From State Law to Student Action: Colorado’s First Year with the Seal of Climate Literacy
When Colorado students walked across graduation stages in Spring 2025, some carried more than a diploma—they carried recognition for their climate knowledge and leadership.
In May 2024, Colorado became the first state to enact the Seal of Climate Literacy Diploma Endorsement into law, creating a statewide pathway for students to demonstrate climate literacy through both coursework and real-world action. The policy marked a national milestone and set a model that other states are beginning to adapt.
The first school year after the law passed offered an early look at what climate literacy policy can look like in practice. A newly released Colorado Year One Report documents how districts implemented the Seal, how students engaged with climate learning, and what lessons emerged during the inaugural year.
What Is the Seal of Climate Literacy?
The Seal of Climate Literacy recognizes graduating students who demonstrate both academic understanding of climate change and hands-on action in their communities.
To earn the Seal in Colorado, students must:
Meet their district’s high school graduation requirements
Complete two courses that include climate literacy principles, including one science course
Complete an experiential project connected to climate change in their local community
Projects are often supported by schools, districts, or community organizations and can take many forms—from environmental monitoring and sustainable agriculture to policy engagement, renewable energy solutions, or climate education.
Importantly, the Seal is locally conferred. School districts, charter networks, and other Local Education Providers (LEPs) can choose whether to offer the Seal and how to implement it within their communities.
Where Was the Seal Implemented?
In its first year, 14 Local Education Providers across Colorado conferred the Seal to graduating students. These districts and schools represented a wide range of communities across the state, including rural, small rural, and urban regions.
Participating LEPs included:
Boulder Valley School District
Denver Public Schools
Denver School of Science and Technology
Durango School District
Eagle Ridge Academy
Jefferson County Public Schools
Lake County School District
Montrose County School District
Peak to Peak Charter School
Poudre School District
Steamboat Springs School District
South Routt School District
The STEAD School
Weld (Greeley-Evans) School District 6
Roughly one-third of participating LEPs were located in rural or small rural areas, demonstrating the Seal’s flexibility across diverse communities.
Student Participation and Projects
During the first year of implementation, an estimated 426 students earned the Seal of Climate Literacy. Student projects spanned a wide range of climate-related topics, including:
Environmental monitoring and research
Sustainable agriculture and land stewardship
Waste reduction initiatives
Renewable energy solutions
Climate education and community outreach
Arts and media projects
Work-based learning and internships
Many projects were developed in partnership with local organizations, connecting classroom learning with community impact.
Participation is expected to grow rapidly. Current projections estimate:
1,200+ students earning the Seal in Spring 2026
3,600+ students earning the Seal by Spring 2027
What Made Implementation Possible
Several factors helped districts launch the Seal in its first year:
Local control. Because the Seal is opt-in, districts were able to implement it in ways that fit their priorities, curriculum, and capacity.
Flexibility. Schools adapted the Seal to local contexts, allowing both rural and large urban districts to participate.
Targeted support. Modest implementation grants helped districts build programs, support student projects, and expand access—particularly for rural communities and schools serving higher numbers of low-income students.
Collaboration. Ongoing support, shared learning, and partnerships with community organizations helped districts navigate early challenges.
Together, these lessons suggest that climate literacy policy can scale while remaining locally relevant.
Looking Ahead
Colorado was the first state to adopt the Seal of Climate Literacy—but it is unlikely to be the last.
Other states exploring policy or implementation include Maine, Minnesota, Hawaii, New Jersey, and California, with additional states expressing interest. As more states adapt the model to their own contexts, the Seal is emerging as a national framework for recognizing climate-ready graduates.
Learn More
The Colorado Year One Report, produced by Lyra with numbers confirmed by the Colorado Department of Education, offers a deeper look at how districts implemented the Seal, examples of student projects, and lessons from the first year.
Read more HERE.
