(1) (a) On or before December 15, 2009, the state board and the commission shall negotiate a consensus and adopt a description of postsecondary and workforce readiness. In describing postsecondary and workforce readiness, the state board and the commission shall, at a minimum:

(I) Describe the knowledge and skills that are required for a student to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness;

(II) Ensure that postsecondary and workforce readiness includes demonstration of postsecondary planning skills and the ability to apply those skills;

(III) Describe the level of English language competency that a student must demonstrate in order to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness;

(IV) Ensure that postsecondary and workforce readiness includes demonstration of a sufficiently high level of comprehension or skill to successfully complete, without need for remediation, the core academic courses identified by the commission pursuantto section 23-1-125 (3), C.R.S.; and

(V) Ensure that, to the extent practicable, postsecondary and workforce readiness requires a student to demonstrate creativity and innovation skills; critical-thinking and problem-solving skills; communication and collaboration skills; social and cultural awareness; civic engagement; initiative and self-direction; flexibility; productivity and accountability; character and leadership; information technology application skills; and other skills critical to preparing students for the twenty-first-century workforce and for active citizenship.

(b) The state board and the commission may modify the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness as necessary based on the recommendations received through the peer review process on the amended state plan pursuant to section 22-7-1012 to ensure alignment of the postsecondary and workforce readiness description with the standards and assessments.

(2) The state board, in adopting state assessments pursuant to section 22-7-1006, shall ensure that the state assessments administered to students enrolled in high school are aligned with the Colorado academic standards and are sufficient to enable a student to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness by the time the student graduates from high school.

(3) (a) On or before July 1, 2015, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board and the commission shall review, negotiate a consensus, and adopt any appropriate revisions to the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness. The state board and the commission shall ensure that any revisions adopted pursuant to this paragraph (a) meet the requirements for the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness specified in subsection (1) of this section.

(b) Repealed.