House Bill 26-1028 Introduced

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning second language diploma endorsements for

• Page 1, Line 102graduating high school students.

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 creates a diploma endorsement for bilingualism for graduating high school students.

The bill changes educational requirements for the biliteracy endorsement program. The bill allows students in school districts that do not offer the biliteracy or the bilingualism program to access the program through department-certified entities. The department of education is required to set educational requirements to certify entities.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly

• Page 2, Line 3finds and declares that:

• Page 2, Line 4(a)  The purpose of updating Colorado's seal of biliteracy is to

• Page 2, Line 5modernize, clarify, and expand equitable access to Colorado's seal of

• Page 2, Line 6biliteracy for high school graduates while maintaining rigorous standards;

• Page 2, Line 7(b)  Colorado's seal of biliteracy was established to recognize high

• Page 2, Line 8school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one

• Page 2, Line 9additional world language. The seal signals readiness for college, careers,

• Page 2, Line 10and participation in a global economy.

• Page 2, Line 11(c)  The implementation of the seal of biliteracy has varied widely

• Page 2, Line 12across school districts: Out of the 179 school districts in Colorado, only

• Page 2, Line 1355 of them offer the seal of biliteracy for high school diplomas. Many

• Page 2, Line 14students, particularly those in rural districts, small schools, or districts

• Page 2, Line 15without formal biliteracy programs, face barriers when accessing the seal

• Page 2, Line 16of biliteracy, despite demonstrating strong language skills.

• Page 2, Line 17(d)  Biliteracy is defined as the proficiency in actively listening to,

• Page 2, Line 18speaking, understanding, reading, and writing in English and another

• Page 2, Line 19world language, while bilingualism is defined as the speaking, listening,

• Page 2, Line 20and understanding of another world language and English;

• Page 2, Line 21(e)  In order to earn a seal of biliteracy, high school students

• Page 2, Line 22should be able to demonstrate speaking, listening, reading, and writing

• Page 2, Line 23proficiency in a world language in numerous ways, including in

• Page 2, Line 24coursework, assessments, or approved bodies of evidence;

• Page 2, Line 25(f)  Colorado's public schools educate 114,482 multilingual

• Page 3, Line 1learners. Expanding access to the seal of biliteracy and creating access to

• Page 3, Line 2a seal of bilingualism for high school graduates will demonstrate

• Page 3, Line 3Colorado's commitment to supporting all students.

• Page 3, Line 4(g)  Multilingualism is a proven asset in business, health care,

• Page 3, Line 5education, government services, and national security. Local and global

• Page 3, Line 6industries in Colorado have unique demands for language skills, creating

• Page 3, Line 7distinct career opportunities for multilingual professionals. The seal of

• Page 3, Line 8biliteracy will allow high school graduates to prove their language skills

• Page 3, Line 9to potential employers and will ease their transition into the workforce

• Page 3, Line 10and higher education.

• Page 3, Line 11SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1009.5, amend

• Page 3, Line 12(2)(a)(I), (2)(a)(II)(B), (2)(b)(II), and (2)(b)(III); repeal (3)(b)(III); and

• Page 3, Line 13add (1)(a.3), (1)(a.5), (1)(a.7), (2)(a)(II)(C), (2)(a)(II)(D), (2.5), and (5)

• Page 3, Line 14as follows:

• Page 3, Line 1522-7-1009.5.  Diploma endorsement - biliteracy - bilingualism

• Page 3, Line 16- definitions.

• Page 3, Line 17(1)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 3, Line 18(a.3)  "Approved entity" means an institution of higher

• Page 3, Line 19learning or educational nonprofit organization approved by the

• Page 3, Line 20department of education pursuant to subsection (5)(c) of this

• Page 3, Line 21section.

• Page 3, Line 22(a.5)  "Bilingualism" means the ability to speak, actively

• Page 3, Line 23listen to, and understand English and another world language.

• Page 3, Line 24(a.7)  "Biliteracy" means the ability to actively listen to,

• Page 3, Line 25speak, understand, read, and write English and another world

• Page 3, Line 26language.

• Page 3, Line 27(2)  A local education provider may grant a diploma endorsement

• Page 4, Line 1in biliteracy to a graduating high school student who attains proficiency

• Page 4, Line 2or higher in one or more world languages in addition to attaining

• Page 4, Line 3proficiency or higher in English. To obtain an endorsement in biliteracy,

• Page 4, Line 4a graduating student must:

• Page 4, Line 5(a)  Demonstrate proficiency or higher in English by:

• Page 4, Line 6(I)  Completing all of the English language arts course

• Page 4, Line 7requirements for graduation from high school with an overall grade point

• Page 4, Line 8average of at least 3.0 in the required English language arts courses; and

• Page 4, Line 9or

• Page 4, Line 10(II) (B)  Passing the English language arts advanced placement test

• Page 4, Line 11with a score of three or higher or passing the English language arts

• Page 4, Line 12portion of an international baccalaureate test with a score of four or

• Page 4, Line 13higher; and or

• Page 4, Line 14(C)  Meeting one of the options for college and career

• Page 4, Line 15readiness by using any of the reading, writing, and

• Page 4, Line 16communicating methods and levels indicated on the

• Page 4, Line 17department's menu of college and career ready demonstrations,

• Page 4, Line 18as adopted by the state board, or a successor framework and

• Page 4, Line 19guidelines; or

• Page 4, Line 20(D)  Completing high school level requirements, which is

• Page 4, Line 21considered satisfactory for the state guidelines for

• Page 4, Line 22redesignation of multilingual learners; and

• Page 4, Line 23(b)  Demonstrate proficiency or higher in one or more world

• Page 4, Line 24languages by:

