Special education parents - training program - publish materials - legislative declaration - definition

(1) (a) The general assembly finds that: (I) In the 2017-18 school year, twenty-one thousand one hundred nine students in Colorado public schools were eligible to receive special education services pursuant to the federal "Rehabilitation Act of 1973", 29 U.S.C. sec. 701 et seq.; (II) In the 2022-23 school year, twelve percent of students in Colorado public schools were identified as having a disability that qualified those students for special education services pursuant to the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq. and this article 20; (III) Approximately fifteen percent of students in Colorado public schools are children who have an individualized education program or a section 504 accommodation; and (IV) Federal and state laws, and related processes regarding individualized education programs, are complex and challenging to navigate. (b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that it is an important priority to provide assistance to parents and the public to help promote understanding of individualized education programs and participation in our children's education. (2) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the department shall create, deliver, and make publicly available a training program. The training program must present comprehensive information, in plain and easy-to-understand language, regarding federal and state laws and procedures regarding individualized education programs, including, but not limited to, parent and student rights. The department may include interpersonal and communication strategy exercises in the training program. (b) The department shall deliver the training program in person and make the training accessible online. The general assembly encourages anyone who wishes to participate to complete the training program in person, if practicable, in order to benefit from any interpersonal and communication strategy exercises offered during the training program. (c) The department shall collaborate with stakeholders to create the training program. At a minimum, the department is encouraged to collaborate with parents of children who have an individualized education program, teachers, persons with disabilities, school district representatives, and members of the public. (3) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the department shall publish, and update as necessary, the following materials on the department's website: (I) A recording of the training delivered pursuant to this section; and (II) Any resources or materials developed to accompany the training program created and delivered pursuant to this section. (b) The materials and resources published pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section must be available to the public and in plain and easy-to-understand language. (3.5) Subject to available appropriations, the general assembly may appropriate money to the department for purposes of this section in state fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. For state fiscal year 2026-27, and each fiscal year thereafter, the general assembly shall not appropriate money to the department for purposes of this section, and the department shall perform any duties required pursuant to this section within existing resources. (4) Upon the request of a school district, school, state or local special education advisory committee, or community group, the department shall provide training program materials to the requester. (5) Upon the request of any person, the department shall provide any resources or materials developed to accompany the training program in the language requested by the person.