The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) invites aspiring educators to apply for up to $10,000 in financial assistance for educator preparation program fees.
The Educator Recruitment and Retention program provides direct support for qualified individuals interested in teaching in a shortage area and who can commit to working in that area for three years.
The Educator Recruitment and Retention program was created by Senate Bill 21-185: Supporting Educator Workforce in Colorado, a bill designed to help fill critical teaching shortage areas by providing an incentive for aspiring teachers to work in high-shortage areas, including special education, math, science, early childhood education, and schools in rural areas.
For more shortage information, visit www.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/edshortage-surveyresults.
“This program provides much-needed support for aspiring teachers to pursue educator certification and put their knowledge and skills to work here in Colorado,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova. “In the first two years of this program, nearly 750 future Colorado teachers received funds to help them pursue careers in education, and we are excited to open the application for our third year.”
The Educator Recruitment and Retention program is one of several programs available for aspiring educators in the state of Colorado. Additional opportunities can be found at www.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/fundingopportunities.
Dr. Margarita Tovar, chief talent officer for the CDE, said, “School districts across the country are navigating teacher shortages, and it is particularly acute in our rural districts here in Colorado. We are fortunate to have so many high-quality resources and partnerships focused on strengthening our state’s educator workforce.”
Based on the most recent Colorado Educator Shortage Survey of school districts and BOCES (boards of cooperative educational services), Colorado schools started the 2023-2024 school year with a total of 635 unfilled teaching positions and 1,756 positions filled through a shortage mechanism (such as substitute teachers or teachers with alternative certifications).
Applications for the Educator Recruitment and Retention program are open through Sept. 30. Eligibility requirements and application information are available on the CDE website, www.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/errprogram.
