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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 26-0696.01 Lindy Schaible x4215 SENATE BILL 26-170
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING CREATING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY HOW TO EXPAND101
ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR COLORADO102
STUDENTS.103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill 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 bill 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
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Coleman,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Bacon,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
education, the commissioner of education, and the department of
education on or before January 1, 2027. The task force will only conduct
a study and prepare a report if the department of education receives
sufficient gifts, grants, and donations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds that:3
(a) Public education has long been regarded as the great equalizer4
in American society, serving as the primary pathway through which every5
child, regardless of background or circumstances, is intended to access6
opportunity and achieve success;7
(b) Yet in Colorado, persistent learning and opportunity gaps8
across race, socioeconomic status, language, disability, and geography9
demonstrate that this promise has not been fully realized. For too many10
students, educational outcomes remain highly predictable based on the11
circumstances into which students are born, reinforcing rather than12
dismantling longstanding inequities.13
(c) At the same time, communities across Colorado are14
demonstrating every day that different outcomes are possible. Schools and15
programs in diverse regions of the state are producing strong academic16
results for historically underserved students, such as students in poverty,17
students of color, and students learning English as a second language.18
These students are showing that high expectations, effective practices,19
and intentional system design can close long-standing learning and20
opportunity gaps.21
(d) These successes are not isolated miracles; they demonstrate22
that Colorado's education system can fulfill its promise when policy and23
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system design are aligned around high expectations for all students.1
(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that Colorado must2
no longer accept persistent learning and opportunity gaps as inevitable,3
nor treat educational inequity as an intractable condition. Instead,4
Colorado must commit to learning from proven successes, removing5
systemic barriers, and modernizing its education system to ensure that6
every student has access to a high-quality education.7
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-151 as8
follows:9
22-1-151. Access to opportunity task force - creation -10
members - duties - report - definitions - repeal.11
(1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE12
REQUIRES:13
(a) "D EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION14
CREATED AND EXISTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-1-115.15
(b) "O PPORTUNITY GAPS" MEANS DISPARITIES IN EDUCATIONAL16
ACCESS AND OUTCOMES EXPERIENCED BY STUDENTS BASED ON FACTORS17
SUCH AS RACE , SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS , AND GEOGRAPHY THAT MAY18
RESULT FROM PAST AND PRESENT DIFFERENCES IN SCHOOL, DISTRICT, AND19
SYSTEM POLICIES ; LOCAL BOARD GOVERNANCE DECISIONS ; RESOURCE20
ALLOCATION; AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED EDUCATORS; INSTRUCTIONAL21
PRACTICES; FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ; AND SCHOOL22
CLIMATE.23
(c) "R URAL PUBLIC SCHOOL " MEANS A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN24
COLORADO THAT THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES IS RURAL BASED ON THE25
GEOGRAPHIC SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL 'S SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE26
DISTANCE FROM THE NEAREST LARGE, URBANIZED AREA, AND THE TOTAL27
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STUDENT ENROLLMENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SIX THOUSAND FIVE1
HUNDRED OR FEWER STUDENTS.2
(d) "S TATE BOARD " MEANS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION3
CREATED AND EXISTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 1 OF ARTICLE IX OF THE4
STATE CONSTITUTION.5
(2) THE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE IS CREATED IN THE6
DEPARTMENT TO STUDY HOW TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE PUBLIC7
SCHOOLS AND PRACTICES FOR EVERY COLORADO STUDENT.8
(3) T HE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE CONSISTS OF9
MEMBERS APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:10
(a) T HE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SHALL APPOINT THE11
FOLLOWING MEMBERS:12
(I) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE BOARD;13
(II) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A COMMUNITY14
ORGANIZATION WITH A FOCUS ON CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS;15
(III) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A METRO DENVER SCHOOL LEADER AT16
A COLORADO PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF17
MEANINGFULLY NARROWING OPPORTUNITY GAPS; AND18
(IV) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A SCHOOL TEACHER IN A COLORADO19
PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM WITH A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF20
MEANINGFULLY NARROWING OPPORTUNITY GAPS;21
(b) T HE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL22
APPOINT THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS:23
(I) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A SCHOOL LEADER AT A RURAL PUBLIC24
SCHOOL;25
