Confidential Candidacies.

Individuals who apply for superintendent vacancies in Colorado have a new legal right to keep their candidacies under wraps until they become finalists.

The new law strikes a balance between the public's right to know and the candidate's interest in not jeopardizing a relationship with a current employer. Applicants must submit written requests to keep their applications confidential.

The law defines a finalist as someone who is selected for an interview or still is being considered for the job 21 days before the school board's decision. If a search attracts six or fewer applicants, all are considered finalists.

The Colorado Association of School Boards, which handles many of the superintendent searches, has incorporated these changes into its operating procedures.