Senate Unanimously Approves Bill to Prepare Colorado’s Future Teachers

April 17, 2019

Denver, CO – The Colorado State Senate today voted unanimously with 1 excused to pass SB19-190, Teacher Preparation Program Support, a bill sponsored by Senator Nancy Todd (D-Aurora) to create the “Growing Great Teachers Act” to prepare more Coloradans for the experience of teaching in our public schools. The bill now heads to the Colorado House of Representatives for consideration.

“If we’re going to give Colorado’s next generation the best education possible, we need to make sure our teachers are prepared. The Growing Great Teachers Act will help give teachers the real-world preparation and tools they need to teach in our schools,” said Senator Todd, a former educator. “I know firsthand how important it can be to have hands-on training before getting up in front of a classroom, and this bill will help us prepare our educators to lead Colorado forward.”

SB19-190 would allow institutions of higher education to offer approved educator preparation programs or alternative teacher programs through a contract with the Department of Higher Education. These programs must include strong partnerships with local school districts and offer a full year of financially supported student teaching with a credentialed veteran educator. The bill also creates the Classroom Residency Design Grant Program.

Under this legislation, the veteran instructor must hold a master’s certificate from the Department of Education and will be offered a stipend of at least $2,000 during the year of mentorship. The Department of Education will collaborate with the department of higher education to endorse potential mentor teachers overseeing teacher candidates.

For more on SB19-190, please visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-190.

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