ColoradoColorado requires statewide social studies tests for seventh graders
Colorado’s education department must give public school students a state social studies test in seventh grade under the signed law.
What it does
The Colorado Department of Education must give a state social studies test to seventh graders in public schools across the state.
The law requires a $302,835 cut to statewide testing funds for 2026–27, but only if the annual state budget becomes law and provides at least that much from the state education fund.
Argument forTesting seventh graders statewide could give schools a common way to compare what students know about social studies.
Argument againstIf the funding cut applies, fewer testing dollars could limit the Colorado Department of Education’s support for schools administering state tests.
More detail
The Colorado Department of Education must give the state social studies test to seventh graders. The requirement covers seventh-grade students in public schools throughout Colorado. The testing requirement took effect upon passage of the law.
The law requires a $302,835 cut to state education fund money set aside for statewide testing. The cut concerns money for the Colorado Department of Education’s statewide testing program. The reduction applies only if the annual state budget for 2026–27 becomes law. No reduction is required if that budget provides no state education fund money for the program or provides less than $302,835. The cut applies to the 2026–27 state fiscal year. It takes effect when this law or the annual state budget takes effect, whichever is later.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 28Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 27Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 27Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 27Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 16Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
- Apr 14Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1353 to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 13Introduced In Senate - Assigned to AppropriationsMinor
- Apr 11House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Apr 8House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
- Apr 6House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1353 to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2Introduced In House - Assigned to AppropriationsIntroduced
EducationTaxes & Budget