CO HB1029

Authorizes school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative services to use per-pupil intervention money to purchase core reading instructional programs not included on the Department of Education's advisory list, if the provider determines the programs meet specified criteria.

Requires local education providers to notify the Department before purchasing non-listed programs and provide a description of each program.

Mandates the Department review programs after two full school years of use and determine whether they effectively help students attain reading competency.

Programs determined effective must be added to the Department's advisory list; programs deemed ineffective cannot be subsequently purchased with per-pupil intervention money.

Legislative findings document that 15.7 percent of kindergarten through third-grade students tested in 2017 had significant reading deficiencies, with disparities among racial and gender subgroups shown in 2019 assessment data.