| Summary |
The bill authorizes the department of education to commission a
financial study (study) with an independent contractor to analyze the costs
to provide students the opportunity to obtain college credits, industry
credentials, and work-based learning experiences. The study must also
include an analysis on the effects of consolidating certain postsecondary
and workforce readiness programs, including costs and opportunities for
savings to the state and school districts, district charter schools, institute
charter schools, and boards of cooperative services (local education
providers).
The bill requires the office of information technology (office) to
build, or contract with a third-party vendor to build, the Colorado
statewide longitudinal data system (data system) to establish a consistent,
appropriate, secure, and legal means of data sharing and connecting
multiple data sets into the data system to support effective state
investments, inform policy research, and assist Colorado citizens in
making choices related to their education and training pathways. The
office shall work with contributing state agencies, local education
providers, institutions of higher education, partner entities, and
policymakers.
The bill creates the Colorado state longitudinal data system
governing board (governing board) to support the office with the
development and implementation of the data system. The governing board
is required to convene the systems build and implementation interagency
advisory group and the sustainability interagency advisory group to
support and advise the governing board on the technical development,
implementation, use, and function of the data system.
The bill requires the office to submit an interim report on January
15, 2025, and an annual report on education and workforce readiness
beginning April 15, 2026, and each April 15 thereafter, to the general
assembly, the state board of education, and the governor summarizing the
education and workforce outcomes and postsecondary and workforce
programs using the data system.
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