Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 24-0159.01 Alana Rosen x2606
SENATE BILL 24-014
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANTING A HIGH SCHOOL101
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT RELATED TO CLIMATE LITERACY , AND,
102
IN 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
.)
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
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 15, 2024
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 13, 2024
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Hansen, Bridges, Cutter, Exum, Fields, Jaquez Lewis, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Priola,
Sullivan, Winter F., Zenzinger
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. green skills. To obtain a seal of climate literacy, a student must complete
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
014-2- CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :1
(a) "C
LIMATE LITERACY" MEANS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE2
ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF THE EARTH 'S CLIMATE SYSTEM, ASSESSING3
SCIENTIFICALLY CREDIBLE CLIMATE INFORMATION , LEARNING TO4
COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE CLIMATE IN A MEANINGFUL MANNER , AND5
MAKING INFORMED AND RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS REGARDING ACTIONS6
THAT MAY AFFECT THE CLIMATE .7
(b) "C
LIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER "8
MEANS A PROVIDER THAT FACILITATES A STUDENT 'S FINAL PROJECT. A9
PROVIDER MAY INCLUDE A SCHOOL OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT ; DISTRICT10
CHARTER SCHOOL ; INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL ; BOCES;11
COLLABORATION OF ONE OR MORE RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ; SCHOOL12
ORGANIZATION OR CLUB; OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET, BUSINESS, NONPROFIT13
ORGANIZATION, OR INDUSTRY FOCUSED ON GREEN SKILLS OR TECHNICAL14
GREEN SKILLS.15
(c) "C
LIMATE LITERACY FINAL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT "16
OR "FINAL PROJECT" MEANS A STUDENT PROJECT THAT FOCUSES ON THE17
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE STUDENT 'S LOCAL COMMUNITY AND18
THAT THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AS A PART OF THE19
REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY20
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT .21
(d) "D
EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION22
CREATED IN SECTION 24-1-115.23
(e) "G
RANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER " MEANS A SCHOOL24
DISTRICT, BOCES, DISTRICT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL ,
INSTITUTE25
CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL, OR THE COLORADO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND26
THE BLIND THAT GRANTS A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA27
014
-3- ENDORSEMENT AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION TO A1
STUDENT WHO DEMONSTRATES MASTERY IN CLIMATE LITERACY PURSUANT2
TO THIS SECTION.3
(f) "G
REEN JOBS" MEANS OCCUPATIONS OR EMPLOYMENT4
POSITIONS THAT REDUCE HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE CLIMATE ; ADAPT5
PROCESSES TO MINIMIZE THEIR EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE ; RECOGNIZE AND6
MITIGATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ;7
SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY8
OF COMMUNITIES; OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE9
OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS .10
(g) "G
REEN SKILLS" MEANS THE KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, VALUES,11
AND ATTITUDES TO LIVE IN, DEVELOP, AND SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE AND12
RESOURCE-EFFICIENT SOCIETY.13
(h) "T
ECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS" MEANS SKILLS THAT FULFILL THE14
REQUIREMENTS OF GREEN JOBS AND SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO A15
LOW-CARBON SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY .16
(2) (a) A
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL GRANT A17
SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT TO A GRADUATING18
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DEMONSTRATES MASTERY IN CLIMATE19
LITERACY DISCIPLINES AND ATTAINS GREEN SKILLS OR TECHNICAL GREEN20
SKILLS THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS21
DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION (2)(a). THE PURPOSE OF THE SEAL OF22
CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT IS TO GIVE A STUDENT23
PERSONAL AGENCY TO HELP THE STUDENT AND THE STUDENT 'S24
COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND OR ADAPT TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE25
CHANGE. TO OBTAIN A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA26
ENDORSEMENT, A GRADUATING STUDENT MUST :27
014
-4- (I) MEET THE MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION1
REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED BY THE GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION2
PROVIDER;3
(II) S
UCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT LEAST TWO APPROVED COURSES4
IN THE AREA OF CLIMATE LITERACY. THE GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION5
PROVIDER SHALL CREATE A LIST OF APPROVED COURSES IN THE AREA OF6
CLIMATE LITERACY AND MAKE THE LIST AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN7
GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE . APPROVED COURSES MAY INCLUDE , BUT8
NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO:9
(A) H
IGH SCHOOL COURSES OR QUALIFIED ADVANCED PLACEMENT10
COURSES THAT COVER PHYSICAL SCIENCE , LIFE SCIENCE, OR EARTH11
SCIENCE; OR12
(B) C
ONCURRENT ENROLLMENT , CAREER AND TECHNICAL13
EDUCATION COURSES, OR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES THAT INTEGRATE THE14
CLIMATE LITERACY PRINCIPLES.15
(III) S
UCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A CLIMATE LITERACY FINAL16
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS17
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(c) OF THIS SECTION. A STUDENT MUST18
COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINAL PROJECTS , WHICH INCLUDE, BUT19
NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO:20
(A) A
CAPSTONE PROJECT CENTERED ON THE STUDENT 'S21
COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY 'S EFFECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE;22
(B) F
IELD EXPERIENCES OR PRACTICUMS RELATED TO THE23
COURSEWORK DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION;24
(C) I
