A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning comprehensive socio-cultural Black history
Page 1, Line 102education in public schools, and, in connection
Page 1, Line 103therewith, making an appropriation.
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.
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.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-104.9 as follows:
Page 2, Line 322-1-104.9. Teaching of Black historical and cultural studies
Page 2, Line 4- definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 2, Line 5(a) "Black historical and cultural studies" means an
Page 2, Line 6interdisciplinary program of elementary through secondary academic study that:
Page 2, Line 7(I) Represents Black historical experiences through
Page 2, Line 8truthful, inclusive, complex narratives that connect with contemporary realities; and
Page 2, Line 9(II) Highlights the innovations and cultural
Page 2, Line 10contributions of Black people in Colorado, America, and the world.
Page 2, Line 11(b) "Local education provider" means:
(I) A school district;
Page 2, Line 12(II) A charter school authorized by a school district
Page 2, Line 13pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22;
Page 3, Line 1(III) A charter school authorized by the state charter
Page 3, Line 2school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title 22;
Page 3, Line 3(IV) The state charter school institute created pursuant to section 22-30.5-503; or
Page 3, Line 4(V) A board of cooperative services created and
Page 3, Line 5operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one or more public schools.
Page 3, Line 6(2) No later than two years after the state board adopts
Page 3, Line 7the standards on Black historical and cultural studies
Page 3, Line 8pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (2.9), each local education
Page 3, Line 9provider shall incorporate the standards into courses for elementary through secondary education students.
Page 3, Line 10(3) The state board of education shall integrate the
Page 3, Line 11recommendations of the Black historical and cultural studies
Page 3, Line 12advisory committee established in section 22-2-127.4 when
Page 3, Line 13performing its six-year review of the state's education standards pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (6).
Page 3, Line 14SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1005, add (2.9) as follows:
Page 3, Line 1522-7-1005. Preschool through elementary and secondary
Page 3, Line 16education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions.
Page 3, Line 17(2.9) (a) Pursuant to the standards schedule described in
Page 3, Line 18subsection (6) of this section, the state board shall adopt
Page 3, Line 19standards that identify the knowledge and skills that
Page 3, Line 20elementary through secondary education students should
Page 3, Line 21acquire related to Black historical and cultural studies, as defined in section 22-1-104.9.
Page 4, Line 1(b) In creating the standards described in subsection
Page 4, Line 2(2.9)(a) of this section, the department of education shall
Page 4, Line 3implement the recommendations of the Black historical and
Page 4, Line 4cultural studies advisory committee established in section 22-2-127.4.
Page 4, Line 5SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-2-127.4 as follows:
Page 4, Line 622-2-127.4. Black historical and cultural studies - advisory
Page 4, Line 7committee - resource bank - technical assistance - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 8(a) "Black historical and cultural studies" means an
Page 4, Line 9interdisciplinary program of elementary through secondary academic study that:
Page 4, Line 10(I) Represents Black historical experiences through
Page 4, Line 11truthful, inclusive, complex narratives that connect with contemporary realities; and
Page 4, Line 12(II) Highlights the innovations and cultural
Page 4, Line 13contributions of Black people in Colorado, America, and the world.
Page 4, Line 14(b) "Committee" means the Black historical and cultural
Page 4, Line 15studies advisory committee created pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
Page 4, Line 16(c) "Local education provider" means:
(I) A school district;
Page 4, Line 17(II) A charter school authorized by a school district
Page 4, Line 18pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22;
Page 5, Line 1(III) A charter school authorized by the state charter
Page 5, Line 2school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title 22;
Page 5, Line 3(IV) The state charter school institute created pursuant to section 22-30.5-503; or
Page 5, Line 4(V) A board of cooperative services created and
Page 5, Line 5operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one or more public schools.
Page 5, Line 6(2) The Black historical and cultural studies advisory
Page 5, Line 7committee is created in the department. The purpose of the
Page 5, Line 8committee is to make recommendations to the state board and
Page 5, Line 9department to be implemented in conjunction with the regular
Page 5, Line 10six-year review of the state's education standards and programs
Page 5, Line 11pursuant to section 22-7-1005 and to recommend resources and
Page 5, Line 12provide technical assistance pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.
