Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 24-0159.01 Alana Rosen x2606
SENATE BILL 24-014
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANTING A HIGH SCHOOL101
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT RELATED TO CLIMATE LITERACY .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
.)
The bill authorizes a school district, board of cooperative services,
district charter high school, or institute charter high school (local
education provider) to grant a high school diploma endorsement in
climate literacy (seal of climate literacy) to graduating students who
demonstrate mastery in climate literacy and attain green skills or technical
green skills. To obtain a seal of climate literacy, a student must complete
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Hansen,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
McLachlan,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. the minimum high school graduation requirements of the local education
provider, successfully complete 2 courses in the area of climate literacy
selected by the local education provider, and successfully complete a final
experiential learning project (final project) that is approved, supported,
and facilitated by a climate literacy experiential learning provider
(learning provider).
The local education provider may collaborate with local
businesses, nonprofit organizations, industry leaders, and institutions of
higher education to support students' climate literacy.
Beginning with students in the sixth grade, each local education
provider shall annually notify students and their legal guardians of the
requirements for obtaining a seal of climate literacy.
On or before July 1, 2025, and every July 1 thereafter, each local
education provider shall collect data on the seal of climate literacy,
including:
! The schools that awarded the seal of climate literacy;
! The number of students who received the seal of climate
literacy;
! The types of final projects students have completed;
! The names of the learning providers that approve, support,
and facilitate students' final projects;
! A list of academic courses students have completed to earn
the seal of climate literacy; and
! Any other findings related to the seal of climate literacy.
On or before October 1, 2025, and every October 1 thereafter, each
local education provider shall submit a report to the department of
education (department) summarizing the data collected.
The department may collaborate with a nonprofit organization to
evaluate the data collected and prepare a report summarizing the data. On
or before January 15, 2026, and every January 15 thereafter, the
department shall submit the report to the house of representatives
education committee and the senate education committee, or their
successor committees, and the state board of education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-7-1009.7 as2
follows:3
22-7-1009.7. Diploma endorsement - seal of climate literacy4
- report - definitions. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE5
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :6
SB24-014-2- (a) "CLIMATE LITERACY" MEANS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE1
ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF THE EARTH 'S CLIMATE SYSTEM, ASSESSING2
SCIENTIFICALLY CREDIBLE CLIMATE INFORMATION , LEARNING TO3
COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE CLIMATE IN A MEANINGFUL MANNER , AND4
MAKING INFORMED AND RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS REGARDING ACTIONS5
THAT MAY AFFECT THE CLIMATE .6
(b) "C
LIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER "7
MEANS A PROVIDER THAT FACILITATES A STUDENT 'S FINAL PROJECT. A8
PROVIDER MAY INCLUDE A SCHOOL OF A SC HOOL DISTRICT ; DISTRICT9
CHARTER SCHOOL ; INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL ; BOCES;10
COLLABORATION OF ONE OR MORE RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ; SCHOOL11
ORGANIZATION OR CLUB; OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET, BUSINESS, NONPROFIT12
ORGANIZATION, OR INDUSTRY FOCUSED ON GREEN SKILLS OR TECHNICAL13
GREEN SKILLS.14
(c) "C
LIMATE LITERACY FINAL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT "15
OR "FINAL PROJECT" MEANS A STUDENT PROJECT THAT FOCUSES ON THE16
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE STUDENT 'S LOCAL COMMUNITY AND17
THAT THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AS A PART OF THE18
REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY19
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT .20
(d) "D
EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION21
CREATED IN SECTION 24-1-115.22
(e) "G
RANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER " MEANS A SCHOOL23
DISTRICT, BOCES, DISTRICT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL , OR INSTITUTE24
CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL THAT GRANTS A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY25
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS26
SECTION TO A STUDENT WHO DEMONSTRATES MASTERY IN CLIMATE27
SB24-014
-3- LITERACY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.1
(f) "G
REEN JOBS" MEANS OCCUPATIONS OR EMPLOYMENT2
POSITIONS THAT REDUCE HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE CLIMATE ; ADAPT3
PROCESSES TO MINIMIZE THEIR EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE ; RECOGNIZE AND4
MITIGATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ;5
SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY6
OF COMMUNITIES; OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE7
OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS .8
(g) "G
REEN SKILLS" MEANS THE KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, VALUES,9
AND ATTITUDES TO LIVE IN, DEVELOP, AND SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE AND10
RESOURCE-EFFICIENT SOCIETY.11
(h) "T
ECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS" MEANS SKILLS THAT FULFILL THE12
REQUIREMENTS OF GREEN JOBS AND SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO A13
LOW-CARBON SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY .14
(2) (a) A
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL GRANT A15
SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT TO A GRADUATING16
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DEMONSTRATES MASTERY IN CLIMATE17
LITERACY DISCIPLINES AND ATTAINS GREEN SKILLS OR TECHNICAL GREEN18
SKILLS THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS19
DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (2)(a). THE PURPOSE OF THE SEAL OF20
CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT IS TO GIVE A STUDENT21
PERSONAL AGENCY TO HELP THE STUDENT AND THE STUDENT 'S22
COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND OR ADAPT TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE23
CHANGE. TO OBTAIN A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA24
ENDORSEMENT, A GRADUATING STUDENT MUST :25
(I) M
EET THE MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL GRA DUATION26
REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED BY THE GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION27
SB24-014
-4- PROVIDER;1
(II) S
UCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT LEAST TWO APPROVED COURSES2
IN THE AREA OF CLIMATE LITERACY. THE GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION3
