Senate Committee on Education (01/14/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	01/14/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:06 AM to 11:10 AM	Groff	X
		Heath	X
Place:	SCR 354	Hudak	*
		King K.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kopp	X
	Senator Bacon	Spence	X
		Romer	X
This Report was prepared by		Bacon	X
	Jennifer Thomsen
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Call to Order and Announcements Sunset Review - On-line Learning Advisory Board SB09-032		- - Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

10:06 AM -- Call to Order and Announcements

Senator Bacon called the committee to order.

Senator Bacon made introductory remarks about materials that would be provided to the committee and provided a brief overview of the memorandum outlining committee procedures, noting that he will try to expedite meetings and provide equal time to those wishing to testify on bills before the committee.

10:10 AM -- Sunset Review - On-line Learning Advisory Board

Saul Larson, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), came to the table to speak to the sunset review of the On-line Learning Advisory Board. The DORA report is contained in Attachment A. Mr. Larson began by providing a brief overview of the sunset process, speaking specifically to the process as it applies to advisory boards.

Mr. Larson provided a brief background of the On-line Learning Advisory Board, explaining its membership and purpose. He explained that the board has fulfilled its statutory duties, and said DORA is recommending that the board be allowed to sunset. Senator Spence commented on the board, and expressed her high regard for its work.

10:15 AM

Senator Hudak asked Pamela Ice to come to the table to describe the Unit of On-line Learning, of which Ms. Ice is the director. Ms. Ice said the advisory board has completed its work as defined in statute, and noted that the statute allows the Commissioner of Education to appoint ad hoc committees to address any issues that might arise in the future. Ms. Ice responded to a question from Senator Hudak about the ad hoc committee that might be formed. She noted that the ad hoc committee might not consist of the same members that were members of the advisory board. Senator Hudak asked Ms. Ice to explain why an ad hoc committee might be necessary. Ms. Ice said the unit values the advice of the advisory committee. Discussion between Senator Hudak and Ms. Ice on this topic ensued. Ms. Ice asked Dr. Barbara Medina, Assistant Commissioner in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), to speak to Senator Hudak's questions. Dr. Medina did so, saying continuing to seek advice and input from the field is important. The conversation between Dr. Medina and Senator Hudak in this area continued.

10:22 AM

Senators Bacon, Romer, and Kopp commented on the work of the advisory board.


BILL:	Sunset Review - On-line Learning Advisory Board
TIME:	10:22:00 AM
MOVED:	King K.
MOTION:	Moved that the committee accept the recommendation of the Department of Regulatory Agencies to allow the On-line Learning Advisory Board to sunset, and further moved that the committee accept the draft bill related to the recommendation (Attachment B). The motion passed on an 8-0 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Kopp	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Bacon	Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:24 AM

Senator Kopp agreed to sponsor the bill repealing the advisory committee (Attachment B). Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to ask the committee for permission to make technical changes to the bill draft and to list committee members as co-sponsors. In addition, there was discussion about whether the bill requires a safety clause. Mr. Sweetman provided clarification to this issue and the committee directed Mr. Sweetman to include a safety clause on the bill.

10:28 AM -- Senate Bill 09-032

President Groff, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-032, presented his bill to the committee. The bill clarifies the mission of the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and creates the Education Innovation Institute at the university. The university is directed to administer the institute as part of its statutory mission as the state's primary institution for teacher preparation programs in the state. President Groff explained that the bill does not have a fiscal impact, and noted that a future General Assembly may appropriate money, and that UNC may solicit gifts, grants, and donations.

10:30 AM

President Groff responded to a question from Senator Hudak about whether the bill meets the recommendations of the Governor's P-20 Council. President Groff commented on the bill's flexibility. Senator Romer said the Governor's council has done great work, but that the General Assembly must work on the issues as well. Senator Romer expressed support for the bill, and commented on the original role of UNC as a teachers' college. Senator Romer asked President Groff if there is a way to connect UNC with national trends in teacher preparation and teacher quality. He said that some federal stimulus money may be connected to education innovation. President Groff responded, commenting on the possibility of federal stimulus dollars. In addition, he commented on the need for an entity in the state to disseminate information to other educational institutions. He said the bill allows UNC to fill that role.

