2021-2022 READ Act Instructional Programming Review Process

Background:

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act), passed by the Colorado legislature in 2012, focuses on early literacy development for all students kindergarten through third grade and especially for students at risk of not reaching grade level proficiency in reading by the end of third grade. Included in the READ Act is the requirement that the department create an advisory list of evidence-based or scientifically based instructional programming in reading, pursuant to C.R.S. 22-7-1209.

The main purpose of the READ Act Advisory List of Instructional Programming is to provide districts and schools with a choice of instructional programming that adequately enhances teacher quality and is a major vehicle that schools/districts can utilize to upgrade their capacity as it relates to the implementation of evidence-based literacy practices.

During each review cycle, new providers have the opportunity to be added to the advisory list. The review is a two part process for vendors to submit instructional programs: core, supplemental and intervention, to be reviewed for inclusion on the Colorado Department of Education READ Act Advisory List.

CDE reserves the right to make revisions or changes to this process as needed. Vendors are expected to stay alert for notifications from CDE during the review process.

Process:

The CDE process for review of instructional programming materials for inclusion on the READ Act Advisory List of Instructional Programming follows these steps:

Part I – Letter of Intent to Apply

In order for a provider to submit materials to the CDE for full review of programs, each vendor must have established that the program submitted met the eligibility criteria in Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply. Those programs that met the Part I – Letter of Intent to Apply criteria were asked to move forward to the Part II - Program Review and received the Part II – Program Review application from CDE. Vendors with program submissions advancing to Part II - Program Review had to complete and submit the Part II - Program Review application and all necessary materials in order to be reviewed for consideration for inclusion on the Advisory List for which the program was submitted for review.

Archived Resources:

Part II – Program Review

The application for Part II - Program Review includes instructions to submit materials for the second stage of the Program Advisory List Submission Application for review. As explained in the application for Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply, vendors had to explicitly state the location of required components within the submission materials. Only vendors meeting criteria of Part I - Letter of Intent to Apply and Part II Program Review may be considered for inclusion on the Advisory List for which the program was submitted for review.

Archived Resources:

Appeal Window

An appeal process has been established in rule pursuant to C.R.S. 22-7-1209(1)(d). If a publisher’s instructional program is not included on the approved list, the publisher may submit a written appeal to the department no later than 14 days after receiving notification. Grounds for written appeal will be limited to an explanation of why the submissions met the evaluation criteria that was identified and posted by the department.

For questions, please contact READAct@cde.state.co.us.