As used in this part 10, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Assessment means the method used to collect evidence of what a student knows and is able to do and to measure a student's academic progress toward attaining a standard.
(2) Board of cooperative services or BOCES means a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of this title that operates one or more public schools.
(3) Commission means the Colorado commission on higher education created pursuant to section 23-1-102, C.R.S.
(4) Commissioner means the commissioner of education appointed by the state board pursuant to section 22-2-110.
(5) District charter school means a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title. A district charter school is a district charter high school if it serves any of grades nine through twelve.
(6) Division of child care means the division within the department of human services that is responsible for child care regulation.
(7) Executive director means the executive director of the department of higher education appointed by the governor pursuant to section 24-1-114, C.R.S.
(8) Institute charter school means a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title. An institute charter school is an institute charter high school if it serves any of grades nine through twelve.
(9) Local education provider means a school district, a board of cooperative services, a district charter school, or an institute charter school.
(10) Local school board means a school district board of education.
(11) P-20 council means the P-20 education coordinating council appointed by the governor pursuant to executive order B 003 07.
(11.5) Performing arts shall have the same meaning as provided in section 22-1-104.5 (1)(b).
(12) to (14) Repealed.
(15) Postsecondary and workforce readiness means the knowledge and skills that a student should have attained prior to or upon attaining a high school diploma, as adopted by the state board and the commission pursuant to section 22-7-1008.
(16) Repealed.
(17) Postsecondary and workforce readiness program means a program of study that, prior to or beginning in ninth grade and continuing through twelfth grade, is designed to prepare a student to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness prior to or upon attaining a high school diploma.
(18) Postsecondary education means all formal public education that requires as a prerequisite the acquisition of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Postsecondary education includes programs resulting in acquisition of a certificate, an associate degree of applied sciences, an associate degree of general studies, an associate degree of arts, or an associate degree of science and all baccalaureate degree programs.
(19) Regional educator meeting means a meeting convened pursuant to section 22-7-1011 by the commissioner and the executive director in a regional service area.
(20) School district means a school district, other than a local college district, organized and existing pursuant to law.
(21) School readiness means the level of development that indicates a child is able to engage in and benefit from elementary school classroom environments, as adopted by the state board pursuant to section 22-7-1004.
(22) Standard means a clear, measurable, learning target for what a student should know or be able to do relative to a particular instructional area.
(23) State board means the state board of education created pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution.
(24) State plan means the state plan required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. sec. 6301 et seq.
(25) Visual arts shall have the same meaning as provided in section 22-1-104.5 (1)(c).
Source: L. 2008: Entire part added, p. 743, � 1, effective May 14. L. 2010: (11.5) and (25) added, (HB 10-1273), ch. 233, p. 1021, � 5, effective May 18. L. 2015: (12), (13), (14), and (16) repealed, (HB 15-1323), ch. 204, p. 728, � 46, effective May 20.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act adding subsections (11.5) and (25), see section 1 of chapter 233, Session Laws of Colorado 2010.
22-7-1004. School readiness description - school readiness assessment - adoption - revisions. (1) On or before December 15, 2008, the state board shall adopt a description of school readiness. The state board, in adopting the school readiness description shall ensure that, at a minimum, school readiness includes physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional development, language and comprehension development, and cognition and general knowledge.
(2) (a) On or before December 15, 2010, the state board shall adopt one or more assessments that are aligned with the description of school readiness and are suitable for measuring students' levels of school readiness. In adopting assessments of students' school readiness, the state board shall consider assessments that are research-based; recognized nationwide as reliable instruments for measuring school readiness; and suitable for determining the instruction and interventions students need to improve their readiness to succeed in school. School readiness assessments shall not be used to deny a student admission or progression to kindergarten or first grade.
(b) School readiness assessment results shall not be publicly reported for individual students. Following adoption of the school readiness assessment, the state board shall adopt a system for reporting population-level results that provide baseline data for measuring overall change and improvement in students' skills and knowledge over time.
