Audio is from December 18, 2014 Joint Budget Committee Hearing Legislators questioned the ethics and legality of having privately funded non-profit entities acting as government employees in our Department of Education. These "employees on loan" come from the Gates funded Colorado Education Initiative, (or better known as Colorado Legacy Foundation, before changing their name to CEI). There are 5 such CEI employees in our Colorado Dept of Education. Listen to Audio | View Agenda |
Question 21: The Department is requesting $246,686 General Fund and 2.0 FTE to support two content specialist positions that have been funded as “employees on loan” from the Colorado Education Initiative. Please discuss how this request complies with Section 24-75-1305, C.R.S., which prohibits agencies from requesting funds to backfill private gifts, grants, and donations.
Question 22: Please provide background on the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI). What is the origin of CEI? How is the CEI licensed in Colorado (non-profit, public, private, etc.)?
Question 23: What value are the external employees (the employees on loan) providing to school districts? Which districts are they helping and how?
Question 24: Should non-state employees, funded and employed by an external entity, have been leading the Department’s standards implementation work and supervising state employees? If the positions were necessary in FY 2012-13, why did the Department not request approval for the positions from the General Assembly?
Question 22: Please provide background on the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI). What is the origin of CEI? How is the CEI licensed in Colorado (non-profit, public, private, etc.)?
Question 23: What value are the external employees (the employees on loan) providing to school districts? Which districts are they helping and how?
Question 24: Should non-state employees, funded and employed by an external entity, have been leading the Department’s standards implementation work and supervising state employees? If the positions were necessary in FY 2012-13, why did the Department not request approval for the positions from the General Assembly?