Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 22-0568.01 Julie Pelegrin x2700
SENATE BILL 22-004
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING MEASURES TO SUPPORT EVIDENCE -BASED LITERACY101
INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS IN EARLY GRADES .102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
By the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and continuing
thereafter, the bill requires each school district, board of cooperative
services, and charter school (local education provider) to ensure that the
principal in a school that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through
3 and each school district administrator with responsibility that pertains
to programs in kindergarten or any of grades one through 3 to
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Rankin and Bridges,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
McCluskie,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing statute.
Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute. successfully complete evidence-based training in the science of reading.
The local education provider may request a one-year extension from the
state board of education to ensure that the teachers, principals, and
administrators whom it employs meet the training requirements. Each
local education provider must submit to the department of education
(department) evidence that it is in compliance with the principal and
administrator training requirements to receive per-pupil intervention
money in a budget year.
The bill requires the board of trustees for each public library to
adopt a policy by January 1, 2023, to support parents and children in
improving literacy through the science of reading. The policy must
include a requirement that:
! Each librarian successfully complete evidence-based
training in the science of reading;
! The director of the board of trustees maintain an accurate
list on the library website of the librarians who successfully
complete the training; and
! The director of the board of trustees identify materials and
activities for parents and children to improve literacy and
ensure that the materials and activities are available in the
public library and are updated monthly.
Upon request of a local education provider or the board of trustees
of a public library, the department shall provide training in the science of
reading to principals and administrators of the local education provider
and librarians of the public library for free.
The bill directs the state librarian to work with public libraries
throughout the state to facilitate access to evidence-based training in the
science of reading for librarians and assist in identifying materials and
activities for parents and children to improve literacy.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1208, amend2
(6)(d); and add (6.5) as follows:3
22-7-1208. Local education providers - procedures - plans -4
training - rules. (6) (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection5
(6)(a) of this section, a local education provider that is not in compliance6
with the requirements of this subsection (6) as of the beginning of the7
2022-23 school year or for a subsequent school year may request a8
SB22-004-2- one-year extension from the department STATE BOARD based on a1
demonstration of good cause for inability to comply.2
(6.5) (a) B
Y THE BEGINNING OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR AND3
CONTINUING FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER , EACH LOCAL4
EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT RECEIVES PER -PUPIL INTERVENTION MONEY5
OR A GRANT THROUGH THE EARLY LITERACY GRANT PROGRAM IN ANY6
BUDGET YEAR STARTING WITH THE 2022-23 BUDGET YEAR SHALL ENSURE7
THAT EACH PRINCIPAL IN A SCHOOL THAT SERVES KINDERGARTEN OR ANY8
OF GRADES ONE THROUGH THREE AND EACH ADMINISTRATOR WITH9
RESPONSIBILITY THAT PERTAINS TO PROGRAMS IN KINDERGARTEN OR ANY10
OF GRADES ONE THROUGH THREE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES OR HAS11
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE12
OF READING. THE EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING13
MUST INCLUDE THE CONCEPTS OF PHONEMIC AWARENESS , PHONICS,14
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT , READING FLUENCY , INCLUDING ORAL15
SKILLS, AND READING COMPREHENSION . TO COMPLY WITH THIS16
SUBSECTION (6.5)(a), A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL SUBMIT17
EVIDENCE, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6.5)(b) OF THIS SECTION, THAT18
EACH PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATOR DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION19
(6.5)(a)
HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN20
THE SCIENCE OF READING THAT IS:21
(I) I
NCLUDED AS A COURSE IN AN APPROVED PROGRAM OF22
PREPARATION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-60.5-102 (8) FOR PRINCIPALS OR23
ADMINISTRATORS, OR AN INDIVIDUALIZED ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPAL24
PROGRAM, OR OTHER ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM , APPROVED25
PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-305.5;26
(II) I
NCLUDED AS A COURSE IN A POST -GRADUATE DEGREE27
SB22-004
-3- PROGRAM IN TEACHING READING OR LITERACY ;1
(III) P
ROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR INCLUDED ON THE2
ADVISORY LIST OF RIGOROUS PR OFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS3
PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1209 (2)(c);4
OR5
(IV) P
ROVIDED BY A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER OR IS6
APPROPRIATE FOR LICENSE RENEWAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-1107
(3).8
(b) A
PRINCIPAL OR ADMINISTRATOR IS DEEMED TO HAVE9
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE10
