A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning comprehensive socio-cultural Black history
Page 1, Line 102education in public schools.
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) For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2028,
Page 3, Line 7each local education provider shall incorporate the standards
Page 3, Line 8on Black historical and cultural studies developed and adopted
Page 3, Line 9by the state board pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (2.9) into courses for elementary through secondary education students.
Page 3, Line 10(3) The state board of education shall take into
Page 3, Line 11consideration the recommendations of the Black historical and
Page 3, Line 12cultural studies advisory committee established in section
Page 3, Line 1322-2-127.4 when performing 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. (2.9) (a) On or
Page 3, Line 17before July 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt standards that
Page 3, Line 18identify the knowledge and skills that elementary through
Page 3, Line 19secondary education students should acquire related to Black historical and cultural studies, as defined in section 22-1-104.9.
Page 3, Line 20(b) In creating the standards described in subsection
Page 4, Line 1(2.9)(a) of this section, the department of education shall use the
Page 4, Line 2recommendations of the Black historical and cultural studies advisory committee established in section 22-2-127.4.
Page 4, Line 3SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-2-127.4 as follows:
Page 4, Line 422-2-127.4. Black historical and cultural studies - advisory
Page 4, Line 5committee - resource bank - technical assistance - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 6(a) "Black historical and cultural studies" means an
Page 4, Line 7interdisciplinary program of elementary through secondary academic study that:
Page 4, Line 8(I) Represents Black historical experiences through
Page 4, Line 9truthful, inclusive, complex narratives that connect with contemporary realities; and
Page 4, Line 10(II) Highlights the innovations and cultural
Page 4, Line 11contributions of Black people in Colorado, America, and the world.
Page 4, Line 12(b) "Committee" means the Black historical and cultural
Page 4, Line 13studies advisory committee created pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
Page 4, Line 14(c) "Local education provider" means:
(I) A school district;
Page 4, Line 15(II) A charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22;
Page 4, Line 16(III) A charter school authorized by the state charter
Page 4, Line 17school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title
Page 4, Line 1822;
Page 5, Line 1(IV) The state charter school institute created pursuant to section 22-30.5-503; or
Page 5, Line 2(V) A board of cooperative services created and
Page 5, Line 3operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one or more public schools.
Page 5, Line 4(2) The Black historical and cultural studies advisory
Page 5, Line 5committee is created in the department. The purpose of the
Page 5, Line 6committee is to make recommendations to the state board and
Page 5, Line 7department to be used in conjunction with the regular six-year
Page 5, Line 8review of the state's education standards and programs
Page 5, Line 9pursuant to section 22-7-1005 and to recommend resources and
Page 5, Line 10provide technical assistance pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.
Page 5, Line 11(3) (a) The Black historical and cultural studies advisory
Page 5, Line 12committee consists of seventeen members appointed by the designated appointing officials as follows:
Page 5, Line 13(I) The governor shall appoint, through the office of
Page 5, Line 14boards and commissions, the following members of the committee:
Page 5, Line 15(A) One member who is an academic expert in Black history and culture;
Page 5, Line 16(B) One member who is a historian with expertise in the history of Black Coloradans;
Page 5, Line 17(C) One member who is a teacher in a rural school district
Page 5, Line 18or a small rural school district, as defined in section 22-7-1211,
Page 5, Line 19and holds an initial or professional teacher's license pursuant
Page 5, Line 20to article 60.5 of this title 22;
Page 6, Line 1(D) One member who is a teacher in a school district that
Page 6, Line 2is not a rural school district or a small rural school district,
Page 6, Line 3as defined in section 22-7-1211, and holds an initial or
Page 6, Line 4professional teacher's license pursuant to article 60.5 of this title 22;
Page 6, Line 5(E) One member who is a librarian specializing in Black
Page 6, Line 6arts and culture and who is a member of a professional association of librarians;
Page 6, Line 7(F) Two members who are curriculum specialists, one of
Page 6, Line 8whom specializes in elementary education, one of whom
Page 6, Line 9specializes in secondary education, and both of whom are members of a professional association;
Page 6, Line 10(G) One member who is a parent or legal guardian of a
Page 6, Line 11student who attends a public school and is a member of a parent organization;
Page 6, Line 12(H) Two members who each represent a nonprofit
Page 6, Line 13organization specializing in civil rights and racial justice with
Page 6, Line 14an emphasis on comprehensive Black historical and cultural education in public schools;
Page 6, Line 15(I) One member who represents a nonprofit organization specializing in Black arts and culture; and
Page 6, Line 16(J) Two members from the Black community whose
Page 6, Line 17leadership in literary, artistic, military, business, science,
Page 6, Line 18technology, media, or civic life contributes valuable lived experience to the work of the committee;
Page 6, Line 19(II) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
Page 6, Line 20appoint one member;
Page 7, Line 1(III) The president of the senate shall appoint one member; and
Page 7, Line 2(IV) The commissioner shall appoint two members from the department, who are nonvoting members.
