House Committee on Education (05/05/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	05/05/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	07:31 AM to 08:56 AM	Benefield	*
		Massey	X
Place:	HCR 0112	McNulty	*
		Middleton	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Scanlan	*
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	X
	Katey McGettrick	Summers	X
		Tipton	*
		Todd	*
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB10-064 SB10-161		Referred to Appropriations Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

07:32 AM -- Senate Bill 10-064

Representative Merrifield, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-064, concerning College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend payments, explained that the bill allows institutions to apply for COF on behalf of students.

07:33 AM

The following people testified:

07:33 AM -- Jason Hopfer, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.


BILL:	SB10-064
TIME:	07:35:01 AM
MOVED:	Merrifield
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-064 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 7-0-6 vote.
SECONDED:	Murray
		VOTE
	Benefield	Excused
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Excused
	Middleton	Excused
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd	Excused
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 6 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

07:36 AM

The committee took a brief recess.

07:40 AM -- Senate Bill 10-161

The committee came back to order. Representative Massey, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-161, concerning charter school collaboratives, presented the bill to the committee.

07:42 AM

The following people testified on the bill:

07:43 AM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified against the bill because it separates the authorizer from the charter and drives a wedge in that relationship. She stated that any liability of the charter is the responsibility of the school district. She responded to questions from the committee.

07:48 AM -- Bruce Caughey, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives, testified against the bill. He expressed concern about creating collaboratives that can act as separate local education agencies, and noted that collaboratives can already be created under current law. He responded to questions from the committee.

07:53 AM -- Jim Griffin, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill allows charter schools to perform the administrative functions jointly that they currently do on a school-by-school basis. He emphasized that there is no additional authority granted under the bill. He stated that the bill improves efficiencies for schools, such as combining payroll services. He responded to questions from the committee about the authorities for charter schools under the bill.

08:11 AM

Representative Schafer asked Mr. Griffin what the benefit is in operating as a collaborative rather than receiving or purchasing those services through the school district. He provided an example of how charter schools are excluded from grant applications submitted by school districts and also noted that sometimes the goals for seeking a grant are different and it does not make sense to submit an application jointly. Representative Middleton expressed concern that the bill grants more authorities than he is explaining, but agrees with the intent to have charter schools come together to improve efficiencies. She asked if there is a way to have the Charter School Institute (CSI) operate as the local education agency for purposes of the bill. She also expressed concern that recent charter school legislative efforts have been brought forward with stakeholder consensus, but that this legislation has not. Mr. Griffin responded to her comments.

08:23 AM -- Christine Burton, representing Global Village Academy, testified in support of the bill. She introduced a student from the charter school. She discussed the language immersion program at her school and the federal grant programs that are available for schools. She discussed how collaboratives can assist schools in limited circumstances and noted previous legislative efforts to grant access to the free- and reduced-lunch program for charter schools. Representative Middleton asked Ms. Burton if she believes that it could be done through the CSI. Ms. Burton explained that her goal is to apply for grants and shared her experience as a charter school principal in Florida, which is a state that provides limited local education agency status. She further stated that any mechanism that improves access is something she supports.

08:28 AM -- Bill Bethke, representing Kurtz and Bethke, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the bill codifies current charter school practices throughout the state. He stated that the only new authority in the bill is the ability to apply for federal grants. He responded to Representative Middleton's question about channeling grant applications through one entity. He stated that it is an idea worth exploring.

08:38 AM

Representative Benefield asked Mr. Bethke about the role of boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) in providing special education services, and why charter schools in urban areas would not purchase these services through BOCES instead of establishing a new entity. Mr. Bethke responded that it would be hard to find a BOCES interested in that kind of arrangement because of the geographical barriers. He also explained that charter schools do not have the authority to form BOCES. Representative Benefield responded that the Front Range BOCES could accommodate the needs of charter schools in the metropolitan area. He discussed the pragmatic hurdles for doing so.

08:45 AM -- Scott Groginsky, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. He noted that approximately half of states allow charter schools to operate in this manner.

08:47 AM

The committee took a brief recess.

08:55 AM

The committee came back to order. Representative Merrifield announced that Senate Bill 10-161 would be laid over for action only until tomorrow's House Education hearing.