House Committee on Education (05/10/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	05/10/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:24 AM to 11:56 AM	Benefield	X
		Massey	X
Place:	HCR 0112	McNulty	*
		Middleton	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Scanlan	X
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	X
	Katey McGettrick	Summers	*
		Tipton	*
		Todd	*
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB10-205 SB10-202 SB10-210		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations Postponed Indefinitely

11:25 AM -- Senate Bill 10-205

Representative Murray, co-prime sponsor of Senate Bill 10-205, concerning school district bonded indebtedness, explained the bill to the committee. She discussed how the passage of Amendment 61 could affect the bonding capacities of school districts.

11:27 AM

The following people testified on the bill:

11:27 AM -- Jason Hopfer, representing Douglas County School District, testified in support of the bill, and expressed concern over the impact of the amendment should it be approved by the voters.

11:28 AM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified in support of the bill and noted that CASB requested the legislation.


BILL:	SB10-205
TIME:	11:29:34 AM
MOVED:	Murray
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-205 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Scanlan
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

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

11:30 AM -- Senate Bill 10-202

Representative Kerr, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-202, concerning savings accounts for job training, explained the bill to the committee. He noted that the bill is similar to legislation he sponsored earlier in the legislative session.

11:31 AM

The following people testified:

11:32 AM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill and shared a written copy of his testimony (Attachment A).


BILL:	SB10-202
TIME:	11:34:07 AM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-202 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Murray
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

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

11:34 AM -- Senate Bill 10-210

Representative Massey, co-prime sponsor of Senate Bill 10-210, concerning reading incentive programs, explained the bill to the committee. He stated that the purpose of the bill is to improve student academic achievement. He shared a handout with the committee (Attachment B), specifically noting the letter of support from the principal of Las Animas Elementary School. Representative Ferrandino, co-prime sponsor of the measure, noted that the bill is permissive, and funding for incentive programs may be authorized at the discretion of the Read to Achieve Board.

11:38 AM

Representative Benefield stated that Read to Achieve funds are used to instruct reading, not to incentivize it. She noted that the funds for the program are depleting and that the school programs that have been cut because of that. She expressed concern about the use of funds for incentivizing the program and asked the committee to vote against the bill.


BILL:	SB10-210
TIME:	11:41:04 AM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.005 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Merrifield
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

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

11:42 AM

Representative Massey responded to Representative Benefield's comments, noting that the program is permissive and provides another tool for educators. Representative Solano cited research on the issues that arise from incentivizing students to read or engage in any educational activity. She expressed concern about the provision in the bill that requires the student to take a test and asked whether the program would lend itself to fraud. Representative Summers asked if there are existing programs that have proven results from implementing an incentive program. Representative Massey responded that there is a responsibility of the board to determine the success or failure of the program. Representative Summers asked if the Read to Achieve board could implement this program without the legislation. Representative Massey stated that they cannot because the bill expands the mission of Read to Achieve.

11:46 AM

Representative Benefield explained that Read to Achieve is a state-funded program, and does not receive federal funding. Representative Scanlan shared that Summit County School District has an incentive program similar to that of Las Animas Elementary School that Representative Massey cited. Representative Massey reiterated that the program is voluntary. Representative Schafer asked how many schools are involved in Read to Achieve. Representative Massey responded that 41 schools are currently participating. Representative Middleton asked Representative Benefield if she is concerned that the money will be taken from current programs. Representative Ferrandino responded by referring to language in the bill that states awarding of grants is permissive, and is done at the discretion of the board. Representative Middleton stated that she has concerns supporting a bill that may take away from current funding. She stated that there could be other community groups that could assist in implementing such programs.

11:51 AM

Representative Massey responded that the original intent was to have funding to augment the current funding, not to have competing funding needs. Representative Benefield discussed an audit on Read to Achieve, the restructuring that happened as a result of that audit, and she stated that incentivizing reading is not effective in educating K -3 students. Representative Merrifield expressed concern that there is a reward provided for every book read, and what happens after third grade, when the incentive goes away. Representative Todd shared her experience as a first grade teacher providing reading instruction.


BILL:	SB10-210
TIME:	11:54:55 AM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-210, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a 5-8 vote.
SECONDED:	Scanlan
		VOTE
	Benefield	No
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	No
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	No
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	No
	Summers	No
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	No
	Solano	No
	Merrifield	No

Not Final YES: 5 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB10-210
TIME:	11:55:58 AM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Moved to postpone Senate Bill 10-210 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 11-2 vote.
SECONDED:	Solano
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	No
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	No
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:56 AM

The committee adjourned.