26-6.5-101.5. Definitions. As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires:

(2) "Council" OR "EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL" means an early childhood council identified or established locally in communities throughout the state pursuant to section 26-6.5-103 for the purpose of developing and ultimately implementing a comprehensive system of early childhood services to ensure the school readiness of children five years of age or younger in the community. A council may be an early childhood care and education council so long as no more than one council exists in a given service area.

(5) "Early care and education provider" or "early care and education facility" means a school district, provider, or facility that:

(a) Is licensed pursuant to part 1 of article 6 of this title or that participates in the Colorado preschool program pursuant to article 28 of title 22, C.R.S.; and

(b) Participates in local community councils.

(6) "Early childhood care and education council" means a council that represents public and private stakeholders identified or established locally in communities throughout the state pursuant to section 26-6.5-106. An early childhood care and education council shall provide school-readiness quality improvement funding to early care and education providers pursuant to section 26-6.5-106 (3) to enhance the school readiness of children five years of age or younger.

(6.5) "EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM" MEANS A LICENSED CHILD CARE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 6 OF THIS TITLE 26 THAT PROVIDES CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION TO CHILDREN FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER.

(7) "Eligible elementary school" means a public elementary school that:

(a) (I) For the school year immediately preceding submission of the council's application for funding pursuant to section 26-6.5-106, is required to implement a priority improvement or turnaround plan as described in section 22-11-405 or 22-11-406, C.R.S., respectively, or is subject to restructuring pursuant to section 22-11-210, C.R.S.; and

(II) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2009, (SB 09-163), ch. 293, p. 1546, § 57, effective May 21, 2009.)

(b) As of the date on which the council applies for funding through the program, is receiving moneys pursuant to Title I of the federal "Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965", 20 U.S.C. sec. 6301 et seq.

(8) "Pilot site agency" means a community consolidated child care services pilot site agency as it existed prior to May 31, 2007.

26-6.5-103. Early childhood councils - established - rules. (2) The statewide system of early childhood councils shall consist of the seventeen pilot site agencies and other existing early childhood councils, renamed through this part 1 as "early childhood councils", and new councils designated and convened pursuant to this part 1, subject to available appropriations. from the general fund.

26-6.5-103.3. Early childhood councils - applications - rules. (3) A pilot site agency or other AN existing early childhood council seeking to be newly identified as a council shall designate on its application a restatement of the following information:

26-6.5-106. School-readiness quality improvement program - created - Colorado shines quality rating and improvement system. (3) On and after January 1, 2003 JULY 1, 2018, and continuing thereafter subject to sufficient and available federal funding, there is hereby created the school-readiness quality improvement program, referred to in this section as the "program", pursuant to which IS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THE COLORADO SHINES QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM. The state department of human services shall award three years of school-readiness quality improvement funding to eligible early childhood care and education councils identified or established throughout the state pursuant to subsection (3.5) of this section. School-readiness SECTION 26-6.5-103. SCHOOL-READINESS quality improvement funding shall be awarded to improve the school readiness of children five years of age and younger who are enrolled in early care and education facilities CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. School-readiness quality improvement funding shall be awarded to eligible early childhood care and education councils based upon allocations made at the discretion of the state department and subject to available federal funding. Nothing in this section or in any rules promulgated pursuant to this section shall be interpreted to create a legal entitlement in any early childhood care and education council to school-readiness quality improvement funding. pursuant to the program. Moneys MONEY awarded through the program shall MUST be used to improve the school readiness of children, five years of age and younger, cared for at such facilities, who ultimately attend eligible elementary schools IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(3.5) (a) (I) Communities throughout the state that do not have a pilot site agency AN EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL may identify an existing entity EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY or establish a new entity to serve as the early childhood care and education council PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 26-6.5-103.3 AND 26-6.5-103.5 to work toward the development and implementation of a comprehensive early childhood system to ensure the school readiness of young children in the community. A community may identify an existing entity, such as a consolidated child care pilot site agency or an interagency coordinating council or a district preschool program advisory council, to serve as its early childhood care and education council, or it may establish a new council. To the extent it is practical, early childhood care and education councils shall be representative of the various public and private stakeholders in the community, as specified in this subsection (3.5), who are committed to supporting the preparedness of young children for school. Such stakeholders shall include:

(A) School districts;

(B) The county department;

(C) Private for-profit and nonprofit licensed child care providers representing child care centers, family child care homes, and preschools;

(D) Local resource and referral agency or agencies;

(E) County, district, or municipal public health agencies; and

(F) Local mental health community or communities.

