The act allows the state department of education (CDE) to issue a professional teacher license to a teacher with at least 3 years of successful teaching experience in another state or country for which CDE has granted reciprocity. The act eliminates the requirement that an applicant have the successful teaching experience within the previous 7 years.
The act creates a temporary licensing process for teachers from states that participate in the 'Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact' (Compact). The process requires that CDE:
Issue an initial teacher license within 30 days of receiving a complete teacher license application from a person licensed by a Compact state when the applicant passes a criminal history record check and holds an unencumbered eligible license issued by a Compact state that is equivalent to an eligible license in Colorado; and
Publish an annual table showing how out-of-state licenses correspond to Colorado endorsement areas.
The act repeals the temporary licensing process when CDE begins issuing licenses pursuant to the Compact.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Statutes affected: Signed Act (04/21/2026):