State Board of Education approves new social studies standards

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- At its November meeting this week, the Colorado State Board of Education gave final approval to revised academic standards in social studies.

According to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), final revisions were approved after adding the contributions of ethnic and religious groups as well as LGTBQ+ people in the teaching of civil government.

A release from the CDE said before voting to adopt the full social studies standards for all grades, the board debated and voted on a series of amendments that were based on recommendations from the History, Culture, Social Contributions and Civil Government in Education Commission that was created by House Bill 19-1192. The legislature tasked the commission with adding minority groups into history and civics lessons in public schools. These additions included African American, Latino, Asian American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ, and religious minorities.

The CDE said the board was required to review all of the standards for social studies this year as part of the state’s review and revision of the Colorado Academic Standards. Additionally, House Bill 20-1336 required the board to adopt standards for Holocaust and genocide studies. 

Each school district and charter school now has until July 1, 2023, to incorporate the standards for Holocaust and genocide studies into an existing course that is a condition of high school graduation.