All Roll Calls
Yes: 217 • No: 59
ColoradoHB25-12782025 Regular SessionHouse
Education Accountability System
Sponsored By: Barbara Kirkmeyer (Republican), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (Democratic), Meghan Lukens (Democratic), Shannon Bird
Signed by Governor
Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
New college and career school measures
Beginning in 2027–28, Colorado measures readiness before graduation and progress afterward for high schools, districts, the State Charter School Institute, and statewide reporting. High schools also include graduation and dropout rates; the prior statutory framework ends July 1, 2027. Readiness measures count transferable college credits, work-based learning, and credentials meeting state quality standards. Credits must fit specified admissions or college program requirements; qualifying Advanced Placement scores, International Baccalaureate scores, and college courses follow State Board rules. Career training, community college, four-year college, and registered apprenticeships count equally after graduation. Military enlistment in the school year immediately after graduation receives equal weight, too. Concurrent enrollment or early college counts when it produces at least 12 college credits or a degree.
Accessible state tests for disabled students
Colorado must provide paper versions of computer-based state tests when a student's individualized education program or Section 504 plan requires them. Local education providers must report how many students need paper tests. The state must also guide schools on shorter test sections with age-appropriate time frames for students with these plans. This guidance includes approved alternate tests.
Clearer school results for families
Local education providers must adopt policies requiring staff to promptly share and explain each student's state test results to parents or guardians. Colorado must send providers results by June 1 each year, or as soon as practicable, plus data for tracking student progress. Subject to available funding, the state must create an accessible public dashboard showing local and statewide accountability and college-and-work readiness data. By November 1, 2026, it must gather stakeholder input and report on the dashboard's data, design, and estimated costs. The law sets no dashboard launch date.
Graduation counting protects special education rights
Graduation-rate reporting counts students receiving special education services in the school year they complete minimum graduation requirements. This counting rule does not limit a student's right to a free appropriate public education.
More test languages for English learners
Colorado must offer math, science, and social studies tests beyond English and Spanish when a statewide language threshold is met. At least 1,500 English learners in an assessed grade must share that language background. A student must receive subject-area instructional support in that language and have no more than three total years in an English-proficiency program. Spanish reading and writing tests cover grades five through eight when at least 1,500 English learners in an assessed grade receive those services in Spanish.
Grants support more school turnaround work
School transformation grants support more improvement activities for eligible districts, the State Charter School Institute, and charter schools. Covered schools include those implementing required priority-improvement or turnaround plans, with current-year, prior-year, and one-, two-, or three-consecutive-year cases included. Supported work includes staff and leadership development, management and asset changes, sustainable budgets, and directing resources to highest-need schools. Grants also support local-test-data use, student interventions, and community-led improvement. The provision specifies no grant amount or end date.
More state support for struggling schools
Colorado must support districts and the State Charter School Institute with improvement plans or identified signs of declining performance. Assistance depends on need and available resources; the state can require its own evaluation, an approved outside review, or an approved self-assessment. School boards receive guidance on reviewing and tracking accreditation plans. Schools entering the first year of a two-year priority-improvement or turnaround period receive an early-distress evaluation. In year two, districts, the Institute, and schools receive ongoing support and feedback; schools must manage a plan covering resources, training, curriculum, materials, and possible partners.
School accountability funding and student counting
For fiscal year 2025–26, the law provides Colorado’s Department of Education $559,187 in General Fund money for accountability and improvement planning. The budget assumes 3.4 additional full-time equivalent staff. The department calculates school performance for all students and accounts separately for each combined student group. Students who belong to several groups count only once in the combined group. These changes support school oversight but provide no direct household payment.
Schools gain oversight of turnaround partners
Covered contracts with outside school-improvement partners must state which partner records schools, districts, or the State Charter School Institute can access. These must include records showing how contract funds are used. Colorado must create a qualified-partner list and a model contract to help districts and the Institute. The law sets November 1, 2027, as the deadline for the list and model contract.
