Code of Colorado Regulations 300 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Code of Colorado Regulations — Department 300: Department of Education
What This Is
The Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR) is Colorado’s official compilation of administrative rules.
Department 300 contains rules adopted by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the Colorado State Board of Education that govern public education in Colorado. These rules implement state statutes and govern how public schools, districts, educators, and related programs operate.
Department 300 includes multiple agencies and rule sets, with the largest being Agency 301 – Colorado State Board of Education.
Primary Organization of Department 300
Agency 301 – Colorado State Board of Education
This is the main set of rules under Department 300. It consists of many individual rule parts, each covering a distinct topic in public education. Together, they set standards, procedures, rights, and requirements for schools and the CDE.
Key rule areas include:
1. Statewide Accountability and Performance
Standards for how schools and districts are evaluated, including performance reporting.
Definitions of terms like accreditation and performance indicators.
Procedures for reporting school performance data.
2. High School Equivalency (HSE) Program
Rules for administering high school equivalency examinations to eligible Colorado residents.
3. Food and Nutrition Services
Standards and procedures for school meal programs and compliance with nutrition requirements.
4. Exceptional Children’s Educational Act
Rules governing services for students with disabilities.
Includes confidentiality requirements, procedural safeguards, and eligibility criteria for funding special education services.
5. English Language Proficiency Act
Requirements for assessing and reporting the progress of students whose dominant language is not English.
Duties of school districts and the Department in monitoring these students.
6. Accounting and Reporting
Rules for financial reporting by school districts and other educational entities.
7. Public School Transportation
Standards and funding rules for transportation services, including vehicle safety and transportation fund administration.
8. Educator Licensing Act
Rules for licensing teachers and educational professionals, including certification requirements and examination standards.
9. School Budget Law
Procedures for school district budget preparation, approval, and reporting.
10. Public School Finance
Rules implementing the Public School Finance Act, detailing how pupil membership and funded counts are determined for funding purposes.
11. Online and Alternative Programs
Standards for online schools and programs, including quality standards and program oversight.
12. Grants and Program Administration
Rules for administering various state grant programs, such as supplemental online education grants, literacy and success grants, and other educational funding programs.
13. Special Topics
Additional rules addressing a range of educational policy areas, including:
Accountability for alternative campuses
Assessment of students whose primary language is not English
Standards for charter schools and authorizers
Health and safety programs in schools
Rules concerning individualized career and academic planning
Adult education and literacy grant administration
Other Agencies Under Department 300
While Agency 301 is the largest, Department 300 also includes:
Agency 302 – Colorado State Charter School Institute
Rules governing the operation, authorization, and accountability of charter schools under the Charter School Institute.
Agency 303 – Division of Public School Capital Construction Assistance
Regulations related to capital construction funding and assistance for school facilities.
Agency 304 – Facility Schools Board
Rules governing facility schools, including authorization, health and safety compliance, and operational standards.
What These Rules Do
The rules in Department 300:
Implement state education laws passed by the Colorado General Assembly.
Establish statewide standards for school accountability, educator qualifications, funding formulas, and program eligibility.
Set procedures for student assessment, transportation, special education, English language services, and many other aspects of K–12 education.
Provide due process protections, reporting requirements, and administrative procedures for schools, districts, and the Department.
Who Must Follow These Rules
Public school districts and charter schools
Educators and administrators
Colorado Department of Education staff
Educational service providers and grant recipients
All must comply with CCR Title 1 rules when operating in Colorado’s public education system.
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