Reducing Frequency of Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act Independent Evaluations

      Joint Budget Committee. The bill changes the requirement for an independent evaluation of the use of 'Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act' (READ Act) money from an annual requirement to a biennial requirement. The bill maintains the requirement that local education providers report READ Act student data to the Colorado department of education (department) every year. The bill adds a requirement that the department issue an annual report that summarizes data from the local education providers and includes any department input on proposed program changes.

     The bill reduces the appropriation made in the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the department of education from the state education fund for the early literacy program external evaluation.


(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)