Date: 02/25/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1254

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to postpone House Bill 10-1254 indefinitely.
Moved to refer House Bill 10-1254 to the Committee		PASS
FAIL



05:20 PM -- House Bill 10-1254

Representative Sonnenberg, sponsor of House Bill 10-1254, concerning high school graduation requirements, presented the bill to the committee. He discussed other states that use exit examinations.


05:25 PM

Representative Massey asked the sponsor if he spoke to the department. Representative Sonnenberg explained that he left a message for the commissioner and spoke with the department liaison, who explained the department's opposition to the bill. Representative Solano stated that research shows that there is not one standardized test that can demonstrate college and workforce readiness. She further noted that some colleges are moving away from requiring standardized testing, nor does the business community ask for CSAP scores. She stated that the business community looks for social skills and ability to collaborate in prospective employees. She discussed lawsuits in other states regarding exit exams. She also noted that students do not take the CSAP seriously because it does not affect college or employment applications.


05:33 PM

Representative Sonnenberg responded to her remarks, noting that this bill could place more meaning to the CSAPs. Representative Solano presented concerns with using standardized assessments that create a one-size-fits-all model and that one test should not demonstrate the worth of a person.


05:39 PM

Representative Murray stated that the department is moving in a positive direction to better assess student learning but that she agrees that issues still remain with remediation. Representative Massey asked a question pertaining to the fiscal note and the cost of retesting CSAP and presented concerns that it would result in more teaching toward the test. Representative Solano discussed the importance of diagnostics to determine remediation and that the state is moving toward that model.


05:42 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

05:42 PM -- Bruce Caughey, representing CASE, testified against the bill because of concerns raised by school administrators regarding students not taking standardized tests seriously. Mr. Caughey stated that the bill also creates an unfunded mandate, specifically noting the cost for those students who do not pass the test and may need to stay in school longer while attempting to pass the test.

05:44 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing CASB, testified against the bill because she believes that the bill infringes on local control, and would result in the state rewarding diplomas, not local school districts. She noted that some districts require that students attain a certain CSAP score in order to graduate and that any school district could impose that requirement if they found it appropriate.
BILL:HB10-1254
TIME: 05:48:00 PM
MOVED:McNulty
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 10-1254 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a 3-9-1 vote.
SECONDED:Summers
VOTE
Benefield
No
Massey
No
McNulty
Yes
Middleton
No
Murray
Yes
Peniston
No
Scanlan
No
Schafer S.
No
Summers
Yes
Tipton
Excused
Todd
No
Solano
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 3 NO: 9 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB10-1254
TIME: 05:52:47 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved to postpone House Bill 10-1254 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 10-2-1 vote.
SECONDED:Todd
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Yes
McNulty
No
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



05:53 PM

The committee adjourned.