Second Regular Session
Seventy-third General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 22-0568.01 Julie Pelegrin x2700
SENATE BILL 22-004
Senate Committees House Committees
Education Education
Appropriations Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING MEASURES TO SUPPORT EVIDENCE -BASED LITERACY101
INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS IN EARLY
GRADES, AND, IN102
CONNECTION THEREWITH , MAKING AN APPROPRIATION .103
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
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
May 4, 2022
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. to programs in kindergarten or any of grades one through 3 to
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 INTERVENTIONIST EMPLOYED TO TEACH STUDENTS10
IN ANY OF GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPL ETES OR11
HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN TEACHING12
READING AS DESCRIBED FOR TEACHERS IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS13
SECTION. TO COMPLY WITH THIS SUBSECTION (6.7)(a), A LOCAL14
EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL SUBMIT EVIDENCE THAT EACH READING15
INTERVENTIONIST EMPLOYED TO TEACH STUDENTS IN ANY OF GRADES16
FOUR THROUGH TWELVE HAS PASSED AN END -OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT OF17
LEARNING AT THE COMPLETION OF THE EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING.18
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST, TRAINING FOR
19
READING INTERVENTIONISTS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN20
SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE21
THE TRAINING IN-PERSON OR ONLINE.22
(c) N
OTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS SECTION, A
23
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER THAT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE24
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION (6.7) AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE25
2024-25
SCHOOL YEAR OR FOR A SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEAR MAY
26
REQUEST A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FROM THE STATE BOARD BASED ON A27
004
-5- DEMONSTRATION OF GOOD CAUSE FOR INABILITY TO COMPLY .1
(d) T
HE STATE BOARD
MAY ADOPT RULES AS NECESSARY TO2
SPECIFY THE CONTENT AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED FOR3
TRAINING FOR READING INTERVENTIONISTS REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION4
(6.7)(a)
OF THIS SECTION; TIME FRAMES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLYING
5
WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6.7)(a) OF THIS6
SECTION AND FOR APPLYING FOR AN EXTENSION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION7
(6.7)(c)
OF THIS SECTION; AND THE FORM IN WHICH A LOCAL EDUCATION
8
PROVIDER MUST SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF THE COMPLETION OF AN9
END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AS REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION10
(6.7)(a)
OF THIS SECTION.
11
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1209, amend12
(2)(c) introductory portion as follows:13
22-7-1209. State board - rules - department - duties.14
(2) (c) Using the procedure developed pursuant to subsection (3) of this15
section, the department shall create an advisory list of rigorous16
professional development programs that FOR TEACHERS, READING17
INTERVENTIONISTS, PRINCIPALS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, WHICH PROGRAMS18
are related to addressing significant reading deficiencies and to applying19
intervention instruction and strategies, in addition to programs related to20
teaching general literacy, that local education providers are encouraged21
to use. The department shall include on the advisory list professional22
development programs that are available online. The department shall23
ensure that each professional development program included on the24
advisory list is:25
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1210, amend26
(4)(d)(I)(E) as follows:27
004
-6- 22-7-1210. Early literacy fund - created. (4) The money in the1
fund is subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the2
department. The department shall annually expend the money in the fund3
as follows:4
(d) (I) Beginning in the 2020-21 budget year and for budget years5
thereafter, the department shall annually expend the money credited to the6
early literacy fund for the following purposes:7
(E) To pay the costs incurred in providing to local education8
providers technical assistance in implementing this part 12, and training9
in teaching reading for teachers employed to teach kindergarten and10
grades one through three
AND FOR READING
INTERVENTIONISTS EMPLOYED11
TO TEACH GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE , TRAINING FOR PRINCIPALS12
AND ADMINISTRATORS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5), AND13
TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-121; monitoring14
the use of money received as per-pupil intervention money or grants15
through the early literacy grant program; and fulfilling the administrative16
requirements specified in this part 12.17
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1210.5, amend18
(4)(g); and add (3)(b)(II.5) as follows:19
22-7-1210.5. Per-pupil intervention money - uses - distribution20
- monitoring - repeal. (3) (b) To receive per-pupil intervention money21
in a budget year, a local education provider must meet the following22
requirements:23
(II.5) F
OR THE 2024-25
BUDGET YEAR AND B UDGET YEARS24
THEREAFTER, THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MUST SUBMIT EVIDENCE25
THAT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATOR26
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.5) AND THE27
004
-7- READING INTERVENTIONIST TRAINING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN1
SECTION 22-7-1208 (6.7);2
(4) A local education provider may use the per-pupil intervention3
