(1) The general assembly finds that some states have created state and residential schools to provide educational programs and student support services for students who are at risk of academic failure. The general assembly further finds that early reports of results achieved by some of these schools indicate that this may be a promising approach to reducing the dropout rate, closing the achievement gaps, and helping to raise the level of academic achievement among students in the state. The general assembly therefore finds that it is appropriate for the commissioner to study the feasibility of creating one or more state schools in Colorado, which may include a residential component or a specific student population. (2) Beginning in July 2009, the commissioner shall study the feasibility of operating one or more state schools to serve students who are in need of greater academic support and who may be at risk of academic failure. At a minimum, the feasibility study shall address and make recommendations concerning the following issues: (a) The goals that a state school would be designed to achieve and a method for measuring the level of achievement of those goals. In addressing this issue, the commissioner shall provide an overview of the state and residential schools operating in other states, the goals that they are designed to achieve, and the degree to which they have achieved or are achieving those goals. (b) The appropriate student population to be served by a state school and the manner of selecting students, the number of state schools that should be considered, and appropriate locations for state schools; (c) The governance structure and funding for a state school, including the optimal level of per pupil funding, funding for capital construction needs, and potential public and private funding sources; (d) The appropriate curriculum for a state school, including which grade levels a state school would serve, the length of the school day and school year for which a state school would operate, and whether a state school should include a focus on specific subject matter areas; and (e) The types of student and family support services that a state school would provide, including the manner in which a state school would collaborate with state and local agencies in providing these services. (3) On or before February 1, 2010, the department shall submit to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate the feasibility study described in subsection (2) of this section for operating one or more state schools and any legislative recommendations the department may have pertaining to the creation of one or more state schools. (4) (a) Following completion of the feasibility study, if the commissioner concludes that the creation and operation of state residential schools would be beneficial to the state, the commissioner may contract for the creation and operation of one or more state residential schools to provide educational services to students who are at risk of academic failure. Any state residential school operated pursuant to this section shall provide an educational program focused on mathematics and science. (b) If the commissioner does not contract for state residential schools as authorized in paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), the commissioner may provide technical assistance to school districts and public schools to address the needs of students who are at risk of academic failure by improving the availability and quality of secondary-level mathematics and science curricula. (5) (a) It is the intent of the general assembly that up to three million dollars be appropriated to the commissioner to expend for the implementation of subsection (4) of this section. The general assembly finds that, for purposes of section 17 of article IX of the state constitution, the creation of state residential schools and the provision of technical assistance to improve secondary-level mathematics and science curricula as provided in subsection (4) of this section are important elements of accountable programs to meet state academic standards, and the general assembly may therefore appropriate moneys from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution for the implementation of subsection (4) of this section. (b) In addition to the funding provided pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (5), if the commissioner contracts for the creation and operation of one or more state residential schools, the department shall provide funding for said schools by withholding moneys from the state share of total program funding payable to the district of residence of each student who enrolls in a state residential school. The amount withheld shall be equal to the amount of the school district's per pupil revenue for the applicable budget year multiplied by the number of students who reside in the school district and are enrolled in the state residential school as of the pupil enrollment count day of the applicable budget year. A student who enrolls in a state residential school shall be counted in the pupil enrollment of the student's school district of residence for purposes of this paragraph (b). The department shall adopt guidelines as necessary for the implementation of this paragraph (b). (c) The commissioner is encouraged to apply federal moneys received pursuant to the federal "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009", Pub.L. 111-5, to the extent allowed to offset the costs incurred in implementing this section. The commissioner is authorized to seek and accept additional public or private gifts, grants, or donations for the implementation of this section.
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