Colorado repeals teacher and early literacy funds while mandating $34 million annual reading appropriation

Original title: State Education Fund Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act & Colorado Teacher of the Year Program

Last action · March 26, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Kyle Brown and 15 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Does

Colorado discontinues automatic annual fund transfers and repeals both the Colorado teacher of the year fund and the early literacy fund effective September 1, 2027, while requiring at least $34 million to be appropriated annually from the state education fund for early literacy programs.

Why it matters

Shifts funding mechanisms for state teacher recognition and early reading programs from automatic transfers to direct legislative appropriations backed by a guaranteed annual spending floor.

Background

The State Education Fund is a constitutional fund established in Colorado to receive a portion of state income tax revenues dedicated to public education funding. context
The Colorado READ Act governs early literacy assessments and intervention programs in public schools across the state. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Colorado teacher of the year program participants

Program funding mechanism changes from automatic annual transfers to discretionary legislative appropriations.

Directly affected

Early literacy program administrators

Fund administration shifts to a mandatory annual appropriation of at least $34 million from the state education fund.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to the Colorado teacher of the year fund and early literacy fund?

Both funds are repealed, with the repeal taking effect on September 1, 2027.

How will early literacy programs be funded after the changes take effect?

The general assembly is required to annually appropriate at least $34 million from the state education fund for specified purposes supporting the .

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

12 actions

Mar 26, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Governor Signed
Mar 17, 2026SenateFloor
Signed by the President of the Senate
Mar 17, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Sent to the Governor
Mar 16, 2026HouseFloor
Signed by the Speaker of the House
Feb 20, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Feb 19, 2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

Show 6 earlier actions

Feb 18, 2026SenateCommittee
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
Feb 17, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations
Feb 12, 2026HouseFloor
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Feb 11, 2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Feb 6, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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