Colorado READ Act

About the Colorado READ Act

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (Colorado READ Act) was passed by the Colorado legislature in 2012, giving the state the guiding philosophy, structure and resources to get children reading at grade level by the time they enter the fourth grade. The Office of Elementary Literacy and School Readiness has several resources designed to support understanding of the Colorado READ Act.

Stay Informed

Please sign up for the READ Act communication list in order to stay informed of changes and updates related to SB19-199 READ Act Implementation Measures. CDE will announce ways to participate and provide your feedback throughout the implementation process.

Evidence-Based Reading Training Requirements

Colorado school districts are required to ensure all K - 3 teachers and 4 - 12 reading interventionists complete evidence-based training in teaching reading as a result of changes to the Colorado READ Act in SB 19-199 (PDF). Beginning in the 2024-2025 budget year and thereafter, districts are also required to submit evidence that each principal and administrator, as defined in Rules for the Administration of the Colorado READ Act, has successfully completed evidence-based training in the science of reading (SB 22-004 (PDF)). Learn about the hour, content, assessment requirements and pathways for these trainings by visiting the links below.

View Principal & Administrator Training Requirements View Teacher Training Requirements

Professional Development

Science of Reading Literacy Series

The Elementary Literacy and School Readiness office at CDE is developing a series of turnkey professional development options for districts to use to support implementation of evidence-based practices in the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading Literacy Series will begin with a focus on six instructional routines that address each of the components of literacy and oral language.

Learn more and access the Science of Reading Literacy Series

Biliteracy Professional Development Series

This self-paced course is designed to provide participants with evidence-based strategies for teaching students in English and Spanish while working towards bilingualism and biliteracy. This open-source training is designed for anyone interested in learning more about best practices in providing biliteracy instruction in Spanish and English. Additional instructional implementation resources are provided.

Learn more and access the Biliteracy Series

The Colorado READ Act and Science of Reading for Families Series

The Elementary Literacy and School Readiness Office (ELSR) at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has created a series of turnkey resources for parents, schools, and districts to build awareness of the Colorado READ Act, READ plans, and the Science of Reading. Each resource in the series is organized to answer four essential questions: what the topic is, why it is important, what it looks like at school, and how parents can support at home.

Learn more and access the READ Act/Science of Reading for Families Series

Regional Support

The Literacy Team in the Office of Elementary Literacy and School Readiness supports the implementation of the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act). They provide guidance, data analysis, professional development, and monitoring to districts and schools in support of scientifically and evidence-based reading instruction. ELSR Senior Literacy Consultants provide two types of support to the field: universal and individual district or BOCES support.

Visit ELSR Regional Support webpage

READ Act Regional Meetings

News and Events

2026 READ Act Assessment Review

The READ Act requires the department to create an advisory list of assessments for local education agencies to choose from to administer to students in grades K-3 to meet the requirements of the READ Act. The review is a two part process for vendors to submit interim, diagnostic and summative assessments to be reviewed for inclusion on the READ Act Advisory List of Assessments. The Letter of Intent to Apply will open February 9, 2026. For more information, please visit 2026 READ Act Advisory List of Assessment Review Process.

Senate Bill 25-200 Dyslexia Screening and READ Act Requirements

Senate Bill 25-200 expands upon the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) by including screening requirements for characteristics of dyslexia, additional measures that may be included in the body of evidence used to determine if a child has a significant reading deficiency (SRD) and required talking points relating to dyslexia in parent communication. Full implementation of SB 25-200 is expected at the beginning of the 2027-28 School Year. Leading up to the date of implementation, several phases of work will take place.

For resources and to learn more, visit our updated CDE Dyslexia webpage.

2025-2026 READ Act Instructional Program Review

The READ Act requires the department to create an advisory list of evidence-based or scientifically-based instructional programming in reading for use by local education agencies. During each review cycle, new providers have the opportunity to be added to the advisory list. The review is a two part process for vendors to submit instructional programs in Spanish or English: core, supplemental, and intervention, to be reviewed for inclusion on the Colorado Department of Education READ Act Advisory List.

The 2025-2026 Instructional Program review cycle will open on October 02, 2025. For more information, please visit the 2025-2026 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Process.

View the Advisory List of Instructional Programming

Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant (CLSD)

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Colorado a $16 million grant to implement the Colorado Comprehensive Literacy Project, which aims to advance literacy skills for children from birth to grade 12 with special emphasis on children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.

Learn more on the CLSD Information webpage

READ Act Evaluation Reports

During the 2019 legislative session, the Colorado READ Act was amended to require the Department to contract with an independent evaluator to provide independent evaluations of the use of per-pupil intervention money and money received through the Early Literacy Grant program by local education providers and to determine whether the student outcomes achieved are meeting the intent of the law.

WestEd, as the selected independent evaluator, presents summary results annually to the field on the independent evaluation.

For more information, please visit READ Act Implementation Evaluation.