As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Approved program of preparation" means a program of study for preparation that isapproved by the Colorado commission on higher education pursuant to section 23-1-121 and that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure by an accepted institution of higher education in Colorado.
"Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education.
"Educator" means a teacher, principal, or special services provider, as those termsare defined in section 22-60.5-102; except that a special services provider need not be employed by a school district.
"Facility school" means an approved facility school as defined in section 22-2-402
(1), C.R.S.
Repealed.
(3.7) "Qualified loan" means an educational loan incurred while completing a program of preparation, including an alternative preparation program approved pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, that leads to educator licensure pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, or a bachelor's or master's degree in the area in which the educator is employed in a qualified position. The commission shall determine if a loan is a qualified loan for purposes of the educator loan forgiveness program created in section 23-3.9-102.
"Qualified position" means:
A hard-to-staff educator position in a rural school or rural school district or in afacility school that is in a rural school district identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6); or
A hard-to-staff educator position in a Colorado public school, a school operated by aboard of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school in a content shortage area identified pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6).
"Rural school" or "rural school district" means a public school or school districtidentified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6).
"School" or "public school" means a public school as provided in section 22-1-101,including a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, an institute charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a school operated by a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of title 22.
Source: L. 2001: Entire article added, p. 1503, § 30, effective June 8. L. 2005: (3.5) and (5) added and (4) amended, p. 533, § 1, effective August 8. L. 2008: (3) amended, p. 1409, § 64, effective May 27; (5) amended, p. 1627, § 1, effective August 5. L. 2018: IP amended, (HB 181002), ch. 257, p. 1586, § 2, effective May 25. L. 2019: (2.5), (3.7), and (6) added, (3.5) repealed, and (4) and (5) amended, (SB 19-003), ch. 333, p. 3076, § 2, effective May 29. L. 2020: (3.7) amended, (SB 20-158), ch. 198, p. 968, § 1, effective June 30.