money only as follows:4
(g) To provide professional development programming to support5
educators in teaching reading. Professional development programming6
authorized in this subsection (4)(g) may include hiring a reading coach7
who is trained in teaching the foundational reading skills of phonemic8
awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, including9
oral skills, and reading comprehension to provide job-embedded, ongoing10
professional development to support kindergarten-through-third-grade11
teacher competence in teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary12
development, reading fluency, including oral skills, and reading13
comprehension. A local education provider that has not fully complied14
with section 22-7-1208 (6) SECTION 22-7-1208 (6), (6.5), OR (6.7) is15
strongly encouraged to use per-pupil intervention money to ensure that all16
teachers employed by the local education provider to teach kindergarten17
or any of grades one through three
AND ALL READING
INTERVENTIONISTS18
EMPLOYED TO TEACH GRADES FOUR THROUGH TWELVE successfully19
complete evidence-based training in teaching reading,
AND THE20
PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-7-120821
(6.5)(a)
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE EVIDENCE -BASED TRAINING IN THE22
SCIENCE OF READING, before using the money for other authorized23
purposes.24
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-90-121 as25
follows:26
24-90-121. Public libraries - science of reading - training -27
004
-8- report - definitions. (1) A S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT1
OTHERWISE REQUIRES:2
3
(a) "DIRECTOR" MEANS THE DIRECTOR OF A BOARD OF TRUSTEES4
EMPLOYED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-90-1095
(1)(c).6
(b) "EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING" OR7
"
TRAINING" MEANS TRAINING THAT:8
(I) I
S BASED ON RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, AND VALID EVIDENCE;9
(II) I
NCLUDES EXPLANATION AND INSTRUCTION IN THE AREAS OF10
PHONEMIC AWARENESS, PHONICS, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT , READING11
FLUENCY, INCLUDING ORAL SKILLS, AND READING COMPREHENSION ; AND12
(III) I
S INCLUDED ON THE ADVISORY LIST OF RIGOROUS13
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY14
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1209 (2)(c).15
(2) (a) T
HE DIRECTOR OF EACH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ENCOURAGED
16
TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE17
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING FOR EACH18
LIBRARIAN WHO WORKS WITH CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRESCHOOL ,19
KINDERGARTEN, OR EARLY ELEMENTARY GRADES . IN ADDITION, THE20
DIRECTOR IS ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE IN THE LIBRARY21
MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO IMPROVE22
LITERACY, WHICH MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR23
PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE , AND THIRD24
THROUGH SIXTH GRADE AND ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE READING25
COMPETENCY IN THE AREAS OF PHONEMIC AWARENESS ; PHONICS;26
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT ; READING FLUENCY , INCLUDING ORAL27
004
-9- SKILLS; AND READING COMPREHENSION .1
(b) A
T THE REQUEST OF A DIRECTOR , THE DEPARTMENT OF
2
EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE , AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ,3
EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF READING TO ONE OR MORE4
LIBRARIANS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY . THE5
DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE THE TRAINING IN -PERSON OR ONLINE AND MAY6
PROVIDE THE SAME TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANS THAT IT PROVIDES FOR7
TEACHERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1208 (6)(c).8
(3) T
HE DIRECTOR OF EACH PUBLIC LIBRARY MAY PREPARE A PLAN
9
DESCRIBING HOW THE DIRECTOR AND THE LIBRARIANS EMPLOYED AT THE10
LIBRARY WILL WORK WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TO SUPPORT11
LITERACY USING MATERIALS , ACTIVITIES, AND STRATEGIES THAT ARE12
SUPPORTED BY THE SCIENCE OF READING. THE DIRECTOR IS ENCOURAGED13
TO SUBMIT THE PLAN TO THE STATE LIBRARIAN BY JULY 1, 2024.14
15
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-90-105, add16
(2)(g) as follows:17
24-90-105. Powers and duties of state librarian. (2) The state18
librarian has the following powers and duties with respect to other19
publicly supported libraries in the state:20
(g) T
O WORK WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO21
FACILITATE ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF22
READING, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-90-121, FOR LIBRARIANS AND ASSIST23
IN IDENTIFYING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN24
TO IMPROVE LITERACY, AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 24-90-121.25
SECTION 7. Appropriation. (1) For the 2022-23 state fiscal26
year, $251,139 is appropriated to the department of education. This27
004
-10- appropriation is from the early literacy fund created in section 22-7-12101
(1), C.R.S., and is based on an assumption that the department will2
require an additional 0.8 FTE. To implement this act, the department may3
use this appropriation for early literacy program administration and4
technical support.5
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act6
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the7
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except8
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V9
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this10
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take11
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in12
November 2022 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the13
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.14
004
-11-