(3) (a) On or before July 1, 2017, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall review the school readiness description and shall adopt any appropriate revisions to the description. The state board shall review the school readiness assessments and adopt any appropriate revisions to the school readiness assessments when the board reviews the assessments as specified in section 22-7-1006 (5).
(b) The state board shall ensure that any revisions adopted pursuant to this subsection (3) continue to meet the requirements for the description of school readiness and the school readiness assessments specified in this section.
Source: L. 2008: Entire part added, p. 746, � 1, effective May 14. L. 2010: (3)(a) amended, (HB 10-1013), ch. 399, p. 1908, � 23, effective June 10.
22-7-1005. Preschool through elementary and secondary education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions - notice to revisor of statutes. (1) On or before December 15, 2009, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a student should acquire as the student progresses from preschool through elementary and secondary education.
(2) (a) The state board shall ensure that the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, at a minimum, include standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, geography, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, world languages, English language competency, economics, civics, financial literacy, and any other instructional areas for which the state board had adopted standards as of January 1, 2008.
(b) In developing the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, the state board shall also take into account any career and technical education standards adopted by the state board for community colleges and occupational education, created in section 23-60-104, C.R.S., and, to the extent practicable, shall align the appropriate portions of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards with the career and technical education standards.
(c) In developing the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, the state board shall include identification of the levels of attainment that a student shall achieve in order to demonstrate readiness for promotion from elementary grades to middle school grades and from middle school grades to high school grades.
(2.2) (a) The state board shall ensure that the ninth through twelfth grade health standards identify the knowledge and skills that a student should acquire relating to drug overdoses, including fentanyl and other opioid-related drug overdoses. The standards must include evidence-based knowledge and skills regarding drug overdose risks, identification of a drug overdose event, and drug overdose prevention and response, and must promote positive social norms concerning the knowledge and skills.
(b) The state board may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this subsection (2.2).
(c) (I) Notwithstanding subsection (6) of this section, the state board shall complete the duty described in subsection (2.2)(a) of this section on or before July 1, 2028, if money is available to perform the duty on or before July 1, 2028. If money is not available for the state board, the department of education, or any other entity necessary to perform the duty required pursuant to subsection (2.2)(a) of this section on or before July 1, 2028, the state board is required to perform the duty on or before July 1, 2032, pursuant to the standard schedule described in subsection (6) of this section.
(II) The requirement to complete the duty described pursuant to subsection (2.2)(a) of this section on or before July 1, 2028, takes effect if the state board receives twenty thousand dollars of gifts, grants, or donations for the purposes of this section (2.2) on or before July 1, 2026. The commissioner of the department of education shall notify the revisor of statutes in writing of the date on which the condition specified in this subsection (2.2)(c)(II) has occurred by emailing the notice to revisorofstatutes.ga@coleg.gov.
(2.3) On or before July 1, 2020, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that an elementary through secondary education student should acquire related to mental health, including suicide prevention. When the state board is adopting standards, the state board shall take into account what local education providers are currently teaching with regard to mental health.
(2.5) On or before July 1, 2018, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a secondary student should acquire related to computer science, including computer code writing, in one or more courses that qualify as a graduation requirement in either mathematics or science. Local education providers may elect to implement the standards adopted pursuant to this subsection (2.5).
(2.6) (a) The state board shall adopt revisions to the reading, writing, and civics standards that identify the knowledge and skills that an elementary through secondary education student should acquire relating to media literacy. The knowledge and skills relating to media literacy must give due consideration to recommendations made by the media literacy Advisory committee's report pursuant to section 22-2-145 (2)(a)(I).
(b) The initial adopted revisions required by subsection (2.6)(a) of this section, and subsequent reviews and adoptions of any appropriate revisions, must occur pursuant to the standard schedule described in subsection (6) of this section.
(2.7) (a) On or before July 1, 2021, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that students should acquire as a condition of high school graduation related to Holocaust and genocide studies, as defined in section 22-1-104.7 (1), including but not limited to the Armenian Genocide.
