Yazmin Navarro, Vice-chair | Colorado Department of Education
The Colorado State Board of Education convened in April to review updates on the science standards revisions, with a focus on enhancing climate literacy within the academic standards for science. The initiative follows a directive given in December for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to assess the existing science standards and propose specific revisions concerning climate literacy. These proposals were drawn from an extensive analysis of scientific concepts taken from authoritative guides, including those by NOAA, California, and New Jersey.
An outcome of the analysis led to eight recommended revisions, applicable from the third grade to high school. The public is invited to review these draft recommendations and submit feedback through a survey. The board plans to consider this feedback in their upcoming May meeting, with a decision expected by June.
In further developments, the board addressed the topic of Title VI certification. Commissioner Susana Córdova decided not to collect or submit a newly requested Title VI certification from the U.S. Department of Education. Córdova communicated with district leaders, affirming the CDE's ongoing compliance with Title VI, which prohibits racial, color, and national origin discrimination. According to Córdova, the certification form is not approved under the federal Paperwork Reduction Act and lacks an Office of Management and Budget control number.
During the meeting, the board also approved, by a narrow vote, the use of elementary reading and mathematics standards as demonstrations of content competency for the Elementary Education endorsement. Similarly, they approved the University of Denver's request to reauthorize its elementary education preparation program and initiated a rulemaking process for credit transfer for justice-engaged youth, in line with House Bill 24-1216. Public feedback will be sought on the proposed rules.
The Colorado Department of Education aims to ensure equitable educational settings and high-quality school access for all students statewide.
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