(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Administrative unit" has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-20-103. (b) "Board of cooperative services" or "BOCES" means a board of cooperative services created pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one or more public schools. (c) "Center" means the technical assistance center created in subsection (2) of this section. (d) "Remote school district" means a school district in Colorado, irrespective of pupil enrollment, that is more than fifty miles from the nearest large, urbanized area. (e) "Rural school district" means a school district in Colorado that the department determines is rural, based on the geographic size of the school district, the distance of the school district from the nearest large, urbanized area, and a total enrollment of six thousand five hundred or fewer students. (2) (a) There is created in the office the technical assistance center to provide technical assistance to school districts and related administrative units serving students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs who need to be served by an approved facility school but are unable to access an approved facility school due to lack of proximity to an approved facility school or other factors. The center shall prioritize technical assistance to rural school districts, remote school districts, and other school districts and related administrative units that face significant obstacles to providing supports to serve students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs. (b) Technical assistance may include: (I) Training; (II) Professional development; (III) Coaching; (IV) Supports for resource sharing and collaboration between administrative units, approved facility schools, school districts, or BOCES; and (V) Direct supports to administrative units to ensure the administrative unit provides a free and appropriate public education for students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs. (3) (a) Beginning in the 2023-24 budget year, the center shall assess the needs of school districts, prioritizing rural school districts, remote school districts, and other school districts and related administrative units that face significant obstacles to providing supports to serve students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs. (b) Beginning in the 2024-25 budget year, the center shall provide technical assistance to school districts, prioritizing rural school districts, remote school districts, and other school districts and related administrative units that face significant obstacles to providing supports to serve students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs. (4) The qualified third-party evaluator described in section 22-2-405 (4) shall study the effectiveness of the center, which must include feedback from school districts and administrative units that use the services of the center. (5) Subject to available appropriations, the center may extend support services to school districts and related administrative units to improve services for students with exceptionally severe or specialized needs, including through grant programs and direct and contracted services.
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