Posted July 3, 2025
The Colorado Department of Education will begin accepting applications for the 2025-26 Educator Recruitment and Retention (ERR) program, which offers up to $10,000 in financial assistance to help aspiring educators cover the cost of educator preparation program fees.
The ERR program supports individuals pursuing teaching careers in shortage areas and who commit to serving in those positions for at least three years. Applicants must be a teacher or a paraprofessional and in a state-approved educator preparation program.
Applications opened July 1 and will close on Sept. 30, 2025. Applicants should coordinate with their educator preparation programs when applying.
“This program helps ease the financial burden for aspiring educators and opens the door for more people to bring their talent into Colorado classrooms,” said Education Commissioner Susana Córdova. “More than 2,000 future teachers have already benefited from this support, and we look forward to reaching even more in the year ahead.”
Created through Senate Bill 21-185, the Educator Recruitment and Retention program provides critical support to help address the state’s ongoing educator shortage areas, which include special education, early childhood education, secondary math and science, and rural communities, among others.
Chief Talent Officer Dr. Margarita Tovar emphasized the urgency: “Like many states, Colorado is facing teacher shortages, especially in our rural communities. Programs like ERR show what’s possible when we invest in people and their potential. Every student deserves a great teacher, and every aspiring educator deserves a pathway that supports their journey. These kinds of efforts don’t just fill classrooms. They help strengthen the future of our communities.”
The department has received promising feedback from ERR grant recipients: 88% of recipients remain in Colorado public school classrooms a year or more after receiving assistance, nearly half say they would not have become teachers without it, and 94% report that financial support positively impacted their careers.
Last year, demand for the program was nearly double the available funding. Applications for the 2025-26 school year will open on July 1 and are expected to fill up quickly. Eligibility details and application materials are available on the department’s website, and interested applicants can contact EdTalent@cde.state.co.us for more information.
The Colorado Department of Education’s vision is to create equitable educational environments where all students and staff in Colorado thrive. Our role is to improve student outcomes and ensure students and families across Colorado have access to high-quality schools by serving, guiding, and elevating our state’s 178 school districts and BOCES.
