READ Act Teacher Training

Deadlines

K-3 teachers who provide literacy instruction and 4-12 reading interventionists

August 1, 2026: evidence-based training in teaching reading must be completed
August 15, 2026: documentation should be submitted to the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system (licensed teachers only; non-licensed teachers must reach out to their district to learn how to submit their documentation.)

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

Colorado school districts are required to ensure all K-3 teachers who provide literacy instruction 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) and SB22-004 (PDF). Districts, BOCES, and charters that do not meet the requirements will be ineligible for READ Act funds.

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

Consist of a minimum of 45 hours;
Address the content of the educator preparation literacy standards referenced in the state board's Rules for the Administration of Educator License Endorsements, 1 CCR 301-10(PDF), section 4.02(5) through 4.02(12(PDF) (effective May 30, 2019); and
Include an end of course assessment that teachers can provide evidence of passing.

All teachers who provide literacy instruction to students in grades K-3 and 4-12 reading interventionists must complete evidenced-based training in teaching reading.

Note: All K-12 teachers that have already completed one of the approved training options to meet the READ Act teacher training requirements and have the READ Act designation on their license, will not need to also complete the updated K-12 training Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success.

View Teacher Training Frequently Asked Questions

Rules and Definitions

Rules for Administration of the Colorado READ Act
Teacher and Interventionist Definitions

Rules for Administration of the Colorado READ Act

Teacher and Interventionist Definitions

Reading Interventionist: An individual employed to teach students and whose primary job duties include providing reading intervention to students on READ Act Plans during regular school hours to supplement core academic instruction and who is employed in any of grades K-12.

Teacher: The professional responsible for the literacy instruction of the student(s) and may include the main instructor for a class, an instructional coach, Reading Interventionist (in grades K-3), special education teacher, Title I teacher or other personnel who are identified as effective in the teaching of reading and who has been employed to teach kindergarten or any of grades one through three.

Options to Fulfill Training Requirements

Teachers need to only complete one of these options to meet the READ Act teacher training requirements. Teachers need to meet this training requirement only once.

Option 1 - Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Endorsement

Option 2 - State Board Approved Assessment of Knowledge of Teaching Reading

Option 3 - Appropriate Undergraduate or Graduate University Course in Teaching Reading

Teachers may submit evidence of successfully completing an undergraduate or graduate course in teaching reading for the CDE to review to determine whether it meets the statutory requirements.
Educator Preparation Program staff may submit a course in teaching reading for the CDE to review to determine whether it meets the statutory requirements.

Teachers:

Learn more about Option 3

Ed Prep Program Staff:

Ed Prep Program Course Application

Option 4 - Course Appropriate for License Renewal

Option 5 - CDE-Provided Training

Option 6 - District- or BOCES-provided Training

Option 7 - Training Program from the CDE Advisory List of Professional Development

Submitting Documentation to COOL

Licensed Teachers

To submit evidence of completion to the Colorado Online Licensing System (COOL) that demonstrates a teacher has met the READ Act evidence-based training in teaching reading requirements, the teacher 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: if you do not have an active license or you do not have a teaching 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.

Non-Licensed Teachers

A non-licensed teacher is a teacher who is responsible for classroom instruction but does not hold a Colorado Teaching License. A non-licensed educator might be a teacher, administrator or support staff in a K-12 school system.

If you do not have an active license or you do not have a teaching 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.

For technical support using COOL, submit an online support form.