Part Time Teaching Licenses: Colorado

Analysis of Colorado's policies

Colorado offers an Adjunct Instructor Authorization, under which individuals can teach highly specialized academic enrichment areas outside of required content areas. State policy is clear that this certification is not issued for regular academic endorsement areas.

Applicants for the Adjunct Instructor Authorization must provide evidence of five years of employment in the area of specialization or a bachelor's degree in the intended teaching field. Candidates are not required to pass a subject-matter exam.

Citation

Colorado Rule 2260.5-R-.4.01

Recommendations for Colorado

Offer a license that allows content experts to serve as part-time instructors.
Colorado should build on its Adjunct Instructor Authorization to permit individuals with deep subject-area knowledge to teach a limited number of courses without fulfilling a complete set of certification requirements. The state should verify content knowledge through a rigorous test and conduct background checks as appropriate, while waiving all other licensure requirements. Such a license would increase districts' flexibility to staff certain subjects, including many STEM areas, that are frequently hard to staff or may not have high enough enrollment to necessitate a full-time position. 

State response to our analysis

Colorado contended that there are no other licensing requirements for an Adjunct Instructors license besides a background check. The state also explained that Adjunct Instructors can be hired for three years and renewed with documented evidence of continuing need.