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HB 26-1353

signed

Student State Assessment in Social Studies

Plain-English Summary

AI-generated

HB 26-1353, a Colorado bill that has been signed into law, changes how social studies are tested in schools. It stops requiring elementary school students from taking state social studies tests and only mandates seventh graders to take them instead. The bill also removes the need for random sample testing of public schools each year. This means less money will be spent on these assessments starting in 2026-27, which affects how education funds are used by the Department of Education.

Official Summary

The act eliminates the requirement for the department of education (department) to administer a state assessment in social studies to elementary school students and specifies that the department is only required to administer a state assessment in social studies to students enrolled in seventh grade in a public school.     The act also eliminates the requirement that the department administer a state assessment in social studies in a representative sample of public schools each year.     The act reduces by 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 statewide assessment program by $302,835.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Details

Chamber
House
First action
2026-05-28
Latest action
2026-04-02
Last action desc.
Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations
OpenStates
View source ↗

Sponsors

Topics

Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)

Related Legislation

This bill affects (50)

amends
HB 22-1390(2022A)· signed
Public School Finance
amends
HB 24-1298(2024A)· signed
Labor Union for School Employees Due Restriction
amends
SB 17-200(2017A)· failed
Reward Excellence With Annual Redirected Dollars
amends
SB 23-219(2023A)· signed
Supports To Students And Facility Schools
amends
HB 24-1363(2024A)· signed
Charter Schools Accountability
amends
HB 17-1184(2017A)· signed
Modern Technology Education In Public Schools
amends
HB 24-1448(2024A)· signed
New Public School Finance Formula
amends
HB 22-1207(2022A)· signed
Choice In Low-performing School Districts
amends
SB 24-014(2024A)· signed
Seal of Climate Literacy Diploma Endorsement
amends
HB 24-1446(2024A)· signed
Professional Development for Science Teachers
amends
HB 17-1062(2017A)· failed
Making Certain State Assessments Optional
amends
HB 17-1089(2017A)· failed
Parent Choice In Low-performing School Districts
amends
HB 17-1181(2017A)· signed
Required State Assessment For Ninth-grade Students
amends
HB 18-1197(2018A)· signed
Student-centered Pilot Accountability Systems
amends
SB 22-044(2022A)· signed
Use Of Student Growth In Educator Evaluations
amends
HB 22-1295(2022A)· signed
Department Early Childhood And Universal Preschool Program
amends
SB 23-258(2023A)· signed
Consolidate Colorado Educator Programs In Colorado Department of Education
amends
SB 23-111(2023A)· signed
Public Employees' Workplace Protection
amends
SB 25-200(2025A)· signed
Dyslexia Screening and READ Act Requirements
amends
HB 25-1192(2025A)· signed
Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement
amends
SB 17-070(2017A)· failed
Certify Authorizers Of Multi-district Online Schools
amends
SB 18-011(2018A)· signed
Students Excused From Taking State Assessments
amends
HB 18-1355(2018A)· signed
Public Education Accountability System
amends
SB 23-008(2023A)· signed
Youth Involvement Education Standards Review
amends
SB 24-049(2024A)· signed
Content of Material in Libraries
amends
SB 24-070(2024A)· signed
Remote Testing & Online Education Programs
amends
SB 25-315(2025A)· signed
Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness Programs
amends
HB 25-1278(2025A)· signed
Education Accountability System
amends
HB 25-1149(2025A)· signed
Comprehensive Black History & Culture Education in K-12
amends
HB 26-1064(2026A)· signed
Youthful Offender System Updates
amends
HB 26-1299(2026A)· signed
Reducing Regulatory Burden on Education Providers
amends
HB 17-1117(2017A)· failed
Repeal Assessments In 9th Grade And Social Studies
amends
SB 17-101(2017A)· failed
9th And 10th-grade Assessments In Public Schools
amends
SB 17-123(2017A)· signed
Seal Of Biliteracy For High School Diplomas
amends
HB 17-1201(2017A)· signed
Science Technology Engineering Math Diploma Endorsement
amends
HB 18-1276(2018A)· signed
Teaching Competent History In Public Schools
amends
HB 22-1366(2022A)· signed
Improving Students' Postsecondary Options
amends
HB 23-1231(2023A)· signed
Math In Pre-kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade
amends
HB 24-1310(2024A)· signed
School Safety Measures
amends
HB 25-1293(2025A)· signed
Drug Overdose Education & Opioid Antagonists in Schools
amends
HB 26-1028(2026A)· signed
Second Language Educational Program for High School Students
amends
HB 26-1428(2026A)· signed
Administration of Publicly Funded Education Programs
amends
SB 17-272(2017A)· signed
Measures Of Postsecondary And Workforce Readiness
amends
HB 18-1393(2018A)· signed
Effective Implementation Of Colorado Reading To Ensure Academic Development Act
amends
HB 22-1396(2022A)· signed
Math Achievement Accelerator Grant Program
amends
HB 26-1357(2026A)· signed
Phase-Out of Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Program
amends
HB 17-1022(2017A)· failed
Teaching Competent History In Public Schools
amends
SB 25-123(2025A)· signed
Education Curriculum on Genocide Against Native Americans
amends
HB 18-1014(2018A)· signed
Social Studies Assessment In High Schools
amends
SB 23-061(2023A)· signed
Eliminate State Assessment In Social Studies

Affected by (4)

relates
HB 26-1357(2026A)· signed
Phase-Out of Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation Program
relates
HB 26-1299(2026A)· signed
Reducing Regulatory Burden on Education Providers
relates
HB 26-1028(2026A)· signed
Second Language Educational Program for High School Students
relates
HB 26-1428(2026A)· signed
Administration of Publicly Funded Education Programs

Votes

BILL
2026-04-16 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Refer House Bill 26-1353 to the Committee of the Whole.
2026-04-14 · Senate · passYes: · No: · Other:
Refer House Bill 26-1353 to the Committee of the Whole.
2026-04-06 · House · passYes: · No: · Other: