First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 25-0360.01 Anna Petrini x5497
HOUSE BILL 25-1149
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING COMPREHENSIVE SOCIO -CULTURAL BLACK HISTORY101
EDUCATION IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND, IN CONNECTION102
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 requires the state board of education to adopt standards
related to Black historical and cultural studies (standards) on or before
July 1, 2026. For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2028, local
education providers shall incorporate the standards into courses for public
elementary and secondary school students in the state.
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 15, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
English,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Exum,
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 bill creates the Black historical and cultural studies advisory
committee (committee) in the department of education (department) to
recommend standards and related materials and to contribute technical
assistance at the request of local education providers implementing the
standards. The committee's recommendations must advance
developmentally appropriate but comprehensive instruction that features
factual accounts of the struggles and contributions of Black Americans
in all fields of endeavor.
Using the committee's recommendations, the department shall
create and maintain a resource bank of research-based, scholarly articles
and promising program materials and curricula pertaining to Black
historical and cultural studies.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-104.9 as2
follows:3
22-1-104.9. Teaching of Black historical and cultural studies4
- definitions. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT5
OTHERWISE REQUIRES:6
(a) "B
LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES " MEANS AN7
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM OF ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY8
ACADEMIC STUDY THAT:9
(I) R
EPRESENTS BLACK HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH10
TRUTHFUL, INCLUSIVE, COMPLEX NARRATIVES THAT CONNECT WITH11
CONTEMPORARY REALITIES ; AND12
(II) H
IGHLIGHTS THE INNOVATIONS AND CULTURAL13
CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN COLORADO, AMERICA, AND THE14
WORLD.15
(b) "L
OCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER " MEANS:16
(I) A
SCHOOL DISTRICT;17
(II) A
CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT18
PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE 22;19
1149-2- (III) A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER1
SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART 5 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE2
22;3
(IV) T
HE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE CREATED PURSUANT4
TO SECTION 22-30.5-503; OR5
(V) A
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES CREATED AND6
OPERATING PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 5 OF THIS TITLE 22 THAT OPERATES ONE7
OR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.8
(2)
EACH LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL INCORPORATE THE9
STANDARDS ON BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES DEVELOPED10
AND ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-100511
(2.9)
INTO COURSES FOR ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY EDUCATION12 STUDENTS, FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE INITIAL13
ADOPTION OF THE STANDARDS PURSUANT TO THE SCHEDULE DESCRIBED14
IN SECTION 22-7-1005 (6) AND EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER .15
(3) T
HE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL
IMPLEMENT THE16
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES17
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 22-2-127.4 WHEN18
PERFORMING ITS SIX-YEAR REVIEW OF THE STATE 'S EDUCATION19
STANDARDS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1005 (6).20
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1005, add (2.9)21
as follows:22
22-7-1005. Preschool through elementary and secondary23
education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions.24
(2.9) (a) PURSUANT TO THE STANDARDS SCHEDULE DESCRIBED IN25
SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION, THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT26
STANDARDS THAT IDENTIFY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT27
1149
-3- ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS SHOULD1
ACQUIRE RELATED TO BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES , AS2
DEFINED IN SECTION 22-1-104.9.3
(b) I
N CREATING THE STANDARDS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION4
(2.9)(a)
OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL5
IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BLACK HISTORICAL AND6
CULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN SECTION7
22-2-127.4.8
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-2-127.4 as9
follows:10
22-2-127.4. Black historical and cultural studies - advisory11
committee - resource bank - technical assistance - definitions. (1) A
S12
USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :13
(a) "B
LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES " MEANS AN14
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM OF ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY15
ACADEMIC STUDY THAT:16
(I) R
EPRESENTS BLACK HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH17
TRUTHFUL, INCLUSIVE, COMPLEX NARRATIVES THAT CONNECT WITH18
CONTEMPORARY REALITIES ; AND19
(II) H
IGHLIGHTS THE INNOVATIONS AND CULTURAL20
CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN COLORADO, AMERICA, AND THE21
WORLD.22
(b) "C
OMMITTEE" MEANS THE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL23
STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)24
OF THIS SECTION.25
(c) "L
OCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER " MEANS:26
(I) A