State tracks school turnaround actions regularly
The commissioner can assign the State Review Panel to assess school pathway plans. When a school makes inadequate turnaround progress or stays on watch for five years, panel review and at least one visit are required. After ordered action, panel review occurs at least every two years while the school remains at priority-improvement or turnaround level. The state tracks implementation and reports progress; Board decisions must consider the plan, how faithfully actions were carried out, and time allowed. The panel can recommend proposed alternatives, including outside partners or comprehensive redesign, when they fit the plan and are at least as significant as listed actions.
Less funding for testing and accountability
For fiscal year 2025–26, Colorado cuts State Education Fund support for the statewide assessment program by $456,000. It also cuts General Fund support for local accountability system grants by $81,000. These are state program funding cuts, not stated changes to household taxes, fees, or benefits.
School improvement plans need sustainable budgets
Multi-year pathway plans are required for voluntary action in watch years three or four, entry into year five, or hearings under prior Board orders. Plans must identify actions, analyze causes of poor results, and set research-based strategies, implementation steps, short-term benchmarks, and annual targets. Pathway plans and covered improvement or turnaround plans must include budget allocations and sustainable funding for staffing, salaries, facilities, curriculum, and operations. Educators, students, families, community members, accountability committees, and relevant employee groups must help develop and carry out pathway plans. District and Institute plans must explain tailored support for watched schools; State Board rules can reduce overlapping plan requirements when a pathway plan exists.
Schools must address low test participation
Colorado must explain the value of state tests and guide educators on lawful ways to encourage participation without discouraging it. Districts, the State Charter School Institute, and schools labeled 'Insufficient Data for Low Student Participation' must prepare corrective plans. School plans go through the local board or Institute to the state; district and Institute plans go directly to the state. Plans must consider parent education, low-participation effects, staff messages encouraging participation, and outreach to opt-out advocacy groups. Three consecutive years in the category require presenting the plan to the State Board. Online schools have a temporary exemption for 2025–26 and 2026–27.
Struggling schools face action after five years
Districts, the State Charter School Institute, and schools face State Board plan review and required action after five counted low-performance years. The count starts with two consecutive years at priority improvement or worse, followed by three more consecutive or nonconsecutive years. Before five years accumulate, two consecutive years at improvement or better stop the count; two new consecutive low-performance years restart it. In watch years three or four, they can voluntarily request significant action with a pathway plan, and the Board can direct only the proposed action. Requests require consultation with the relevant accountability committee and, for affected charter schools, governing-board consent.
Top district ratings require test participation
Districts and the State Charter School Institute must meet performance standards and have at least 85% test participation and completion to earn distinction. They must meet overall growth expectations, have no student group below growth standards, and at least approach overall achievement expectations. A district meeting the other standards can request reconsideration with at least 75% participation and completion and a representative tested population. Small rural districts can use a separate reconsideration route set by State Board rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Shannon Bird
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Gretchen Rydin
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Matthew Martinez
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Ryan Gonzalez
Republican • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/5/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 32 • No: 3
Senate vote • 5/2/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1278 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1278 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 4/28/2025
Third reading: Perm
Yes: 43 • No: 21
House vote • 4/28/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 51 • No: 13
House vote • 4/28/2025
Third reading: Amd (l.022)
Yes: 47 • No: 17
House vote • 4/25/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1278, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 9 • No: 2
House vote • 3/26/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1278, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 12 • No: 1
House vote • 3/26/2025
Adopt amendment L.004
Yes: 10 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/23/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/20/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/20/2025SenateSent to the Governor
5/20/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
5/5/2025SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
5/2/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
5/2/2025SenateSenate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations
4/30/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
4/29/2025SenateHouse Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
4/28/2025HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
4/25/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
4/25/2025HouseHouse Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
3/26/2025HouseHouse Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
3/13/2025HouseIntroduced In House - Assigned to Education
2/20/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
House Appropriations Preamend
House Education Preamend
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Signed Act