(b) In creating the standards described in subsection (2.7)(a) of this section, the department of education shall utilize a stakeholder process that is cost-effective and efficient, including the use of experts in the community.
(c) The adoption of the standards identified in this subsection (2.7) is conditional on the receipt of gifts, grants, or donations.
(2.8) Pursuant to the schedule of revisions set forth in subsection (6)(b)(II)(A) of this section, the state board shall ensure that the ninth through twelfth grade financial literacy standards include an understanding of:
(a) (I) The costs associated with obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential in Colorado and out of state, including but not limited to tuition and fees, room and board, and other costs;
(II) How to assess the affordability of and budget for different options for obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential;
(III) The ways in which students pay for higher education, including but not limited to using funds from savings accounts and obtaining student loans, grants, or scholarships;
(IV) Types of student loan programs and types of student loan debt, including public and private loans;
(V) The purpose of the free application for federal student aid, or FAFSA, or a successor form, to access federal student aid; its use in determining a student's eligibility for federal, state, and private financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and work study, which are forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid by the student; how to access the FAFSA electronically or in another format; and where to access help from the student's school or from other sources in completing the FAFSA;
(VI) The purpose of the Colorado application for state financial aid, or CASFA, or a successor form, to access state student aid; its use by students who are not eligible for financial aid pursuant to Title IV, Part B of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, or an equivalent statewide financial aid application that uses FAFSA methodology to determine student financial need and eligibility for state financial aid programs; how to access the CASFA electronically or in another format; and where to access help from the student's school or from other sources in completing the CASFA.
(VII) Repayment of student loans and the requirement to repay student loans, even if the student does not complete the credential, and the consequences of defaulting on student loans;
(VIII) State and federal programs that may be available to manage student loan debt; and
(IX) Potential career earnings, including starting salary by field and level of degree or credential;
(b) Common methods for saving for retirement, including long-term investments, tax-deferred accounts, pensions, and government retirement benefits;
(c) Credit cards and managing credit card debt; and
(d) Homeownership and mortgages.
(2.9) (a) Pursuant to the standards schedule described in subsection (6) of this section, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that elementary through secondary education students should acquire related to Black historical and cultural studies, as defined in section 22-1-104.9.
(b) In creating the standards described in subsection (2.9)(a) of this section, the department of education shall implement the recommendations of the Black historical and cultural studies advisory committee established in section 22-2-127.4.
(3) The state board in adopting the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards shall:
(a) Align the standards to ensure that a student who demonstrates attainment of the standards as the student advances from preschool through elementary and secondary education will be able to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness prior to or upon attaining a high school diploma;
(b) Collaborate with the commission to ensure that the standards are aligned with the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness adopted pursuant to section 22-7-1008;
(c) Ensure that the standards will facilitate longitudinal measurement of each student's academic growth from preschool through elementary and secondary education;
(d) Ensure that the standards include development of postsecondary planning skills and the application of those skills;
(e) Ensure that, in addition to measuring a student's subject matter knowledge, the standards, to the extent practicable, will require a student to develop and demonstrate creativity and innovation skills; critical-thinking and problem-solving skills; communication and collaboration skills; social and cultural awareness; civic engagement; initiative and self-direction; flexibility; productivity and accountability; character and leadership; the ability to use information and communications technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information; and other skills critical to preparing students for the twenty-first-century workforce and for active citizenship; and
(f) Ensure that the standards are comparable in scope, relevance, and rigor to the highest national and international standards that have been implemented successfully and are consistent with and relevant to achievement of the goals specified in section 22-7-1002.
(4) Repealed.
(5) The state board shall modify the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards adopted pursuant to this section as necessary in response to comments received through the peer review process and to reflect the contents of the state plan approved pursuant to section 22-7-1012.
(6) (a) Pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section, the state board shall review and adopt any appropriate revisions to the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section. In adopting revisions, the state board may add or delete one or more of the specific instructional areas based on the needs of the state and changes in national and international academic expectations. In adopting revisions to the standards pursuant to this subsection (6), the state board shall ensure that the standards continue to meet the requirements specified in subsection (3) of this section. In adopting revisions to the standards related to history and civics, the state board shall take into consideration any recommendations provided by the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3.
