HB 26-1352

HB 26-1352, also known as the Reducing Frequency of Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act Independent Evaluations, changes how often independent evaluations are required for the READ Act funding from annually to every two years. Schools will still need to report student data related to the READ Act yearly to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), but now CDE must also produce an annual summary report with its insights on program improvements. The bill reduces state funding for external evaluation in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Since it has been signed, this bill is now law and will affect how schools and the state handle literacy programs and evaluations moving forward.

Official Summary

Joint Budget Committee. The bill changes the requirement for an independent evaluation of the use of 'Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act' (READ Act) money from an annual requirement to a biennial requirement. The bill maintains the requirement that local education providers report READ Act student data to the Colorado department of education (department) every year. The bill adds a requirement that the department issue an annual report that summarizes data from the local education providers and includes any department input on proposed program changes.     The bill reduces the appropriation made in the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the department of education from the state education fund for the early literacy program external evaluation.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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