(II) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE26
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS TEACHERS; AND27
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(III) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE1
PARENT ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATION POLICY AND2
CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS;3
(c) T HE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MINORITY LEADER SHALL4
APPOINT THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS:5
(I) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A SCHOOL LEADER AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL6
IN SOUTHERN COLORADO WITH A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF7
MEANINGFULLY NARROWING OPPORTUNITY GAPS;8
(II) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE9
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS SUPERINTENDENTS; AND10
(III) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE11
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS EDUCATORS;12
(d) T HE SENATE MINORITY LEADER SHALL APPOINT THE13
FOLLOWING MEMBERS:14
(I) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE15
ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATION POLICY AND CLOSING16
OPPORTUNITY GAPS;17
(II) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE18
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS EDUCATORS WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS19
ON EDUCATION POLICY AND CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS; AND20
(III) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A SCHOOL LEADER AT A COLORADO21
PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT IS A COMMUNITY SC HOOL AS DEFINED IN SECTION22
22-32.5-103 AND THAT HAS A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF23
MEANINGFULLY NARROWING OPPORTUNITY GAPS;24
(e) THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS:25
(I) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOVERNOR'S26
OFFICE;27
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(II) O NE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE1
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS CHARTER SCHOOLS;2
(III) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A SCHOOL LEADER AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL3
IN NORTHERN COLORADO WITH A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF4
MEANINGFULLY NARROWING OPPORTUNITY GAPS; AND5
(IV) ONE MEMBER WHO IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF A COLORADO6
PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL WITH A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF7
MEANINGFULLY NARROWING OPPORTUNITY GAPS; AND8
(f) THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, SHALL9
APPOINT ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO FOCUSES ON10
ADDRESSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS.11
(4) T HE APPOINTING AUTHORITIES SHALL MAKE THEIR INITIAL12
APPOINTMENTS TO THE TASK FORCE NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2026.13
(5) EACH MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE SERVES AT THE PLEASURE14
OF THEIR RESPECTIVE APPOINTING OFFICIAL. IF A TASK FORCE VACANCY15
OCCURS, THE ORIGINAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY SHALL, WITHIN FOURTEEN16
DAYS AFTER THE VACANCY , APPOINT A NEW TASK FORCE MEMBER WHO17
SATISFIES THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS OF THE VACATED SEAT.18
(6) T ASK FORCE MEMBERS DO NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION OR19
REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES.20
(7) (a) T HE TASK FORCE SHALL ALLOW FOR REMOTE21
PARTICIPATION IN EACH MEETING OF THE TASK FORCE.22
(b) THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, SHALL23
CONVENE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE TASK FORCE NO LATER THAN ONE24
MONTH AFTER THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION , OR THEIR DESIGNEE ,25
HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TASK FORCE HAS RECEIVED AN AM OUNT OF26
GIFTS, GRANTS , AND DONATIONS SUFFICIENT TO BEGIN ITS WORK27
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DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION OR JULY 31, 2026, WHICHEVER IS LATER.1
(c) AT OR BEFORE THE FIRST TASK FORCE MEETING, THE PRESIDENT2
OF THE SENATE SHALL APPOINT THE TASK FORCE CHAIR AND THE SPEAKER3
OF THE HOUSE SHALL APPOINT THE TASK FORCE VICE-CHAIR. THE CHAIR OF4
THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONVENE THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS AFTER THE5
FIRST MEETING. THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET AT LEAST FOUR TIMES AND6
SHALL COMPLETE ITS DUTIES NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2027.7
(8) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH AN INDEPENDENT8
THIRD-PARTY ENTITY TO FACILITATE TASK FORCE MEETINGS , ASSIST IN9
CONDUCTING THE STUDY REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (10) OF10
THIS SECTION , AND PREPARE A WRITTEN REPORT SUMMARIZING THE11
STUDY'S FINDINGS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE12
ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (12) OF THIS SECTION . THE13
INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY ENTITY MUST BE A PREAPPROVED VENDOR14
FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S PRICE AGREEMENT LIST.15
(9) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE INFORMATION AND STAFF16
SUPPORT, OTHER THAN THE STAFF SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE17
THIRD-PARTY ENTITY DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (8) OF THIS SECTION, TO18
THE TASK FORCE AND THIRD -PARTY ENTITY UPON THE REQUEST OF THE19
TASK FORCE CHAIR TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY FOR THE TASK FORCE TO20
COMPLETE ITS DUTIES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION . THE DEPARTMENT21
SHALL PROVIDE THE THIRD PARTY SECURE ACCESS TO DATA CURRENTLY22
COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW THE THIRD PARTY TO23
COMPILE, ANALYZE , AND PROVIDE TO THE TASK FORCE THE DATA24
NECESSARY TO CONSIDER THE ISSUES DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (10) OF25
THIS SECTION.26
(10) THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE TASK FORCE MUST CONSIDER:27
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(a) T HE CURRENT STATE OF OPPORTUNITY GAPS ACROSS1
COLORADO, IDENTIFYING WHERE GAPS ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY MOST2
PREVALENT AND PERSISTENT, AND THE DISAGGREGATED SUBGROUPS OF3
STUDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY THE GAPS;4
(b) T HE COLORADO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS WITH A5
DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS BASED6
ON ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AS A NECESSARY STARTING POINT , WITH THE7
UNDERSTANDING THAT OPPORTUNITY GAPS ARE INFLUENCED BY MULTIPLE8
FACTORS AND THAT THE TASK FORCE MAY CHOOSE TO CONSIDER9
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF DATA THAT EMPHASIZE STUDENT SUCCESS AND10
WELL-BEING;11
(c) T HE PROGRAMS, STRATEGIES, PRACTICES, AND CONDITIONS ,12
INCLUDING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY LIMITED TO , CONDITIONS OF POLICY,13
RESOURCE ALLOCATION , COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT , SCHOOL14
PHILOSOPHY, AND SCHOOL CLIMATE , OF THE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS15
IDENTIFIED IN SUBSECTION (10)(b) OF THIS SECTION THAT MOST16
CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESS IN CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS;17
(d) T HE NONFINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT EFFECTIVE18
SCHOOLS AND PRACTICES FROM BEING REPLICATED AND EXPANDED19
ACROSS COLORADO AND WHAT POLICY CHANGES ARE NECESSARY TO20
REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS WITHIN EXISTING RESOURCES;21
(e) STATES AND NEW APPROACHES TO SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLING22
THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED PROMISE AND SUSTAINED PROGRESS IN23
CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS AND WHAT POLICIES AND PRACTICES HAVE24
ENABLED THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS; AND25
(f) H OW COLORADO CAN REDESIGN ITS EDUCATION SYSTEM TO26
BETTER SUPPORT INNOVATION , CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT , AND27
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FUTURE-READY LEARNING MODELS WHILE MAINTAINING ACCOUNTABILITY1
FOR ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.2
(11) (a) THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS THAT THE COST3
OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION IS FUNDED ENTIRELY BY GIFTS ,4
GRANTS, AND DONATIONS AND THAT FURTHER GIFTS , GRANTS , AND5
DONATIONS CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE STUDY . THE6
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL NOT APPROPRIATE MONEY FROM THE GENERAL7
FUND FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.8
(b) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACCEPT AND EXPEND GIFTS, GRANTS,9
OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THIS10
SECTION. THE TASK FORCE SHALL NOT IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION UNLESS11
THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES AN AMOUNT OF GIFTS , GRANTS , AND12
DONATIONS THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, OR THEIR DESIGNEE,13
DEEMS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION . WITHIN THIRTY DAYS14
AFTER RECEIPT OF A GIFT, GRANT, OR DONATION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL15
POST ON ITS WEBSITE THE SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF THE GIFT, GRANT, OR16
DONATION RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF THE TASK FORCE.17
(c) THE STUDY AND WRITTEN REPORT DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTIONS18
(10) AND (12) OF THIS SECTION ARE CONTINGENT ON MONEY BEING19
AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT THE STUDY AND THE WRITTEN REPORT . IF20
MONEY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE TASK FORCE OR FOR THE THIRD-PARTY21
ENTITY DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (8) OF THIS SECTION TO CARRY OUT THE22
DUTIES REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION , THE TASK FORCE OR THE23
ENTITY IS NOT REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES. A CONTRACT WITH A24
THIRD-PARTY ENTITY CONTRACTED WITH PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (8)25
OF THIS SECTION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES RELATED TO FACILITATION AND26
THE STUDY AND WRITTEN REPORT IS CONTINGENT ON GIFTS, GRANTS, AND27
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DONATIONS BEING AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE.1
(12) O N OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2027, THE TASK FORCE SHALL2
SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO3
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND4
THE SENATE , OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES ; THE GOVERNOR ; THE5
STATE BOARD; THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION; AND THE DEPARTMENT.6
THE WRITTEN REPORT MAY INCLUDE A MINORITY REPORT IF THE TASK7
FORCE DETERMINES ONE IS NECESSARY TO REFLECT CERTAIN MINORITY8
VIEWS FROM TASK FORCE DELIBERATIONS.9
(13) THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027.10
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,11
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate12
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for13
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state14
institutions.15
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