# C.R.S. § 22-20-102: 22-20-102. Legislative declaration > Colorado · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-102 ## Section - **Citation:** C.R.S. § 22-20-102 - **Heading:** 22-20-102. Legislative declaration - **Jurisdiction:** Colorado - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** CO Code / Title 22 / Article 20 / Part 1 / Section 22-20-102 ## Text 22-20-102. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly, recognizing the obligation of the state of Colorado to provide educational opportunities to all children that will enable them to lead fulfilling and productive lives, declares that the purpose of this article is to provide means for identifying and educating those children who are exceptional. To this end, it is necessary to define specific responsibilities for identifying and serving children with disabilities that appropriately reflect the continuum of services that recognizes the capabilities of all state agencies, including special classes in public schools and the establishment of special schools, programs for children with disabilities who are confined to their homes or hospitals, and instruction in institutions of the state for children with disabilities. The final determination for the placement in a special education program of any eligible child with a disability shall be made by a child's individual family service program for a child from birth through two years of age and a child's individualized education program team for a child from three to twenty-one years of age as designated by the governing board of the responsible administrative unit or by the governing authority of a state-operated program. (2) It is the intent of the general assembly, in keeping with accepted educational principles, that children from three to twenty-one years of age with disabilities shall be educated in the least restrictive environment to the maximum extent appropriate. To this end, the services of special education personnel shall be utilized within the general school programs to the maximum extent permitted by good educational practices, both in rendering services directly to children and in providing consultative services to general classroom teachers. (3) It is further the intent of this part 1 to ensure that there is a coordination of all services available to children with disabilities and to promote interagency operating agreements or contracts between administrative units, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and approved facility schools for the provision of appropriate services for children with disabilities. (4) It is further the intent of the general assembly that this part 1, and the rules promulgated pursuant to this part 1 by the state board, align closely with the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1400 et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations, 34 CFR part 300 and 34 CFR part 303 as it pertains to child find, in order to minimize the number of rules, regulations, and policies to which administrative units, state-operated programs, and approved facility schools are subject. (5) Nothing in this part 1 shall be construed to affect the placement of children out of the home or alternatives to such placements as provided in section 19-1-116, C.R.S. ## Nearby sections - [C.R.S. § 22-20-101 22-20-101. Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-101.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-102 22-20-102. Legislative declaration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-102.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-102.5 22-20-102.5. Legislative declaration - identification of gifted children](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-102.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-103 22-20-103. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-103.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-104 22-20-104. Administration - advisory committee - rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-104.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-104.5 22-20-104.5. Plan for academic excellence - inclusion of gifted children - cooperation - rule](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-104.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-105 22-20-105. Depository and retrieval network for visually and hearing impaired children](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-105.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-105.5 22-20-105.5. Statewide information and communication network](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-105.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-106 22-20-106. Special education programs - early intervening services - rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-106.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-107 22-20-107. Authority to contract with institutions of higher education or case management a](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-107.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-107.5 22-20-107.5. District of residence of a child with a disability - jurisdiction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-107.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-108 22-20-108. Determination of disability - enrollment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-108.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-109 22-20-109. Tuition - rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-109.md) - [C.R.S. § 22-20-110 22-20-110. Maintenance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-110.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T22_A20_P1_S22-20-102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.