NTERNSHIPS, EXTERNSHIPS, OR EMPLOYMENT WITH CLIMATE25
LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDERS ;26
(D) O
NE OR MORE COMMUNITY PROJECTS WITH A CLIMATE27
014
-5- LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER ;1
(E) H
ANDS-ON LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS ;2
(F) O
RIGINAL ARTWORK OR WRITING ; OR3
(G) S
TUDENT-LED AND DESIGNED PROGRAMMING THAT HAS AN4
EFFECT ON THE STUDENT'S COMMUNITY AND OTHER STUDENTS .5
(b) I
F A GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER DOES NOT6
REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COURSE AS A MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL7
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT , A STUDENT MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE8
AT LEAST ONE HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COURSE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION9
(2)(a)(II)
OF THIS SECTION.10
(c) (I) A
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL APPROVE11
A STUDENT'S FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL OR AUTHORIZE A CLIMATE12
LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER TO FACILITATE , SUPPORT,13
AND APPROVE A STUDENT 'S FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL BEFORE THE14
STUDENT BEGINS THE FINAL PROJECT.15
(II) T
O SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE FINAL PROJECT , THE16
STUDENT SHALL DEMONSTRATE AN ACADEMIC UNDERSTANDING OF17
CLIMATE LITERACY THROUGH THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE18
CLIMATE LITERACY PRINCIPLES THAT ADDRESS LOCAL CLIMATE ISSUES19
PRESENT IN THE STUDENT'S COMMUNITY. THE STUDENT SHALL PRESENT20
THE FINAL PROJECT TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP IDENTIFIED AND21
SELECTED BY THE STUDENT AND THE CLIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL22
LEARNING PROVIDER OR GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER .23
(3) E
ACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MAY24
COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES , NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND25
INDUSTRY LEADERS INTERESTED IN CLIMATE LITERACY AND IN BUILDING26
A WORKFORCE WITH TECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS IDENTIFIED BY THE27
014
-6- GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER WITHIN THE SURROUNDING1
COMMUNITIES AND BY THE APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER2
EDUCATION.3
(4) E
ACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL4
ANNUALLY PROVIDE TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES SIX THROUGH5
TWELVE AND THEIR LEGAL GUARDIANS INFORMATION CONCERNING THE6
REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA7
ENDORSEMENT, INCLUDING APPROVED COURSES AS DESCRIBED IN8
SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION.9
(5) (a) O
N OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, AND EVERY JULY 110
THEREAFTER, EACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL11
COLLECT DATA ON THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA12
ENDORSEMENT, INCLUDING:13
(I) T
HE SCHOOLS THAT AWARDED THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY14
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ;15
(II) T
HE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A SEAL OF CLIMATE16
LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ;17
(III) T
HE TYPES OF FINAL PROJECTS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION18
(2)(a)(III)
OF THIS SECTION THAT STUDENTS COMPLETE ;19
(IV) T
HE NAMES OF THE CLIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL20
LEARNING PROVIDERS THAT APPROVED , SUPPORTED, AND FACILITATED21
STUDENTS' FINAL PROJECTS;22
(V) A
LIST OF ACADEMIC COURSES STUDENTS COMPLETED TO EARN23
THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ; AND24
(VI) A
NY OTHER FINDINGS RELATED TO THE SEAL OF CLIMATE25
LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT .26
(b) O
N OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND EVERY OCTOBER 127
014
-7- THEREAFTER, EACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL1
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT SUMMARIZING THE DATA2
COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION.3
(6) (a) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY COLLABORATE WITH A COLORADO4
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH LOCAL EDUCATION5
PROVIDERS, INDUSTRY LEADERS , AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER6
EDUCATION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS ' CLIMATE LITERACY TO EVALUATE THE7
DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND8
PREPARE A REPORT SUMMARIZING THE DATA .9
(b) (I) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2026, AND EVERY JANUARY 1510
THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN11
SUBSECTION (6)(a) OF THIS SECTION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES12
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE , OR13
THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES , AND THE STATE BOARD.14
(II) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13615
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN16
SUBSECTION (6)(b)(I) OF THIS SECTION CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.17
(7) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,18
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE19
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.20
SECTION 2. Appropriation. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year,
21
$18,749 is appropriated to the department of education. This22
appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the23
department may use this appropriation as follows:24
(a) $9,374 for use by the student learning division for content25
specialists, which amount is based on an assumption that the division will26
require an additional 0.1 FTE; and27
014
-8- (b) $9,375 for use by the student pathways division for college1
and career readiness, which amount is based on an assumption that the2
division will require an additional 0.1 FTE.3
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act4
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the5
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except6
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V7
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this8
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take9
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in10
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the11
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.12
014
-9-