SENATE BILL 24-014
BY SENATOR(S) Hansen, Bridges, Cutter, Exum, Fields, Jaquez Lewis,
Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Priola, Sullivan, Winter F., Zenzinger;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) McLachlan, Amabile, Bird, Boesenecker,
Brown, Clifford, Daugherty, Epps, Froelich, Garcia, Hamrick, Hernandez,
Jodeh, Kipp, Lieder, Lindstedt, Lukens, Mabrey, Mauro, McCormick,
Rutinel, Sirota, Story, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Vigil, Weissman, Willford,
Woodrow, Young
.
C
ONCERNING AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANTING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
ENDORSEMENT RELATED TO CLIMATE LITERACY
, AND, IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH
, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-7-1009.7 as
follows:
22-7-1009.7. Diploma endorsement - seal of climate literacy -
report - definitions. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT
OTHERWISE REQUIRES
:
(a) "C
LIMATE LITERACY" MEANS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF THE EARTH 'S CLIMATE SYSTEM, ASSESSING
SCIENTIFICALLY CREDIBLE CLIMATE INFORMATION
, LEARNING TO
COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE CLIMATE IN A MEANINGFUL MANNER
, AND
MAKING INFORMED AND RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS REGARDING ACTIONS THAT
MAY AFFECT THE CLIMATE
.
(b) "C
LIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER " MEANS
A PROVIDER THAT FACILITATES A STUDENT
'S FINAL PROJECT. A PROVIDER
MAY INCLUDE A SCHOOL OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT
; DISTRICT CHARTER SCHOOL;
INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL; BOCES; COLLABORATION OF ONE OR MORE
RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS
; SCHOOL ORGANIZATION OR CLUB ; OR LOCAL
MEDIA OUTLET
, BUSINESS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION , OR INDUSTRY
FOCUSED ON GREEN SKILLS OR TECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS
.
(c) "C
LIMATE LITERACY FINAL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT " OR
"FINAL PROJECT" MEANS A STUDENT PROJECT THAT FOCUSES ON THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE STUDENT
'S LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THAT THE
STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AS A PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS
NECESSARY TO RECEIVE A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA
ENDORSEMENT
.
(d) "D
EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
CREATED IN SECTION
24-1-115.
(e) "G
RANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER " MEANS A SCHOOL
DISTRICT
, BOCES, DISTRICT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL, INSTITUTE CHARTER
HIGH SCHOOL
, OR THE COLORADO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND
THAT GRANTS A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT AS
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION
(2) OF THIS SECTION TO A STUDENT WHO
DEMONSTRATES MASTERY IN CLIMATE LITERACY PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION
.
(f) "G
REEN JOBS" MEANS OCCUPATIONS OR EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS
THAT REDUCE HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE CLIMATE
; ADAPT PROCESSES TO
MINIMIZE THEIR EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE
; RECOGNIZE AND MITIGATE THE
DISPROPORTIONATE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
; SUPPORT THE
ECONOMIC
, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF
COMMUNITIES
; OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL -BEING AND RESILIENCE OF
PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS
.
PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 24-014 (g) "GREEN SKILLS" MEANS THE KNOWLEDGE , ABILITIES, VALUES,
AND ATTITUDES TO LIVE IN, DEVELOP, AND SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE AND
RESOURCE
-EFFICIENT SOCIETY.
(h) "T
ECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS" MEANS SKILLS THAT FULFILL THE
REQUIREMENTS OF GREEN JOBS AND SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO A
LOW
-CARBON SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY .
(2) (a) A
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL GRANT A
SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT TO A GRADUATING
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DEMONSTRATES MASTERY IN CLIMATE
LITERACY DISCIPLINES AND ATTAINS GREEN SKILLS OR TECHNICAL GREEN
SKILLS THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS
DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION
(2)(a). THE PURPOSE OF THE SEAL OF
CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT IS TO GIVE A STUDENT
PERSONAL AGENCY TO HELP THE STUDENT AND THE STUDENT
'S
COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND OR ADAPT TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE
. TO OBTAIN A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT ,
A GRADUATING STUDENT MUST :
(I) M
EET THE MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
AS SPECIFIED BY THE GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER
;
(II) S
UCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT LEAST TWO APPROVED COURSES
IN THE AREA OF CLIMATE LITERACY
. THE GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION
PROVIDER SHALL CREATE A LIST OF APPROVED COURSES IN THE AREA OF
CLIMATE LITERACY AND MAKE THE LIST AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN GRADES
SIX THROUGH TWELVE
. APPROVED COURSES MAY INCLUDE , BUT NEED NOT
BE LIMITED TO
:
(A) H
IGH SCHOOL COURSES OR QUALIFIED ADVANCED PLACEMENT
COURSES THAT COVER PHYSICAL SCIENCE
, LIFE SCIENCE, OR EARTH SCIENCE;
OR
(B) CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT , CAREER AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION COURSES
, OR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES THAT INTEGRATE THE
CLIMATE LITERACY PRINCIPLES
.
