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HB 25-1149

Comprehensive Black History & Culture Education in K-12

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 52 co-sponsors

Expands Colorado K-12 Black history and culture education statewide, integrating it into core standards, with teacher training, materials, and district implementation.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1149

HB 25-1149 — Comprehensive Black History & Culture Education in K‑12

Status: Governor Signed (2025-06-03)
Introduced: January 29, 2025

What this bill is about (purpose)

The bill’s title indicates its purpose is to establish or expand a comprehensive K‑12 program for teaching Black history and culture across Colorado public schools. The general intent is to ensure students receive consistent, age‑appropriate instruction about the history, culture, contributions, and experiences of Black people in the United States and/or Colorado.

Legislative status and timeline

  • Introduced in the House: 2025-01-29 (assigned to Education)
  • Passed both chambers; final legislative actions completed in May 2025 (House and Senate signatures on 2025-05-07)
  • Sent to Governor: 2025-05-07
  • Governor signed into law: 2025-06-03

Sponsors

Primary sponsors: Tony Exum and Regina English.
Large bipartisan/cross‑chamber list of cosponsors from both chambers (see full sponsor list provided with the bill).

Key provisions (summary and likely components)

The bill text was not provided. Based on the bill title and common legislative approaches to K‑12 culturally responsive curriculum, the enacted law most likely includes one or more of the following elements. Consult the official bill text for precise wording and requirements.

  • Adoption or updating of statewide standards or learning objectives specifically for Black history and culture across grade bands (K‑5, 6‑8, 9‑12).
  • Requirement that Black history and culture be integrated into social studies and connected subject areas (e.g., English, arts) rather than solely as an elective.
  • Development or approval process for instructional materials and resources that reflect accurate historical scholarship and diverse Black voices.
  • Professional development and training for teachers and administrators on content, culturally responsive pedagogy, and classroom implementation.
  • Consultation or partnerships with historians, educators from Black communities, cultural institutions, and community stakeholders in curriculum development.
  • Implementation timeline phased by school year and grade level, with school districts required to adopt materials and provide teacher training by specified dates.
  • Reporting requirements for the Department of Education or school districts on implementation progress, curriculum adoption, and student outcomes.
  • Possible appropriation or funding mechanism to support curriculum development, materials, and professional development (fiscal impacts are commonly addressed in a separate fiscal note).

Who is affected

  • Students in Colorado public K‑12 schools (instructional content and course offerings).
  • Teachers and school administrators (training and curricular planning).
  • Local school districts and charter schools (adoption and implementation responsibilities).
  • Colorado Department of Education (oversight, guidance, approvals, reporting).
  • Curriculum publishers and educational materials providers (market demand for approved materials).
  • Community stakeholders, including Black educators, historians, parents, and cultural organizations (consultation and partnership roles).

Potential impacts

  • Curriculum: Greater statewide consistency in how Black history and culture are taught.
  • Instruction: Need for teacher training and new instructional materials; short‑term costs for professional development and materials acquisition.
  • Educational outcomes: Potential to increase student understanding of Black history, cultural contributions, and historical context; effects would depend on implementation fidelity.
  • Administrative: New reporting or compliance requirements for districts and the Department of Education.

Next steps / where to find the full text

This summary is based on the bill title and legislative history provided. For exact legal requirements, implementation dates, funding amounts, and statutory amendments, review the official enrolled bill text and any accompanying fiscal note or implementation guidance issued by the Colorado Department of Education or the General Assembly’s bill documents.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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