Senate Signs Off on Zenzinger’s Bipartisan Bill to Get More Teachers in Classrooms

Legislation would reduce financial barriers to entering the educator workforce

DENVER, CO - The Senate today voted to advance Senator Rachel Zenzinger’s, D-Arvada, bipartisan legislation that would invest more than $52 million in federal funding to attract new educators to the workforce by reducing financial barriers to entry.

Cosponsored by Senator Don Coram, R-Montrose, HB22-1220 would create two educator preparation stipend programs and a temporary educator loan forgiveness program in the Department of Higher Education to reduce financial barriers to entering the workforce and help teachers pay off their student loans. 

“I know from personal experience how nearly impossible it is for student teachers to meet their prep obligations while supporting themselves financially via a second or third job,” said Zenzinger. “This bill establishes several programs that will help reduce students’ stress and make the pathway toward a career in education far more appealing. It’s way past time to implement this kind of legislation."

Currently, the Colorado Department of Education can issue a temporary educator eligibility authorization to students in an educator preparation program for special education who have not yet met all the requirements for initial licensure. The bill expands the temporary authorization to students in both regular and alternative teacher preparation programs.

HB22-1220 now heads to House for concurrence on amendments. Track the progress of the bill HERE.