(1) The general assembly finds that:
(a) Life skills such as the ability to formulate a household budget, balance a checking account, read and understand the terms and conditions of a credit card, and otherwise manage personal finances are critical to a person's success in today's economy;
(b) In February and March of 2000, in a survey of high school seniors designed to test their knowledge of personal finance basics, the students answered only fifty-one and nine tenths percent of the questions correctly, receiving a failing grade;
(c) Many students graduate from high school without having learned crucial personal financial management skills, although many have already obtained their first credit cards;
(d) Studies of consumer finances by the federal reserve board show that, at the end of 2020, household debt in the United States totaled over fourteen and one-half trillion dollars. Over one and one-half trillion dollars of this debt is student debt, over eight hundred billion dollars is credit card debt, and over ten trillion dollars is mortgage debt.
(e) With the growth in consumer debt and the apparently low level of education and understanding with regard to personal finances, it is imperative that the public schools of the state provide students with a thorough, high-quality curriculum of financial literacy to enable students to understand and master personal finance skills, including, at a minimum, managing bank accounts; household budgeting; understanding and managing personal debt, including credit card debt and student loan debt; and managing personal savings, retirement savings, homeownership, and investments.
(2) As used in this section, financial literacy means knowledge of personal finances that is sufficient to enable a person to manage savings, investment, and checking accounts; to design and maintain a household budget; to assess the affordability of and how to budget for postsecondary education; to understand the purpose of and how to access and complete the free application for federal student aid and the Colorado application for state financial aid, or successor forms for accessing federal and state financial aid; to manage personal debt, including student loan debt; to understand consumer credit and finance; to manage personal credit options, including credit cards; to understand and select from among short-term and long-term investment options; to understand the home buying process, including home loans and managing mortgage debt; and to understand retirement plans, tax-deferred accounts, pensions, and government retirement benefits.
(3) (a) Each school district board of education is strongly encouraged to adopt curriculum pertaining to financial literacy to be taught in grade-appropriate courses at the elementary, middle, junior high, and high school grade levels. When selecting mathematics and economics textbooks, each school district is strongly encouraged to select those texts that include substantive provisions on personal finance, including personal budgeting; credit; debt management; student loan borrowing and financial aid; homeownership; retirement, including long-term investments, tax-deferred accounts, pensions, and government retirement benefits; and similar personal finance topics.
(b) The curriculum described in subsection (3)(a) of this section must also include content relating to how to assess the affordability of and budget for different options for obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential and how to pay for higher education. The curriculum should familiarize students with the process and necessary forms for applying for federal and state financial aid, student loans, scholarships, and grant programs, including accessing and completing either the free application for federal student aid or the Colorado application for state financial aid, or successor forms to access federal and state financial aid, and should ensure that students have an awareness of federal and state programs that may be available to manage student loan debt.
(4) (a) Each school district board of education shall incorporate all the financial literacy standards described in section 22-7-1005 (2.8) into a course that is required for high school graduation.
(b) (I) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate money from the general fund to the department of education for distribution to school districts to support implementation of:
(A) A course required to be taught pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section; and
(B) The individual career and academic plan requirements described in section 22-2-136 (2)(d).
(II) The department of education shall distribute money pursuant to subsection (4)(b)(I) of this section to school districts that do not currently offer a course based on a formula determined by the department of education. The department of education may determine eligibility for funding pursuant to this subsection (4)(b)(II) based on attestations from school districts.
(III) Any unexpended money remaining at the end of the 2025-26 state fiscal year from this appropriation:
(A) Does not revert to the general fund or any other fund;
(B) May be used by the department of education in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 state fiscal year without further appropriation; and
(C) Must not be used for any purpose other than the purposes set forth in this subsection (4).
(IV) The department of education may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purpose of supporting educators in implementing a course pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section.
(V) This subsection (4)(b) is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.
Source: L. 2004: Entire section added, p. 1774, � 2, effective June 4. L. 2021: IP(1), (1)(d), (1)(e), (2), and (3) amended, (HB 21-1200), ch. 284, p. 1687, � 4, effective September 7. L. 2025: (4) amended, (HB 25-1192), ch. 239, p. 1207, � 3, effective August 6.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1200, see section 1 of chapter 284, Session Laws of Colorado 2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1192, see section 1 of chapter 239, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.
22-32-136. Children's nutrition - healthful alternatives - information - facilities - local wellness policy - competitive foods. (1) The general assembly hereby recognizes that:
(a) Overweight children and youth and obesity among children and youth are major public health threats, and being overweight is now the most common medical condition of childhood. An estimated nine million young people in the United States are considered overweight. In Colorado, obesity in the adult population has more than doubled since 1991. Childhood obesity is related to the development of a number of preventable chronic childhood diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and overweight children are likely to become overweight adults with increased risk of developing high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, gallbladder disease, arthritis, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers.
