Bill Summary for Bill Number HB10-1273

Date: 02/25/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1273

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment B). The motion Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment C). The motion Moved to refer House Bill 10-1273, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

01:39 PM -- House Bill 10-1273

Representative Merrifield, sponsor of House Bill 10-1273, concerning required arts education, presented the bill to the committee and discussed the important role arts education can play in workforce development.

01:47 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

01:47 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified against the bill. Ms. Urschel stated the importance of allowing local school boards to determine the curriculum. She also raised issues of how the mandate would be paid for. She noted that in the current economic climate, some school districts have declared fiscal emergencies. She suggested removing the mandate and including an incentive for schools to offer arts education, such as rewarding points toward accreditation.

01:55 PM

Ms. Urschel responded to questions from the committee regarding the provision in the bill that requires students to demonstrate proficiency in visual and performing arts and whether she knows how many school districts already provide arts education. Mr. Urschel responded that CASB opposes the bill because it infringes on local control and school districts should be allowed to make choices about curriculum, and that the issue of demonstrated proficiency is secondary. She also discussed the fiscal note.

01:58 PM -- Bruce Caughey, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), testified against the bill. He stated that the bill highlights an important fact in Colorado - that schools are not able to provide children with all the instruction that they need. He stated that the CASE is opposed, not because the association does not believe that the arts is not important, but rather, that there is not enough funding currently for schools, and that adding an unfunded mandate would present an additional burden to school districts. He further asked the committee to consider if the bill passes, what future mandates might be handed down to schools. He stated that CASE is supportive of offering an incentive for providing arts education, instead of making it a mandate, as discussed by Ms. Urschel.

02:01 PM

Representative Solano sought clarification from Mr. Caughey on CASE's position on incentives. Mr. Caughey stated that CASE is in conversation with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) on the matter and that the suggestion of connecting it to accreditation makes sense. Representative Todd asked Mr. Caughey to detail more clearly the incentive idea. He responded that giving points in the accreditation process would be his suggestion for a non-monetary incentive.

02:04 PM -- Shannon Patilla, representing herself as a student at the Denver School of the Arts, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of arts education in her life, explaining that her participation in the arts provides her with confidence and life skills. She responded to questions from the committee regarding her future academic plans.

02:06 PM -- Chloe Armao, representing herself as a student at the Denver School of the Arts, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of arts education and the confidence acting has given her. She explained that she believes participating in the arts is an opportunity to study humanity, and arts provides her a connection with and empathy for humanity. She responded to questions from the committee regarding her future academic plans.

02:10 PM -- Karol Gates, representing the Colorado Department of Education, read a statement in support of the bill from Commissioner Dwight Jones into the record. She also provided her thoughts on the bill, discussing how the requirements of this bill can be met through the newly established model content standards. She also discussed the role of the Office of Teaching and Learning in assisting school districts in implementing the content standards and assessments. She highlighted some current art education programs being implemented in Colorado schools.

02:23 PM -- Lauren Sides, representing herself, shared her experience as a middle school student, a piano student, and a choir and orchestra participant. She discussed what the opportunity to learn music has meant for her.

02:26 PM -- Karen Mortimer, representing Whittier K-8 PTA, testified in support of the bill and shared that Whittier has some arts classes, but no physical education or music classes. She raised concerns that the bill presents schools an unfunded mandate and the effect this could have at Whittier, a school where 92 percent of the students are eligible for free- and reduced-lunch.

02:30 PM -- Vicki Sterling, representing the Denver Art Museum, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the correlation between art education, learning critical life skills, and reducing the drop out rate. She also discussed the importance of growing talent for the state's creative economy.

02:34 PM -- John Giardino, representing Colorado PTA, provided conditional support of the bill as it is currently written. He shared his concerns about the bill, including: the lack of funding for the bill, the provision of arts education to rural school districts, and language in the bill pertaining to demonstrated proficiency.

02:39 PM -- Gary Schmidt, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) # 7, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of providing technical training on the production aspects of arts, such as lighting and stage setting. He noted that training in such fields can prepare students for future employment in stagehand professions.

02:43 PM -- Kip Cheroutes, representing the U.S. District Export Council, testified in support of the bill. He explained the nexus between arts education and foreign trade and why the export council is in support of the bill. He shared his experience working internationally and stated that he believes that the U.S. cultivates creativity where other countries do not, making it an exportable commodity.

02:48 PM -- Dorian DeLong, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He shared his experience as a social studies teacher at Thornton High School. He explained how he has seen arts education eroded at his school. He also shared that he was an at-risk student as a teenager and how the arts engaged him in his education.

02:55 PM -- Dan Ritchie, representing the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ritchie noted the richness that arts education brings to a child's life.

02:58 PM -- Tina Obermeier, representing Arts for Colorado, testified in support of the bill and shared the mission of the organization.

02:59 PM -- Jim Copenhaver, also representing Arts for Colorado, testified in support of the bill and noted the importance of preparing children for living and working in a knowledge-based and creative economy. He also touched on the importance of respecting local control, and that elevating this issue of arts education requires local engagement because arts is an important tool for teaching children about the world they live in.

03:04 PM -- Gene Sabczak, representing the Arvada Center for the Arts, testified in support of the bill and shared information about the center.

03:07 PM -- Mark Arnold, also representing the Arvada Center for the Arts, testified in support of the bill and shared his experience as a retired teacher currently volunteering with the center.

03:11 PM -- Jose Mercado, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and shared his experience as an actor, director, and professor. He also shared his experience as a drama teacher at North High School.

03:15 PM -- Scott Groginsky, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill, contingent upon the passage of the sponsor's proposed amendments. He discussed previous testimony about the cost of the bill, noting that the bill is permissive in the delivery method of the arts education.

03:19 PM -- Chris Wineman, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, testified in support of the bill and discussed the economic and civic value of the arts in Colorado.

03:23 PM -- Mark Hudson, representing the Colorado Music Educators Association, testified in support of the bill and shared his background as a music teacher.

03:29 PM -- Jacqueline Bhuyan, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and discussed the connection of arts education to a child's biological and physiological development.


BILL:	HB10-1273
TIME:	03:31:21 PM
MOVED:	Merrifield
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB10-1273
TIME:	03:32:52 PM
MOVED:	Merrifield
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Peniston
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB10-1273
TIME:	03:33:25 PM
MOVED:	Merrifield
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:35 PM

Representative Merrifield concluded his remarks on the bill and asked for the committee's support. Representative Massey explained why he would be voting "no" on the bill. Representative Peniston shared her thoughts on the bill, noting how arts education can be bundled into other parts of the curriculum. Representative Middleton commented on the flexibility in the bill and that school districts can integrate the curriculum. Representative Summers weighed in on the discussion, presenting concerns with the mandate to school districts but stating interest in hearing more on the incentive piece suggested by CASE and CASB. Representative Todd reflected on the testimony the committee heard, noting the passion with which many people discussed the arts. Representative Murray stated that she appreciates the bill but cannot support an unfunded mandate on schools. Representative Solano stated her support for the bill


BILL:	HB10-1273
TIME:	03:48:15 PM
MOVED:	Merrifield
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1273, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-2-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	No
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	No
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:52 PM

The committee recessed.