C.R.S. Section 23-3.3-1001
Legislative declaration

  • repeal

(1)

The general assembly hereby declares that the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative created in this part 10 is intended to:

(a)

Award scholarships or grants based upon a rigor-based method that emphasizes student commitment to academic achievement and successful placement in the workforce and ensuring that participating students and institutions be held accountable through measurable outcomes; and

(b)

Develop the connections and community partnerships necessary to ensure that every Colorado student has the support needed to enter a postsecondary opportunity, persist and succeed, and enter his or her desired position in the workforce.

(2)

It is the intent of the general assembly to match nonprofit and private financial contributions to the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative with annual contributions from the general fund so that a sustainable corpus is created to fund scholarship awards in future years. Whenever practicable, the annual match should be in an amount that is significant enough to attract continued investment by community partners.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The general assembly further declares that:

(I)

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the lives of students and their families, the operations of the public institutions of higher education in Colorado, and the state’s workforce and economy;

(II)

While the pandemic has affected the entire state, it has disproportionately impacted low-income families and communities of color, exacerbating systemic economic inequities;

(III)

The crisis has had a disproportionate impact on front-line workers, those who earn low wages, and those who lack a postsecondary credential or degree; and

(IV)

An equitable economic recovery from the pandemic depends on having robust pathways for workers to obtain new skills, earn higher wages, and be prepared for the in-demand careers of the future.

(b)

The general assembly therefore finds that it is an appropriate, necessary, and lawful use of the money received through the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021”, Pub.L. 117-2, to appropriate a portion of said money to the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative to address the significant decline in enrollment in the public institutions of higher education, high rates of job loss, and continuing unemployment and the overall disruption to the workforce caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in significant economic harm to individuals and businesses, by quickly and effectively providing support for students to return to the public institutions of higher education to complete their postsecondary credentials and help to rebuild and revitalize the workforce of Colorado and by assisting students to complete the free application for federal student aid and the Colorado application for state financial aid.

(c)

It is the intent of the general assembly that institutions use the allocations distributed pursuant to section 23-3.3-1006 to provide direct and indirect support to students to re-enroll and complete postsecondary credentials. It is further the general assembly’s intent that the institutions provide this direct and indirect student support through programs that incentivize students to return and complete degree and credential programs, assist students in navigating their options for how to return and complete degrees and credentials efficiently, address equity gaps in higher education and the workforce, provide training for industry-recognized certificates and skill development for traditional and non-traditional students and members of the workforce, support workforce development for significantly impacted job sectors, and support and improve overall student success in completing postsecondary credentials and entering the workforce.

(d)

This subsection (3) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.

Source: Section 23-3.3-1001 — Legislative declaration - repeal, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-23.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

23‑3.3‑101
Definitions 23‑3.3‑102
Assistance program authorized - procedure - audits 23‑3.3‑103
Annual appropriations - repeal 23‑3.3‑104
Assistance to professional theology students prohibited 23‑3.3‑106
Technology to support FAFSA and CASFA - definitions 23‑3.3‑107
Improvements to CASFA - definitions - repeal 23‑3.3‑201
Definitions 23‑3.3‑202
Program funding 23‑3.3‑204
Dependents of prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action 23‑3.3‑205
Dependents of deceased or permanently disabled National Guardsman, law enforcement officer, or firefighter 23‑3.3‑301
Student loan matching program - funding 23‑3.3‑401
Work-study program established - requirements 23‑3.3‑501
Scholarship and grant program - funding 23‑3.3‑600.1
Short title 23‑3.3‑601
Educational exchange program 23‑3.3‑701
Colorado nursing scholarship program 23‑3.3‑901
Teach Colorado grant initiative created - award of grants - legislative declaration 23‑3.3‑1001
Legislative declaration - repeal 23‑3.3‑1002
Definitions 23‑3.3‑1003
Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative - created 23‑3.3‑1004
Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative advisory board - created - duties - rules - repeal 23‑3.3‑1005
Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative fund - created - rules - repeal 23‑3.3‑1006
Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative - federal money - institutional allocations - purposes - reporting - rules - definitions - repeal 23‑3.3‑1007
Student aid applications completion grant program - created - applications - rules - definitions - repeal 23‑3.3‑1008
Displaced workers grant - repeal 23‑3.3‑1009
Support for in-demand short-term health-care credentials - report - definitions - repeal 23‑3.3‑1010
Youth mentorship assistance grant pilot program - creation - policies - reports - definitions - repeal 23‑3.3‑1101
Career and technical education certificate programs - tuition assistance - funding - definitions 23‑3.3‑1301
Legislative declaration 23‑3.3‑1302
Definitions 23‑3.3‑1303
Fourth-year innovation pilot program - creation - eligibility - award of state funding - commission policies 23‑3.3‑1304
Receipt and use of state funding 23‑3.3‑1305
Reporting requirements 23‑3.3‑1306
Fourth-year innovation pilot program fund - creation - reversion 23‑3.3‑1307
Repeal of part 23‑3.3‑1401
Financial aid for students who have been in out-of-home placement - institution liaisons - navigators - definitions
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 23-3.3-1001’s source at colorado​.gov