(b) Schools can play a major role in reducing the number of overweight and obese children and youth. Schools are places where students can gain the knowledge, motivation, and skills needed for lifelong physical activity and lifelong healthy eating habits and are also places for students to practice healthy eating habits.
(c) Meeting a student's basic nutritional and fitness needs will increase a student's cognitive energy to learn and achieve, and, as a result, the overall educational process will be more effective.
(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Competitive food means any food or beverage available to students that is separate from the school district's nonprofit, federally reimbursed food service program and is provided by a school-approved organization or a school-approved outside vendor.
(b) School day means one hour prior to the start of the first class period to one half hour after the end of the last class period; except that, for schools not offering school breakfast, school day means one half hour before the first class period to one half hour after the end of the last class period.
(3) On or before July 1, 2006, each school district board of education is encouraged to adopt policies ensuring that:
(a) Every student has access to healthful food choices in appropriate portion sizes throughout the school day. At a minimum, this includes the provision of:
(I) Healthful meals in the school cafeteria made available to students with an adequate time to eat;
(II) Healthful beverages sold to students on school campuses, pursuant to section 22-32-134.5; and
(III) Healthful items for fundraisers, classroom parties, and rewards in the schools.
(b) (I) Every student and his or her parent or legal guardian has access to information concerning the nutritional content of:
(A) Food and beverages sold by or available from the school's food service department at breakfast and lunch and throughout the school day; and
(B) Competitive food sold or available anywhere on school district property on a recurring basis during the school day.
(II) The information described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) may be made available by placing the information on the school district website or printing the information on the menus sent home with students or by posting the information in a visible place in each school building.
(c) Every student has access to fresh fruits and vegetables at appropriate times during the school day. Whenever practical, school districts shall work to acquire fresh produce from Colorado sources.
(d) Every student has access to age-appropriate and culturally sensitive instruction designed to teach lifelong healthy eating habits and a healthy level of physical activity.
(e) Every student has access to a school facility with a sufficient number of functioning water fountains in accordance with local building codes, or other means which provide him or her with sufficient water.
(f) Every student has access to age-appropriate daily physical activity.
(4) Each school district board of education is encouraged to establish rules specifying the time and place at which competitive foods may be sold on school property in order to encourage the selection of healthful food choices by students.
(5) On or before July 1, 2006, each school district board of education is encouraged to adopt a local wellness policy as provided for in the federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265, which provides, in part, that, not later than the first day of the school year beginning after June 30, 2006, each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq., or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq., shall establish a local school wellness policy for schools under the local educational agency that, at a minimum:
(a) Includes goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the school district determines is appropriate;
(b) Includes nutrition guidelines selected by the local school district for all foods available on each school campus during the school day with objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity and overweight and type 2 diabetes;
(c) Provides an assurance that guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the secretary of agriculture pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act, 42 U.S.C. sec. 1779, and sections 9 (f)(1) and 17 (a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. secs. 1758 (f)(1) and 1766 (a), as those regulations and guidance apply to schools;
(d) Establishes a plan for measuring implementation of the local wellness policy, including designation of one or more persons within the school district or at each school, as appropriate, charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that the school meets the local wellness policy; and
(e) Involves parents, representative of the school food authority, the school board and school administrators, and the public, in the development of the school wellness policy.
(5.5) On or before October 1, 2008, each school district board of education is encouraged to expand its local wellness policy adopted pursuant to subsection (5) of this section to include goals for:
(a) Increasing the availability of courses in physical education, including but not limited to, for a school district that enrolls more than one thousand five hundred students, establishing the goal of ensuring that all physical education classes offered by the school district are taught by persons who are licensed and endorsed pursuant to article 60.5 of this title to teach physical education;
(b) Increasing classes in health education;
(c) Providing health services;
(d) Providing nutrition services;
(e) Providing increased access to mental health counseling and services;
(f) Developing and maintaining a healthy school environment in each of the schools of the school district;
(g) Increasing the level of family and community involvement in developing and maintaining an emphasis on healthy lifestyles and choices to enable students to retain healthy behaviors throughout their lives.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sale or distribution of any food or beverage item through periodic fundraisers by a student, teacher, or school group when the item is for sale after completion of the school day.
Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 225, � 1, effective August 8. L. 2008: (3)(a)(II) amended, p. 642, � 4, effective August 5; (5.5) added, p. 671, � 1, effective August 5.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2008 act amending subsection (3)(a)(II), see section 1 of chapter 185, Session Laws of Colorado 2008.
22-32-136.3. Children's nutrition - no trans fats in school foods - definitions - rules. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Extended school day means the school day, plus any additional time that a student spends on school grounds before or after the school day for the purpose of participating in a school-sanctioned extracurricular activity or child care program.
