The State Board of Education has scheduled public hearings during its May 13-14 meeting  on several proposed rule changes: 

• Revisions to the rules for the Administration of Medications, 1 CCR 301-68, which would align the rules with recent changes required by SB 25-278 (Epinephrine Administration in Schools). The bill replaces the term “epinephrine auto-injector” with "emergency use epinephrine” to include non-injectable methods to treat anaphylaxis in schools. The proposed amendments also include minor edits to clarify language. 
• Revisions to the rules for the Administration of Statewide Accountability Measures, 1 CCR 301-1, to align them with  HB25-1278. These changes clarify how the state monitors and responds to the performance of Colorado’s public schools, school districts, and the Charter School Institute, including creating an Insufficient State Data category for schools with fewer than 25% students participating in state tests.  
• Revisions to the rules for the Administration of the School Transformation Grant Program, 1 CCR 301-95, to align with HB  25-1278. The updates would expand how  grant funds can be used, including supporting instructional improvement, use of local assessment data and community-led school improvement efforts.
• In addition, the board scheduled hearings in May to repeal five obsolete rule sets that were created to comply with laws that have since been repealed.

For the May hearings, you can: 

• Submit written comments on the rules through the board’s online feedback form, preferably by Wednesday, May 6. 
• Testify during the hearing - either in person or remotely - by signing up between noon on Wednesday, May 6, and noon on Tuesday, May 12. 

In addition, the State Board of Education delayed a vote on creating rules for the Administration of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Sustain Funding (1 CCR 301-117) until the May 13-14 meeting.  Submit written comments on the rules through the board’s online feedback form, preferably by Wednesday, May 6. 

The State Board of Education has scheduled public hearings during its June 10-11 meeting on these proposed rule changes: 

• Revisions to the rules for the 1 CCR 301-25 Colorado Minimum Standards for Governing School Transportation Vehicles. The updates would modernize and streamline transportation standards to align with national benchmarks, federal regulations, and Colorado Secretary of State requirements. Key improvements include consolidating definitions, restructuring stakeholder responsibilities, and clarifying technical requirements for vehicle construction and safety testing.
• Revisions to the rules for the 1 CCR 301-26 Rules for the Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of School Transportation Vehicles. The changes would  improve organizational clarity and align with both state drafting standards and federal 49 CFR 383 regulations. These updates do not alter existing safety obligations but instead focus on standardizing terminology, enhancing digital accessibility, and restructuring the rule hierarchy for better readability. 
• In addition, if the board doesn’t unanimously vote on the rulesets with hearings in May, it may further discuss and vote on those rulesets in June.

For the June hearings, you can: 

• Submit written comments on the rules through the board’s online feedback form, preferably by Wednesday, June 3. 
• Testify during the hearing - either in person or remotely - by signing up between noon on Wednesday, June 3, and noon on Tuesday, June 9. 

Under House Bill 24-1216 each Local Education Provider is required to post on its website a point of contact for justice-engaged youth, including name, contact information, and available services. If you haven’t already, please post this info by the beginning of your school year.

• Small rural and rural districts may list Andrea Pulskamp at CDE (pulskamp_a@cde.state.co.us) as the point of contact.
• We’ll send an (optional) monthly email with updated guidance to these contacts. To add your liaison to the list, complete the Justice Engaged Youth District Contact form.
• Contact for questions: Johann Liljengren at liljengren_j@cde.state.co.us.  

We invite board members, superintendents, school leaders, and charter authorizers to complete a brief, anonymous survey by Friday, May 29, to help us understand training and support needs related to accreditation and improvement planning for board members, as required by HB25-1278. 

• It takes less than 10 minutes and your feedback will guide resources and support we share with education stakeholders in the coming year. 

Contact for questions: Dan Jorgensen at jorgensen_d@cde.state.co.us.

Save the Dates for 2026 Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness regional trainings. Locations will be announced in the summer and this webpage will be updated as we finalize details.

• Tuesday, Sept. 1: West Central
• Tuesday, Sept. 15: Pueblo
• Thursday, Sept. 17: North Denver
• Thursday, Oct. 29: Southwest
• Tuesday, Nov. 10: Southeast
• Tuesday, Nov.17: Northeast
   

Reminder about student enrollment requirements. Colorado’s School Attendance Law requires that every Colorado resident between the ages of 5 and 21 is entitled to attend public school in the district where he or she is a resident, except for a limited number of circumstances.  

Encourage your principals to apply for the Principal Leadership Institute by June 12 

• The application for our Principal Leadership Institute is open for one of three pathways: distributive leadership, early literacy or first-year principals. 
• Contacts for questions: Trish Malik at malik_t@cde.state.co.us or Alissa Poduska at poduska_a@cde.state.co.us.

The 2027-28 List of Qualified Credentials Additions Form is open until Monday, Aug.31 for submissions to be reviewed for Colorado’s approved list of Industry-Recognized Credentials. 

• All submissions must be made by a school district (not a credential provider).
• Contact for questions: Heather Crabtree at Crabtree_H@cde.state.co.us.

The updated READ Act Advisory List now includes newly approved English and Spanish core, supplemental, and intervention reading programs from the 2025-26 review cycle. 

• You can use READ Act funds to purchase any K-3 programs on the list, which now features separate sections for English and Spanish to better support your students’ needs.
   

Join the Phones in Focus Study

• Use these suggested messages and video to spread the word to your principals and encourage them to forward to their teachers and staff.
• The survey closes on July 1, 2026. 

Submit a proposal by May 29 to present a 60-minute breakout session at the free Elevating Excellence Conference – Nov. 17-18 in the Denver metro area. 

• The conference brings together educators to share strategies for improving student outcomes across Colorado.

Contact for questions: elevatingexcellence@cde.state.co.us.