Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 22-0568.01 Julie Pelegrin x2700
SENATE BILL 22-004
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
Appropriations
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
3rd Reading Unamended
April 6, 2022
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 5, 2022
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Rankin and Bridges, Ginal, Winter
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) and (6.7)
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
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 2024-25
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 2023-24 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 DESIGNED FOR12
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN THE SCIENCE OF READING . THE13
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING MUST INCLUDE14
THE CONCEPTS OF PHONEMIC AWARENESS , PHONICS, VOCABULARY15
DEVELOPMENT, READING FLUENCY , INCLUDING ORAL SKILLS , AND16
READING COMPREHENSION TO ASSIST PRINCIPALS IN COACHING AND17
EVALUATING TEACHERS . THE TRAINING MUST ALSO INCLUDE TOPICS18
RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING SCHOOLWIDE SCIENTIFICALLY BASED AND19
EVIDENCE-BASED READING PROGRAMMING . TO COMPLY WITH THIS20
SUBSECTION (6.5)(a), A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL SUBMIT21
EVIDENCE THAT EACH PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATOR DESCRIBED IN THIS22
SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EVIDENCE -BASED23
TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING THAT IS:24
(I) I
NCLUDED AS A COURSE IN AN APPROVED PROGRAM OF25
PREPARATION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-60.5-102 (8) FOR PRINCIPALS OR26
ADMINISTRATORS, OR AN INDIVIDUALIZED ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPAL27
004
-3- PROGRAM, OR OTHER ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM , APPROVED1
PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-305.5;2
(II) I
NCLUDED AS A COURSE IN A POST -GRADUATE DEGREE3
PROGRAM IN TEACHING READING OR LITERACY ;4
(III) P
ROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR INCLUDED ON THE5
ADVISORY LIST OF RIGOROUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS6
PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1209 (2)(c);7
OR8
(IV) P
ROVIDED BY A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER OR IS9
APPROPRIATE FOR LICENSE RENEWAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-11010
(3).11
12
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST, TRAINING FOR
13
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS14
SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT15
MAY PROVIDE THE TRAINING IN-PERSON OR ONLINE.16
(c) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION, A17
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE18
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION (6.5) AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE19
2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR OR FOR A SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEAR MAY20
REQUEST A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FROM THE STATE BOARD BASED ON A21
DEMONSTRATION OF GOOD CAUSE FOR INABILITY TO COMPLY .22
(d) THE STATE BOARD MAY ADOPT RULES AS NECESSARY TO23
SPECIFY THE CONTENT AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED FOR24
THE TRAINING DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION; THE25
TIME FRAMES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS26
SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND FOR APPLYING FOR27
004
-4- AN EXTENSION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6.5)(c) OF THIS SECTION; AND1
THE FORM IN WHICH A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MUST SUBMIT2
EVIDENCE OF THE COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION3
(6.5)(a)
OF THIS SECTION.
4
(6.7) (a) B
Y THE BEGINNING OF THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR AND
5
CONTINUING FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER , EACH LOCAL6
EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT RECEIVES PER -PUPIL INTERVENTION MONEY7
OR A GRANT THROUGH THE EARLY LITERACY GRANT PROGRAM IN ANY8
BUDGET YEAR STARTING WITH THE 2023-24 BUDGET YEAR SHALL ENSURE9
THAT EACH READING SPECIALIST , AS DEFINED BY RULE, EMPLOYED TO10
TEACH STUDENTS IN ANY OF GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE11
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES OR HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED12
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN TEACHING READING AS DESCRIBED FOR13
TEACHERS IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION. TO COMPLY WITH THIS14
SUBSECTION (6.7)(a), A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL SUBMIT15
EVIDENCE THAT EACH READING SPECIALIST EMPLOYED TO TEACH16
STUDENTS IN ANY OF GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE HAS PASSED AN17
END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AT THE COMPLETION OF THE18
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING.19
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST, TRAINING FOR
20
READING SPECIALISTS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN21
SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE22
THE TRAINING IN-PERSON OR ONLINE.23
(c) N
OTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION, A
24
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE25
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION (6.7) AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE26
2024-25
SCHOOL YEAR OR FOR A SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEAR MAY
27
004
-5- REQUEST A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FROM THE STATE BOARD BASED ON A1
DEMONSTRATION OF GOOD CAUSE FOR INABILITY TO COMPLY .2
(d) T
HE STATE BOARD SHALL DEFINE THE TERM "READING
3
SPECIALIST" BY RULE AND MAY ADOPT RULES AS NECESSARY TO SPECIFY4
THE CONTENT AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED FOR TRAINING5
FOR READING SPECIALISTS REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS6
SECTION; TIME FRAMES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLYING WITH THE7
REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND8
FOR APPLYING FOR AN EXTENSION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6.7)(c) OF9
THIS SECTION; AND THE FORM IN WHICH A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER10
MUST SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF THE COMPLETION OF AN END -OF-COURSE11
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AS REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS12
SECTION.13
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1209, amend14
(2)(c) introductory portion as follows:15
22-7-1209. State board - rules - department - duties.16
(2) (c) Using the procedure developed pursuant to subsection (3) of this17
section, the department shall create an advisory list of rigorous18
professional development programs that FOR TEACHERS, READING19
SPECIALISTS, PRINCIPALS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, WHICH PROGRAMS are20
related to addressing significant reading deficiencies and to applying21
intervention instruction and strategies, in addition to programs related to22
teaching general literacy, that local education providers are encouraged23
to use. The department shall include on the advisory list professional24
development programs that are available online. The department shall25
