DENVER — The Colorado State Board of Education on Thursday approved much-contested social study standards, adding back references to people of color and the LGBTQ community that were removed after critical feedback from board members and the public.
The vote was along party lines with Democratic board members Lisa Escárcega, Angelika Schroeder, Rebecca McClellan and Karla Esser voting in favor. The three Republican board members — Debora Scheffel, Joyce Rankin and Steve Durham — voted against.
The board revisited its social study standards to comply with a 2019 bill passed by the state Legislature that sought to add more diverse views into students’ social studies lessons. The bill said students must learn about the history, social contributions and culture of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, the LGBTQ community and religious minorities.
