C.R.S. § 26-25-104: Cradle to career advisory council - created - duties - repeal.

(1) The cradle to career advisory council is created in the state department.

(2) (a) The council consists of the following members:

(I) The governor shall appoint:

(A) One member who is an educator with experience in early childhood care and education;

(B) One member who is a representative of a nonprofit organization or institution of higher education with expertise in measuring child and youth poverty and implementing policies to alleviate it;

(C) One member who has expertise and experience in postsecondary education and state workforce readiness initiatives;

(D) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that represents licensed teachers; and

(E) One member who is a representative of a statewide organization representing school executives.

(II) The president of the senate shall appoint:

(A) One member who, at the time of appointment, has been serving in a professional capacity at a Colorado public school or school district for at least three years, and who has had direct responsibility for and actively participated in the implementation of a comprehensive community school strategy;

(B) One member who represents a statewide organization representing local school boards;

(C) One member who represents providers of direct services to local education providers; and

(D) One member who is a representative of an organization that represents rural local education providers.

(III) The minority leader of the house of representatives shall appoint a representative of an eligible entity who has expertise in economic mobility issues and a representative of a statewide organization that represents parents.

(IV) The commissioner of the department of education or the commissioner's designee.

(b) In appointing the members of the council, the appointing authorities shall consider ethnicity, gender, and geographic representation to promote diverse council membership. A member of the council must be a Colorado resident and must not be a grantor or donor whose gifts, grants, or donations are credited to the fund pursuant to section 26-25-107.

(c) The appointing authorities shall make the initial appointments to the council no later than one month after the effective date of this section.

(d) Each member of the council who is appointed pursuant to this section serves at the pleasure of the council member's respective appointing authority. The term of appointment is four years; except that the term of each member initially appointed pursuant to this section is two years.

(3) Members of the council serve without compensation.

(4) (a) No later than two months after the effective date of this section, but not before October 1, 2026, the executive director shall organize and convene the first meeting of the council.

(b) The council shall elect a chair from among the council's members to serve for a term not to exceed two years, as determined by the council. A member of the council is not eligible to serve as chair for more than two successive terms.

(c) The council shall meet at least two times per year. The chair may call additional meetings as are necessary for the council to complete its duties.

(5) The council shall:

(a) Approve or disapprove eligible entities that the state department has selected as potential grant recipients; and

(b) Collaborate with the state department to develop and make available grant program guidelines and criteria for awarding grants pursuant to section 26-25-103 (5)(a) and (5)(b).