorado State Board of Education established by section 1 of Article IX of the
Constitution of the State of Colorado.
2.01(40) Student teaching: Part of the field
or clinical experience required in a teacher preparation program as identified
in section
23-1-121(2)(d),
C.R.S., that is an in-depth, direct teaching experience conducted in a school
and classroom setting. It is considered a culminating field-based experience
for the basic teacher preparation program where candidates practice and
demonstrate professional skills and knowledge.
2.01(41) Teacher: Any person employed to
instruct students in any public or nonpublic school in the state.
2.01(42) Teacher apprentice: a person who is
registered and enrolled in a state-approved teacher degree apprenticeship
program (pursuant to section
22-60.5-111.5, C.R.S.), is
enrolled in an affiliated bachelor's degree program from an accredited
institution, and holds a teacher apprenticeship authorization pursuant to
section 22-60.5-111(16),
C.R.S.
2.01(43) Teacher of record:
A person licensed pursuant to section
22-60.5-201(1)
(a.5), C.R.S.
2.3
General Requirements for Colorado
Licenses
2.03(1) Degree. Each applicant
for a Colorado license must hold the appropriate academic degree for the
license and/or endorsement sought from an accepted institution of higher
education.
2.03(1)(a) It will be determined
that an applicant "holds" or "has been awarded" the bachelor's or higher degree
when the registrar of the accepted institution of higher education certifies
that the applicant has met all institutional requirements for graduation with
the degree, whether or not the degree has been conferred upon the applicant in
formal ceremonies or otherwise conveyed to the individual.
2.03(1)(b) The Department and accepted
institutions of higher education may recognize credits and degrees earned in
foreign institutions of higher education if, after appropriate evaluation by an
established credentials evaluation service as selected by the Department, there
is evidence that such credits and degrees are the equivalent of those approved
as fulfilling the specific license requirements.
2.03(2) Approved program of preparation. An
initial license may be issued upon satisfactory completion of an approved
program of preparation, an alternative teacher program, an alternative
principal program, an individualized alternative principal program or an
out-of-state educator preparation program approved or authorized by a state
other than Colorado as defined in section 2.03(3)(b) of these rules, and upon
demonstration of required competencies as specified in these rules and in 1 CCR
301-101 Rules for the Administration of Educator License Endorsements.
Applicants who completed an approved program in a state other than Colorado
must meet the requirements in section 2.03(3) of these rules.
2.03(3) Out-of-state applicants. An initial
license may be issued to an applicant from another state or country whose
qualifications meet or exceed the requirements of the State Board of Education
and who has met the following requirements:
2.03(3)(a) has completed the appropriate
degree, experiences and educational level for the license and endorsement(s)
requested as specified in these rules;
2.03(3)(b) has successfully completed an
educator preparation program approved or authorized by a state other than
Colorado, including a program at an accepted institution of higher education in
the endorsement area sought or another educator preparation program, including
an alternative teacher preparation program;
2.03(3)(c) has successfully completed
field-based experience that meets or exceeds Colorado's field-based experience
requirement as provided by section
23-1-121(2)(d),
C.R.S.;
2.03(3)(d) holds a standard
license issued by the state education agency of another state or country, is
eligible to hold a standard license issued by the state education agency of the
preparing state, or meets the official requirements of the legally designated
licensing agency of the preparing state; and
2.03(3)(e) has demonstrated professional
competencies and depth of content knowledge appropriate to the license and
endorsement requested.
2.03(4) An out-of-state applicant must meet
the subject matter knowledge requirements for every endorsement sought by
demonstrating professional competencies and depth of content knowledge for each
endorsement or by providing evidence of completion of three or more years of
successful full-time, fully licensed, evaluated, post-preparation experience in
the endorsement area(s) sought within the previous seven years as a teacher,
special services provider, principal or administrator in an established
elementary or secondary school in another state or country.
2.03(4)(a) Applicants who satisfy the
requirements of sections 2.03(3)(a)-(d) but not 2.03(3)(e) may be eligible for
an interim authorization as provided in section 4.09 of these rules.
2.03(4)(b) Applicants who satisfy the
requirements in sections 2.03(3)(a)-(d) but not 2.03(3)(e) and who provide
evidence of completion of three or more years of successful full-time, fully
licensed, evaluated post-preparation experience within the previous seven years
as a teacher, special services provider, principal, or administrator in an
established elementary or secondary school in another state or country, may be
eligible for a Colorado professional license.
2.03(5) The State Board of Education may
enter into interstate reciprocal agreements whereby the Department agrees to
issue initial licenses to persons licensed in other states and such states
agree to issue licenses to Colorado license-holders. Such agreements must not
be inconsistent with section 2.03(3) of these rules.
2.03(6) Pursuant to section
22-60.5-201(3)(c),
C.R.S., the state board may annually designate teacher shortage areas and
modify the requirements in sections 4.00 and 5.00 of 1 CCR
301-101 for
licensure and endorsement in such shortage areas for the purpose of issuing
initial teacher licenses or interim authorizations as outlined in these rules
to applicants.
2.03(7) Pursuant to
section 22-60.5-201 (3.5), C.R.S., the
Department may issue professional teacher licenses to applicants who have
earned and present certificates issued by the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards.