Struck = removed from the bill ยท
added = the amendment's new text.
FirstHB1149_S_APP.002 RegularNOT SessionAMENDED Seventy-fifthSENATE GeneralCOMMITTEE Assembly STATE OF COLORADOREFERENCE ENGROSSEDREPORT This_______________________________ VersionApril Includes29, All2025 AmendmentsChair Adoptedof onCommittee SecondDate ReadingCommittee inon theAppropriations House. of Introduction LLS NO.
25-0360.01After Annaconsideration Petrinion x5497the HOUSEmerits, BILLthe 25-1149Committee HOUSErecommends SPONSORSHIPthe English,following: SENATE SPONSORSHIP Exum, House Committees Senate Committees Education Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT C ONCERNING COMPREHENSIVE SOCIO -CULTURAL B LACK HISTORY EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS , AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,MAKING AN APPROPRIATION .
BillHB25-1149 Summarybe (Note:referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation.
This** summary*** applies** to*** this** bill as introduced and does notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.Ifthisbill 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 educationprovidersshallincorporatethestandardsintocoursesforpublic i 5 a 0 elementary and secondary school students in the state.
S R , O n 1 Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.
Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
H 2 r Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing daw.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
e m A 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 developmentallyappropriatebutcomprehensiveinstructionthatfeatures 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, scholarlyarticles 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:
SECTION 1.
In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-104.9 as follows:
22-1-104.9.
Teaching of Black historical and cultural studies - definitions.
(1) A USED IN THIS SECTION,UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :
(a) "B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES "MEANS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM OF ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY ACADEMIC STUDY THAT :
(I) REPRESENTS BLACK HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH TRUTHFUL , INCLUSIVE,COMPLEX NARRATIVES THAT CONNECT WITH CONTEMPORARY REALITIES ;AND (II) HIGHLIGHTS THE INNOVATIONS AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF B LACK PEOPLE IN COLORADO , AMERICA ,AND THE WORLD .
(b) "LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER "MEANS :
(I) ASCHOOL DISTRICT;
(II) A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE30.5OF THIS TITL22;
-2- 1149 (III) ACHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART5 OF ARTICLE30.5OF THIS TITLE 22;
(IV) THESTATECHARTERSCHOOLINSTITUTECREATEDPURSUANT TO SECTION22-30.5-503;OR (V) A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES CREATED AND OPERATINGPURSUANTTOARTICLE 5OFTHISTITLE22THATOPERATESONE OR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
(2)E ACH LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL INCORPORATE THE STANDARDS ON B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES DEVELOPED AND ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1005 (2.9INTOCOURSESFORELEMENTARYTHROUGHSECONDARYEDUCATION STUDENTS ,FORTHESCHOOLYEARIMMEDIATELYFOLLOWINGTHEINITIAL ADOPTION OF THE STANDARDS PURSUANT TO THE SCHEDULE DESCRIBED IN SECTION22-7-1005 (6AND EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER .
(3) THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 22-2-127.4WHEN PERFORMING ITS SIX -YEAR REVIEW OF THE STATE S EDUCATION STANDARDS PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-7-1005 (6).
SECTION2.
InColoradoRevisedStatutes,22-7-1005,add(2.9) as follows:
22-7-1005.
Preschool through elementary and secondary education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions.
(2.9) (a) PURSUANT TO THE STANDARDS SCHEDULE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6) OF THIS SECTION,THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT STANDARDS THAT IDENTIFY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT -3- 1149 ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS SHOULD ACQUIRE RELATED TO B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES,AS DEFINED IN SECTIO22-1-104.9.
(b) IN CREATING THE STANDARDS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2.9)(a)OF THIS SECTION,THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 22-2-127.4.
SECTION 3.
In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-2-127.4 as follows:
22-2-127.4.
Black historical and cultural studies - advisory committee- resource bank - technical assistance - definitions.
(1) A USED IN THIS SECTI,UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:
(a) "BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES " MEANS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM OF ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY ACADEMIC STUDY THAT :
(I) R EPRESENTS BLACK HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH TRUTHFUL ,INCLUSIVE, COMPLEX NARRATIVES THAT CONNECT WITH CONTEMPORARY REALITIES ;AND (II) HIGHLIGHTS THE INNOVATIONS AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN COLORADO , AMERICA, AND THE WORLD .
(b) "CMMITTEE "MEANSTHE B LACKHISTORICALANDCULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTIO.
(c) "LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER"MEANS :
(I) ASCHOOL DISTRICT;
-4- 1149 (II) A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT PURSUANT TO PART 1OF ARTICLE30.5OF THIS TITL22;
(III) ACHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART5 OF ARTICLE30.5OF THIS TITLE 22;
(IV) THESTATECHARTERSCHOOLINSTITUTECREATEDPURSUANT TO SECTION22-30.5-503;OR (V) A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES CREATED AND OPERATINGPURSUANTTOARTICLE 5OFTHISTITLE22THATOPERATESONE OR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
(2) THE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT .
THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD AND DEPARTMENT TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REGULAR SIXYEARREVIEWOFTHESTATE SEDUCATIONSTANDARDSANDPROGRAMS PURSUANT TO SECTION22-7-1005 AND TO RECOMMEND RESOURCES AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION(6)OF THIS SECTION.
(3)(a) HE BLACKHISTORICALANDCULTURALSTUDIESADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF SEVENTEEN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE DESIGNATED APPOINTING OFFICIALS AS FOLLOW:
(I) THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT ,THROUGH THE OFFICE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS , THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE :
(A) O NE MEMBER WHO IS AN ACADEMIC EXPERT IN B LACK HISTORY AND CULTURE ;
(B) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A HISTORIAN WITH EXPERTISE IN THE -5- 1149 HISTORY OFB LACK COLORADANS ;
(C) ONEMEMBERWHOISATEACHERINARURALSCHOOLDISTRICT ORASMALLRURALSCHOOLDISTRICT ,ASDEFINEDINSECTION 22-7-1211, AND HOLDS AN INITIAL OR PROFESSIONAL TEACH'S LICENSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE60.5OF THIS TITL22;
(D) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A TEACHER IN A SCHOOLDISTRICT THAT IS NOT A RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A SMALL RURAL SCHOOL DISTR,CT AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-7-1211, AND HOLDS AN INITIAL OR PROFESSIONAL TEACHER S LICENSE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE60.5OF THIS TITLE22;
(E) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A LIBRARIAN SPECIALIZING BNLACK ARTS AND CULTURE AND WHO IS A MEMBER OF A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIAN;
(F) TWO MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS ,ONE OF WHOM SPECIALIZES IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION , ONE OF WHOM SPECIALIZES IN SECONDARY EDUCATION , AND BOTH OF WHOM ARE MEMBERS OF A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION;
(G) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF A STUDENTWHOATTENDSAPUBLICSCHOOLANDISAMEMBEROFAPARENT ORGANIZATION ;
(H) TWO MEMBERS WHO EACH REPRESENT A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SPECIALIZING IN CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON COMPREHENSIVE BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL;
(I) ONE MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SPECIALIZING IBLACK ARTS AND CULTURE ;AND (J) TWO MEMBERS FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHOSE -6- 1149 LEADERSHIP IN LITERARY , ARTISTI, MILITARY, BUSINESS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ,MEDIA ,OR CIVIC LIFE CONTRIBUTES VALUABLE LIVED EXPERIENCE TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE ;
(II) THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL APPOINT ONE MEMBER ;
(III) TEPRESIDENTOFTHESENATESHALLAPPOINTONEMEMBER ;
AND (IV) THECOMMISSIONERSHALLAPPOINTTWOMEMBERSFROMTHE DEPARTMENT ,WHO ARE NONVOTING MEMBERS .
(b) THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE MUST REFLECT A DEEP COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF B LACK HISTORY AND CULTURE ,WITH DEMONSTRATEDEXPERTISEIN BLACKHISTORY ,SOCIALEQUITY,ANDCIVIL RIGHTS.
A MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MUST HAVE EITHER CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE OR EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING EDUCATION CONTENT STANDARDS .
(c) T HE APPOINTING OFFICIALS SHALL MAKE THE INITIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN AUGUST 15, 2025.
(d) THE TERM OF APPOINTMENT IS FOUR YEAR.T HE APPOINTING OFFICIALS SHALL FILL ANY VACANCIES ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THE REMAINDER OF ANY UNEXPIRED TERM .
(4) MEMBERSOFTHECOMMITTEESERVEWITHOUTCOMPENSATION AND WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES .
(5) (a) TE COMMITTEE SHALL ELECT A CHAIR FROM AMONG THE COMMITTEE 'S MEMBERS TO SERVE FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED TWO YEARS ,AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMITTEE .
(b) THE COMMITTEE SHALLMEETAT LEAST ONCE IN 2025,ANDAT LEAST TWICE ANNUALLY EACH YEAR THEREAFTER .T HE CHAIR MAY CALL -7- 1149 SUCHADDITIONALMEETINGSASARENECESSARYFORTHECOMMITTEETO COMPLETE ITS DUTIE.
(6) THE COMMITTEE SHALL:
(a) M AKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT REGARDING STANDARDS THAT IDENTIFY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS SHOULD ACQUIRE RELATED TO B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURALSTUDIESPURSUANTTOSECTION 22-7-1005(2.9)ANDDEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE STATE BOARD TO IMPLEMENT DURING ITS SIX-YEAR REVIEW OF THE STATS EDUCATION STANDARDS ;
(b) IENTIFY AND RECOMMEND MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR INCLUSION IN THE RESOURCE BANK CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (8)OF THIS SECTIO;AND (c) AT THE REQUEST OF A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER , COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IN DESIGNING AGE APPROPRIATE CURRICULA PERTAINING TO BLACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES.