(II) In addition, each early childhood care and education council may include, but is not limited to, representation from any combination of the following:

(A) The board of county commissioners;

(B) The local head start grantee;

(C) The Colorado preschool program established in article 28 of title 22, C.R.S.;

(D) Child care associations;

(E) Other local governmental entities;

(F) Parents or other consumers of early childhood care and education services; and

(G) Faith-based organizations.

(b) For purposes of this section, the early childhood care and education council, whether newly established in a community or newly identified to serve as such, shall work toward consolidating and coordinating funding, including school-readiness quality improvement funding, to create a seamless early childhood system of collaboration among the various public and private stakeholders for the effective delivery of early childhood care and education to young children in the community.

(4) Application for funding. (a) (I) An early childhood care and education council seeking school-readiness quality improvement funding from the state department pursuant to this section shall apply directly to the state department in the manner specified by rule of the state board of human services. An early childhood care and education council applying for school-readiness quality improvement funding pursuant to this section shall meet the following minimum criteria: DEVELOP AND SUBMIT A SCHOOL-READINESS PLAN TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL READINESS OF CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL MEET ANY ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED BY RULE OF THE STATE BOARD.

(A) The community represented by the early childhood care and education council shall include one or more eligible elementary schools;

(B) The early childhood care and education council shall develop and submit a school-readiness plan to improve the school readiness of children in the community as described in subsection (6) of this section; and

(C) The early childhood care and education council shall demonstrate the commitment of the early care and education facilities identified in the school-readiness plan to cooperate with and participate in the school-readiness quality rating system. described in subsection (5) of this section.

(II) An early childhood care and education council seeking school-readiness quality improvement funding pursuant to this section shall, in addition to the requirements set forth in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a), meet any additional eligibility requirements specified by rule of the state board.

(b) Early childhood care and education councils that receive school-readiness quality improvement funding pursuant to this section shall distribute such moneys PRIORITIZE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MONEY to PARTICIPATING early care and CHILDHOOD education facilities identified in the school-readiness plan described in subsection (6) of this section PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER WITH RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NOT BEING SCHOOL READY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CHILDREN LIVING IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AS SPECIFIED BY RULE OF THE STATE BOARD.

(5) Colorado shines quality rating and improvement system. The early childhood and school-readiness legislative commission created in section 26-6.5-203 shall adopt a voluntary school-readiness quality rating system. The rating system THE COLORADO SHINES QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM, REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS THE "COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM", shall measure the level of preparedness of and quality of services provided by an early care and CHILDHOOD education provider PROGRAM to prepare children to enter elementary school. The school-readiness quality rating COLORADO SHINES system shall:

(a) Measure such AND SUPPORT THE elements of quality of an early care and CHILDHOOD education facility as PROGRAM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

(b) Be variable to inform parents, counties, and other purchasers of early childhood care and education about the level of quality at an early care and CHILDHOOD education facility PROGRAM in a simple and easy-to-understand manner;

(c) Be supported by statistically valid research as a reliable measure of quality of an early care and CHILDHOOD education facility PROGRAM;

(d) Include a quality improvement plan that informs quality-rated early care and education providers of their strengths and weaknesses and that provides such providers with strategies to improve the quality of their services FACILITATES GOAL SETTING AND PLANNING RELATED TO IMPROVING PROGRAM QUALITY OVER TIME; and

(e) Have demonstrated effectiveness at improving the level of quality of early care and EARLY CHILDHOOD education providers PROGRAMS in geographically diverse Colorado communities.