Page 7, Line 3(b) The membership of the committee must reflect a deep
Page 7, Line 4collective understanding of Black history and culture, with
Page 7, Line 5demonstrated expertise in Black history, social equity, and civil
Page 7, Line 6rights. A majority of the commission members must have either
Page 7, Line 7classroom experience or experience in developing education content standards.
Page 7, Line 8(c) The appointing officials shall make the initial appointments to the committee no later than August 15, 2025.
Page 7, Line 9(d) The term of appointment is four years. The appointing
Page 7, Line 10officials shall fill any vacancies on the commission for the remainder of any unexpired term.
Page 7, Line 11(4) Members of the committee serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses.
Page 7, Line 12(5) (a) The committee shall elect a chair from among the
Page 7, Line 13committee's members to serve for a term not to exceed two years, as determined by the committee.
Page 7, Line 14(b) The committee shall meet at least once in 2025, and at
Page 7, Line 15least twice annually each year thereafter. The chair may call
Page 7, Line 16such additional meetings as are necessary for the committee to complete its duties.
Page 7, Line 17(6) The committee shall:
Page 7, Line 18(a) Make recommendations to the state board and the
Page 7, Line 19department regarding standards that identify the knowledge
Page 8, Line 1and skills that elementary through secondary education
Page 8, Line 2students should acquire related to Black historical and
Page 8, Line 3cultural studies pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (2.9) and develop
Page 8, Line 4recommendations for the state board to consider during its six-year review of the state's education standards;
Page 8, Line 5(b) Identify and recommend materials and resources for
Page 8, Line 6inclusion in the resource bank created pursuant to subsection (8) of this section; and
Page 8, Line 7(c) At the request of a local education provider,
Page 8, Line 8collaborate with the department to provide technical
Page 8, Line 9assistance to the local education provider in designing
Page 8, Line 10age-appropriate curricula pertaining to Black historical and cultural studies.
Page 8, Line 11(7) (a) In making recommendations pursuant to subsection
Page 8, Line 12(6)(a) of this section, the committee may coordinate with the
Page 8, Line 13history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in
Page 8, Line 14education commission established pursuant to section 22-1-104.3
Page 8, Line 15and may consider the findings of the Black Coloradan racial equity study pursuant to section 2-2-2307 (1)(d).
Page 8, Line 16(b) The recommendations must advance developmentally appropriate but comprehensive instruction that:
Page 8, Line 17(I) Includes a diversity of opinions and narratives within the Black experience;
Page 8, Line 18(II) Features factual accounts of the struggles and contributions of Black Americans in all fields of endeavor;
Page 8, Line 19(III) Reflects black agency and resistance against
Page 8, Line 20oppression;
Page 9, Line 1(IV) Fosters cross-cultural understanding and empowers all students;
Page 9, Line 2(V) Features a diverse range of Black achievements in artistic, scientific, civic, and business endeavors; and
Page 9, Line 3(VI) Includes the study of early African civilizations, the
Page 9, Line 4global migrations of African people throughout the African
Page 9, Line 5Diaspora, the slave trade and enslavement in America,
Page 9, Line 6abolition, reconstruction, the civil rights movement, as well as
Page 9, Line 7Black history in Colorado and local Black histories within the state.
Page 9, Line 8(8) (a) The department shall create and maintain a
Page 9, Line 9resource bank of existing research-based scholarly articles
Page 9, Line 10and promising program materials and curricula pertaining to
Page 9, Line 11Black historical and cultural studies. The materials and
Page 9, Line 12curricula may be used in elementary and secondary schools in
Page 9, Line 13the state. At a minimum, the resource bank must include the
Page 9, Line 14materials and resources that the committee recommends
Page 9, Line 15pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section. To the extent
Page 9, Line 16possible, the resource bank materials, scholarly articles, and
Page 9, Line 17curricula must be youth-friendly, culturally sensitive, and available in both English and Spanish.
Page 9, Line 18(b) On and after July 1, 2026, the department shall make
Page 9, Line 19the materials in the resource bank available without charge to
Page 9, Line 20local education providers, professional educators, parents or
Page 9, Line 21guardians of youth, and students. A local education provider is
Page 9, Line 22not required to adopt or implement any material or curricula
Page 9, Line 23from the resource bank. At the request of a local education
Page 10, Line 1provider and subject to available resources, the department
Page 10, Line 2shall provide technical assistance to the local education
Page 10, Line 3provider in designing age-appropriate curricula pertaining to Black historical and cultural studies.
Page 10, Line 4(c) Local education providers are encouraged to report
Page 10, Line 5to the department on the effectiveness of the resource bank
Page 10, Line 6materials and curricula and to recommend changes to improve
Page 10, Line 7the materials and curricula. The department is encouraged to
Page 10, Line 8update the resource bank materials and curricula based on
Page 10, Line 9recommendations from local education providers, professional educators, parents or guardians of youth, and students.
Page 10, Line 10(9) The department may seek, accept, and expend gifts,
Page 10, Line 11grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section.
Page 10, Line 12SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 10, Line 13determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 10, Line 14preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 10, Line 15the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.