READ Act Principal/Administrator Training

Deadlines

Any administrators hired prior to June 1st, 2026 must have completed evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading by August 1st, 2026.

Administrators hired after June 1st, 2026 complete evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading by August 1st, 2027.

READ Act Informational Webinars

The Office of Elementary Literacy and School Readiness hosts monthly live informational webinars to provide updates on the READ Act teacher and school administrator trainings. Amendments to the READ Act requires that K-3 teachers who provide literacy instruction, 4-12 reading interventionists, and school administrators (including principals) must take training (SB19-199 and SB22-004). Attending any or all of the teacher training or school administrator webinars will NOT meet the training requirements for teachers or school administrators. The webinars are for information and updates only.

Register for READ Act Training Informational Webinars
Archived READ Act Informational Webinars

Register for READ Act Training Informational Webinars

Archived READ Act Informational Webinars

About the Training Requirements

For the 2024-25 budget year and budget years thereafter, districts are required to submit evidence that each K-3 principal and each K-3 administrator as defined in the rules successfully completed evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in in the science of reading.

The evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading must include a minimum of 20 hours. However, for a K-3 principal or administrator who has previously completed the CDE-approved evidence-based training in teaching reading for teachers, as described in section 13.01(C), the evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading may be abbreviated and must include a minimum of 5 hours. Any evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading must address the following standards

To meet this training requirement, State Board of Education rules require that the evidence-based training in teaching reading must:

Consist of a minimum of 20 hours (or 5 hours if the principal or administrator has already completed a CDE-approved evidence-based training in teaching reading for teachers);
Address the content of the principal literacy standards referenced in the state board's Rules for the Administration of The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (Read Act), 1 CCR 301-92, section 13.01(D)(1) (effective December 30, 2022); and
Include an end of course assessment that school administrators can provide evidence of passing.

Rules and Definitions

Rules for the Administration of the READ Act
Administrator and Principal Definitions

Rules for the Administration of the READ Act

Administrator and Principal Definitions

Administrator: Any school-based or centrally- or regionally-based employee of an LEP who is responsible for designing, implementing and/or providing professional development on the elementary literacy instructional program for kindergarten or any of grades one through three in any school or LEP in the state, and who is not the principal. This would include an assistant or vice principal of an elementary school. It also includes any employee of the LEP conducting observations of and/or providing coaching to a teacher providing literacy instruction in kindergarten or grades one through three.

Principal: Any person who is employed as the chief executive officer of any school in the state that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through three.

Options to Fulfill Training Requirements

Below are the options listed in Statute and Rules.

K-3 administrators and principals need to only complete one of these options to meet the READ Act principal/administrator training requirements
K-3 administrators and principals need to meet the training requirements only once.

Option 1 - CDE Provided Training

K-3 administrators and principals will have the option to successfully complete a CDE-provided training at no cost through the Public Consulting Group.
A K-3 principal or administrator who has previously completed the 45 hour CDE-approved evidence-based training in teaching reading for teachers should request access to the5-hour course option.

Learn more and register for CDE-provided Training for Principals/Administrators

Option 2 - District or BOCES provided training

K-3 administrators and principals will have the option to successfully complete a district- or BOCES-provided training approved by the CDE and can check with their district or BOCES whether this option will be available to them.

Explore District- or BOCES-provided Training

Districts or BOCES that are interested in submitting a course to CDE for approval should email READActTraining@cde.state.co.us to receive more information.

Option 3 - Training program from the CDE Advisory list of professional development

State Board Approved Assessment of Knowledge of Science of Reading

CDE-Approved Program of Preparation or Post-Graduate Course in Teaching Reading or Literacy

Submitting Documentation to COOL

Licensed Administrator/Principal

To submit evidence of completion to the Colorado Online Licensing System (COOL) that demonstrates an administrator/principal has met the READ Act evidence-based training requirement, the principal/administrator will need to follow the directions below:

Log in to their COOL account
Select “My Profile”.
Select “Designations” in the Credential section of the profile.
Select “Add Designation”.
Click “Yes, Confirm”.
Click “Yes” under “Do you wish to be evaluated for the READ Act designation?”
Complete a short application and upload their documentation (certificate of completion or transcript).

Log in to their COOL account
Select + Designation to add the READ Act designation (under “Actions”)
Click “Yes, Confirm”.
Click “Yes” under “Do you wish to be evaluated for the READ Act designation?”
Complete a short application and upload their documentation (certificate of completion or transcript)

Please note that if you do no have an active administrator or principal license, you will not be able to add the designation to your COOL account. Instead, reach out to your district for the information you need to provide them.

Evidence required for each pathway

Accessing certificate of completion in Playbook

If you have additional questions about the K-3 principal/administrator training, please contact ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us.