(b) Industrially produced trans fat means vegetable shortening, margarine, or any type of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil that contains more than zero grams of trans fat per serving as labeled.
(c) Public school means a school of a school district, a district charter school, or a board of cooperative services.
(d) School day has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-32-136.
(2) On and after September 1, 2013, a public school shall not:
(a) Make available to a student any food or beverage that contains any amount of industrially produced trans fat; or
(b) Use a food that contains any industrially produced trans fat in the preparation of a food item or beverage that is intended for consumption by a student.
(3) The prohibition described in subsection (2) of this section applies to all food and beverages made available to a student on school grounds during each school day and extended school day, including but not limited to a food or beverage item made available to a student in a school cafeteria, school store, vending machine, or other food service entity existing upon school grounds.
(4) The prohibition described in subsection (2) of this section does not apply to:
(a) Any food or beverage that is made available to a student as part of a meal program of the United States department of agriculture;
(b) Any food or beverage that is made available to a student as part of a fundraising effort conducted by one or more students, teachers, or parents; or
(c) Any food or beverage that is donated to the school to be given to a student for consumption off of school premises and not during the school day.
(5) The state board of education may promulgate such rules as are necessary for the administration of this section.
Source: L. 2012: Entire section added, (SB 12-068), ch. 256, p. 1302, � 2, effective August 8.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2012 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 256, Session Laws of Colorado 2012.
22-32-136.5. Children's wellness - physical activity requirement - legislative declaration. (1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds that:
(I) Healthy children are more likely to be engaged learners, they do better in school, they have improved attendance, and they are less likely to have behavioral problems inside and outside of the classroom;
(II) Many studies have documented the link between the mind and body and the effect of movement on cognition and stimulated blood flow and oxygen to a child's brain;
(III) Studies also show that physical activity improves students' ability to focus and decreases the symptoms of attention deficit disorder and related conditions;
(IV) Children who engage in physical activity as part of the learning environment are healthier and process information better;
(V) The growing trend of childhood obesity is also beginning to affect the country's military preparedness. Recent reports show that, nationally, approximately one-third of all potential military recruits are ineligible to join because they are overweight and out of shape;
(VI) School is the only place that many children are exposed to physical activity;
(VII) According to the 2009 child health survey conducted by the department of public health and environment, one in four Colorado children are overweight or obese, and only fifty-three and five tenths percent of children meet daily physical activity recommendations; and
(VIII) Between 2003 and 2007, Colorado's child obesity national ranking dropped from third leanest in the country to twenty-third, and the number of obese children in Colorado ten to seventeen years of age increased from forty-eight thousand to seventy-two thousand.
(b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that, by supporting physical activity in public schools, Colorado will ensure that all children have access to activities that build their bodies and their brains and support their abilities to think, react, create, and learn.
(2) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, physical activity may include, but need not be limited to:
(a) Exercise programs;
(b) Fitness breaks;
(c) Recess;
(d) Field trips that include physical activity;
(e) Classroom activities that include physical activity; and
(f) Physical education classes.
(3) (a) Each school district board of education shall adopt a physical activity policy that incorporates into the schedule of each student attending an elementary school the opportunity for the student to engage in:
(I) A minimum of six hundred minutes of physical activity per month if the classes at the school meet five days per week and the student attends school for a full day;
(II) A minimum of three hundred minutes of physical activity per month if the classes at the school meet five days per week and the student attends school for a half day;
(III) A minimum of thirty minutes of physical activity per day if the classes at the school meet fewer than five days per week and the student attends school for a full day; and
(IV) A minimum of fifteen minutes of physical activity per day if the classes at the school meet fewer than five days per week and the student attends school for a half day.
(b) The physical activity policy may include an exception for any month that includes a planned or unplanned full-day or half-day school closure.
(c) Each school district board of education shall implement the physical activity policy beginning with the 2011-12 school year.
(d) Each school district board of education may require the person or committee in each school designated to ensure that the school complies with the local wellness policy, as described in section 22-32-136, or the school district accountability committee and school accountability committees created pursuant to article 11 of this title to review and advise the school district or an individual school regarding the school district's or the individual school's physical activity policy and compliance with this section.
(e) The expectation that a school district adopt a policy concerning physical activity pursuant to this section is not intended to dictate instruction in the classroom.
(f) A school that, prior to January 1, 2011, provides more than the minimum minutes specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) shall not decrease the amount of physical activity as a result of the policy specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3); except that the school may decrease its required minutes of physical activity in response to budgetary constraints, so long as the school complies with the requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3).
(g) A school shall not substitute noninstructional physical activity for standards-based physical education instruction.
Source: L. 2011: Entire section added, (HB 11-1069), ch. 117, p. 364, � 1, effective April 20.