Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision Process

About the Standards Review and Revision Process

The State Board of Education is required to review and revise approximately one-third of the standards beginning in 2022 and an additional one-third every two years thereafter (22-7-1005(6) C.R.S.). The 2020-21 school year is the first year of implementation of the standards that were revised in 2018. One-third of the standards that were adopted in 2018 will begin the review and revision cycle beginning in the Fall of 2020.

The review and revision of all academic standards will be divided into three groups and each of the three groups will go through the following cycles: 1) Review and Revision; 2) Transition; 3) Implementation. Each of these three cycles has steps that are outlined on the group's webpage.

Learn more about the standards review and revision process guiding principles, roles and responsibilities, and committee member selection.

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Latest News

Timeline and schedule announced for reviewing Colorado Academic Standards

Commissioner Katy Anthes announced the timeline and schedule for the statutorily required review of the Colorado Academic Standards. Statute requires the board to review and approve each content area in the standards every six years. The board approved revisions to the social studies and arts standards in 2022, and districts are required to implement the revisions in the 2024-25 school year.

The second set of standards to be reviewed will include computer science, English language proficiency, physical education and world languages. CDE staff will begin the process later this spring by comparing the standards to national and international benchmarks. After reviewing this report on the benchmarks, the board will determine the extent to which these standards should be updated. If the board determines revisions are necessary, a process will be created with stakeholder engagement to review and recommend updates to the board. The board will review and approve the standards by June 2024, and districts must implement the updated standards by the 2026-27 school year. The third set of standards to be reviewed will include math; reading, writing and communicating; science, and comprehensive health. The same process for reviewing these standards will begin in spring 2025, with approval by the board by June 2026. Implementation will be required in the 2028 school year.

Current content areas

A timeline of the review and revision process and where the process is currently for the arts and social studies standards content areas is available on the group's webpage.