CDE-Provided Training for Principals/Administrators

Important Dates for Administrators and Principals

Any administrators hired prior to June 1st, 2025 must have completed evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading by August 1st, 2025.

Administrators hired after June 1st, 2025 complete evidence-based training designed for K-3 principals and administrators in the science of reading by August 1st, 2026.

Explore CDE-Provided Principal/Administrator Training Options

Principal/Administrator Course Details:

IMPORTANT: There are two options.
- 20 hour option for those who have never completed approved training that meets the READ Act requirements.
- 5 hour option for those who have completed an approved teacher training and ONLY need to meet the additional principal/administrator training sections that address the Colorado Principal Literacy Standards
After registering, participants will receive access to the pre-assessment for the course in the Playbook Platform. PLEASE NOTE: Some district filters send notifications from Playbook to SPAM or JUNK folders so check all folder options if it has been over 1 week since you requested access.
Access to the course will be available to all registered participants until they fully complete the course and pass the end of course assessment.
Completion of all course modules and a score of 80% or higher on the end of course assessment are required to meet the evidence-based training requirement.
Upon completion, active principal/administrator licensed staff should add the READ Act Administrator designation to their license using the COOL system. Click here for details on how to add the principal/administrator designation to your license.

Register / Access 20-Hour Online K-3 Principal | Administrator Training

K-3 principals/administrators that have not completed the READ Act teacher training requirement must complete 20 hours of training that includes 15 hours of evidence-based training in the science of reading and 5 hours of training that addresses the Colorado Principal Literacy Standards.

If you registered for the CDE provided online training prior to June 20, 2025 and have not received an email with your updated username and password, please email PCG support at support@onlinepl.zendesk.com and request your updated username and password.

Request Access to 5-hour Online K-3 Principal | Administrator Training

K-3 principals/administrators that have completed the READ Act teacher training requirement must complete 5 hours of training that addresses the Colorado Principal Literacy Standards.
Proof of completion of the teacher training requirement must be submitted to access the 5 hour online K-3 Principal/Administrator Training.
- The form linked in the button above includes the step to submit proof of completion documentation.
Review of proof of completion documentation may take up to two weeks, please plan accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information about the “Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success for Principals/Administrators” Online Training

As mentioned above, there are 2 online, asynchronous training options for principals administrators. Both course options are organized into six learning modules that include optional and required sections. The optional course content is available if leaders have difficulty passing module assessments due to incorrect answers. It is recommended that all participants complete the “required” content first and if they cannot pass the end of module assessments, visit optional sections to deepen their learning. Click on module titles below to access all topics covered (required and optional) in each module.

Module 1: Introduction to the Science of Reading (PDF)
Module 2: Oral Language and Phonology (PDF)
Module 3: Phonics and Word Study (PDF)
Module 4: Creating Fluent Readers (PDF)
Module 5: Developing Vocabulary (PDF)
Module 6: Increasing Reading Comprehension (PDF)

Facilitator Guide

CDE has created a Facilitator Guide designed to support school leaders in implementing the learning from the online teacher training into practice in their school context. The facilitator guide offers flexible options for reviewing key course concepts, analyzing school curriculum and student data, and implementing evidence-based literacy instructional practices.

Coming Soon!

Questions/Support

For questions about online course registration or platform support email support@onlinepl.zendesk.com.

For questions about the CDE-Provided Principal/Administrator Training options email ReadActTraining@cde.state.co.us.

For all other questions related to the READ Act email ReadAct@cde.state.co.us.

Rule

13.01(D)(2)(c): Successfully completed a training provided by CDE or included on the advisory list of rigorous professional development programs provided by CDE pursuant to section 22-7-1209(2)(c) and passed the end of course assessment of learning.

Process

Educators will submit evidence of meeting the evidence-based training requirement to the CDE through the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system.

District Duties/Tasks

District informs administrators and principals of the option to register for the CDE-provided online principal/administrator training and provides information on how to register.
District maintains a record of which administrators and principals have met this requirement.
District reports this information to the CDE upon request.

Administrator and Principal Duties/Tasks

Please note: administrators and principals must retain all documentation.

Administrator or principal registers for the CDE-provided online training.
Administrator or principal completes the CDE-provided online training and takes the end of course assessment earning a passing score.
Administrator or principal receives a certificate of completion which notes that he/she has successfully passed the end of course assessment.
Administrator or principal submits his/her certificate of completion through the Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) system by following the steps below.
- Log in to their COOL account.
- Select “My Profile”.
- Select “+ Designations” in the Credential section of the profile (Under "Actions")
- Select "YES" when asked if you have reviewed the designation section of your profile and confirm you do not have the designation you are requesting
- Choose "Read Act Administrator" in the drop down menu, Click "YES" and follow the remaining application steps
- When asked to upload proof of coursework completion, only upload the final completion certificate from the Pepper platform ( transcripts, timestamp screen shots etc. will not be accepted)

NOTE: The READ Act Administrator designation can only be added to active principal/administrator licenses.

Requests to add this designation to an inactive license, a teacher license or other license category will be denied. If your district has requested that other licensees obtain this training, reach out to your district for the steps needed to provide them with coursework completion proof.

For technical support using COOL, submit an online support form.

← Return to School Administrator Training Requirements