As used in this part 4, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. (1) and (2) Repealed.
2. (3) Commission means the Colorado commission on higher education.
3. (4) Educator means a teacher, principal, or special services provider as defined in section 22-60.5-102 (19).
4. (5) Facility school means an approved facility school, as defined in section 22-2-402 (1).
5. (6) Qualified loan means an educational loan incurred while completing a program of preparation, including an alternative teacher preparation program approved pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, that leads to educator licensure pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, or a bachelor's or master's degree in the area in which the educator is employed in a qualified position.

6. (7) Qualified position means:

   1. (a) A hard-to-staff educator position in a rural school or rural school district, or in a facility school that is in a rural school district, identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6);
   2. (b) A hard-to-staff educator position in a content shortage area identified pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6) in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school; or
   3. (c) An educator position in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of title 22, or a facility school.
7. (8) Rural school or rural school district means a public school or school district identified by the department of education pursuant to section 23-3.9-102 (6).
8. (9) School or public school means a public school that serves any of grades kindergarten through twelve and that derives its support, in whole or in part, from money raised by a general state or school district tax. A public school includes a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or by the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind pursuant to section 22-80-102 (4).

Source: L. 2022: Entire part added, (HB 22-1220), ch. 239, p. 1773, § 3, effective May 26. L. 2023: (1) and (2) repealed and (4) and (7) amended, (HB 23-1001), ch. 56, p. 200, § 4, effective April 10.