DENVER - On January 29, 2025, Governor Polis highlighted the progress that Colorado has made as shown by the most recent NAEP scores, while acknowledging that there is more work ahead to support students and educators. 

“The Nation’s Report Card is a valuable resource as we work to boost student achievement and outcomes here in Colorado. Today’s release shows that while Colorado is holding its own and has made important progress, it’s clear that we have a lot more work to do to help all students achieve at grade level or above. When the last set of NAEP scores came out in 2022, we acted on the insights and took action to boost math achievement, including passing legislation to create new out-of-school time opportunities centered around STEM, supporting math-focused teacher preparation and professional development, and helping schools acquire high quality instructional math materials. We believe the groundwork laid through these sustained efforts will lead to steady improvements in the years ahead. Colorado will continue to pursue every avenue to get our students the support they need, including free preschool and kindergarten that’s saving families thousands each year to afterschool programming for math and science, support for innovation in our schools, ensuring parents in education deserts have more quality choices, and increased per pupil funding. Everything should be on the table to ensure every student can succeed across our entire state,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

New NAEP data shows that: 

- Colorado is #1 in the nation in change since 2022 in scale scores for all students and Black students in 8th grade reading. 
- Colorado is #2 in the nation for change since 2022 scale score for all students in 8th grade math. 
- Colorado matched or outpaced the nation in change since 2022 for all students in every grade and subject. 
- Colorado is #1 in the nation for improvement over the last decade (2013 to 2024) for Black students in 8th grade reading. 
- Colorado is #2 in the nation for improvement over the last decade (2013 to 2024) for Black students in 4th grade reading. 
- Colorado outpaced the nation for improvement over the last decade (2013 to 2024) for Black students in every grade and subject. 
- Colorado outpaced the nation over the last decade (2013 to 2024) for Hispanic students in 8th grade reading and math.

As Chair of the National Governors Association, Governor Polis launched Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success to support Governors in driving innovative education policies. Let’s Get Ready aims to help Governors form policies that better evaluate outcomes for state investments in education and improve outcomes for learners at all stages of their education journey. The initiative also focuses on the ways states can meet the future needs of the workforce and strengthen the economy by preparing students for success in and outside of the classroom.