ensure that each professional development program included on the26
advisory list is:27
004
-6- SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1210, amend1
(4)(d)(I)(E) as follows:2
22-7-1210. Early literacy fund - created. (4) The money in the3
fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the4
department. The department shall annually expend the money in the fund5
as follows:6
(d) (I) Beginning in the 2020-21 budget year and for budget years7
thereafter, the department shall annually expend the money credited to the8
early literacy fund for the following purposes:9
(E) To pay the costs incurred in providing to local education10
providers technical assistance in implementing this part 12, and training11
in teaching reading for teachers employed to teach kindergarten and12
grades one through three
AND FOR READING SPECIALISTS EMPLOYED TO
13
TEACH GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE , TRAINING FOR PRINCIPALS AND14
ADMINISTRATORS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5), AND TRAINING15
FOR LIBRARIANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-121; monitoring the use of16
money received as per-pupil intervention money or grants through the17
early literacy grant program; and fulfilling the administrative18
requirements specified in this part 12.19
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1210.5, amend20
(4)(g); and add (3)(b)(II.5) as follows:21
22-7-1210.5. Per-pupil intervention money - uses - distribution22
- monitoring - repeal. (3) (b) To receive per-pupil intervention money23
in a budget year, a local education provider must meet the following24
requirements:25
(II.5) F
OR THE 2024-25
BUDGET YEAR AND BUDGET YEARS26
THEREAFTER, THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MUST SUBMIT EVIDENCE27
004
-7- THAT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATOR1
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5) AND THE2
READING SPECIALIST TRAINING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION3
22-7-1208
(6.7);
4
(4) A local education provider may use the per-pupil intervention5
money only as follows:6
(g) To provide professional development programming to support7
educators in teaching reading. Professional development programming8
authorized in this subsection (4)(g) may include hiring a reading coach9
who is trained in teaching the foundational reading skills of phonemic10
awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, including11
oral skills, and reading comprehension to provide job-embedded, ongoing12
professional development to support kindergarten-through-third-grade13
teacher competence in teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary14
development, reading fluency, including oral skills, and reading15
comprehension. A local education provider that has not fully complied16
with section 22-7-1208 (6) SECTION 22-7-1208 (6), (6.5), OR (6.7) is17
strongly encouraged to use per-pupil intervention money to ensure that all18
teachers employed by the local education provider to teach kindergarten19
or any of grades one through three
AND ALL READING SPECIALISTS
20
EMPLOYED TO TEACH GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE successfully21
complete evidence-based training in teaching reading,
AND THE22
PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-7-120823
(6.5)(a)
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE24
SCIENCE OF READING, before using the money for other authorized25
purposes.26
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-90-121 as27
004
-8- follows:1
24-90-121. Public libraries - science of reading - training -2
report - definitions. (1) A S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT3
OTHERWISE REQUIRES:4
5
(a) "DIRECTOR" MEANS THE DIRECTOR OF A BOARD OF TRUSTEES6
EMPLOYED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-1097
(1)(c).8
(b) "EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING" OR9
"
TRAINING" MEANS TRAINING THAT:10
(I) I
S BASED ON RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, AND VALID EVIDENCE;11
(II) I
NCLUDES EXPLANATION AND INSTRUCTION IN THE AREAS OF12
PHONEMIC AWARENESS, PHONICS, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT , READING13
FLUENCY, INCLUDING ORAL SKILLS, AND READING COMPREHENSION ; AND14
(III) I
S INCLUDED ON THE ADVISORY LIST OF RIGOROUS15
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY16
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1209 (2)(c).17
(2) (a) T
HE DIRECTOR OF EACH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ENCOURAGED
18
TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE19
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING FOR EACH20
LIBRARIAN WHO WORKS WITH CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRESCHOOL ,21
KINDERGARTEN, OR EARLY ELEMENTARY GRADES . IN ADDITION, THE22
DIRECTOR IS ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE IN THE LIBRARY23
MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO IMPROVE24
LITERACY, WHICH MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR25
PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE , AND THIRD26
THROUGH SIXTH GRADE AND ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE READING27
004
-9- COMPETENCY IN THE AREAS OF PHONEMIC AWARENESS ; PHONICS;1
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT ; READING FLUENCY , INCLUDING ORAL2
SKILLS; AND READING COMPREHENSION .3
(b) A
T THE REQUEST OF A DIRECTOR , THE DEPARTMENT OF
4
EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ,5
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING TO ONE OR MORE6
LIBRARIANS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY . THE7
DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE THE TRAINING IN -PERSON OR ONLINE AND MAY8
PROVIDE THE SAME TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANS THAT IT PROVIDES FOR9
TEACHERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1208 (6)(c).10
(3) T
HE DIRECTOR OF EACH PUBLIC LIBRARY MAY PREPARE A PLAN
11
DESCRIBING HOW THE DIRECTOR AND THE LIBRARIANS EMPLOYED AT THE12
LIBRARY WILL WORK WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TO SUPPORT13
LITERACY USING MATERIALS , ACTIVITIES, AND STRATEGIES THAT ARE14
SUPPORTED BY THE SCIENCE OF READING. THE DIRECTOR IS ENCOURAGED15
TO SUBMIT THE PLAN TO THE STATE LIBRARIAN BY JULY 1, 2024.16
17
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-90-105, add18
(2)(g) as follows:19
24-90-105. Powers and duties of state librarian. (2) The state20
librarian has the following powers and duties with respect to other21
publicly supported libraries in the state:22
(g) T
O WORK WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO23
FACILITATE ACCESS TO EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF24
READING, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-90-121, FOR LIBRARIANS AND ASSIST25
IN IDENTIFYING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN26
TO IMPROVE LITERACY, AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 24-90-121.27
004
-10- SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act1
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the2
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except3
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V4
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this5
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take6
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in7
November 2022 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the8
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.9
004
-11-