OF READING IF THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SUBMITS TO THE11
DEPARTMENT EVIDENCE THAT THE PRINCIPAL OR ADMINISTRATOR PASSED12
AN END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AT THE COMPLETION OF13
THE EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING.14
(c) A
T THE REQUEST OF A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER , THE15
DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION16
PROVIDER, EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING TO17
ONE OR MORE PRINCIPALS OR ADMINISTRATORS , AS DESCRIBED IN18
SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION, WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE LOCAL19
EDUCATION PROVIDER.20
(d) N
OTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION, A21
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE22
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION (6.5) AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE23
2023-24
SCHOOL YEAR OR FOR A SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEAR MAY24
REQUEST A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FROM THE STATE BOARD BASED ON A25
DEMONSTRATION OF GOOD CAUSE FOR INABILITY TO COMPLY .26
(e) T
HE STATE BOARD MAY ADOPT RULES AS NECESSARY TO27
SB22-004
-4- SPECIFY THE TIME FRAMES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLYING WITH THE1
REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND2
FOR APPLYING FOR AN EXTENSION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6.5)(d) OF3
THIS SECTION AND THE FORM IN WHICH A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER4
MUST SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF THE COMPLETION OF AN END -OF-COURSE5
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AS REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION (6.5)(b) OF THIS6
SECTION.7
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1209, amend8
(2)(c) introductory portion as follows:9
22-7-1209. State board - rules - department - duties.10
(2) (c) Using the procedure developed pursuant to subsection (3) of this11
section, the department shall create an advisory list of rigorous12
professional development programs that FOR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND13
ADMINISTRATORS, WHICH PROGRAMS are related to addressing significant14
reading deficiencies and to applying intervention instruction and15
strategies, in addition to programs related to teaching general literacy, that16
local education providers are encouraged to use. The department shall17
include on the advisory list professional development programs that are18
available online. The department shall ensure that each professional19
development program included on the advisory list is:20
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1210, amend21
(4)(d)(I)(E) as follows:22
22-7-1210. Early literacy fund - created. (4) The money in the23
fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the24
department. The department shall annually expend the money in the fund25
as follows:26
(d) (I) Beginning in the 2020-21 budget year and for budget years27
SB22-004
-5- thereafter, the department shall annually expend the money credited to the1
early literacy fund for the following purposes:2
(E) To pay the costs incurred in providing to local education3
providers technical assistance in implementing this part 12, and training4
in teaching reading for teachers employed to teach kindergarten and5
grades one through three,
TRAINING FOR PRINCIPALS AND6
ADMINISTRATORS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5), AND TRAINING7
FOR LIBRARIANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-121; monitoring the use of8
money received as per-pupil intervention money or grants through the9
early literacy grant program; and fulfilling the administrative10
requirements specified in this part 12.11
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1210.5, amend12
(4)(g); and add (3)(b)(II.5) as follows:13
22-7-1210.5. Per-pupil intervention money - uses - distribution14
- monitoring - repeal. (3) (b) To receive per-pupil intervention money15
in a budget year, a local education provider must meet the following16
requirements:17
(II.5) F
OR THE 2023-24 BUDGET YEAR AND BUDGET YEARS18
THEREAFTER, THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MUST SUBMIT EVIDENCE19
THAT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATOR20
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5);21
(4) A local education provider may use the per-pupil intervention22
money only as follows:23
(g) To provide professional development programming to support24
educators in teaching reading. Professional development programming25
authorized in this subsection (4)(g) may include hiring a reading coach26
who is trained in teaching the foundational reading skills of phonemic27
SB22-004
-6- awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, including1
oral skills, and reading comprehension to provide job-embedded, ongoing2
professional development to support kindergarten-through-third-grade3
teacher competence in teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary4
development, reading fluency, including oral skills, and reading5
comprehension. A local education provider that has not fully complied6
with section 22-7-1208 (6) SECTION 22-7-1208 (6) OR (6.5) is strongly7
encouraged to use per-pupil intervention money to ensure that all teachers8
employed by the local education provider to teach kindergarten or any of9
grades one through three successfully complete evidence-based training10
in teaching reading,
AND THE PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS11
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5)(a) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE12