(b) (I) The state board shall ensure that all preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section are reviewed at least, but not more than, once every six years pursuant to subsection (6)(b)(II) of this section.
(II) (A) On or before July 1, 2022, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall perform the requirements pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section for approximately one-third of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section.
(B) On or before July 1, 2024, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall perform the requirements pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section for approximately one-third of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section.
(C) On or before July 1, 2026, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall perform the requirements pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section for the remaining approximately one-third of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section.
Source: L. 2008: Entire part added, p. 746, � 1, effective May 14; (2)(a) amended, p. 2276, � 5, effective June 5. L. 2010: (2)(a) amended, (HB 10-1273), ch. 233, p. 1022, � 6, effective May 18; (6) amended, (HB 10-1013), ch. 399, p. 1908, � 24, effective June 10. L. 2015: (4) repealed, (HB 15-1323), ch. 204, p. 729, � 47, effective May 20. L. 2016: (2.5) added, (HB 16-1198), ch. 122, p. 346, � 2, effective August 10. L. 2017: (3)(e) amended, (HB 17-1184), ch. 145, p. 487, � 2, effective August 9. L. 2019: (2.3) added, (HB 19-1120), ch. 197, p. 2150, � 5, effective May 16; (6) amended, (HB 19-1192), ch. 302, p. 2776, � 3, effective May 28. L. 2020: (2.7) added, (HB 20-1336), ch. 252, p. 1228, � 2, effective July 8; (6) amended, (HB 20-1032), ch. 278, p. 1362, � 1, effective September 14. L. 2021: (2.6) added, (HB 21-1103), ch. 187, p. 1001, � 3, effective May 27; (2.8) added, (HB 21-1200), ch. 284, p. 1685, � 2, effective September 7. L. 2025: (2.9) added, (HB 25-1149), ch. 394, p. 2220, � 2, effective June 3; (2.2) added, (HB 25-1293), ch. 282, p. 1461, � 1, effective August 6.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act amending subsection (2)(a), see section 1 of chapter 233, Session Laws of Colorado 2010. For the legislative declaration in HB 17-1184, see section 1 of chapter 145, Session Laws of Colorado 2017. For the legislative declaration in HB 19-1120, see section 1 of chapter 197, Session Laws of Colorado 2019. For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1103, see section 1 of chapter 187, Session Laws of Colorado 2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1200, see section 1 of chapter 284, Session Laws of Colorado 2021.
22-7-1006. Preschool through elementary and secondary education - aligned assessments - adoption - revisions. (1) (a) On or before December 15, 2010, or as soon thereafter as fiscally practicable, the state board shall adopt a system of assessments that are aligned with the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards and are designed to measure students' levels of attainment of the standards and to longitudinally measure students' academic progress toward attaining the standards and toward attaining postsecondary and workforce readiness. In adopting the system of assessments, the state board shall ensure, at a minimum, that the system is designed to:
(I) Provide relevant, timely results that will aid teachers, parents, and students in identifying areas in which students may need additional support or assistance in attaining the standards;
(II) Facilitate and ensure longitudinal measurement of students' academic growth over time;
(III) Provide guidance to teachers, parents, and students in determining whether each student is making the necessary progress toward achieving postsecondary and workforce readiness;
(IV) Provide results that may be used across multiple education systems as a student progresses from preschool through elementary and secondary education and into postsecondary education;
(V) Maintain a high level of accountability across the state for students, schools, and school districts;
(VI) Comply with the requirements of federal law with regard to statewide standardized testing; and
(VII) Provide assessment scores that are useful in measuring student academic performance, the academic performance of a school, and the academic performance of a school district for purposes of state and federal accountability systems.
