Colorado

The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.

Updated 2025

Local control?

Yes

Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?

Yes, The READ Act was passed in 2012 and has undergone multiple amendments. Significant amendments to the READ Act occurred in 2019 with the passage of SB 19-199.

The READ Act requires “The instructional programming and services for teaching students to read must be evidence based and scientifically based and must focus on reading competency in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency including oral skills, and reading comprehension.” C.R.S. 22-7-1204

Does your state have an approved curriculum list?

Per statute, “the department shall create an advisory list of evidence-based or scientifically based instructional programming in reading and supporting technologies, including software, for assessing and monitoring student progress that local education providers are encouraged to use, which programming and technology, including software, are aligned with the recommended reading assessments, including the assessment required in subsection (2)(a)(II)(D) of this section. The advisory list may include only programming and technology, including software, that, at a minimum:

(I) Have been proven to accelerate student progress in attaining reading competency;

(II) With regard to instructional programming, provides explicit and systematic skill development in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency including oral skills, and reading comprehension;

(II.5) With regard to instructional programming, is evidence based or scientifically based and is aligned with the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards for reading adopted by the state board pursuant to section 22-7-1005;

(III) With regard to instructional programming, includes evidence-based or scientifically based and reliable assessments;

(IV) Provide initial and ongoing analysis of the student’s progress in attaining reading competency; and

(V) With regard to instructional programming, includes texts on core academic content to assist the student in maintaining or meeting grade-appropriate proficiency levels in academic subjects in addition to reading.”

C.R.S. 22-7-1209(2)(b)

Statute requires the review of instructional programs every 2 years. C.R.S. 22-7-1209(2)(c)

Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?

Yes.

Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?

Yes.

Statute: “Each local education provider that enrolls students in kindergarten or first, second, or third grade shall ensure that teachers measure each student’s reading competency using interim reading assessments at least once during the spring semester of the 2012-13 school year and throughout the year in subsequent school years. A local education provider may also administer a summative assessment to measure students’ reading competency at the conclusion of kindergarten, first, and second grades. Each local education provider shall select from the list of approved assessments adopted by rule of the state board pursuant to section 22-7-1209 (1) those assessments it shall use to measure a student’s reading competency. A local education provider may choose to use other reading assessments in addition to but not in lieu of the approved assessments.” C.R.S. 22-7-1205(1)(a)

Statute requires the review of assessments every 4 years. C.R.S. 22-7-1209(2)(c)

Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development

Yes.

Per statute, “(c) Using the procedure developed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the department shall create an advisory list of rigorous professional development programs for teachers, reading interventionists, principals, and administrators, which programs are related to addressing significant reading deficiencies and to applying intervention instruction and strategies, in addition to programs related to teaching general literacy, that local education providers are encouraged to use. The department shall include on the advisory list professional development programs that are available online. The department shall ensure that each professional development program included on the advisory list is:

(I) Focused on or aligns with the science of reading, including teaching in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency including oral skills, and reading comprehension; and

(II) Includes rigorous evaluations of learning throughout and at the end of the course that a person taking the course must pass to successfully complete the course.” C.R.S. 22-7-1209(2)(c)

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?

Yes. Approved Professional Development

2023 READ Act Professional Development Review Process includes all application and rubric documents

Colorado has a free, online K-12 Teacher Training and a Principal/Administrator Training as required in statute.

Please describe any grant work that names the science of reading and/or evidence-aligned instruction including links, where applicable

Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?

Yes.

Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?

Yes.

The Colorado READ Act and the Science of Reading for Families https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/readactandsorforfamilies

Turnkey modules on the science of reading and 5 components of reading for parents.

Public Information Campaign: Read, Learn, Lead https://www.readlearnleadco.org/ 

Campaign is required in statute C.R.S. 22-7-1209 (7)  Beginning in the 2019-20 budget year, the department shall contract with an entity to develop and implement a public information campaign to emphasize the importance of learning to read by third grade and to highlight the local education providers that are achieving high percentages of third-grade students who demonstrate reading competency. The public information campaign must be disseminated statewide and must emphasize the important roles that educators and parents have in teaching children to read and in providing a school and home environment that promotes reading. The department is encouraged to work with the public and private library agencies throughout the state in developing and implementing the public information campaign.

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading and Multilingual learners?

Multilingual Learner Guidance and Resources 

https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/readandel 

Webpage includes guidance on identifying significant reading deficiency and developing READ plans for ML students as well as building a linguistic profile, guidance for biliteracy, and like-peer comparison guidance

Biliteracy Professional Development Series https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/biliteracy-professional-development-series-0

Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?

RULES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATOR LICENSE ENDORSEMENTS

Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?

Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading

During the 2025 legislative session Senate Bill 25-200 was passed for universal screening for dyslexia “Dyslexia Screening and READ Act Requirements” 

https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2025a_200_signed.pdf

Colorado Dyslexia page:

Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.

Filter by specific topic area(s) to find state-specific work: 

The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.