C.R.S. Section 22-60.5-218
Employment of certain school-based therapists

  • legislative declaration
  • definitions

(1)

The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a)

In 2021, children’s hospital in Colorado declared a youth mental health state of emergency and in 2022 said that conditions are worse;

(b)

In 2022, the centers for disease control and prevention released a survey that found that forty-four percent of high school students reported that they felt persistently sad or hopeless during the past year and that schools are crucial partners in supporting the health and well-being of students;

(c)

The complex and time-consuming process for school-based therapists to receive a special services license from the department of education prevents schools and school districts from employing school-based therapists who might otherwise help students;

(d)

School-based therapists are already licensed by various state boards in the department of regulatory affairs; and

(e)

Students can be protected by requiring school-based therapists employed in schools to submit to fingerprint-based criminal history background checks and to be supervised by administrators who are licensed by the department of education.

(2)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“Eligible school-based therapist” means a person who meets the eligibility requirements described in subsection (4) of this section and who is a:

(I)

Psychologist licensed pursuant to part 3 of article 245 of title 12;

(II)

Social worker licensed pursuant to part 4 of article 245 of title 12;

(III)

Marriage and family therapist licensed pursuant to part 5 of article 245 of title 12;

(IV)

Licensed professional counselor licensed pursuant to part 6 of article 245 of title 12; or

(V)

Addiction counselor licensed pursuant to part 8 of article 245 of title 12.

(b)

“School” means a school of a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title 22, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind.

(c)

“School district” means a school district organized and existing pursuant to law. “School district” includes the state charter school institute, a board of cooperative services that operates a school, and schools operated by the division of youth services.

(3)

Notwithstanding any provision of this article 60.5 to the contrary, and subject to the requirements of this section, a school or a school district may employ an eligible school-based therapist to work in coordination with licensed special service providers at the school or school district coordinating mental health supports for students. A person employed as an eligible school-based therapist may be supervised by a special services provider with a school counselor endorsement or an administrator licensed pursuant to section 22-60.5-306. When hiring an eligible school-based therapist, schools and school districts should ensure that the therapist has a background and expertise in working with children and adolescents. An eligible school-based therapist should supplement and not replace or supplant a special services provider.

(4)

Prior to employment, the school or a school district and an eligible school-based therapist shall comply with the requirements of section 22-32-109.8, including the requirement for the eligible school-based therapist to submit fingerprints.

(5)

If an eligible school-based therapist provides services to a student related to the student’s individualized education program, as developed pursuant to part 1 of article 20 of this title 22, the eligible school-based therapist must have qualifications consistent with the student’s individualized education program.

Source: Section 22-60.5-218 — Employment of certain school-based therapists - legislative declaration - definitions, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-22.­pdf (accessed May 26, 2025).

22–60.5–101
Short title 22–60.5–102
Definitions 22–60.5–103
Applicants - licenses - authorizations - submittal of form and fingerprints - failure to comply constitutes grounds for denial 22–60.5–104
Applicants for initial licensure - statement of completion of approved program of preparation 22–60.5–105
Applicants for licensure or authorization - moral qualifications 22–60.5–106
Endorsement of license - effect - rules 22–60.5–107
Grounds for denying, annulling, suspending, or revoking license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization - definitions 22–60.5–108
Procedure - denial, suspension, annulment, or revocation - license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization 22–60.5–109
Hearing commissioner - duties 22–60.5–109.5
Inactive status of licenses 22–60.5–110
Renewal of licenses 22–60.5–111
Authorization - types - applicants’ qualifications - rules 22–60.5–111.5
Teacher degree apprenticeship program - guidelines - teacher apprenticeship program sponsors - application for authorization with the department - criteria for authorization - program audit 22–60.5–112
Fees - fund - repeal 22–60.5–112.5
National credential - fee assistance - one-time payments 22–60.5–114
State board of education - waivers 22–60.5–115
Rules 22–60.5–116.5
Education committees - evaluation of educator preparation programs - biennial joint meeting 22–60.5–118
Educator licenses - holding simultaneously 22–60.5–119
Applications for licenses - authority to suspend licenses - rules 22–60.5–120
Provisional license - initial license - change of term 22–60.5–121
Educator preparation programs - requirements - advisory committee - report - rules - legislative declaration - definitions 22–60.5–201
Types of teacher licenses issued - term - rules 22–60.5–202
Professional teacher licensees - master certification 22–60.5–203
Assessment of professional competencies - multiple measures to assess professional competencies - rules 22–60.5–204
Approved induction program - initial teacher licensee 22–60.5–205
One-year and two-year alternative teacher programs - standards and evaluation - duties of department - duties of the state board of education - fees - legislative declaration 22–60.5–206
Alternative teacher support teams - duties - advisory councils 22–60.5–207
Alternative teacher contracts 22–60.5–208.7
Teacher of record program - rules - authorization - definition 22–60.5–209.1
Department of education - adjunct instructor authorization - alternative teacher programs - information 22–60.5–210
Types of special services licenses issued - term 22–60.5–211
Professional special services licensees - master certification 22–60.5–212
Assessment of professional competencies 22–60.5–213
Approved induction programs - initial special services licensees 22–60.5–218
Employment of certain school-based therapists - legislative declaration - definitions 22–60.5–301
Types of principal licenses issued - term 22–60.5–302
Professional principal licensees - master certification 22–60.5–303
Assessment of professional competencies 22–60.5–304
Approved induction programs - initial principal licensees 22–60.5–305
Licensed principals - occasional teaching 22–60.5–305.5
Alternative principal preparation program - requirements - rules - legislative declaration 22–60.5–306
Types of administrator licenses issued - term 22–60.5–307
Professional administrator licensees - master certification 22–60.5–308
Assessment of professional competencies 22–60.5–309
Approved induction programs - initial administrator licensees 22–60.5–309.5
Licensed administrators - occasional teaching

Current through Fall 2025

§ 22-60.5-218. Employment of certain school-based therapists's source at colorado​.gov