10:35 AM

Senator Kopp asked whether this innovation is possible without the bill, saying universities should feel able to innovate without statutory clarification. President Groff responded, and said that President Kay Norton would speak to that issue as well. Senator Heath asked if UNC would be able to collaborate with the other institutions in the state. President Groff responded, saying the bill does address collaboration and the sharing of the information. He said UNC should be given credit for wanting to centralize the collection of information and that it is within UNC's mission to do so.

Senator King commented on the purposes of the institute, as delineated in the bill. He expressed concern about the lack of mention of facilities in the bill, and suggested that facilities might be added. Senator King talked about facility collaboration in Colorado Springs. President Groff responded, saying perhaps facilities fits in the language on page 4, line 24, regarding financing and governance models. He said he does not have an objection to adding language about facilities.

10:41 AM

The following persons testified:

10:42 AM -- President of UNC, Kay Norton, testified in support of the bill. She said the bill is not about what is good for UNC, it is not about budget, or UNC's competitive position, rather it is about the fulfilment of the university's mission. She said UNC was founded to prepare teachers and to be a thought leader in what education ought to be. President Norton said the role of a university is not only to generate credit hours, but to produce citizens and leaders. She commented that public institutions have an important role, and the bill is an example of what institutions ought to be doing. She said the university could accomplish the goals of the bill without legislation, but the bill is an important affirmation of UNC's role. President Norton talked about where schools get the information they need to innovate and move forward. She clarified that the institution will not replicate work, but will serve as a repository of information of what should be.

President Norton introduced Mr. Robert Dickeson, who is a past president of UNC. She explained that she has been working with Mr. Dickeson on the innovation institute concept.

10:48 AM -- Mr. Dickeson joined President Norton at the table to testify in support of the bill. Mr. Dickeson described his background to the committee, saying he is engaged in a variety of education-related projects. He commented on institutes throughout the country that collect information but do not disseminate it. He said the proposed institute is different, and, if done well, will be a spark plug for action. Mr. Dickeson talked about how change occurs and talked about transforming research and ideas into action and step-by-step plans that can be acted upon. Mr. Dickeson talked about the original purpose of UNC, as established by the General Assembly more than 100 years ago. He commented on past innovation at UNC, and said that the bill recaptures that innovation.

10:53 AM

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee. Senator Kopp asked how the General Assembly might measure the degree of success of the institute. Mr. Dickeson responded, saying that at any level of education, measuring success is tied to leadership, and that measurement and evaluation need to be institutionalized. He said the need for innovation is on-going, but should be measured from time to time.

Senator Romer commented that UNC's customers, prospective teachers, are deciding to forgo traditional teacher preparation programs, and asked Mr. Dickeson to talk about who the customer is, saying this is changing. He talked about Teach America and changing views on teacher preparation. Senator Romer talked about how Colorado's higher education funding model affects institutions and who their customers are. Senator Romer said the money has to follow the commitment. Mr. Dickeson responded to Senator Romer's comments.

11:00 AM

Senator Bacon talked about comparing U.S. scores and successes to other countries, and said it is his hope that the investigation is more that just U.S.-wide, but is worldwide.

11:02 AM

Senator King described a proposed amendment adding facilities to the bill. Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, clarified the language of the proposed amendment.


BILL:	SB09-032
TIME:	11:04:23 AM
MOVED:	King K.
MOTION:	Amend page 5 to include identification of innovative uses of existing school facilities. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff
	Heath
	Hudak
	King K.
	Kopp
	Spence
	Romer
	Bacon
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-032
TIME:	11:04:56 AM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Amend page 4 to clarify that the purposes of the institute are not limited to the enumerated purposes. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff
	Heath
	Hudak
	King K.
	Kopp
	Spence
	Romer
	Bacon
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

11:05 AM

Senator Kopp asked President Groff about including language in the bill requiring the development of metrics of success and reporting those back to the Education Committees of the General Assembly. President Groff said he would like to talk to UNC about how best to add such language, and said he would prefer to make that kind of amendment on second reading.


BILL:	SB09-032
TIME:	11:07:35 AM
MOVED:	Groff
MOTION:	Moved Senate Bill 09-032, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 8-0 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Kopp	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Bacon	Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:07 AM

Senator Bacon announced that the confirmation hearing for Joseph Zimlich, appointee to the Colorado State University Board of Governors, would take upon adjournment of the Joint Education Committee meeting on Thursday, January 15. The committee discussed its calendar.

The committee adjourned.