(7)(a) NMAKINGRECOMMENDATIONSPURSUANTTOSUBSECTION (6)(a)OF THIS SECTI,NTHE COMMITTEE SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE HISTORY,CULTURE ,SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS,AND CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN EDUCATIONCOMMISSIONESTABLISHEDPURSUANTTOSECTION 22-1-104.3 AND MAY CONSIDER THE FINDINGS OF THEB LACK COLORADAN RACIAL EQUITY STUDY PURSUANT TO SECTION2-2-2307 (1)(d).
(b) TERECOMMENDATIONSMUSTADVANCEDEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BUT COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTION THAT:
(I) ICLUDES A DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS AND NARRATIVES WITHIN -8- 1149 THE BLACK EXPERIENCE;
(II) FEATURES FACTUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE STRUGGLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS IN ALL FIELDS OF ENDEAVO;
(III) REFLECTS BLACK AGENCY AND RESISTANCE AGAINST OPPRESSION;
(IV) FSTERSCROSS -CULTURALUNDERSTANDINGANDEMPOWERS ALL STUDENTS;
(V) F EATURES A DIVERSE RANGE OFB LACK ACHIEVEMENTS IN ARTISTIC,SCIENTIFI,CIVI,AND BUSINESS ENDEAVORS;AND (VI) ICLUDESTHESTUDYOFEARLY A FRICANCIVILIZATION,THE GLOBAL MIGRATIONS OF A FRICAN PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN D IASPORA, THE SLAVE TRADE AND ENSLAVEMENT IN AMERICA , ABOLITION,RECONSTRUCTION ,THECIVILRIGHTSMOVEMENT ,ASWELLAS B LACKHISTORYIN COLORADOANDLOCAL BLACKHISTORIESWITHINTHE STATE.
(c) IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6)(aOF THIS SECTIO,THE COMMITTEE SHALL :
(I) EVALUATE THE MOST RECENT REVISIONS TO THE STATE S HISTORYANDCIVICSSTANDARDSTHATREFLECTTHERECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDEDBYTHEHISTORY ,CULTURE SOCIALCONTRIBUTIONS ,ANDCIVIL GOVERNMENT IN EDUCATION COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 22-1-104.3AND (II)NCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY UPDATES NECESSARY TO MAKE THE STATE S HISTORY AND CIVICS STANDARDS CURRENT , ACCURATE , COMPREHENSIVE ,AND ALIGNED WITH THE COMMITTEE S OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS .
(8) (a) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREATE AND MAINTAIN A -9- 1149 RESOURCE BANK OF EXISTING RESEARCH BASED SCHOLARLY ARTICLES AND PROMISING PROGRAM MATERIALS AND CURRICULA PERTAINING TO B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES .
THE MATERIALS AND CURRICULA MAY BE USED IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE STATE .
T A MINIMUM ,THE RESOURCE BANK MUST INCLUDE THE MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (6)(b)OF THIS SECTION.
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE,THE RESOURCE BANK MATERIALS ,SCHOLARLY ARTICLES ,AND CURRICULA MUST BE YOUTH -FRIENDLY, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, AND AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
(b) ON AND AFTER JULY 1, 2026THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE THEMATERIALSINTHERESOURCEBANKAVAILABLEWITHOUTCHARGETO LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS ,PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS ,PARENTS OR GUARDIANSOFYOUTH ,ANDSTUDENTS .A LOCALEDUCATIONPROVIDERIS NOT REQUIRED TO ADOPT OR IMPLEMENT ANY MATERIAL OR CURRICULA FROM THE RESOURCE BANK .
AT THE REQUEST OF A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER AND SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES ,THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IN DESIGNING AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA PERTAINING TO B LACK HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES.
(c) LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESOURCE BANK MATERIALS AND CURRICULA AND TO RECOMMEND CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE MATERIALS AND CURRICULA .
HE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO UPDATE THE RESOURCE BANK MATERIALS AND CURRICULA BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONSFROMLOCALEDUCATIONPROVIDERS ,PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF YOUTH ,AND STUDENTS .
-10- 1149 (9) T HE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK ,ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS, GRANTS ,OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTIO.
SECTION 4.
Appropriation.
For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $19,225 appropriated to the department of education for use by student learning.
This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 0.2 FTE.
To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for content specialists.
SECTION 5.
Safety clause.
The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservationofthepublicpeace,health,orsafetyorforappropriationsfor the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.
-11- 1149