Grants to Colorado school districts to address attendance and truancy-related issues among students. Funding is intended to reduce the incidence of suspension and expulsion. Eligible uses of funding include program development costs, salaries, and benefits, as well as the provision of services and support to students. The purpose of this grant is to provide educational services to expelled students, students who are identified as at risk of dropping out of school due to chronic absenteeism, or disciplinary action as identified pursuant to section, and to truant students.

The Office of Student Re-Engagement and Dropout Prevention at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) was created by Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) 22-14-103. This office provides focus, coordination, research, and leadership to assist local education providers with implementation efforts to reduce the incidence of discipline- and attendance-related behaviors, which are risk factors for dropping out of school.

The purpose of the Expelled and At-Risk Student Services (EARSS) Grant Program, authorized by Colorado Revised Statue (C.R.S.) 22-33-205, is to reduce the incidence of discipline- and attendance-related behaviors which are risk factors for dropping out of school. 

Initial funding for the 6-month planning period, should be used toward salary, benefits, and other costs associated with establishing the program. 

Funding, starting in 2023-2024, should be spent on providing educational services, attendance supports, and behavioral interventions focused on serving students who are expelled (but served), and/or are at-risk of being expelled, and/or are chronically absent. At-risk students may also include suspended students, students at-risk of suspension (e.g., already engaged in misconduct), those who are likely to be declared chronically absent, or those who are likely to be declared habitually disruptive.

Services may include but are not limited to:

• Educational services required to be provided to expelled students under C.R.S. 22-33-203(2) and to at-risk students pursuant to C.R.S. 22-33-202 (regarding a student’s individual support and service plan);
• Counseling services;
• Substance use disorder treatment programs; and
• Family preservation services, including but not limited to the referral of family members to the service providers listed above. EARSS grant funds should not be used for direct services to family members but rather for direct services to students.