Section 26-5-116 - Fostering educational opportunities for youth in foster care program - creation - report(1) There is created in the state department the fostering educational opportunities for youth in foster care program, referred to in this section as the "program", to improve educational opportunities for students in out-of-home placements. The program must serve students in grades nine through twelve who are or previously were in out-of-home care, with the option to expand to grades six through eight. The program must be modeled after the Jefferson county pilot program to improve educational outcomes for foster youth described in section 24-37-404, and, as part of the program, the state department shall continue to administer the pilot program after funding for the pilot program is no longer available. Subject to available funding, the state department shall contract with at least two but no more than five additional school districts to implement the program. The state department shall select the school districts based on district need, local foster care population, and geographic diversity.(2)(a) On July 1, 2023, and each July 1 thereafter, the state department shall publish a report on its website and submit the report to the legislative audit committee of the general assembly, the health and human services and education committees of the senate, the public and behavioral health and human services and education committees of the house of representatives, or any successor committees. The report must include information on program implementation and performance metrics of students identified in the foster care education initiative as described in section 22-32-138 (9).(b) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report described in this subsection (2) continues indefinitely.Added by 2022 Ch. 273, § 3, eff. 5/31/2022. The short title of 2022 Ch. 273 is the "Foster Youth Success Act." For the short title (the "Foster Care Youth Success Act") in HB 22-1374, see section 1 of chapter 273, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.