ColoradoColorado law recognizes public colleges for student outcomes
The Department of Higher Education identifies public colleges meeting student outcome standards and asks whether each wants recognition, which does not guarantee state funding.
What it does
The Department of Higher Education identifies public colleges that meet student outcome standards and asks whether they want recognition. It posts the names of colleges that agree, but recognition does not guarantee state funding.
The department sets recognition standards using existing data, including student progress and earnings after college. The standards must protect privacy and aim to improve outcomes without reducing other students' success.
Argument forPublic recognition tied to student progress could encourage colleges to focus on degree completion, keeping students enrolled, and earnings after college.
Argument againstColleges might focus too heavily on measured results to earn recognition, even though the standards must protect other student groups' success.
More detail
The Department of Higher Education identifies colleges that meet the standards, asks whether they want recognition, and posts the names of those that agree. The process covers public colleges and universities, including local district colleges and area technical colleges. A designation does not entitle a college to state funding or require the General Assembly to replace or add to federal or private funding. The department must establish designations by December 31, 2027. After that, it identifies qualifying colleges as soon as practical after annual data are released in 2027 and each year after.
The department sets the measures and standards used to recognize colleges, with input from an advisory committee. The standards evaluate public colleges' performance for certain student groups, college missions, or workforce roles recognized in state or federal law or accountability systems. The standards must use existing state or federal data and methods, protect privacy, and meet statistical validity rules. They must include student progress and success measures, such as degree completion, retention, and earnings after college. The standards must aim to improve outcomes for the student groups being recognized without reducing other student groups' success. They cannot require new data collection or data sharing. The department must convene the advisory committee by January 1, 2027, and it must meet at least once in 2027. After its initial work, it meets only if new designations are needed or material standards changes are proposed.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 1Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 20Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 20Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 20Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 4House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 30Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Apr 27Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.012. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.010. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1006, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.013. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 30Introduced In Senate - Assigned to EducationMinor
- Mar 25House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Mar 20House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1006 to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5House Committee on Education Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.001. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1006, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.003. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.002. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 14Introduced In House - Assigned to EducationIntroduced
Education