The Colorado State Board of Education convened in August to review the results from the spring 2025 statewide assessments. The board noted that while many student groups showed steady improvement, there remain persistent achievement gaps among different groups of students.
During the meeting, the board approved updates to the Colorado Academic Standards for science. These revisions integrate climate science concepts into both third-grade and high school standards. The standards are reviewed every six years. Over the past year, staff from the Colorado Department of Education developed eight recommendations for revisions after analyzing 10 essential climate science concepts, referencing both the 2009 and 2024 NOAA Guides to Climate Literacy. Public feedback was collected from about 950 responses and through comments at board meetings. After discussion and further amendments to middle school and high school standards, the board voted 7-2 in favor of adopting these changes.
The board also addressed budgetary concerns due to a projected statewide shortfall exceeding $700 million linked to federal tax law changes. As a result, they approved approximately $3.35 million in reductions for CDE’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget. These cuts include administrative efficiencies, adjustments in program evaluation cycles, and reductions in professional development offerings focused on science education.
Other actions included recognizing Chris Reynolds as the 2024 Milken Educator Award winner; he serves as vice principal at Liberty Common High School in Fort Collins within the Poudre School District. The board unanimously agreed to move forward with rulemaking hearings scheduled for October concerning updated School Transportation Fund rules as well as updated accounting and reporting rules.
Additionally, a hearing was held regarding updates to school finance rules—these include new language on Census block data collection, provisions supporting District Special Education funding within School Finance, and technical clarifications related to proof of residency requirements. A vote on these proposed rule changes is expected at next month’s meeting.
The Colorado Department of Education states its vision is “to create equitable educational environments where all students and staff in Colorado thrive.” According to CDE: “Our role is to improve student outcomes and ensure students and families across Colorado have access to high-quality schools by serving, guiding, and elevating our state’s 178 school districts and BOCES.”
