Governor Hickenlooper signed a bill last week in Glenwood Springs, creating paid teaching fellowships in rural schools that most need teachers.
Anyone studying education for either a bachelor’s or master’s degree can apply to spend their final year student-teaching in a rural school. Each year, the state will choose up to 100 teaching fellows.
The bill, written by Rep. Millie Hamner, requires they receive a stipend of $10,000. Half of each stipend will be paid by the state, half by their college or university.
The school where they’re placed must commit to hiring them after a successful fellowship year. Currently, there are around 3,000 unfilled teaching spots around Colorado, many of which are in rural areas.