(6) School-readiness plans. Each early childhood care and education council seeking to apply for school-readiness quality improvement funding pursuant to this section shall prepare and submit to the state department a three-year school-readiness plan that outlines strategies to improve the school readiness of children. who reside in neighborhoods with eligible elementary schools. The school-readiness plan, at a minimum, shall MUST include:

(a) The number and location of eligible elementary schools in the community A NARRATIVE THAT DEMONSTRATES THE NEED TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN ITS SERVICE AREA;

(b) The number and location of early care and education providers that will voluntarily participate in the school-readiness quality improvement program; A PLAN THAT DESCRIBES HOW THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WILL TARGET AND RECRUIT PROGRAMS THAT ARE RATED IN THE COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM AT A LEVEL TWO OR HIGHER OR THAT ARE LICENSED PROGRAMS WITH A DEMONSTRATED HARDSHIP THAT ARE ACTIVELY WORKING 1 TOWARD ACHIEVING A COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM LEVEL TWO RATING. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MUST TARGET AND RECRUIT PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THE COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CREATED IN PART 8 OF ARTICLE 2 OF THIS TITLE 26; AND

(c) A commitment that the early care and education providers identified in the school-readiness plan will cooperate with and participate in the school-readiness quality rating system; described in subsection (5) of this section; and STRATEGIES DEVELOPED JOINTLY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF HUMAN OR SOCIAL SERVICES TO TARGET SCHOOL-READINESS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF QUALITY AT PARTICIPATING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(d) Community strategies to target school-readiness quality improvement funding to improve the level of quality at participating early care and education providers.

(7) Rules. (a) The state board of human services shall promulgate rules for the implementation of this section, including but not limited to rules that:

(I) Specify the procedure by which an early childhood care and education council may apply for school-readiness quality improvement funding pursuant to the program; AND

(II) Specify the manner in which school-readiness quality improvement funding is distributed to early childhood care and education councils, ensuring an equitable distribution between rural and urban communities; and

(III) Identify any additional eligibility requirements for early childhood care and education councils seeking school-readiness quality improvement funding. as described in subparagraph (II) of paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of this section.

(b) At a minimum, the rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (7) shall MUST identify a specific and measurable level of improvement in the school-readiness quality rating COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM that an early care and CHILDHOOD education provider PROGRAM must achieve over the course of the funding distribution period after receiving an initial funding distribution through the program WITHIN EACH COLORADO SHINES RATING CYCLE in order for the provider to continue receiving school-readiness quality improvement funding, as well as the eligibility criteria for continued participation in the program.

(8) Funding. (a) The school-readiness quality improvement program shall be funded using federal child care development fund moneys MONEY OR OTHER FEDERAL MONEY annually appropriated for the program. Such moneys THE MONEY shall be allocated by the state department to the eligible early childhood care and education councils for implementation of the rating system and for distribution to early care and CHILDHOOD education providers PROGRAMS, as provided in this section.

(b) (I) If moneys are MONEY IS required to match the federal child care development funds, such matching moneys MONEY may be from, but need not be limited to, general fund moneys MONEY appropriated by the general assembly, local moneys MONEY, or private matching moneys. Any state department staff that may be necessary to support the school-readiness quality improvement program shall be funded by federal child care development funds appropriated for the program and not from general funds. The FTE authorization for any staff necessary to support the school-readiness quality improvement program shall be eliminated should federal funds no longer be available for the program MONEY.

(II) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b), The general assembly shall IS not be obligated to appropriate general fund moneys MONEY if private matching moneys are MONEY IS not available or later become BECOMES unavailable.

(c) The state department shall be IS authorized to enter into a sole-source contract with an organization to provide the following:

(I) Ratings of child care QUALITY RATING ASSESSMENTS;

(II) Technical assistance for child care providers EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS;

(III) Community infrastructure and resource development for improving the quality of child care EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION;

(IV) Parent and consumer education on the IMPORTANCE OF quality of child care providers in the community EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION; AND

(V) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.

(9) Evaluation - report. (a) Each early childhood care and education council shall submit A REPORT to the state department a summative thirty-month report on or before January 1, 2009 AUGUST 15, 2019, and on or before January 1 every three years AUGUST 15 EACH YEAR thereafter. The report shall MUST address the quality improvement of the participating early care and education facilities CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS and the overall effectiveness of the school-readiness quality improvement program COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM at preparing low-income children residing in communities with eligible elementary schools, CHILDREN WITH IDENTIFIED RISK FACTORS for school. Such reports, At a minimum, shall THE REPORT MUST address:

(I) The number of early care and CHILDHOOD education facilities PROGRAMS and children who participated in the school-readiness quality improvement program COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER SERVED AS A RESULT OF THE SCHOOL-READINESS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDING IN HOME-BASED PROGRAMS AND IN CENTER-BASED PROGRAMS;

(II) The baseline quality ratings of each participating early care and CHILDHOOD education provider PROGRAM during each year of participation FOR EACH COLORADO SHINES RATING CYCLE;

(III) An analysis and explanation of the quality improvement strategies undertaken at each early care and CHILDHOOD education facility PROGRAM; and

(IV) The barriers to quality improvement that were encountered; AND

(V) ANY OTHER DATA REQUIRED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

(b) (I) On or before April 1, 2009 DECEMBER 1, 2019, and on or before April 1 DECEMBER 1 every three years thereafter, the state department, or any private entity with which the state department is hereby authorized to contract for this purpose, shall submit a consolidated statewide report, based upon the reports prepared and submitted by the early childhood care and education councils, addressing the items set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection SUBSECTION (9)(a) OF THIS SECTION to the early childhood and school readiness legislative commission and to the members of the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate of the general assembly, OR ANY SUCCESSOR COMMITTEE.

(II) NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), THE REPORT REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION (9)(b)(I) OF THIS SECTION CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.

(c) Reporting early childhood care and education councils, as well as the state department or any private entity with which it may contract for reporting purposes, may draw upon the evaluations and studies prepared by a nationally recognized research firm to report on the school readiness of children in quality-rated early care and CHILDHOOD education facilities PROGRAMS.

(d) Each early childhood care and education council shall work with state and local agencies, such as school districts, to support efforts to track, through high school graduation, the future academic performance of children who receive school-readiness services from early care and CHILDHOOD education providers who PROGRAMS THAT receive funding pursuant to this section.

26-6.7-102. Definitions. As used in this article ARTICLE 6.7, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Colorado child care assistance program" or "CCCAP" means the Colorado child care assistance program in the state department CREATED IN PART 8 OF ARTICLE 2 OF THIS TITLE 26.

(1.3) "COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM" MEANS THE COLORADO SHINES QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 26-6.5-106.

(4) "Early childhood EDUCATION program" means a school district, provider, head start program, or facility that provides child care and education to low-income infants and toddlers, has a contract as a provider through the Colorado child care assistance program, and is either licensed CHILD CARE PROGRAM pursuant to part 1 of article 6 of this title or participates in the Colorado preschool program pursuant to article 28 of title 22, C.R.S. TITLE 26 THAT PROVIDES CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION TO INFANTS AND TODDLERS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

(6) "Tiered reimbursement" means a pay structure that reflects an increased rate of reimbursement for early childhood programs that receive moneys through CCCAP.

26-6.7-103. Colorado infant and toddler quality and availability grant program - creation. Subject to available appropriations, there is hereby created in the state department the Colorado infant and toddler quality and availability grant program. The goal of the grant program is to improve quality in infant and toddler care, provide tiered reimbursement to high-quality early childhood programs, GRANTS ARE AWARDED THROUGH THE COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM TO IMPROVE QUALITY IN LICENSED INFANT AND TODDLER CARE and increase the number of low-income infants and toddlers served through high-quality early childhood EDUCATION programs, as well as promote voluntary parental involvement FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS, AS DETERMINED FOR THE COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM. A program is considered "high-quality" if it is RATED in the top two ratings THREE LEVELS of the state's quality rating and improvement COLORADO SHINES system. or is accredited by a state department-approved accrediting body, or is an early head start program meeting federal standards. Early childhood councils and county departments must jointly MAY apply for moneys MONEY through the grant program STATE DEPARTMENT, which will be administered by the state department ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM AS PART OF THE COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM. AN early childhood EDUCATION programs that are PROGRAM THAT IS within the service area of an early childhood council and within the county jointly applying for the grant may apply to the early childhood council for moneys MONEY that would allow them to achieve one of the objectives of the grant program THE PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES SERVED THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

26-6.7-104. Eligibility for grants - applications - deadlines. (1) The state department shall develop an application process and issue a request for proposals for the grant program, including notification of available moneys MONEY to early childhood councils, and county departments, eligibility criteria, proposal requirements, and award criteria.