PROVIDER SHALL CREATE A LIST OF APPROVED COURSES IN THE AREA OF4
CLIMATE LITERACY AND MAKE THE LIST AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN5
GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE . APPROVED COURSES MAY INCLUDE , BUT6
NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO:7
(A) H
IGH SCHOOL COURSES OR QUALIFIED ADVANCED PLACEMENT8
COURSES THAT COVER PHYSICAL SCIENCE , LIFE SCIENCE, OR EARTH9
SCIENCE; OR10
(B) C
ONCURRENT ENROLLMENT , CAREER AND TECHNICAL11
EDUCATION COURSES, OR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES THAT INTEGRATE THE12
CLIMATE LITERACY PRINCIPLES.13
(III) S
UCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A CLIMATE LITERACY FINAL14
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS15
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(c) OF THIS SECTION. A STUDENT MUST16
COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINAL PROJECTS , WHICH INCLUDE, BUT17
NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO:18
(A) A
CAPSTONE PROJECT CENTERED ON THE STUDENT 'S19
COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY 'S EFFECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE;20
(B) F
IELD EXPERIENCES OR PRACTICUMS RELATED TO THE21
COURSEWORK DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION;22
(C) I
NTERNSHIPS, EXTERNSHIPS, OR EMPLOYMENT WITH CLIMATE23
LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDERS ;24
(D) O
NE OR MORE COMMUNITY PROJECTS WITH A CLIMATE25
LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER ;26
(E) H
ANDS-ON LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS ;27
SB24-014
-5- (F) ORIGINAL ARTWORK OR WRITING ; OR1
(G) S
TUDENT-LED AND DESIGNED PROGRAMMING THAT HAS AN2
EFFECT ON THE STUDENT'S COMMUNITY AND OTHER STUDENTS .3
(b) I
F A GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER DOES NOT4
REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COURSE AS A MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL5
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT , A STUDENT MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE6
AT LEAST ONE HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COURSE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION7
(2)(a)(II)
OF THIS SECTION.8
(c) (I) A
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL APPROVE9
A STUDENT'S FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL OR AUTHORIZE A CLIMATE10
LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER TO FACILITATE , SUPPORT,11
AND APPROVE A STUDENT 'S FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL BEFORE THE12
STUDENT BEGINS THE FINAL PROJECT.13
(II) T
O SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE FINAL PROJECT , THE14
STUDENT SHALL DEMONSTRATE AN ACADEMIC UNDERSTANDING OF15
CLIMATE LITERACY THROUGH THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE16
CLIMATE LITERACY PRINCIPLES THAT ADDRESS LOCAL CLIMATE ISSUES17
PRESENT IN THE STUDENT'S COMMUNITY. THE STUDENT SHALL PRESENT18
THE FINAL PROJECT TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP IDENTIFIED AND19
SELECTED BY THE STUDENT AND THE CLIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL20
LEARNING PROVIDER OR GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER .21
(3) E
ACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MAY22
COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES , NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND23
INDUSTRY LEADERS INTERESTED IN CLIMATE LITERACY AND IN BUILDING24
A WORKFORCE WITH TECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS IDENTIFIED BY THE25
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER WITHIN THE SURROUNDING26
COMMUNITIES AND BY THE APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER27
SB24-014
-6- EDUCATION.1
(4) E
ACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL2
ANNUALLY PROVIDE TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES SIX THR OUGH3
TWELVE AND THEIR LEGAL GUARDIANS INFORMATION CONCERNING THE4
REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA5
ENDORSEMENT, INCLUDING APPROVED COURSES AS DESCRIBED IN6
SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION.7
(5) (a) O
N OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, AND EVERY JULY 18
THEREAFTER, EACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL9
COLLECT DATA ON THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA10
ENDORSEMENT, INCLUDING:11
(I) T
HE SCHOOLS THAT AWARDED THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY12
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ;13
(II) T
HE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A SEAL OF CLIMATE14
LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ;15
(III) T
HE TYPES OF FINAL PROJECTS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION16
(2)(a)(III)
OF THIS SECTION THAT STUDENTS COMPLETE ;17
(IV) T
HE NAMES OF THE CLIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL18
LEARNING PROVIDERS THAT APPROVED , SUPPORTED, AND FACILITATED19
STUDENTS' FINAL PROJECTS;20
(V) A
LIST OF ACADEMIC COURSES STUDENTS COMPLETED TO EARN21
THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ; AND22
(VI) A
NY OTHER FINDINGS RELATED TO THE SEAL OF CLIMATE23
LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT .24
(b) O
N OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND EVERY OCTOBER 125
THEREAFTER, EACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL26
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT SUMMARIZING THE DATA27
SB24-014
-7- COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION.1
(6) (a) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY COLLABORATE WITH A COLORADO2
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH LOCAL EDUCATION3
PROVIDERS, INDUSTRY LEADERS , AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER4
EDUCATION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' CLIMATE LITERACY TO EVALUATE THE5
DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND6
PREPARE A REPORT SUMMARIZING THE DATA .7
(b) (I) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2026, AND EVERY JANUARY 158
THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN9
SUBSECTION (6)(a) OF THIS SECTION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES10
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE , OR11
THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES , AND THE STATE BOARD.12
(II) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13613
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN14
SUBSECTION (6)(b)(I) OF THIS SECTION CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.15
(7) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,16
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE17
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.18
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act19
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the20
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except21
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V22
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this23
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take24
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in25
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the26
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.27
SB24-014
-8-