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READ Act Teacher Training
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The Office of Elementary Literacy and School Readiness hosts monthly live informational webinars to provide updates on the READ Act teacher and school administrator trainings. Amendments to the READ Act requires that K-3 teachers who provide literacy instruction, 4-12 reading interventionists, and school administrators (including principals) must take training (SB19-199 and SB22-004). Attending any or all of the teacher training or school administrator webinars will NOT meet the training requirements for teachers or school administrators. The webinars are for information and updates only.
Archived READ Act Informational Webinars
All teachers who provide literacy instruction to students in grades K-3 and 4-12 reading interventionists must complete evidenced-based training in teaching reading. Below are the definitions of teacher and reading interventionist in READ Act Rule.
- Reading Interventionist: An individual employed to teach students and whose primary job duties include providing reading intervention to students on READ Act Plans during regular school hours to supplement core academic instruction and who is employed in any of grades K-12.
- Teacher: The professional responsible for the literacy instruction of the student(s) and may include the main instructor for a class, an instructional coach, Reading Interventionist (in grades K-3), special education teacher, Title I teacher or other personnel who are identified as effective in the teaching of reading and who has been employed to teach kindergarten or any of grades one through three.
Note: All K-12 teachers that have already completed one of the approved training options to meet the READ Act teacher training requirements and have the READ Act designation on their license, will not need to also complete the updated K-12 training Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success.
K-3 teachers who provide literacy instruction
- August 1, 2025: evidence-based training in teaching reading must be completed
- August 15, 2025: documentation should be submitted to the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system (licensed teachers only; non-licensed teachers must reach out to their district to learn how to submit their documentation.)
4-12 reading interventionists
- August 1, 2025: evidence-based training in teaching reading must be completed
- August 15, 2025: documentation should be submitted to the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system (licensed teachers only; non-licensed teachers must reach out to their district to learn how to submit their documentation.)
Colorado school districts are required to ensure all K-3 teachers who provide literacy instruction and 4-12 reading interventionists complete evidence-based training in teaching reading as a result of changes to the Colorado READ Act in SB 19-199 (PDF) and SB22-004 (PDF). Districts, BOCES, and charters that do not meet the requirements will be ineligible for READ Act funds.
To meet the training requirements, State Board of Education rules require that the evidence-based training in teaching reading must:
- Consist of a minimum of 45 hours;
- Address the content of the educator preparation literacy standards referenced in the state board's Rules for the Administration of Educator License Endorsements, 1 CCR 301-10(PDF), section 4.02(5) through 4.02(12(PDF) (effective May 30, 2019); and
- Include an end of course assessment that teachers can provide evidence of passing.
State law and State Board of Education rules allow the following options for teachers to meet the training requirements.
View Teacher Training Frequently Asked Questions
Teachers need to only complete one of these options to meet the READ Act teacher training requirements. Teachers need to meet this training requirement only once.
Option 1 - Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Endorsement
- Teachers who have a Colorado Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist endorsement meet the training requirement.
Option 2 - State Board Approved Assessment of Knowledge of Teaching Reading
- Teachers who have completed one of the approved evidence-based training options but lack proof of an end of course assessment may take and pass an alternative assessment authorized by the State Board.
- The Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary 5205 exam with the passing score of 159 was approved by the state board in April 2020.
Option 3 - Appropriate Undergraduate or Graduate University Course in Teaching Reading
- Teachers may submit evidence of successfully completing an undergraduate or graduate course in teaching reading for the CDE to review to determine whether it meets the statutory requirements.
- Educator Preparation Program staff may submit a course in teaching reading for the CDE to review to determine whether it meets the statutory requirements.
Teachers:
Ed Prep Program Staff:
Option 4 - Course Appropriate for License Renewal
- Teachers may submit evidence of successfully completing a course in teaching reading appropriate for license renewal for the CDE to review to determine whether it meets the statutory requirements.
Option 5 - CDE-Provided Training
- Teachers will have the option to successfully complete a CDE-provided training (online course or face-to-face) at no cost to the teacher.
- Teachers will have the option to successfully complete a district- or BOCES-provided training approved by the CDE and can check with their district or BOCES whether this option will be available to them.
Option 7 - Training Program from the CDE Advisory List of Professional Development
- Teachers can successfully complete a training program included on the CDE Advisory List of Professional Development that has been designed to meet this requirement.
Licensed Teachers
To submit evidence of completion to the Colorado Online Licensing System (COOL) that demonstrates a teacher has met the READ Act evidence-based training in teaching reading requirements, the teacher will need to follow the directions below.
- Log in to their COOL account
- Select “My Profile”.
- Select “Designations” in the Credential section of the profile.
- Select “Add Designation”.
- Click “Yes, Confirm”.
- Click “Yes” under “Do you wish to be evaluated for the READ Act designation?”
- Complete a short application and upload their documentation (certificate of completion or transcript).
OR
- Log in to their COOL account
- Select + Designation to add the READ Act designation (under “Actions”)
- Click “Yes, Confirm”.
- Click “Yes” under “Do you wish to be evaluated for the READ Act designation?”
- Complete a short application and upload their documentation (certificate of completion or transcript)
Please note that if you do not have an active license or you do not have a teaching license, you will not be able to add the designation to your COOL account. Instead, reach out to your district for the information you need to provide them.
Non-Licensed Teachers
A non-licensed teacher is a teacher who is responsible for classroom instruction but does not hold a Colorado Teaching License. A non-licensed educator might be a teacher, administrator or support staff in a K-12 school system.
If you do not have an active license or you do not have a teaching license, you will not be able to add the designation to your COOL account. Instead, reach out to your district for the information you need to provide them.
For technical support using COOL, submit an online support form.
Accessing a certificate of completion in Pepper:
- Locate the blue banner across the top of the landing page in Pepper
- Locate the orange person icon to the far right of the banner
- Under the person icon, look for the word “Me”
- Click on the dropdown arrow next to the word “Me”
- Click on “View Profile”
- Under “Certificates” is a link to the certificate of completion that can be downloaded
Evidence Required for Each Pathway
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Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
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See also Licensing Hours
UPDATED
June 27, 2025
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