Bill Summary for Bill Number HB09-1243

Date: 02/19/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1243

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment D), as amended ( Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment F). The motion Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment G). The motion Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment E), which amende Moved to refer House Bill 09-1243, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

01:41 PM -- House Bill 09-1243

Representatives Massey and Middleton, sponsors of House Bill 09-1243, concerning high school graduation rates shared a packet of information with the committee (Attachment A). Representative Middleton asked Mr. Matt Gianneschi and Dr. Richard Wenning to testify first to accommodate their schedules.

01:42 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

01:42 PM -- Matt Gianneschi, representing the Office of Governor, testified in support of the bill, and discussed some of the recent dropout prevention activities in the state.

01:44 PM -- Richard Wenning, representing the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), testified in support of the bill.

01:46 PM

Representative Murray asked how the office would be staffed. Dr. Wenning replied that the bill allows for FTE, but that there is work required under the bill l that can be done within the department's existing budget.

01:48 PM

Representative Middleton continued reviewing the key provisions of the bill, and explained that many of the activities enumerated in the bill are already being done in the state. She also mentioned that there will be five amendments offered on the bill.

01:53 PM

The committee continued with witness testimony on the bill:

01:53 PM -- Jennifer Dounay, representing the Education Commission of the States (ECS), testified on the bill and shared a handout with the committee members on dropout prevention (Attachment B).

01:57 PM

Representative Merrifield asked about the handout, specifically about the five indicators listed in the handout that make a strong impact on middle grade achievement.

01:59 PM -- Scott Groginsky, representing Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

02:02 PM -- Ken Seeley, representing the Partnership for Families and Children, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Seeley shared with the committee members some of the dropout prevention activities in school districts. He noted indicators that increase the likelihood that a student will dropout, including: truancy, out of school suspension, and course failure. He explained his organization is working on the first rural dropout study in the United States, and on another study that looks at gender differences in dropout rates.

02:08 PM -- Brian Brinkeroff, Janice Mackey, and Laura Ramos, representing Colorado Youth for Change, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brinkeroff shared the mission of the organization, and the strategies it employs to prevent students from dropping out. Ms. Mackey explained her role in encouraging students to return to school and to find them an appropriate school setting, and that she has successfully returned 74 students to school this academic year. Ms. Ramos shared her experience as a high school dropout, and returning to school through the assistance from Colorado Youth for Change.

02:13 PM

Representative Solano asked Ms. Mackey what she sees as the common themes among dropouts. Ms. Mackey replied that teenage pregnancy, credit deficiency, and supporting family are the most common reasons students cite for dropping out of school. Ms. Ramos explained that after her pregnancy being a parent kept her from school because she felt she needed to be a parent first. Representative Summers asked why students are reluctant to the outreach. Ms. Mackey explained the students are frustrated with the system. Representative Murray asked if substance abuse is a factor. Mr. Brinkeroff replied that it is.

02:18 PM -- Fred Franko, representing the Colorado Afterschool Network, testified in support of the bill.

02:20 PM -- Cindy Wakefield, representing CDE, testified in support of the bill, and offered to answer any questions from the committee. She explained her role at the department, which includes administering a grant program in 58 school districts.

02:22 PM -- Tim Welker, representing Goodwill Industries, testified in support of the bill, and shared the program Goodwill operates in 27 schools,specifically discussing the student resource center that Goodwill operates at East High School.

02:26 PM -- Nancy Tellez, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified on the bill, and explained the CASB legislative committee has not taken an official position on the bill. She shared some of the steps Poudre School District has taken to lower student dropout rates. She also presented concerns about the special designations under the bill, and how much assistance would the school districts actually receive from CDE.

02:31 PM

Representative Middleton addressed some of the questions raised by Ms. Tellez. Specifically, she explained that the State Board of Education (SBE) will determine which schools receive the special designation as high priority or priority, which she noted is tied to student population versus the number of dropouts. She further noted that there might be financial incentives for school districts that opt into the program, and that school districts will not be asked to participate at all if there is no funding to support the districts' efforts. Representative Solano asked about the cost to the school districts for the assessment piece of the bill, and expressed concern that there is no financial assistance for the assessment. Representative Middleton replied that she is sensitive to this, but that school districts already collect the data that they are being asked to review under the bill.

02:36 PM

Representative Solano added that mobility rates factor into determining priority schools, and she did not see that in the bill. She also shared that in her experience as a 5th and 6th grade teacher, she could already identify those students who were at risk for dropping out, and expressed the importance at looking at the bigger picture, and recommended having a forum for the elementary, middle school, and high school teachers to discuss transitions. Representative Massey noted that mobility rates are addressed in the bill. Representative Murray asked if all grade levels are included in the bill. Representative Middleton replied that is correct.

02:42 PM

Representative Peniston asked about the inclusion of gifted and talented children, who, she noted, are also at risk for dropping out of school. Representative Middleton explained that she would be open to including more explicit language in the bill on gifted and talented children. Representative Priola asked if the sponsors could share statistics on dropout rates. Representative Middleton referred Representative Priola to the handouts she provided to committee members.

02:47 PM

Representative Schafer noted that the department has made good efforts to lower dropout rates, but that the programs are isolated. She also discussed the parental involvement rate, and how to increase that. Representative Middleton noted that the bill mentions a review of family involvement and family support services. Representative Murray expressed concern about the expansion of bureaucracy in the bill, because she wondered once the department provides assistance to school districts to get best practices in place, if the office still be necessary. Representative Middleton explained that she specifically created an office so that the department is not required to take on more work without the structure to create the programs. She also believes that dropout prevention will ever become unnecessary, the commissioner can make the recommendation to restructure if necessary, and that CDE is one of the smallest state education departments in the country.

02:54 PM

Representative Massey also addressed Representative Murray's comments, and noted that the office could be removed at a later date by future legislators.


BILL:	HB09-1243
TIME:	02:56:06 PM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Benefield
	Massey
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Priola
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1243
TIME:	02:57:28 PM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment D), as amended (see vote see below). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Scanlan
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Benefield
	Massey
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Priola
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1243
TIME:	02:57:51 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment E), which amended Amendment L.002. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Benefield
	Massey
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Priola
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1243
TIME:	02:59:55 PM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Massey
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Benefield
	Massey
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Priola
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1243
TIME:	03:02:01 PM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Massey
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Benefield
	Massey
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Priola
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:02 PM

Representative Middleton concluded her remarks on the bill, and addressed some concerns presented by rural school districts. Representative Baumgardner stated that he would vote yes on the bill, but still has concerns that he would like to work on before it goes to the floor. Representative Summers stated that he would be voting for the bill, but expressed reluctance about certain aspects of the bill.

03:07 PM

Representative Todd expressed her support for the bill. Representative Priola also expressed his support for the bill. Representative Massey concluded his remarks on the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1243
TIME:	03:11:11 PM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1243, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Massey
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:11 PM

The committee took a brief recess.