Blog
2021 Legislative Session: Building Evidence to Effectively Implement Policy Wins
Colorado Lab projects underway to effectively implement policy wins from the 2021 legislative session.
Colorado Lab projects underway to effectively implement policy wins from the 2021 legislative session.
Colorado Lab studies informed an array of legislation in this year’s session, including bills that were passed to strengthen care and learning for preschoolers and increase pathways to high school graduation. Our efforts included working with partners to conduct research studies, providing expert testimony, and evaluating the effectiveness of models.
Through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the federal government provided $3.8 billion to Colorado in support of pandemic-related recovery efforts across health, education, economic development, housing, and other public sectors. The Colorado Lab is supporting the state in identifying opportunities to learn from these investments. The goal is for evaluation processes and findings to inform and advance each agency’s immediate public benefit efforts and provide learnings to target future innovation and investments.
With funding support from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Funds (RISE) and implementation support from the Colorado Lab, Centennial BOCES, home to the state’s largest Migrant Education Program, is addressing many of the pandemic-caused education, economic, social, and health challenges that have affected so many students, families, schools, and districts, especially in rural communities.
The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) received a $119 million increase in Child Care and Development Fund grant funding, authorized through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. The funds will be used to help support the recovery and growth of the child care industry.