SCHOOL DISTRICT;27
1149
-4- (II) A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT1
PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE 22;2
(III) A
CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER3
SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART 5 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE4
22;5
(IV) T
HE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE CREATED PURSUANT6
TO SECTION 22-30.5-503; OR7
(V) A
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES CREATED AND8
OPERATING PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 5 OF THIS TITLE 22 THAT OPERATES ONE9
OR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.10
(2) T
HE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY11
COMMITTEE IS CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT . THE PURPOSE OF THE12
COMMITTEE IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD AND13
DEPARTMENT TO BE
IMPLEMENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REGULAR14
SIX-YEAR REVIEW OF THE STATE'S EDUCATION STANDARDS AND PROGRAMS15
PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1005 AND TO RECOMMEND RESOURCES AND16
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS17
SECTION.18
(3) (a) T
HE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY19
COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF SEVENTEEN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE20
DESIGNATED APPOINTING OFFICIALS AS FOLLOWS :21
(I) T
HE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT , THROUGH THE OFFICE OF22
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS , THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE23
COMMITTEE:24
(A) O
NE MEMBER WHO IS AN ACADEMIC EXPERT IN BLACK25
HISTORY AND CULTURE;26
(B) O
NE MEMBER WHO IS A HISTORIAN WITH EXPERTISE IN THE27
1149
-5- HISTORY OF BLACK COLORADANS;1
(C) O
NE MEMBER WHO IS A TEACHER IN A RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT2
OR A SMALL RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-7-1211,3
AND HOLDS AN INITIAL OR PROFESSIONAL TEACHER 'S LICENSE PURSUANT4
TO ARTICLE 60.5 OF THIS TITLE 22;5
(D) O
NE MEMBER WHO IS A TEACHER IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT6
IS NOT A RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A SMALL RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ,7
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-7-1211, AND HOLDS AN INITIAL OR8
PROFESSIONAL TEACHER'S LICENSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 60.5 OF THIS9
TITLE 22;10
(E) O
NE MEMBER WHO IS A LIBRARIAN SPECIALIZING IN BLACK11
ARTS AND CULTURE AND WHO IS A MEMBER OF A PROFESSIONAL12
ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIANS;13
(F) T
WO MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS , ONE OF14
WHOM SPECIALIZES IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION , ONE OF WHOM15
SPECIALIZES IN SECONDARY EDUCATION , AND BOTH OF WHOM ARE16
MEMBERS OF A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION ;17
(G) O
NE MEMBER WHO IS A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF A18
STUDENT WHO ATTENDS A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND IS A MEMBER OF A PARENT19
ORGANIZATION;20
(H) T
WO MEMBERS WHO EACH REPRESENT A NONPROFIT21
ORGANIZATION SPECIALIZING IN CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE WITH22
AN EMPHASIS ON COMPREHENSIVE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL23
EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS;24
(I) O
NE MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION25
SPECIALIZING IN BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE; AND26
(J) T
WO MEMBERS FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHOSE27
1149
-6- LEADERSHIP IN LITERARY, ARTISTIC, MILITARY, BUSINESS, SCIENCE,1
TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA, OR CIVIC LIFE CONTRIBUTES VALUABLE LIVED2
EXPERIENCE TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE ;3
(II) T
HE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL4
APPOINT ONE MEMBER;5
(III) T
HE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SHALL APPOINT ONE MEMBER ;6
AND7
(IV) T
HE COMMISSIONER SHALL APPOINT TWO MEMBERS FROM THE8
DEPARTMENT, WHO ARE NONVOTING MEMBERS .9
(b) T
HE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE MUST REFLECT A DEEP10
COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE , WITH11
DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE IN BLACK HISTORY, SOCIAL EQUITY, AND CIVIL12
RIGHTS. A MAJORITY OF THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS MUST HAVE EITHER13
CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE OR EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING EDUCATION14
CONTENT STANDARDS.15
(c) T
HE APPOINTING OFFICIALS SHALL MAKE THE INITIAL16
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN AUGUST 15, 2025.17
(d) T
HE TERM OF APPOINTMENT IS FOUR YEARS . THE APPOINTING18
OFFICIALS SHALL FILL ANY VACANCIES ON THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE19
REMAINDER OF ANY UNEXPIRED TERM .20
(4) M
EMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION21
AND WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES .22
(5) (a) T
HE COMMITTEE SHALL ELECT A CHAIR FROM AMONG THE23
COMMITTEE'S MEMBERS TO SERVE FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED TWO24
YEARS, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMITTEE .25
(b) T
HE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST ONCE IN 2025, AND AT26
LEAST TWICE ANNUALLY EACH YEAR THEREAFTER . THE CHAIR MAY CALL27
1149
-7- SUCH ADDITIONAL MEETINGS AS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE COMMITTEE TO1
COMPLETE ITS DUTIES.2
(6) T
HE COMMITTEE SHALL:3
(a) M
AKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD AND THE4
DEPARTMENT REGARDING STANDARDS THAT IDENTIFY THE KNOWLEDGE5
AND SKILLS THAT ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY EDUCATION6
STUDENTS SHOULD ACQUIRE RELATED TO BLACK HISTORICAL AND7
CULTURAL STUDIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1005 (2.9) AND DEVELOP8
