IHE and Educational Partner Resource Page
This page is designed to support institutions and educational partners in understanding and implementing the Colorado Promise tax credit, a statewide initiative to expand access to higher education for Colorado residents. Here, you'll find guidance, resources, and updates to help ensure eligible students receive the financial support they need. Whether you're navigating eligibility, reporting requirements, or outreach strategies, this page is your go-to source for information and collaboration.
The documents on this page should be considering “living” resources, meaning they will be updated and revised as the program implementation continues to move forward. If you have additional questions or need support please reach out to Dr. Mark Baccei (coloradoPromise@dhe.state.co.us), Senior Policy and Data Analyst who oversees Colorado Promise for CDHE.
Current Documents and Resources
Data and Eligibility Determination
Colorado Promise Guidance and Data Definitions
- The document provides detailed guidance and standardized data definitions to help Colorado public institutions consistently identify and report students eligible for the Colorado Promise tax credit across differing institutional databases and data structures. It outlines eligibility criteria, reporting requirements, and data elements aligned with SURDS (as possible) to ensure reliable implementation and compliance across institutions. Updated 12/15/2025 - pdf has been replaced with drop-down webpage. Updated points have been noted for individual topics.
- A clearinghouse of questions submitted to CDHE related to the implementation, eligibility determination, and data reporting for the program.
- Provides essential tools and guidance for delivering clear, consistent, and impactful messages. The Colorado Promise Toolkit includes talking points, social media graphics, presentation slides and FAQ.
SURDS Documentation
SURDS Tax Credit File
CDHE utilizes the Student Unit Records Database System (SURDS) as the primary tool for data collection. All documentation for the SURDS Tax Credit File can be found on the SURDS Data Documentation page.
Year Two Initiatives
The first year for Colorado Promise focused on the identification and notification of eligible students. The second year of the program will work on meeting statutorily required reporting and updating the long-term data needs for the program. To achieve these goals, CDHE and IHE staff will be partnering through the efforts of three focused ad hoc working groups. Information and resources for each group can be found below.
The current roster of volunteers can be found here (updated 6/22/2026). Please know the groups and meetings are open to all.
General Colorado Promise Meetings
| Upcoming Meetings | Agenda & Minutes | Location & Recordings |
June 30, 2026 Open Information Session |
Data Collection
The group will address the collection of additional data fields as noted in statute and the long-bill.
Data Collection Meeting
| Upcoming Meetings | Agenda & Minutes | Location & Recordings |
| June 23, 2026 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | ||
July 7, 2026 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes | |
July 14, 2026 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes | |
July 21, 2026 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes | |
July 28, 2026 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes | |
August 4, 2026 8:30 A.M - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes | |
August 11, 2026* 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes | |
August 18, 2026* 8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Agenda | Minutes |
* Meeting tentative if still needed by group
Data Collection Documents
Please know per Colorado Open Meeting Laws, documents are publicly viewable, only active members of the working group are allowed editing access.
| Date Shared | Description | Links |
| June 30, 2026 | Group Documents Folder | Folder |
Maintenance of Effort (MOE)
The group will assist with the review of documentation for query logic and calculations, as directed in statute, to assure institutions can replicate data and figures for annual reporting starting in 2027.
MOE Meeting
| Upcoming Meetings | Agenda & Minutes | Location & Recordings |
| No Meeting Scheduled | Agenda | Minutes | Zoom Meeting |
MOE Documents
| Date Shared | Description | Links |
Data Modeling
The group will partner with CDHE Data, Research, and Policy staff on the development of an updated Colorado Promise data model.
Data Modeling Meeting
| Upcoming Meetings | Agenda & Minutes | Location & Recordings |
| No Meeting Scheduled | Agenda | Minutes | Zoom Meeting |
Data Modeling Documents
| Date Shared | Description | Links |