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History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government in Education Commission

History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government in Education Commission

During the 2019 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 19-1192 concerning the Inclusion of Matters Relating to American Minorities in the Teaching of Social Contributions in History and Civil Government in Public Schools.  This legislation creates a Commission appointed by the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, and the President of the State Historical Society.  

The Commission is charged with: 

  • making recommendations to the State Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), in conjunction with the 6-year standards review, revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards for history and civics to further the discovery, interpretation, and learning of the history, culture, social contributions, in the civil government of the US and CO;
  • working cooperatively and in conjunction with the CDE and local school boards to assist local education agencies in developing and promoting programs that engage students in the process of discovery and interpretation of the subjects and topics set forth in the law;
  • meeting at least twice a year; and
  • participating in community forums.

Membership

HB19-1192 specifies that the membership of the Commission consist of the following members:

  • Two members of the American Indian community
  • Two members from the Latino community
  • Two members from the African American community
  • Two members from the Asian American community
  • One member from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community
  • One member who is a teacher and holds an initial or professional license
  • One member from an organization that represents either school superintendents or local school boards
  • Two members representing higher education.  One member must represent a large state institution of higher education, and one member must represent a smaller state institution of higher education.
  • Two members from the Colorado Department of Education who are non-voting members
  • The President of the State Historical Society or the president's designee who is a non-voting member.

 History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government in Education Commission Members

  • Samantha Messier (non-voting member)
  • Stephanie Hartman (non-voting member)
  • Eric Carpio (non-voting member)
  • Jason Lester
  • Pamela Espinoza, Chair
  • Majel Boxer
  • Jared Anthony
  • Brent Sabati
  • Catie Santos de la Rosa
  • Soon Beng Yeap
  • Garrett Royer
  • Michelle Lopez
  • Jennifer Trujillo
  • Jingzi Huang

Past Commission Members

  • Brianna Buentello (2019-2021)
  • Nooshin Farjadi  (2019-2021)
  • Rafael Reyes Orona  (2019-2021)
  • Laura Janelle Owens  (2019-2021)
  • Samuel Leroy Turner II, Co-Chair  (2019-2021)
  • William Wei (non-voting member) (2019-2020)
  • Mike Hoa Nguyen (2022)
  • Tung Thanh Pham (2019 - 2022)
  • Lana Hailemariam (2019 - 2023)
  • Andrea Johnson (2019 - 2023)
  • Emma Rae Martinez (2019 - 2023)
  • Samuel Long, Co-Chair (2019 - 2023)
  • Blanche Mitchell Hughes (2019 - 2023)
  • Andres Carlos Martinez (2019 - 2021)
  • Teresa Lynn Steele Thomson (2019 - 2021)

Meeting Information

All meetings of the Commission will be open to the public; however, only Commission members will have an active role in the meeting. ​

HB 19-1192 Commission Report on Standards Revision Recommendations

Contact Information

Samantha Messier, Ph.D.
messier_s@cde.state.co.us 

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Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
Fax: 303-830-0793
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