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Colorado bill could expand access to language endorsements for bilingual high school students

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Colorado bill could expand access to language endorsements for bilingual high school students


State Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, speaks in Georgetown during a bill signing ceremony on May 15, 2025. Velasco is a prime sponsor for House Bill 1028, which would expand access for Colorado high schoolers to graduate with biliteracy endorsements.
Robert Tann/Summit Daily News

Bilingual students in Colorado could soon earn recognition — and possibly college credits — for proving fluency in a foreign language learned at home, thanks to a new bill passed by the House Education Committee.

House Bill 1028 does two things: It changes educational requirements for the biliteracy endorsement program, and it creates a new diploma enforcement for bilingualism for graduating high school students.

Existing laws surrounding biliteracy credentials on high school diplomas, passed in 2017, allow school districts to grant diploma endorsements in biliteracy to students who demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language, in addition to English. 



More than 114,000 students — approximately 13% of Colorado’s K-12 student population — are identified as multilingual learners, yet only 55 out of the state’s 179 school districts offer a biliteracy seal.

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“Currently, we have students who clearly meet the skill level for biliteracy, or bilingualism, but they cannot access recognition simply because their school doesn’t offer it,” Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, a Glenwood Springs Democrat and one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said during the bill’s Feb. 5 Education Committee hearing. 



House Bill 1028 would expand access to biliteracy credentials by allowing students in school districts that do not offer the program to still complete it through other department-certified entities, which could include partnering with other school districts.

A biliteracy diploma endorsement is awarded to students who can read, write, speak and understand English and an additional foreign language. Bilingualism endorsements, which would be created under House Bill 1028, would be awarded to students who can speak and understand another language but don’t possess reading and writing skills — sometimes because the language is primarily oral and doesn’t have a standardized written form.

“The reason why (this distinction) is so profoundly important is because … we have many languages that also don’t have written language, and that in itself precludes them from being able to demonstrate and highlight that they are in fact bilingual,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat and one of the bill’s primary sponsors.

For higher education institutions that recognize the seal of biliteracy and bilingualism in high school diplomas, students with these seals could see them transferred into credits or be placed in a higher-level language class.

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The seal would be especially beneficial to students who learned a foreign language outside of a classroom setting, who otherwise wouldn’t receive any credits or recognition for their abilities.

“The kids of immigrants are speaking their native language at home, but they might not have any AP classes or any classes where they’re learning how to write it,” Velasco said.

Jorge Garcia, Board Chairman and CEO of the Colorado Association for Bilingual Education, testified in favor of the bill nine years after supporting the original 2017 legislation. Garcia said the legislation “had a very powerful impact” on thousands of students across the state, some of which received college credit for having the seal and had better access to scholarships.

Expanding access to the seal of biliteracy through third-party organizations, Garcia said, increases these opportunities for students without lowering existing standards or reducing the rigor of these endorsements.

Educators and other community members also asked lawmakers to consider amendments, such as updating how bilingual proficiency is measured and including equivalent credits outside of those acquired through Advancement Placement assessments, which are designed for students planning to attend college.

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James Yoder, who helps coordinate a biliteracy program in Aurora, said only two colleges and universities in the state currently recognize these seals. He suggested that language be added to the bill requiring all state colleges to recognize the achievement either through credit, higher-level placement in language classes or another benefit that helps students save on tuition.

“As it stands, the seal of biliteracy is basically a certificate and a pat on the back,” Yoder said.

Despite all 50 states offering the seal of biliteracy, Colorado is one of six states that does not collect data on students that receive the seal. Yoder requested that language be added to the bill that requires the Colorado Department of Education to collect and report that data.

If passed, the bill is projected to cost the state over $36,000 during its first year (2026-27) and $24,000 in the years following, most of which would come from the general fund during an already tight budget year.

Some lawmakers expressed concerns over the bill’s financial costs, pointing to bill language that says school districts that don’t already have their own program would have to pay a fee to work with a college or educational nonprofits.

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Rep. Dusty Johnson, representing House District 63, shared that some of her smaller school districts are barely able to keep track of their K-12 costs, and that unintended fees could put them at more of a deficit.

Offering either endorsement program remains optional for school districts, Garcia said. One of the bill’s amendments further clarifies that if a student needs the services of another school district to attain a seal of bilingualism or biliteracy, an agreement has to be made between the school districts.

The bill passed the House Education Committee Thursday with an 8-5 vote and was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

“I think for many of us immigrants, when we come to the U.S., we are met with a system that sees us as lacking something because we don’t speak English. But we’re actually bringing so much more,” Velasco said, recounting her own experience of arriving in the United States when she was 16 years old. “For me, it’s very very important for students to be able to celebrate … those skills that they have and are bringing from home, or from a different country.”

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Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one

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Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one


A man already driving with a suspended license from a DUI is now accused of intentionally plowing into three people on a sidewalk in Colorado.

