SB21-013: Reversing COVID-Related Learning Loss

• Establishes that Colorado public schools experienced significant in-person instruction closures during 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, with disproportionate negative impacts on students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities.

• Requires the Colorado Department of Education to identify and maintain a resource bank of educational products, strategies, and services demonstrating effectiveness in reversing student learning loss, with specific inclusion of resources appropriate for rural and small rural school districts.

• Allocates approximately $1.166 billion in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to Colorado, with at least $1.05 billion to local education providers and $116.6 million retained by the state, including approximately $58 million specifically for learning recovery programs.

• Directs the administering BOCES to prioritize partnerships with local public education agencies for delivery of supplemental online learning recovery courses for kindergarten through twelfth grade students, beginning summer 2021.

• Requires the Department of Education to submit annual reports by December 1 each year through 2024 detailing federal funding purposes and results, to be presented at the department's January hearing and posted on its website.