This amendment changes who sits on the new task force by adding a statewide educator representative and requiring one member to be a teacher with experience closing opportunity gaps, while also allowing for minority reports in their final findings.
Colorado2026Enacted
SB26-170
Task Force to Study Access to Effective Public Schools
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 8:22 AM
In one sentence
This law creates a task force to study how Colorado can expand access to effective public schools and close opportunity gaps, but only if the Department of Education receives enough outside funding.
What it does
- Creates the Access to Opportunity Task Force within the Department of Education.
- Requires the task force to report findings by January 1, 2027, or five months after its first meeting if that date passes July 31, 2026.
- Mandates a study on current opportunity gaps and identifies schools with proven success in closing them.
- Requires the Department of Education to hire an independent third-party group from a preapproved list to help run meetings and analyze data.
- Limits task force members from receiving pay or expense reimbursement for their service.
Who it affects
- The Access to Opportunity Task Force, which includes appointed school leaders, educators, parents, community representatives, government officials, charter school representatives, and a recent high school graduate.
- Colorado public schools and districts that are studied as examples of closing opportunity gaps.
- State education agencies including the Department of Education, State Board of Education, Governor's Office, and legislative committees.
Limits and unknowns
- The task force can only begin its work if the Department of Education receives enough gifts, grants, and donations to fund it.
- If sufficient funding is not received by July 31, 2026, or later when funds arrive, the study may be delayed.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Opportunity Gaps
- Differences in student access to educational chances and academic results based on factors like race, income, location, disability status, or English learner status.
- Rural Public School
- A public school located far from large urban areas with a total district enrollment of 6,500 students or fewer.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
The act creates the access to opportunity task force (task force) to study and report on how to expand access to effective public schools to address opportunity gaps. The act requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, the governor, the state board of education, the commissioner of education, and the department of education on or before January 1, 2027. If the first meeting of the task force is not until after July 31, 2026, then the report deadline is 5 months after the task force's first meeting. The act specifies that the task force will only conduct a study and prepare a report if the department of education receives sufficient gifts, grants, and donations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Official activity
Bill history
- Governor SignedGovernor
- Sent to the GovernorGovernor
- Signed by the Speaker of the HouseHouse
- Signed by the President of the SenateSenate
- House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsHouse
- House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No AmendmentsHouse
- House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the WholeHouse
- House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to AppropriationsHouse
- House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to FinanceHouse
- Introduced In House - Assigned to EducationHouse
- Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsSenate
- Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, FloorSenate
- Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the WholeSenate
- Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to AppropriationsSenate
- Introduced In Senate - Assigned to EducationSenate
Changes
Amendments
5 stored
This amendment adds a new requirement for the task force to include one member who represents an organization that works directly with or at facility schools.
This amendment changes the deadline for a task force report if their first meeting happens after July 31, 2026.
This amendment adds a clear definition for 'opportunity gaps' to explain that it means unfair differences in school access and results based on factors like race, income, or disability.
This amendment removes the specific instructions and text that originally defined how a new task force would study expanding access to effective public schools.