This happened near the intersection of East Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Willowbridge Way in Highlands Ranch around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

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CBS


Witnesses say that after the crash, the driver made a U-turn, went back to the scene, slowly drove past the wreckage, then left. That allowed another witness to follow him 5.5 miles down to Daniels Park, where just 15 minutes later, 28-year-old Adam Bauserman was taken into custody.

Bauserman’s demeanor was described by deputies as “unusually quiet.” At one point, he apparently asked, “Do you know if I killed the man?”

As it would turn out, the man survived, but his girlfriend did not. Flowers are piling up at the scene of a morning walk that turned deadly.

Right now, investigators don’t believe the driver knew any of those victims.

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“You expect to be safe when you’re walking on the sidewalk,” said neighbor Beth Chitel, who lived just yards from the crash site until she moved last month. “These are very highly trafficked pathways around here; it could have happened to any of our friends, any of our neighbors, any of our children.”

“This was a horrific scene,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

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CBS


Thirty-five-year-old Corrine More died in the crash. Her sister tells CBS Colorado she lived in the neighborhood and was out on a walk with her boyfriend. She describes Corrine as a nursing student with a big heart who was loved by everyone who knew her, and who was beautiful inside and out.

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Corrine’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Kyle Vasey, was seriously injured. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was described by a doctor in the affidavit as being at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death.

The other victim is 72-year-old Dianne Windes. The sheriff says she was walking in the opposite direction from the couple. She was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

Witnesses believe the driver who crashed into the three pedestrians did so on purpose.

“If we can prove that, we’ll certainly do that, but at this point we have no indication of that,” Weekly said.

It was thanks to a witness who followed that truck that deputies arrested Bauserman, who was driving with a revoked license after a DUI last year.

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“Mr. Bauserman has had several revocations and suspensions of his license over the last 10 years,” Weekly said. “He should never have been on the roadway, and as a result of that, somebody is now deceased.”

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Douglas County Sheriff’s Office


Deputies did not detect immediate signs of intoxication but are waiting on blood test results.

Right now, investigators believe Bauserman was only traveling 3 mph over the speed limit, at about 48 mph in a 45 mph zone. That will need to be confirmed in the investigation.

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“He should never have been on the roadway, period. And so, the fact that somebody in our community has been lost in such a tragic, horrible way. How many lives have been destroyed by this selfish act?” Weekly asked.

“I want to express my sympathies to the families, and yeah, we’re here to support you as a community, and we’re by your side,” said Chitel.

Neighbor Beth Chitel started an online fundraiser for the victims.

“The last thing that the family should be having to worry about right now is the bills that are coming,” said Chitel.

The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.

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Chitel says the community has been hurt by other recent tragedies, like the death of 13-year-old Alex Mackiewicz, who was hit while in the crosswalk on his way to school. That fatal crash happened just over a mile away from this one.

“Something really needs to be done. The community is well aware of the safety issues posed there, of course. Again, we don’t expect them on the sidewalk,” said Chitel. “We need more crosswalks; we could use more stoplights. We need more safety measures put in place because, in general, it’s really not a safe road. People speed on it.”

“It’s absolutely horrible. As the sheriff, I have done a lot to increase traffic enforcement. We’ve almost doubled the size of our traffic unit. I expect my folks to be out there and be productive and ensure the safety of our citizens. These tragedies, certainly back to back, are heartbreaking for everybody involved, it shouldn’t happen,” Weekly said.

Three families are forever changed, a community is left with questions, and the investigation is just beginning.

“We need to make sure that we do our job well, and that we get justice for all these victims,” Weekly said.

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Bauserman is being held on charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Preliminary charges Bauserman is facing include the following seven felonies and one misdemeanor:

  • Vehicular homicide
  • Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
  • Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (two counts)
  • Vehicular assault (two counts)
  • Assault in the second degree – crimes to at-risk persons
  • Driving a motor vehicle with a license is under restraint (express consent refusal/DUI conviction)

These charges could change based on the results of the blood tests and additional information that is garnered through the investigation.

A judge set Bauserman’s bond at $100,000.

As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office says anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Pereira at bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call (303) 660-7537.

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Eagle Rock Ranch

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Eagle Rock Ranch


When Dave and Jean Gottenborg met as teenagers wrangling horses in Estes Park, they dreamed of one day running a ranch together. That dream fell by the wayside for decades until 2012, when the couple purchased Eagle Rock Ranch in the Tarryall Valley.

Talking about the Gottenborg’s ranch means deliberately avoiding words like “owners” and “ownership.” The couple “manage” their land — their preferred term — through the conservationist lens of thinkers like Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold. Visitors are welcome on the land (see some basic guidelines here), and they sell their beef by the cut, box and share at their family-owned mercantile in Fairplay.



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Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02

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Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02


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The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

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The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Los Angeles Angels.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels?

First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.

How to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

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Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



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