Page 5, Line 13(3) (a) The Black historical and cultural studies advisory
Page 5, Line 14committee consists of seventeen members appointed by the designated appointing officials as follows:
Page 5, Line 15(I) The governor shall appoint, through the office of
Page 5, Line 16boards and commissions, the following members of the committee:
Page 5, Line 17(A) One member who is an academic expert in Black history and culture;
Page 5, Line 18(B) One member who is a historian with expertise in the history of Black Coloradans;
Page 5, Line 19(C) One member who is a teacher in a rural school district
Page 6, Line 1or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211,
Page 6, Line 2and holds an initial or professional teacher's license pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22;
Page 6, Line 3(D) One member who is a teacher in a school district that
Page 6, Line 4is not a rural school district or a small rural school district,
Page 6, Line 5as defined in section 22-7-1211, and holds an initial or
Page 6, Line 6professional teacher's license pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22;
Page 6, Line 7(E) One member who is a librarian with expertise in Black
Page 6, Line 8arts and culture and who is a member of a professional association of librarians;
Page 6, Line 9(F) Two members who are curriculum specialists, one of
Page 6, Line 10whom has expertise in elementary education, one of whom has
Page 6, Line 11expertise in secondary education, and both of whom are members of a professional association;
Page 6, Line 12(G) One member who is a parent or legal guardian of a
Page 6, Line 13student who attends a public school and is a member of a parent organization;
Page 6, Line 14(H) Two members who each represent a nonprofit
Page 6, Line 15organization with expertise in civil rights and racial justice
Page 6, Line 16with an emphasis on comprehensive Black historical and cultural education in public schools;
Page 6, Line 17(I) One member who represents a nonprofit organization with expertise in Black arts and culture; and
Page 6, Line 18(J) Two members from the community whose leadership
Page 6, Line 19in literary, artistic, military, business, science, technology,
Page 6, Line 20media, or civic life contributes valuable lived experience and cultural competency to the work of the committee;
Page 7, Line 1(II) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member;
Page 7, Line 2(III) The president of the senate shall appoint one member; and
Page 7, Line 3(IV) The commissioner shall appoint two members from the department, who are nonvoting members.
Page 7, Line 4(b) The membership of the committee must reflect a deep
Page 7, Line 5collective understanding of Black history and culture, with
Page 7, Line 6demonstrated expertise in Black history, social equity, and civil
Page 7, Line 7rights. A majority of the committee members must have either
Page 7, Line 8classroom experience or experience in developing education content standards.
Page 7, Line 9(c) The appointing officials shall make the initial appointments to the committee no later than January 1, 2026.
Page 7, Line 10(d) The term of appointment is four years. The appointing
Page 7, Line 11officials shall fill any vacancies on the committee for the remainder of any unexpired term.
Page 7, Line 12(4) Members of the committee serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses.
Page 7, Line 13(5) (a) The committee shall elect a chair from among the
Page 7, Line 14committee's members to serve for a term not to exceed two years, as determined by the committee.
Page 7, Line 15(b) The committee shall meet at least twice annually. The
Page 7, Line 16chair may call such additional meetings as are necessary for the committee to complete its duties.
Page 7, Line 17(6) The committee shall:
Page 8, Line 1(a) Make recommendations to the state board and the
Page 8, Line 2department regarding standards that identify the knowledge
Page 8, Line 3and skills that elementary through secondary education
Page 8, Line 4students should acquire related to Black historical and
Page 8, Line 5cultural studies pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (2.9) and develop
Page 8, Line 6recommendations for the state board to integrate during its six-year review of the state's education standards;
Page 8, Line 7(b) Identify and recommend materials and resources for
Page 8, Line 8inclusion in the resource bank created pursuant to subsection (8) of this section; and
Page 8, Line 9(c) At the request of a local education provider,
Page 8, Line 10collaborate with the department to provide technical
Page 8, Line 11assistance to the local education provider in designing
Page 8, Line 12age-appropriate curricula pertaining to Black historical and cultural studies.
