(1) "Charter school" means a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title or a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title.

(2) "Close the achievement and growth gap" means to lessen the variance in academic achievement and growth among student groups, as reflected in state assessment scores, in the scores achieved on the curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam, and in calculations of students' longitudinal academic growth, by improving the academic achievement and growth of students in those groups that are underperforming.

(3) "Council" means the Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education created in section 22-7-303.

(4) "Department" means the department of education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115, C.R.S.

(5) "National standards for family-school partnerships" means the following research-based standards for family-school partnerships recognized nationally by parent teacher associations:

(a) Families are active participants in the life of the school and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in the classroom;

(b) Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning;

(c) Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students' learning and healthy development both at home and at school and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to provide said support effectively;

(d) Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success;

(e) Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs; and

(f) Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.

(6) "Parent" means a child's biological parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian or another adult person recognized by the child's school as the child's primary caregiver.

(7) "Parent education program" means a program to teach parents strategies and skills for working with their children and the staff of the schools and institutions of higher education in which their children are enrolled.

(8) "Parent involvement grant program" means the parent involvement in education grant program created in section 22-7-305.

(9) "School-based parent information resource center" means a center that provides to parents information on education opportunities for their children, training for parents and families on education issues, and other support services that may be available to parents, such as mental health services, social services, and housing referrals.

(10) "State board" means the state board of education created and existing pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution.

(11) "Student populations that are significantly represented in the state" means student populations that each constitute at least ten percent of the total population of students in the state, which student populations may include, but need not be limited to, the student populations described in section 22-11-301 (3).