STATE FUNDING GUIDE

Colorado

The READ Act (2012, strengthened 2019 and by SB 25-200 in 2025) requires K-3 reading assessment, individual READ plans for students with significant reading deficiencies, and evidence-based instruction. It comes with real money: districts receive annual per-pupil intervention funds from the Early Literacy Fund for identified students, and CDE also runs competitive Early Literacy Grants. Purchases made with READ Act funds are expected to come from CDE’s Advisory List of Instructional Programming, which includes a dedicated intervention category — so list status matters directly to what a Colorado district can buy with these dollars.

Colorado READ Act

How schools fund reading intervention in Colorado

The state-level programs below are the streams Colorado districts most often use for evidence-based reading intervention purchases, alongside the federal streams available everywhere.

READ Act Per-Pupil Intervention Funds (Early Literacy Fund)

Annual per-pupil distribution to districts for each K-3 student identified with a significant reading deficiency; allowable uses include purchasing scientifically or evidence-based core, supplemental, and intervention programming, tutoring, summer school, reading interventionists, and educator professional development.

Early Literacy Grant (ELG) Program

Competitive CDE grants to districts, BOCES, and charter schools to implement evidence-based K-3 reading instruction and intervention schoolwide, including instructional programming and coaching support.

Approved-list note: CDE maintains the READ Act Advisory List of Instructional Programming (core, supplemental, and intervention categories; last updated April 2026), and programs purchased with READ Act funds are expected to come from this list — districts must use other funding streams for off-list programs.

Official state resource →