(2) An applicant to the grant program is eligible for a grant award pursuant to this article ARTICLE 6.7 if:

(a) The application is made jointly between BY an early childhood council AND INCLUDES STRATEGIES DEVELOPED JOINTLY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING, AT A MINIMUM, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF HUMAN OR SOCIAL SERVICES. and a county department. If an early childhood council serves more than one county, it may submit a single application that combines multiple counties in its FOR THE COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP ITS DESIGNATED service area.

(b) The early childhood EDUCATION programs to which the grant moneys MONEY will be distributed have contracts ACHIEVED A QUALITY RATING PURSUANT TO THE COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM OF AT LEAST A LEVEL TWO, OR ARE LICENSED PROGRAMS WITH A DEMONSTRATED HARDSHIP THAT ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARD ACHIEVING A COLORADO SHINES SYSTEM LEVEL TWO RATING, AND HAVE FISCAL AGREEMENTS with CCCAP;

(c) The application EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL demonstrates a need and provides a plan to improve quality and increase the capacity for early childhood EDUCATION programs THAT SERVE INFANTS AND TODDLERS THREE YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER in its DESIGNATED service area. The goal of the grant program is to increase the number of infants and toddlers served through high-quality early childhood programs. The early childhood EDUCATION programs may be home-based or center-based.

(d) It provides a plan detailing how it will provide tiered reimbursement; and THE APPLICANT MEETS ANY OTHER CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.

(e) It meets any other criteria set forth in the application process developed pursuant to this section.

(3) (a) In fiscal year 2013-14, grant applications must be received by the state department on or before July 31, 2013 SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, the state department shall review applications and determine which applicants will receive grants and the amount of each grant. Grant awards must be made on or before September 1, 2013, through the fund.

(b) For each fiscal year thereafter, subject to available appropriations, grant applications must be received by the state department on or before June 30 of the prior fiscal year. The state department shall review applications and determine which applicants will receive grants and the amount of each grant. Grant awards must be made on or before August 1 through the fund.

(c) If in any fiscal year the full appropriation by the general assembly for the grant program is not dispersed as specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (3), the state department shall review proposals and award grants as the applications are received and not require the applications to be held until the next grant cycle.

26-6.7-105. Reporting requirements. (1) No later than four months after the conclusion of a grant, the AUGUST 15 EACH YEAR, AN early childhood council that received the grant shall provide the state department with an annual report concerning the outcomes of the grant. The report must include, at a minimum:

(a) A summary of data received from early childhood EDUCATION programs that received grant moneys MONEY;

22-7-304. Council - advisory duties - technical assistance - report. (1) The council shall inform, at a minimum, the early childhood councils, and the early childhood care and education councils created pursuant to article 6.5 of title 26, C.R.S., public schools, school districts, the state charter school institute, the department, the state board, the department of higher education, the Colorado commission on higher education, and the governing boards for the state institutions of higher education concerning best practices and strategies, aligned with the national standards for family-school partnerships, for increasing parent involvement in public education and promoting family and school partnerships, including but not limited to best practices and strategies in the following areas:

22-7-1010. State board - commission - public input - staff assistance. (1) In fulfilling their duties under PURSUANT TO this part 10, the state board and the commission, at a minimum, shall:

(a) Meet with interested persons throughout the state, including but not limited to:

(II) Representatives of early childhood councils; and early childhood care and education councils;

22-11-305. Accredited with priority improvement plan - school district or institute - plan contents - adoption. (4) An early childhood learning needs assessment must determine the extent to which:

(b) Children are enrolled in publicly funded early learning and development programs within the school district or in private early learning and development programs that participate in the school readiness COLORADO SHINES quality RATING AND improvement program SYSTEM created ESTABLISHED in section 26-6.5-106;

24-37.5-703.5. Education data subcommittee - created - duties - repeal. (1) The education data subcommittee is hereby created as a subcommittee of the advisory board. The education data subcommittee shall consist CONSISTS of the following members:

(f) At least ten members appointed by the governor with expertise in data sharing by education agencies, including at least one representative from each of the following groups:

(VII) Early childhood councils established pursuant to section 26-6.5-103; C.R.S., and early childhood care and education councils established pursuant to section 26-6.5-106, C.R.S.;