Page 8, Line 13(7) (a) In making recommendations pursuant to subsection
Page 8, Line 14(6)(a) of this section, the committee shall coordinate with the
Page 8, Line 15history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in
Page 8, Line 16education commission established pursuant to section 22-1-104.3
Page 8, Line 17and may consider the findings of the Black Coloradan racial equity study pursuant to section 2-2-2307 (1)(d).
Page 8, Line 18(b) The recommendations must advance developmentally appropriate but comprehensive instruction that:
Page 8, Line 19(I) Includes a diversity of opinions and narratives within the Black experience;
Page 8, Line 20(II) Features factual accounts of the struggles and
Page 8, Line 21contributions of Black Americans in all fields of endeavor;
Page 9, Line 1(III) Reflects black agency and resistance against oppression;
Page 9, Line 2(IV) Fosters cross-cultural understanding and empowers all students;
Page 9, Line 3(V) Features a diverse range of Black achievements in artistic, scientific, civic, and business endeavors; and
Page 9, Line 4(VI) Includes the study of early African civilizations, the
Page 9, Line 5global migrations of African people throughout the African
Page 9, Line 6Diaspora, the slave trade and enslavement in America,
Page 9, Line 7abolition, reconstruction, the civil rights movement, as well as
Page 9, Line 8Black history in Colorado and local Black histories within the state.
Page 9, Line 9(c) In making recommendations pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section, the committee shall:
Page 9, Line 10(I) Evaluate the most recent revisions to the state's
Page 9, Line 11history and civics standards that reflect the recommendations
Page 9, Line 12provided by the history, culture, social contributions, and civil
Page 9, Line 13government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3; and
Page 9, Line 14(II) Include recommendations for any updates necessary
Page 9, Line 15to make the state's history and civics standards current,
Page 9, Line 16accurate, comprehensive, and aligned with the committee's other recommendations.
Page 9, Line 17(8) (a) The department shall create and maintain a
Page 9, Line 18resource bank of existing research-based scholarly articles
Page 9, Line 19and promising program materials and curricula pertaining to
Page 9, Line 20Black historical and cultural studies. The materials and
Page 10, Line 1curricula may be used in elementary and secondary schools in
Page 10, Line 2the state. At a minimum, the resource bank must include the
Page 10, Line 3materials and resources that the committee recommends
Page 10, Line 4pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section. To the extent
Page 10, Line 5possible, the resource bank materials, scholarly articles, and
Page 10, Line 6curricula must be youth-friendly, culturally sensitive, and available in both English and Spanish.
Page 10, Line 7(b) On and after July 1, 2026, the department shall make
Page 10, Line 8the materials in the resource bank available without charge to
Page 10, Line 9local education providers, professional educators, parents or
Page 10, Line 10guardians of youth, and students. A local education provider is
Page 10, Line 11not required to adopt or implement any material or curricula
Page 10, Line 12from the resource bank. At the request of a local education
Page 10, Line 13provider and subject to available resources, the department
Page 10, Line 14shall provide technical assistance to the local education
Page 10, Line 15provider in designing age-appropriate curricula pertaining to Black historical and cultural studies.
Page 10, Line 16(c) Local education providers are encouraged to report
Page 10, Line 17to the department on the effectiveness of the resource bank
Page 10, Line 18materials and curricula and to recommend changes to improve
Page 10, Line 19the materials and curricula. The department is encouraged to
Page 10, Line 20update the resource bank materials and curricula based on
Page 10, Line 21recommendations from local education providers, professional educators, parents or guardians of youth, and students.
Page 10, Line 22(9) The department may seek, accept, and expend gifts,
Page 10, Line 23grants, or donations from private or public sources for the
Page 10, Line 24purposes of this section.
Page 11, Line 1SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,
Page 11, Line 2$19,225 appropriated to the department of education for use by student
Page 11, Line 3learning. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an
Page 11, Line 4assumption that the division will require an additional 0.2 FTE. To
Page 11, Line 5implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for content specialists.
Page 11, Line 6SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 11, Line 7determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 11, Line 8preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 11, Line 9the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.