• Page 4, Line 25(II)  Successfully completing a four-year high school course of

• Page 4, Line 26study in the world language and attaining an overall grade point average

• Page 4, Line 27of at least 3.0 in the course of study; passing a world language

• Page 5, Line 1course of study that is equivalent in rigor to a world language

• Page 5, Line 2advanced placement course with an overall grade point

• Page 5, Line 3average of at least 3.0 in the course of study, passing the

• Page 5, Line 4summative assessment at the completion of a four-year high

• Page 5, Line 5school course of study in the world language, or providing a

• Page 5, Line 6body of evidence that measures speaking, actively listening to,

• Page 5, Line 7understanding, reading, and writing the language. If providing

• Page 5, Line 8a body of evidence, the evidence must be of equal rigor to the

• Page 5, Line 9advanced placement test; or

• Page 5, Line 10(III)  Achieving a passing score on the world language portion of

• Page 5, Line 11a nationally recognized test that assesses the student's ability to

• Page 5, Line 12speak, actively listen to, understand, read, and write and is

• Page 5, Line 13relied upon by institutions of higher education.

• Page 5, Line 14(2.5)  A local education provider may grant a diploma

• Page 5, Line 15endorsement in bilingualism to a graduating high school

• Page 5, Line 16student who attains proficiency or higher in one or more world

• Page 5, Line 17languages in addition to attaining proficiency or higher in

• Page 5, Line 18English. To obtain an endorsement in bilingualism, a graduating

• Page 5, Line 19student must:

• Page 5, Line 20(a)  Demonstrate oral proficiency or higher in English by:

• Page 5, Line 21(I)  Meeting one of the options for college and career

• Page 5, Line 22readiness by using any of the reading, writing, and

• Page 5, Line 23communicating methods and levels indicated on the

• Page 5, Line 24department's menu of college and career ready demonstrations,

• Page 5, Line 25as adopted by the state board, or a successor framework and

• Page 5, Line 26guidelines; or

• Page 5, Line 27(II)  Achieving high-school-level requirements, which is

• Page 6, Line 1considered satisfactory for the state guidelines for

• Page 6, Line 2redesignation of multilingual learners; and

• Page 6, Line 3(b)  Demonstrate oral proficiency or higher in one or more

• Page 6, Line 4world languages by achieving a passing score on the world

• Page 6, Line 5language oral portion of a nationally recognized test that

• Page 6, Line 6assesses the student's ability to listen, speak, and understand

• Page 6, Line 7and is relied upon by institutions of higher education; or

• Page 6, Line 8(c)  Provide a body of evidence that measures speaking,

• Page 6, Line 9actively listening to, and understanding the language. If

• Page 6, Line 10providing a body of evidence, the evidence must be of equal rigor

• Page 6, Line 11to the advanced placement test.

• Page 6, Line 12(3) (b)  Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (2)(b)(I) of

• Page 6, Line 13this section to the contrary:

• Page 6, Line 14(III)  If an advanced placement test exists or the department has

• Page 6, Line 15identified a comparable test for a world language, and the local education

• Page 6, Line 16provider creates and uses an alternative test for that world language, the

• Page 6, Line 17department must approve the local education provider's test before the

• Page 6, Line 18local education provider may use the test to determine a student's level of

• Page 6, Line 19proficiency in the world language in place of an advanced placement test

• Page 6, Line 20for purposes of subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section.

• Page 6, Line 21(5) (a)  A high school student who attends a local

• Page 6, Line 22education provider that does not offer a diploma endorsement

• Page 6, Line 23of biliteracy, or bilingualism, pursuant to subsections (2) and

• Page 6, Line 24(2.5) of this section may seek an endorsement of biliteracy or

• Page 6, Line 25bilingualism from an approved entity.

• Page 6, Line 26(b)  The student must meet the approved entity's

• Page 6, Line 27educational requirements and submit the required

• Page 7, Line 1documentation to the approved entity.

• Page 7, Line 2(c)  The department shall certify an approved entity

• Page 7, Line 3authorized to offer the endorsement. The department shall set

• Page 7, Line 4uniform educational requirements for endorsements offered by

• Page 7, Line 5an approved entity.

• Page 7, Line 6(d)  After a student successfully completes the

• Page 7, Line 7endorsement, the approved entity shall send verification of the

• Page 7, Line 8completed endorsement to the student and the student's local

• Page 7, Line 9education provider.

• Page 7, Line 10(e)  An approved entity may charge a fee to provide the

• Page 7, Line 11endorsement. The fee must reflect the actual and indirect costs

• Page 7, Line 12to the approved entity of providing the biliteracy endorsement

• Page 7, Line 13program. Any fee assessed must be paid by the student's local

• Page 7, Line 14education provider.

• Page 7, Line 15SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act

• Page 7, Line 16takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the

• Page 7, Line 17ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August

• Page 7, Line 1812, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a

• Page 7, Line 19referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the

• Page 7, Line 20state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act

• Page 7, Line 21within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect

• Page 7, Line 22unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in

• Page 7, Line 23November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the

• Page 7, Line 24official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.