DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Colorado State Board of Education

RULES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL GRANT PROGRAM

1 CCR 301-97

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1.00	Statement of Basis and Purpose.

The School Health Professional Grant Program, sections 22-96-101 through 22-96-105, C.R.S., requires the State Board of Education to promulgate rules for the implementation of the program, including but not limited to: the timeline for submitting applications to the Department; the form of the grant application and any information in addition to that specified in section 22-96-104 (2), C.R.S. to be included in the application; any criteria for awarding grants in addition to those specified in section 22-96-104 (3), C.R.S.; and any information to be included in the Department’s program report in addition to that required in section 22-96-105, C.R.S.

2.00	Definitions.

2.00(1)	Behavioral health care:  Services to prevent, identify, and treat substance use disorders, substance misuse, and mental health disorders, including services to support social- emotional health.

2.00 (2) Department: The Department of Education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115, C.R.S.

2.00 (3) Education provider: A school district, a board of cooperative services, a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to Part 1 of Article 30.5 of Title 22 C.R.S., or a charter school authorized by the State Charter School Institute pursuant to Part 5 of Article 30.5 of Title 22 C.R.S.

2.00 (4) School health professional: A state-licensed or state-certified school nurse, school psychologist, school social worker, school counselor, or other state-licensed or state-certified professional qualified under state law to provide support services to children and adolescents, including mental health professionals licensed pursuant to article 43 of title 12, C.R.S.

2.00 (5) School: A public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school.

(6) State Board: The State Board of Education created pursuant to Section 1 of Article IX of the State Constitution.

Implementation Procedures.

2.01 (1) Application Timeline. Grants will be awarded for an initial term of one year. Grantees may receive funds for up to two additional years, based on annual approval by the Department and available appropriations. Applications will be due to the Department on or before May 1 of each funding cycle, subject to available appropriations. The Department will make funding available to grantees on or before June 30 of the same fiscal year.

2.01 (2) Application Procedures. The Department will be the responsible agency for implementing the School Health Professional Grant Program. The Department will develop a Request for Proposal (RFP), pursuant to the Department’s RFP process and pursuant to the requirements and timelines found in 22-96-104, C.R.S. If the Department determines an application is missing any information required by rule to be included with the application, the Department may contact the education provider to obtain the missing information. As applicable, each grant application, at a minimum, shall specify:

2.01 (2) (a)	The intended recipient schools, the number of health professionals employed by the education provider in schools prior to receipt of a grant, and the ratio of students to school health providers in the schools operated by or receiving services from the education provider;

2.01 (2) (b)	The education provider's plan for use of the grant moneys, including the extent to which the grant moneys will be used to increase the number of school health professionals at recipient schools and to provide behavioral health care services at recipient schools, including but not limited to screenings, counseling, therapy, referrals to community organizations, and training for students and staff on behavioral health issues;

2.01 (2) (c)	The education provider's plan for involving leaders at the recipient schools and in the surrounding community and the faculty at recipient schools in increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the behavioral health care services provided to school students enrolled in or receiving educational services from the education provider;

2.01 (2) (d)	The extent to which the education provider has developed or plans to develop community partnerships to serve the behavioral health care needs of all of the students enrolled in or receiving educational services from the education provider;

2.01 (2) (e)	The extent to which the education provider has seen increased incidence of disciplinary actions for drug use or selling drugs, suicide attempts, deaths by suicide, bullying, adverse childhood experiences, or other factors that affect students’ mental well-being;

2.01 (2) (f)	The extent to which the education provider has an existing program that can be expanded to increase the availability of school health professionals;

2.01 (2) (g)	The amount of matching funds that the education provider intends to provide to augment any grant moneys received from the program and the anticipated amount and source of any matching funds; and

2.01 (2) (h)	The education provider's plan for continuing to fund the increase in school health professional services following expiration of the grant.

2.01 (3) Application Priority Criteria. In reviewing applications and making recommendations to the State Board, the Department shall prioritize applications based on the following criteria:

2.01 (3) (a)	The education provider's need for additional school health professionals in schools, demonstrated by the local school and community data regarding student alcohol or drug use, access to behavioral health care provider, or other data showing the need for a school health professional;

2.01 (3) (b)

2.01 (3) (c)

2.01 (3) (d)

2.01 (3) (e)

2.01 (3) (f)

2.01 (3) (g)

The existence of a successful school health team in the education provider's school or schools;

The amount of the matching money that the education provider or a community partner is able to commit;

The education provider's emphasis and commitment to implement evidence- based and research-based programs and strategies;

The likelihood that the education provider or community partner will continue to fund the increases in the level of school health professional services following expiration of the grant;

The extent to which the education provider prioritizes use of grant money for staff training related to behavioral health supports; and

Whether the education  provider  has  an  established  process  for  a  parent  or legal guardian to opt their  child  out  of  a  health  course,  part  of  the  health curriculum, or behavioral health services.

2.01 (4) Additional Review Criteria. The Department and the State Board shall consult with experts in the area of school health professional services when establishing any additional criteria for awarding grants and in reviewing applications and selecting grant recipients.
2.01 (5) Duration, Amount, and Use of of Grant Funding. Subject to available appropriations, the State Board shall award grants to applying education providers pursuant to 22-96-104, C.R.S. The State Board shall base the grant awards on the Department’s recommendations. Each grant shall have an initial term of one year and may be renewed for two subsequent years based on annual approval by the Department and available appropriation. In making the award, the State Board shall specify the amount of each grant.

2.01 (5) (a)

2.01 (5) (b)

An education provider that receives a grant under the program shall use the money to increase the level of funding the education provider allocates to school health professionals to provide behavioral health care to students prior to receiving the grant and not to replace other funding sources allocated to provide school health professionals for students in schools.

An education provider may use the money to contract with a community partner for behavioral healthcare services, including hiring private health care professionals, training, screening, and preventive supports. Additionally, the education provider may use the money to provide direct services or consultation by a school health professional through telehealth technology.

2.01 (6) Reporting. In any fiscal year in which the general assembly makes an appropriation to the department for the purposes of the program, each education provider that receives a grant through the program shall report the following Information to the department each year during the term of the grant:

2.01 (6) (a)	The number of school health professionals hired using grant moneys; and

2.01 (6) (b)	A list and explanation of the services provided using grant moneys.

2.01 (7) Evaluation of Program. On or before May 1, 2015, and on or before May 1 in each fiscal year thereafter in which the general assembly makes an appropriation to the Department for the purposes of the program, the Department shall submit to the Education Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, or any successor Committees, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the Information received by the department pursuant to subsection (1) of this 22-96-105, C.R.S. The Department shall also post the report to its web site.

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