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DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed legislation to establish statewide Black History education standards in Colorado’s public K-12 schools. The bill would jumpstart the development and implementation of a standardized Black history curriculum.
“You cannot fully understand American history without learning about Black history. Without a standardized Black history curriculum in our public schools, students are deprived of an opportunity to learn about all the achievements and contributions of Black Americans to our society,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “By developing and standardizing Black history curriculum in Colorado’s public schools, we can ensure our students receive a well-rounded education. From politics to science, Black Americans’ contributions are vast, and this bill ensures students learn about the influential Black figures who came before them.”
HB25-1149, passed committee by a vote of 8-5 and would improve the consistency and comprehension of Black American history taught in Colorado’s public K-12 schools.
Specifically, this bill would require the Colorado Department of Education, with support from a 17-member advisory committee, to develop a standard curriculum for Black History and Cultural Studies in line with the state’s social studies standards revision cycle
Once approved by the Colorado Board of Education, public K-12 schools would have to adopt the new Black history education standards into their curriculum, which will be incorporated into the social studies standards adopted in 2028. The goal of HB24-1149 is to standardize Black American history taught in Colorado’s public schools to promote an accurate and inclusive education curriculum.