The Colorado Department of Education

Offices | Staff Contacts | Colorado.gov

Colorado State Literacy Plan

The Colorado Department of Education is in the process of developing a State Literacy Plan which will: (a) summarize the research about quality literacy instruction that should inform educational practices, (b) provide a framework to organize literacy efforts at all levels, and (c) present an action plan and timeline for Colorado to achieve its literacy goals.  The Colorado State Literacy Plan will also provide a blueprint for all literacy grants and initiatives within the department, including the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant program.

The State Literacy Plan will build upon the Colorado Literacy Framework document to inform high quality literacy instruction in Colorado.  This document captured the collaborative work of the Colorado Department of Education leadership and staff during 2009-2010 to develop a consistent voice around literacy.  CDE has established an internal, cross unit, Literacy Leadership Team that is building on the Colorado Literacy Framework to draft an outline of a comprehensive state literacy plan. Also, CDE has established an external Literacy Advisory Committee to provide feedback on Colorado’s State Literacy Plan. Click here for the April 2012 version of Colorado's State Literacy Plan.

The Literacy Advisory Team will be donating their time to work collaboratively with CDE Literacy Leadership Team including:

  • Attending webinars and in person Colorado Literacy Plan meetings
  • Providing input for the Colorado Literacy Plan
  • Reviewing drafts on the Colorado Literacy Plan

Main components of the Colorado Literacy Plan include:

  • Literacy goals for Colorado’s children, birth through 12th grade
  • Anchor principles to guide all literacy efforts emanating from the department
  • Recommendations for meeting Colorado’s literacy goals for all children
  • Action steps for implementation

Timeline of Plan Development

September 2010: 
Colorado received Striving Readers formula grant to develop a state literacy plan

October-December 2010: 
CDE Literacy Leadership Team formed; inventory of literacy initiatives conducted

December 2010-January 2011: 
Initial state literacy overview developed

February 2011: 
Initial draft state literacy overview submitted to U. S. Department of Education as required by Striving Readers grant

March-April 2011: 
Striving Readers Competitive grant proposal developed and submitted to U. S. Department of Education

May 18, 2011: 
State Literacy Plan Retreat (CDE Literacy Leadership Team and the Literacy Advisory Committee)

June-August, 2011:
CDE Literacy Leadership Team incorporates Literacy Advisory Committee input into plan outline

August 25, 2011: 
State Literacy Plan Retreat (CDE Literacy Leadership Team and Literacy Advisory Committee) to solicit feedback on plan outline

October-December 2011:  
CDE Literacy Leadership Team continues to meet to develop full state literacy plan

December 2011: 
Draft state plan completed

January-February, 2012: 
Public feedback on draft state plan

March 2012: 
State plan revised

April 2012: 
State plan presented to State Board of Education for approval