Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision

About the Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision

Colorado House Bill 20-1032 (section 22-7-1005(6) C.R.S.) amended the provision that required the regular review and revision of the Colorado Academic Standards. The statute previously required the revisions to occur within six years of the prior cycle which occurred in 2018. The changes now require the state board to review and revise approximately one-third of the standards beginning in 2022 and an additional one-third every two years thereafter. These review and revision cycles are not intended to re-write the standards, but to update them to be most current with national and international benchmarks.

It is understood that the 2020-21 school year is the first year of implementation of the standards that were revised in 2018. One-third of the standards that were adopted in 2018 began the review and revision cycle in the spring of 2021 and concluded in the fall of 2022. 

• November: Committees present draft of recommended revisions

• November-January: Public feedback window

• February: Board reviews public feedback

• March: Committee makes any recommended adjustments

• April: Committee presents final recommendations for revision to the State Board

• May: State board considers standards revisions and possible amendments; vote to adopt

Frequently Asked Questions

Standards Review and Revision Schedules at State Board Discretion

Statute requires the board to review and approve each content area in the standards every six years. The board approved revisions to the social studies and arts standards in 2022, and districts are required to implement the revisions in the 2024-25 school year. The second set of standards to be reviewed will include computer science, English language proficiency, physical education and world languages. CDE staff will begin the process later this spring by comparing the standards to national and international benchmarks. After reviewing this report on the benchmarks, the board will determine the extent to which these standards should be updated. If the board determines revisions are necessary, a process will be created with stakeholder engagement to review and recommend updates to the board. The board will review and approve the standards by June 2024, and districts must implement the updated standards by the 2026-27 school year. The third set of standards to be reviewed will include math; reading, writing and communicating; science, and comprehensive health. The same process for reviewing these standards will begin in spring 2025, with approval by the board by June 2026. Implementation will be required in the 2028 school year.

Timeline and Schedule Announced for Reviewing Colorado Academic Standards

Former Commissioner Katy Anthes announced the timeline and schedule for the statutorily required review of the Colorado Academic Standards. Statute requires the board to review and approve each content area in the standards every six years. The board approved revisions to the social studies and arts standards in 2022, and districts are required to implement the revisions in the 2024-25 school year. The second set of standards to be reviewed will include computer science, English language proficiency, physical education, and world languages. CDE staff began the process earlier this spring by engaging external consultants to compare the standards to national and international benchmarks. After reviewing this report on the benchmarks, the board will determine the extent to which these standards should be updated. If the board determines revisions are necessary, a process will be created with stakeholder engagement to review and recommend updates to the board. The board will review and approve the standards by June 2024, and districts must implement the updated standards by the 2026-27 school year. The third set of standards to be reviewed will include math; reading, writing, and communicating; science; and comprehensive health. The same process for reviewing these standards will begin in spring 2025, with approval by the board by June 2026. Implementation will be required in the 2028 school year.

Standards Review and Revision Process

The standards review and revision process includes five steps outlined in Figure 1: (1) planning and approval, (2) research and resource development, (3) standards review and revision, (4) revision approval, and (5) communication and dissemination.

Youth Involvement in Standards

During the 2023 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 23-008, Colorado Youth Advisors to the Academic Standards Review and Regional Educator Meetings. This recently passed legislation creates several opportunities for youth to be involved in the review of the state’s education standards. The computer science standards are currently under review and revision.

The CDE Commissioner, Susana Córdova, has selected and appointed two youth advisors for the 2023-25 Colorado Academic Standards revision process:

• Sophie Tipper, Cherry Creek High School
• Coryn Cole, Clear Creek High School