CDE-Provided Reading Training — Online

Explore Reading Course Options

Register / Access Online Training

If you registered for the CDE provided online training prior to June 20, 2025 and have not received an email with your updated username and password, please email Pepper support at Peppersupport@pcgus.com and request your updated username and password.

For questions about online course registration or platform support email PepperSupport@pcgus.com.

For questions about the CDE-Provided Teacher Training options email ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us.

For all other questions related to the READ Act email ReadAct@cde.state.co.us.

Reading Course Details:

Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success" by the Public Consulting Group, Inc. is an online asynchronous course. It includes 45 hours of content divided into six modules.
Registration for “Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success” is open.
After registering, participants will receive access to the course in the Pepper Learning Experience Platform.
Access to the course will be available to all registered participants until they fully complete the course and pass the end of course assessment.
Completion of all six course modules and a score of 80% or higher on the end of course assessment (module 7) are required to meet the evidence-based training in teaching requirement.
- If you do not obtain an 80% or higher after three attempts on the end of course assessment, click here to contact the CDE.

Course Registration and Access Information

Download the course registration and access information presentation below for information about course navigation.

Newly updated K-12 course: Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy (PPT)

Older version K-3 course: Building a Strong Foundation: Developing Early Literacy Skills (PPT)

Frequently Asked Questions

The online, asynchronous training “Building a Strong Foundation for Life Long Literacy Success” by the Public Consulting Group, Inc. is organized into six learning modules that includes 45 hours of content on scientifically and evidence-based practices in teaching reading. Click on module titles below to access more information about the topics presented in each module.

*Note for educators who took the K–3 Building a Strong Foundation: Developing Early Literacy Skills training: Content additions are embedded throughout the new K–12 Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success course, including the addition of examples, videos, and resources. The text in green font indicates where significant updates have been made.

Module 1: Introduction to the Science of Reading (PDF)
Module 2: Oral Language and Phonology (PDF)
Module 3: Phonics and Word Study (PDF)
Module 4: Creating Fluent Readers (PDF)
Module 5: Developing Vocabulary (PDF)
Module 6: Increasing Reading Comprehension (PDF)

Facilitator Guide

CDE has created a Facilitator Guide designed to support school leaders in implementing the learning from the online teacher training into practice in their school context. The facilitator guide offers flexible options for reviewing key course concepts, analyzing school curriculum and student data, and implementing evidence-based literacy instructional practices in all K-3 classrooms.

*Please Note: Updated facilitator guide to align with the K-12 training will be coming soon.

View the K-3 Facilitator Guide

Rule

13.01(C)(2)(a): Successfully completed a CDE-provided reading training designed to meet this training requirement and passed the end of course assessment of learning

Process

Educators will submit evidence of meeting the evidence-based training in teaching reading requirement to the CDE through the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system.

District Duties/Tasks

District informs teachers of the option to register for the CDE-provided online teacher training and provides information on how to register.
District maintains a record of which teachers have met this requirement.
District reports this information to the CDE upon request.

Teacher Duties/Tasks

Please note: teachers must retain all documentation.

Teacher registers for the CDE-provided online training.
Teacher completes the CDE-provided online reading training and takes the end of course assessment earning a passing score.
Teacher receives a certificate of completion which notes that he/she has successfully passed the end of course assessment.
- For detailed instructions on where to locate a certificate of completion in Pepper, click here.
Teacher submits his/her certificate of completion through the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system.
- For detailed instructions on submitting documentation to COOL, click here.
Teacher receives and saves a copy of documentation from the CDE that demonstrates the “READ Act designation” attached to their CDE file.
Teacher provides the district with documentation of successful completion of course requirements.

← Return to Teacher Training Requirements