(1) On or before December 15, 2009, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a student should acquire as the student progresses from preschool through elementary and secondary education.
(2) (a) The state board shall ensure that the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, at a minimum, include standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, geography, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, world languages, English language competency, economics, civics, financial literacy, and any other instructional areas for which the state board had adopted standards as of January 1, 2008.
In developing the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards,the state board shall also take into account any career and technical education standards adopted by the state board for community colleges and occupational education, created in section 23-60104, C.R.S., and, to the extent practicable, shall align the appropriate portions of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards with the career and technical education standards.
In developing the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards,the state board shall include identification of the levels of attainment that a student shall achieve in order to demonstrate readiness for promotion from elementary grades to middle school grades and from middle school grades to high school grades.
(2.3) On or before July 1, 2020, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that an elementary through secondary education student should acquire related to mental health, including suicide prevention. When the state board is adopting standards, the state board shall take into account what local education providers are currently teaching with regard to mental health.
(2.5) On or before July 1, 2018, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a secondary student should acquire related to computer science, including computer code writing, in one or more courses that qualify as a graduation requirement in either mathematics or science. Local education providers may elect to implement the standards adopted pursuant to this subsection (2.5).
(2.7) (a) On or before July 1, 2021, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that students should acquire as a condition of high school graduation related to Holocaust and genocide studies, as defined in section 22-1-104.7 (1), including but not limited to the Armenian Genocide.
In creating the standards described in subsection (2.7)(a) of this section, the department of education shall utilize a stakeholder process that is cost-effective and efficient, including the use of experts in the community.
The adoption of the standards identified in this subsection (2.7) is conditional on thereceipt of gifts, grants, or donations.
(3) The state board in adopting the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards shall:
Align the standards to ensure that a student who demonstrates attainment of the standards as the student advances from preschool through elementary and secondary education will be able to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness prior to or upon attaining a high school diploma;
Collaborate with the commission to ensure that the standards are aligned with thedescription of postsecondary and workforce readiness adopted pursuant to section 22-7-1008;
Ensure that the standards will facilitate longitudinal measurement of each student'sacademic growth from preschool through elementary and secondary education;
Ensure that the standards include development of postsecondary planning skills andthe application of those skills;
Ensure that, in addition to measuring a student's subject matter knowledge, the standards, to the extent practicable, will require a student to develop and demonstrate creativity and innovation skills; critical-thinking and problem-solving skills; communication and collaboration skills; social and cultural awareness; civic engagement; initiative and selfdirection; flexibility; productivity and accountability; character and leadership; the ability to use information and communications technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information; and other skills critical to preparing students for the twenty-first-century workforce and for active citizenship; and
Ensure that the standards are comparable in scope, relevance, and rigor to the highestnational and international standards that have been implemented successfully and are consistent with and relevant to achievement of the goals specified in section 22-7-1002.
Repealed.
The state board shall modify the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards adopted pursuant to this section as necessary in response to comments received through the peer review process and to reflect the contents of the state plan approved pursuant to section 22-7-1012.
(a) Pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section, the state board shall review and adopt any appropriate revisions to the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section. In adopting revisions, the state board may add or delete one or more of the specific instructional areas based on the needs of the state and changes in national and international academic expectations. In adopting revisions to the standards pursuant to this subsection (6), the state board shall ensure that the standards continue to meet the requirements specified in subsection (3) of this section. In adopting revisions to the standards related to history and civics, the state board shall take into consideration any recommendations provided by the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3.
(b) (I) The state board shall ensure that all preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section are reviewed at least, but not more than, once every six years pursuant to subsection (6)(b)(II) of this section.
(II) (A) On or before July 1, 2022, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall perform the requirements pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section for approximately one-third of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section.
On or before July 1, 2024, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, thestate board shall perform the requirements pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section for approximately one-third of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section.
On or before July 1, 2026, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, thestate board shall perform the requirements pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section for the remaining approximately one-third of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section.
Source: L. 2008: Entire part added, p. 746, § 1, effective May 14; (2)(a) amended, p. 2276, § 5, effective June 5. L. 2010: (2)(a) amended, (HB 10-1273), ch. 233, p. 1022, § 6, effective May 18; (6) amended, (HB 10-1013), ch. 399, p. 1908, § 24, effective June 10. L. 2015: (4) repealed, (HB 15-1323), ch. 204, p. 729, § 47, effective May 20. L. 2016: (2.5) added, (HB 16-1198), ch. 122, p. 346, § 2, effective August 10. L. 2017: (3)(e) amended, (HB 171184), ch. 145, p. 487, § 2, effective August 9. L. 2019: (2.3) added, (HB 19-1120), ch. 197, p.
2150, § 5, effective May 16; (6) amended, (HB 19-1192), ch. 302, p. 2776, § 3, effective May 28. L. 2020: (2.7) added, (HB 20-1336), ch. 252, p. 1228, § 2, effective July 8; (6) amended, (HB 20-1032), ch. 278, p. 1362, § 1, effective September 14.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act amending subsection (2)(a), see section 1 of chapter 233, Session Laws of Colorado 2010. For the legislative declaration in HB 17-1184, see section 1 of chapter 145, Session Laws of Colorado 2017. For the legislative declaration in HB 19-1120, see section 1 of chapter 197, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.