Date: 01/14/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-032

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Amend page 4 to clarify that the purposes of the i
Amend page 5 to include identification of innovati
Moved Senate Bill 09-032, as amended, to the Commi
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



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.