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING, before using the13
money for other authorized purposes.14
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-90-121 as15
follows:16
24-90-121. Public libraries - science of reading - training -17
activities - definitions. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE18
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :19
(a) "B
OARD OF TRUSTEES" MEANS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A20
PUBLIC LIBRARY APPOINTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-108.21
(b) "D
IRECTOR" MEANS THE DIRECTOR OF A BOARD OF TRUSTEES22
EMPLOYED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-10923
(1)(c).24
(c) "E
VIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING" OR25
"
TRAINING" MEANS TRAINING THAT:26
(I) I
S BASED ON RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, AND VALID EVIDENCE;27
SB22-004
-7- (II) INCLUDES EXPLANATION AND INSTRUCTION IN THE AREAS OF1
PHONEMIC AWARENESS, PHONICS, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT , READING2
FLUENCY, INCLUDING ORAL SKILLS, AND READING COMPREHENSION ; AND3
(III) I
S INCLUDED ON THE ADVISORY LIST OF RIGOROUS4
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY5
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1209 (2)(c).6
(2) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2023, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR7
EACH PUBLIC LIBRARY SHALL ADOPT A POLICY TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND8
CHILDREN IN IMPROVING LITERACY THROUGH THE SCIENCE OF READING .9
A
T A MINIMUM, THE POLICY MUST REQUIRE:10
(a) E
ACH PERSON EMPLOYED AS A LIBRARIAN BY THE PUBLIC11
LIBRARY TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE12
SCIENCE OF READING;13
(b) E
ACH LIBRARIAN WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY14
AS OF JANUARY 1, 2023, TO SUBMIT TO THE DIRECTOR BY SEPTEMBER 1,15
2024,
EVIDENCE THAT THE LIBRARIAN PASSED AN END -OF-COURSE16
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING ;17
(c) E
ACH LIBRARIAN WHO IS HIRED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AFTER18
J
ANUARY 1, 2023, TO SUBMIT TO THE DIRECTOR, WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER19
THE LIBRARIAN'S BEGINNING EMPLOYMENT DATE , EVIDENCE THAT THE20
LIBRARIAN PASSED AN END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AT THE21
COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING;22
(d) T
HE DIRECTOR TO MAINTAIN AN ACCURATE LIST , ACCESSIBLE23
TO THE PUBLIC ON THE LIBRARY WEBSITE, OF THE LIBRARIANS WHO HAVE24
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE TRAINING ; AND25
(e) T
HE DIRECTOR TO IDENTIFY MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR26
PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO IMPROVE LITERACY , WHICH MATERIALS AND27
SB22-004
-8- ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE READING COMPETENCY IN THE1
AREAS OF PHONEMIC AWARENESS , PHONICS, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT ,2
READING FLUENCY , INCLUDING ORAL SKILLS , AND READING3
COMPREHENSION AND ARE APPROPRIATE FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH4
SECOND GRADE AND FOR THIRD THROUGH SIXTH GRADE . THE DIRECTOR5
SHALL ENSURE THAT THE MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE IN6
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ARE UPDATED MONTHLY .7
(3) A
T THE REQUEST OF A DIRECTOR , THE DEPARTMENT OF8
EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ,9
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING TO ONE OR MORE10
LIBRARIANS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY .11
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-90-109, amend12
(2.5); and add (1)(r) as follows:13
24-90-109. Powers and duties of board of trustees. (1) The14
board of trustees shall:15
(r) A
DOPT AND REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY16
TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN IMPROVING LITERACY THROUGH17
THE SCIENCE OF READING AS REQUIRED IN SECTION 24-90-121.18
(2.5) At the close of each calendar year, the board of trustees of19
every public library shall make a report to the state library in the form of20
a response to a survey to be designed and administered by the state21
library. The report shall
MUST contain such other statistics and22
information as may be required by the state library
AND SHALL SPECIFY23
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS24
FOR LIBRARIAN TRAINING SPECIFIED IN SECTION 24-90-121 AND THE25
POLICY ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION .26
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-90-105, add27
SB22-004
-9- (2)(g) as follows:1
24-90-105. Powers and duties of state librarian. (2) The state2
librarian has the following powers and duties with respect to other3
publicly supported libraries in the state:4
(g) T
O WORK WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO5
FACILITATE ACCESS TO EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF6
READING, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-90-121, FOR LIBRARIANS AND ASSIST7
IN IDENTIFYING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN8
TO IMPROVE LITERACY, AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 24-90-121.9
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act10
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the11
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except12
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V13
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this14
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take15
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in16
November 2022 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the17
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.18
SB22-004
-10-