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE STATE BOARD TO
IMPLEMENT DURING ITS9
SIX-YEAR REVIEW OF THE STATE'S EDUCATION STANDARDS;10
(b) I
DENTIFY AND RECOMMEND MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR11
INCLUSION IN THE RESOURCE BANK CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION12
(8)
OF THIS SECTION; AND13
(c) A
T THE REQUEST OF A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER ,14
COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL15
ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IN DESIGNING16
AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA PERTAINING TO BLACK HISTORICAL AND17
CULTURAL STUDIES.18
(7) (a) I
N MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION19
(6)(a)
OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMITTEE
SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE20
HISTORY, CULTURE, SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN21
EDUCATION COMMISSION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-1-104.322
AND MAY CONSIDER THE FINDINGS OF THE BLACK COLORADAN RACIAL23
EQUITY STUDY PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-2-2307 (1)(d).24
(b) T
HE RECOMMENDATIONS MUST ADVANCE DEVELOPMENTALLY25
APPROPRIATE BUT COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTION THAT :26
(I) I
NCLUDES A DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS AND NARRATIVES WITHIN27
1149
-8- THE BLACK EXPERIENCE;1
(II) F
EATURES FACTUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE STRUGGLES AND2
CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS IN ALL FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR ;3
(III) R
EFLECTS BLACK AGENCY AND RESISTANCE AGAINST4
OPPRESSION;5
(IV) F
OSTERS CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND EMPOWERS6
ALL STUDENTS;7
(V) F
EATURES A DIVERSE RANGE OF BLACK ACHIEVEMENTS IN8
ARTISTIC, SCIENTIFIC, CIVIC, AND BUSINESS ENDEAVORS; AND9
(VI) I
NCLUDES THE STUDY OF EARLY AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS, THE10
GLOBAL MIGRATIONS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN11
D
IASPORA, THE SLAVE TRADE AND ENSLAVEMENT IN AMERICA,12
ABOLITION, RECONSTRUCTION, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS13
B
LACK HISTORY IN COLORADO AND LOCAL BLACK HISTORIES WITHIN THE14
STATE.15
(c) IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION16
(6)(a) OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMITTEE SHALL:17
(I) EVALUATE THE MOST RECENT REVISIONS TO THE STATE'S18
HISTORY AND CIVICS STANDARDS THAT REFLECT THE RECOMMENDATIONS19
PROVIDED BY THE HISTORY, CULTURE, SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND CIVIL20
GOVERNMENT IN EDUCATION COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN SECTION21
22-1-104.3; AND22
(II) INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY UPDATES NECESSARY23
TO MAKE THE STATE 'S HISTORY AND CIVICS STANDARDS CURRENT,24
ACCURATE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND ALIGNED WITH THE COMMITTEE 'S25
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS .26
(8) (a) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREATE AND MAINTAIN A27
1149
-9- RESOURCE BANK OF EXISTING RESEARCH -BASED SCHOLARLY ARTICLES1
AND PROMISING PROGRAM MATERIALS AND CURRICULA PERTAINING TO2
B
LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES . THE MATERIALS AND3
CURRICULA MAY BE USED IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN4
THE STATE. AT A MINIMUM, THE RESOURCE BANK MUST INCLUDE THE5
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS6
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6)(b) OF THIS SECTION. TO THE EXTENT7
POSSIBLE, THE RESOURCE BANK MATERIALS , SCHOLARLY ARTICLES, AND8
CURRICULA MUST BE YOUTH -FRIENDLY, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, AND9
AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.10
(b) O
N AND AFTER JULY 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE11
THE MATERIALS IN THE RESOURCE BANK AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO12
LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS , PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS, PARENTS OR13
GUARDIANS OF YOUTH, AND STUDENTS. A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IS14
NOT REQUIRED TO ADOPT OR IMPLEMENT ANY MATERIAL OR CURRICULA15
FROM THE RESOURCE BANK . AT THE REQUEST OF A LOCAL EDUCATION16
PROVIDER AND SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES , THE DEPARTMENT17
SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION18
PROVIDER IN DESIGNING AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA PERTAINING TO19
B
LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES .20
(c) L
OCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT21
TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESOURCE BANK22
MATERIALS AND CURRICULA AND TO RECOMMEND CHANGES TO IMPROVE23
THE MATERIALS AND CURRICULA . THE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO24
UPDATE THE RESOURCE BANK MATERIALS AND CURRICULA BASED ON25
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS , PROFESSIONAL26
EDUCATORS, PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF YOUTH , AND STUDENTS.27
1149
-10- (9) THE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK , ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,1
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE2
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.3
SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,4
$19,225 appropriated to the department of education for use by student5
learning. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an6
assumption that the division will require an additional 0.2 FTE. To7
implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for content8
specialists.9
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,10
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate11
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for12
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state13
institutions.14
1149
-11-