CO Code § 22-60.5-305.5 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 22 - Education|Article 60.5 - Colorado Educator Licensing Act|Part 3 - Principals and Administrators|§ 22-60.5-305.5. Alternative Principal Preparation Program - Requirements - Rules - Legislative Declaration

     The general assembly finds that there is a shortage of persons in the state who are licensed as principals and are available for employment by school districts. The general assembly further finds that persons who have achieved success in careers outside of education and who are interested in employment as school principals may provide a new source of leadership talent for school districts as they seek to hire school principals. Therefore, the general assembly concludes that it is in the interest of the state to authorize school districts to design and implement individualized alternative principal programs to enable persons from outside the education community to develop the skills and experiences necessary to successfully lead a public school and to qualify ultimately for licensure as principals.    The general assembly further finds that it is in the best interest of the state to allow designated agencies to create alternative principal programs that provide the preparation necessary to enable principals to meet the quality standards for principals and qualify for a professional principal license.         A school district or charter school may employ as a principal or a vice-principal a person who holds a principal authorization issued pursuant to section 22-60.5-111 (14). A person who is employed by a school district under a principal authorization may perform the duties of a principal or a vice-principal in a school so long as the person is under the supervision of a professional principal licensee. A person who holds a principal authorization issued pursuant to section 22-60.5-111 (14) may participate in an individualized alternative principal program offered by a nonpublic school.    If a person is pursuing an individualized alternative principal program, the school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or institute shall collaborate with the person in designing the individualized alternative principal program, which the person must complete while employed under the authorization. The school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or institute may work with a governmental, nonprofit, or for-profit entity in designing and implementing the individualized alternative principal program. The individualized alternative principal program is subject to approval by the state board of education as provided in section 22-60.5-111 (14) and in accordance with rules adopted by the state board of education.    If a person is enrolled in an alternative principal program approved pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, the employing school district or charter school shall work with the designated agency that provides the alternative principal program to ensure that, while the person holds a principal authorization and is employed by the school district or charter school, the person completes the requirements of the alternative principal program.       In designing an individualized alternative principal program, the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school shall, at a minimum, ensure that:   The program will provide the information, experience, and training to enable the person who is employed under the principal authorization to develop the skills and obtain the experience and training that are comparable to those possessed by a person who qualifies for an initial principal license, as provided in section 22-60.5-301 (1)(a);  (a.5) The program provides information and training that includes an overview of Title II of the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations; section 504 of the federal “Rehabilitation Act of 1973”, 29 U.S.C. sec. 701 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations; the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act”, 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations; individualized education programs; and child find and that teaches effective special education classroom practices, including but not limited to inclusive learning environments.     The person who is employed under the principal authorization is required to successfully demonstrate professional competencies in subject matter areas, as specified by rule of the state board pursuant to section 22-60.5-303;    A person who is employed under the principal authorization is mentored and coached continuously by one or more principals and administrators;    The person who is employed under the principal authorization is assessed at the beginning of the individualized alternative principal program to determine his or her strengths and weaknesses and that the program is designed to fit the person's individual education and training needs; and    The individualized alternative principal program complements the school improvement plan, if one exists, of the school in which the person who holds a principal authorization would be employed.       In designing an individualized alternative principal program, the school district, charter school, the institute, or nonpublic school shall assess the needs of the school to which the person employed under the principal authorization would be assigned and ensure that the person receives training that will equip the person to meet the specific needs of the school and the community in which it is located.    A school district may employ a person who holds a principal authorization for three years. After that time, the school district may employ the person as a principal only if the person receives an initial or professional principal license pursuant to section 22-60.5-301. The school district or charter school may choose to provide an induction program, as described in section 22-60.5-304, for the person while employed under a principal authorization. The induction program, if provided, must be in addition to the individualized alternative principal program or the approved alternative principal program that the person completes while employed under a principal authorization.      A designated agency is authorized to implement an alternative principal program, subject to approval by the state board pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section and rules adopted by the state board. At a minimum, an alternative principal program must:   Provide the information, experience, and training to enable the person who participates in the alternative principal program to develop skills and obtain experience and training that are comparable to those possessed by a person who qualifies for an initial principal license, as provided in section 22-60.5-301 (1)(a);    Provide information and training that includes an overview of Title II of the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations; section 504 of the federal “Rehabilitation Act of 1973”, 29 U.S.C. sec. 701 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations; the federal “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act”, 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations; individualized education programs; and child find. The alternative principal program must also teach effective special education classroom practices, including but not limited to inclusive learning environments.    Require a person who participates in the alternative principal program to successfully demonstrate professional competencies in areas of knowledge, as specified by rule of the state board pursuant to section 22-60.5-303; and    Include supervision by mentor principals, performance evaluations, and a program of planned instruction and activities that are designed to enable the person enrolled in the alternative principal program to meet the quality standards for principals adopted by the state board pursuant to section 22-2-109 (6).       A designated agency that seeks approval of an alternative principal program must, in accordance with state board rules, submit to the department evidence that the program meets the requirements specified in subsection (6)(a) of this section and any additional requirements specified by state board rule. The department shall review each request for approval of an alternative principal program. If the department finds that the alternative principal program meets the requirements specified in subsection (6)(a) of this section and the rules of the state board, the state board shall approve the alternative principal program. The state board, by rule, shall establish a schedule pursuant to which a designated agency that operates an alternative principal program must periodically seek reapproval.        History. Source: L. 2009: Entire section added,(SB 09-160), ch. 292, p. 1455, § 9, effective May 21. L. 2018: (2), IP(3), (3)(c), and (4) amended,(SB 18-160), ch. 97, p. 766, § 13, effective August 8. L. 2019: (2), IP(3), and (4) amended,(SB 19-069), ch. 37, p. 128, § 13, effective August 2. L. 2020: (3)(a.5) added,(HB 20-1128), ch. 86, p. 345, § 5, effective March 24. L. 2021: (1), (2), and (5) amended and (6) added,(SB 21-058), ch. 490, p. 3530, § 3, effective May 24.    Editor's note:   This section is similar to former § 22-32-110.4 as it existed prior to 2009.   Cross references:   For the legislative declaration in HB 20-1128, see section 1 of chapter 86, Session Laws of Colorado 2020.