(b) In adopting a system of assessments, the state board shall give consideration to the use of authentic assessment methods, such as portfolios, projects, and performances, so long as the assessment methods are valid and reliable, employ standard scoring criteria, and align with the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards.
(c) In adopting a system of assessments, the state board shall also adopt scoring criteria for measuring a student's level of attainment of a standard based on the student's performance on a particular assessment and for measuring a student's progress toward attaining postsecondary and workforce readiness.
(d) In adopting a system of assessments, the state board shall also make recommendations concerning a system of ratings for public schools that recognizes each school's success in supporting the longitudinal academic growth of the students enrolled in the public schools and in achieving adequate yearly progress as required by federal law.
(e) In adopting a system of assessments, the state board shall recommend legislative changes as necessary to implement the system and the proposed changes to the system of ratings for public schools.
(f) The state board shall ensure that the assessments adopted pursuant to this section are a combination of constructed response and selected response tasks that require the student to produce information or perform tasks in a way that the student's skills and competencies can be measured.
(1.5) Colorado shall participate as a governing board member, at least until January 1, 2014, in a consortium of states that focuses on the readiness of students for college and careers by developing a common set of assessments. On or before January 1, 2014, and on or before each January 1 thereafter, if Colorado is a governing board member of the consortium of states, the state board is strongly encouraged to conduct a fiscal and student achievement benefit analysis of Colorado remaining a governing board member of the consortium. If adopting the system of assessments that is aligned with the state standards for reading, writing, and mathematics, the state board shall rely upon assessments developed by the consortium of states.
(2) In adopting the system of assessments, the state board shall ensure that the assessments it adopts that are administered in high school are designed to enable a student to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness by the time the student graduates from high school.
(3) In adopting an assessment that is aligned with the state standards for writing, the state board shall:
(a) Ensure that any writing assessment that is included within the system of assessments can be evaluated and the results returned to the local education providers in a timely manner and that the assessment is designed to provide relevant, useful results; and
(b) Seek input from local education providers concerning the writing assessments used by each local education provider, the usefulness of the assessments, and recommendations from the local education provider concerning writing assessments that would be effectively used at a statewide level.
(4) The state board shall modify the system of assessments adopted pursuant to this section as necessary in response to comments received through the peer review process and to reflect the contents of the state plan approved pursuant to section 22-7-1012.
(5) (a) Every six years after the adoption of the system of assessments pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, the state board shall review and adopt any appropriate revisions or updates to the system of assessments, including any assessments administered in languages other than English. The state board may adopt revisions to an assessment or adopt additional assessments, regardless of whether it adopts any revision to the standards with which the assessment is aligned. In adopting revisions to the system of assessments, the state board shall ensure that the system of assessments continues to meet the requirements specified in this section. The department of education shall review and update the administration and security policies for assessments as necessary to maintain the integrity of the assessments.
(b) In reviewing the assessments administered to students enrolled in high school, the state board shall adopt any revisions that may be necessary to ensure that the assessments are aligned with any revisions to the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness adopted by the state board and the commission pursuant to section 22-7-1008 (3)(a).
Source: L. 2008: Entire part added, p. 748, � 1, effective May 14. L. 2010: IP(1)(a) and (5) amended, (HB 10-1013), ch. 399, p. 1908, � 25, effective June 10. L. 2012: (1.5) added, (HB 12-1240), ch. 258, p. 1334, � 58, effective June 4. L. 2015: (1)(f) added and (2) and (5) amended, (HB 15-1323), ch. 204, pp. 712, 729, �� 2, 48, effective May 20.
Editor's note: Amendments to subsection (5) by � 2 and � 48 of HB 15-1323 were harmonized.
22-7-1006.1. Assessment selection - department of education - study - legislative declaration - repeal. (Repealed)
Source: L. 2016: Entire section added, (HB 16-1234), ch. 337, p. 1369, � 2, effective June 10.
Editor's note: Subsection (4) provided for the repeal of this section, effective July 1, 2017. (See L. 2016, p. 1369).
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 16-1234, see section 1 of chapter 337, Session Laws of Colorado 2016.