As used in this part 3, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. (1) Academic residency means a sixteen-week or a thirty-two-week intentional clinical experience for student educators who are placed in a school- or community-based setting.
2. (2) Approved program of preparation means an approved educator preparation program, as defined in section 22-60.5-121 (1)(b), including a preparation program for school counselors, or an alternative teacher program, as defined in section 22-60.5-102 (5).
3. (3) Commission means the Colorado commission on higher education created and existing pursuant to article 1 of this title 23.
4. (4) Department means the department of higher education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-114.
5. (5) Educator means a teacher or a school counselor.
6. (6) Educator test stipend program means the educator test stipend program created in section 23-3.9-303.

7. (7) Eligible student means a student who is:

   1. (a) Enrolled in an approved program of preparation;
   2. (b) Eligible for financial assistance because the student's expected family contribution does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution; and

   3. (c)

      1. (I) For the 2022-23 and 2023-24 state fiscal years, eligible for financial assistance because the student's expected family contribution does not exceed three hundred percent of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution.
      2. (II) This subsection (7)(c) is repealed, effective January 31, 2027.
8. (8) Institution of higher education means a public postsecondary institution authorized by the commission to offer approved programs of preparation.
9. (9) School counselor means a person who holds a special services provider license with a school counselor endorsement issued pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22 or who is otherwise endorsed or accredited by a national association to provide school counseling services.
10. (10) Student educator means an educator candidate who is participating in an academic residency and placed in a school- or community-based setting.
11. (11) Student educator stipend program means the student educator stipend program created in section 23-3.9-302.
12. (12) Teacher means a person employed to instruct students enrolled in a public school.

Source: L. 2022: Entire part added, (HB 22-1220), ch. 239, p. 1767, § 2, effective May 26. L. 2023: (7) and (12) amended, (HB 23-1001), ch. 56, p. 199, § 1, effective April 10; (2) amended, (SB 23-258), ch. 334, p. 2011, § 16, effective August 7.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 23-258, see section 1 of chapter 334, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.