(III) S
UCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A CLIMATE LITERACY FINAL
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS
PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 24-014 DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(c) OF THIS SECTION. A STUDENT MUST
COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINAL PROJECTS
, WHICH INCLUDE, BUT
NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO
:
(A) A
CAPSTONE PROJECT CENTERED ON THE STUDENT 'S COMMUNITY
AND THE COMMUNITY
'S EFFECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE;
(B) F
IELD EXPERIENCES OR PRACTICUMS RELATED TO THE
COURSEWORK DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION
(2)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION;
(C) I
NTERNSHIPS, EXTERNSHIPS, OR EMPLOYMENT WITH CLIMATE
LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDERS
;
(D) O
NE OR MORE COMMUNITY PROJECTS WITH A CLIMATE LITERACY
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER
;
(E) H
ANDS-ON LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS ;
(F) O
RIGINAL ARTWORK OR WRITING ; OR
(G) STUDENT-LED AND DESIGNED PROGRAMMING THAT HAS AN
EFFECT ON THE STUDENT
'S COMMUNITY AND OTHER STUDENTS .
(b) I
F A GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER DOES NOT REQUIRE
A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COURSE AS A MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
REQUIREMENT
, A STUDENT MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT LEAST ONE
HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE COURSE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION
(2)(a)(II) OF THIS
SECTION
.
(c) (I) A
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL APPROVE A
STUDENT
'S FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL OR AUTHORIZE A CLIMATE LITERACY
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER TO FACILITATE
, SUPPORT, AND APPROVE
A STUDENT
'S FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL BEFORE THE STUDENT BEGINS THE
FINAL PROJECT
.
(II) T
O SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE FINAL PROJECT , THE STUDENT
SHALL DEMONSTRATE AN ACADEMIC UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE LITERACY
THROUGH THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE CLIMATE LITERACY
PRINCIPLES THAT ADDRESS LOCAL CLIMATE ISSUES PRESENT IN THE
STUDENT
'S COMMUNITY. THE STUDENT SHALL PRESENT THE FINAL PROJECT
PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 24-014 TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP IDENTIFIED AND SELECTED BY THE STUDENT
AND THE CLIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER OR
GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER
.
(3) E
ACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MAY
COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES
, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND
INDUSTRY LEADERS INTERESTED IN CLIMATE LITERACY AND IN BUILDING A
WORKFORCE WITH TECHNICAL GREEN SKILLS IDENTIFIED BY THE GRANTING
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER WITHIN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND
BY THE APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
.
(4) E
ACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL ANNUALLY
PROVIDE TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE AND
THEIR LEGAL GUARDIANS INFORMATION CONCERNING THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR OBTAINING A SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT
,
INCLUDING APPROVED COURSES AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(a)(II) OF
THIS SECTION
.
(5) (a) O
N OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, AND EVERY JULY 1 THEREAFTER,
EACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL COLLECT DATA ON THE
SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT
, INCLUDING:
(I) T
HE SCHOOLS THAT AWARDED THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY
DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT
;
(II) T
HE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A SEAL OF CLIMATE
LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT
;
(III) T
HE TYPES OF FINAL PROJECTS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION
(2)(a)(III) OF THIS SECTION THAT STUDENTS COMPLETE ;
(IV) T
HE NAMES OF THE CLIMATE LITERACY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
PROVIDERS THAT APPROVED
, SUPPORTED, AND FACILITATED STUDENTS '
FINAL PROJECTS;
(V) A
LIST OF ACADEMIC COURSES STUDENTS COMPLETED TO EARN
THE SEAL OF CLIMATE LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT
; AND
(VI) ANY OTHER FINDINGS RELATED TO THE SEAL OF CLIMATE
LITERACY DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT
.
PAGE 5-SENATE BILL 24-014 (b) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND EVERY OCTOBER 1
THEREAFTER, EACH GRANTING LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL SUBMIT
A REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT SUMMARIZING THE DATA COLLECTED
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
(5)(a) OF THIS SECTION.
(6) (a) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY COLLABORATE WITH A COLORADO
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH LOCAL EDUCATION
PROVIDERS
, INDUSTRY LEADERS, AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
' CLIMATE LITERACY TO EVALUATE THE DATA
COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
(5)(a) OF THIS SECTION AND PREPARE
A REPORT SUMMARIZING THE DATA
.
(b) (I) O
N OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2026, AND EVERY JANUARY 15
THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTION
(6)(a) OF THIS SECTION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMI TTEE
, OR THEIR
SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES
, AND THE STATE BOARD.
(II) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-136
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT REQUIRED IN
SUBSECTION
(6)(b)(I) OF THIS SECTION CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.
(7) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION
.
SECTION 2. Appropriation. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year,
$18,749 is appropriated to the department of education. This appropriation
is from the general fund. To implement this act, the department may use this
appropriation as follows:
(a) $9,374 for use by the student learning division for content
specialists, which amount is based on an assumption that the division will
require an additional 0.1 FTE; and
(b) $9,375 for use by the student pathways division for college and
career readiness, which amount is based on an assumption that the division
will require an additional 0.1 FTE.
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
PAGE 6-SENATE BILL 24-014 takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official
declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
____________________________ ____________________________
Steve Fenberg
Julie McCluskie
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Cindi L. Markwell Robin Jones
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 7-SENATE BILL 24-014