(1) "Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education created in section 23-1-102.
(2) "Educator preparation program" means an educator preparation program approved by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-121 and that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure by an accepted institution of higher education in Colorado.
(3) "Institution of higher education" means a public, private, or proprietary postsecondary institution authorized by the commission to offer educator preparation programs.
(4) "Rural school or school district" means a school or school district that the department of education has determined to be rural. "Rural school or school district" includes a charter school or institute charter school that falls within the geographic range of a rural school district, as determined by the department of education.
(5) "Special services provider" means a person, other than a teacher, principal, or administrator, who provides professional services in direct support of an instructional program. "Special services providers" includes speech language pathologists, psychologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, nurses, and social workers.