Joint Committee Committee on Joint Education (01/18/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date:	01/18/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:44 AM to 12:09 PM	Beezley	X
		Hamner	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Heath	X
		Holbert	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Hudak	X
	Senator Bacon	Johnston	X
		Joshi	*
This Report was prepared by		Kerr A.	X
	Jennifer Thomsen	King K.	*
		Murray	X
		Peniston	X
		Ramirez	X
		Renfroe	*
		Schafer S.	X
		Solano	X
		Spence	*
		Summers	X
		Todd	X
		Bacon	X
		Massey	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Presentation by the Office of the State Auditor SMART and Jt Rule 25 Briefing by the Dept of Education SMART and Jt Rule 25 Briefing by Dept of Higher Education Ed Success Task Force Update		- - - -

09:44 AM -- Presentation by the Office of the State Auditor

Senator Steadman, member of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), explained that he will be the JBC liaison to the Education Committees. He also explained that each member of the General Assembly has been assigned a JBC "buddy."

Dianne Ray, Office of the State Auditor, came to the table to update the committee on the work of the Office of the State Auditor and the Legislative Audit Committee. She explained that neither the Department of Education nor the Department of Higher Education has unimplemented audit recommendations.

09:49 AM

Ms. Ray responded to committee questions. Senator Hudak asked for clarification about her comments related to the lack of unimplemented audit recommendations.

09:52 AM -- SMART Act and Joint Rule 25 Briefing by the Colorado Department of Education

Commissioner Hammond and Deputy Commissioner Diana Sirko, Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to brief the committee pursuant to the SMART Act (House Bill 10-1119) and Joint Rule 25. Commissioner Hammond introduced members of the State Board of Education who were in attendance at the meeting. He referred the committee to the notebook of materials the department provided (Attachment A). Ms. Jill Hawley, Chief of Staff and Strategy, joined the Commissioner at the table as well. Commissioner Hammond made opening remarks to the committee, talking generally about the department's work, especially as it relates to education reform legislation passed in the last several years.

10:02 AM

Ms. Hawley described the department's strategic plan. She explained that the plan was started last summer with the State Board of Education, then continued with meetings with staff and the cabinet. She said the units within the department provided detailed feedback, which was considered as the plan was finalized. She referred the committee to the department's goals on page six of the plan, discussing each in turn. Ms. Hawley talked about the reduction in the backlog in educator licensure requests, noting that the time to get a license has been reduced greatly. Senator Bacon thanked the department for their work on this issue. Ms. Hawley described how performance targets were set for each objective in the strategic plan.

10:11 AM

Senator Hudak asked for more information on interventions for students who are struggling and for turnaround schools. Ms. Hawley referred her to page 15 of the plan, and offered to provide further detail. Conversation between Senator Hudak and Commissioner Hammond on these issues ensued. Commissioner Hammond talked about the accreditation system, specifically the unified improvement plan process. He explained some changes that have been made in the department to better support struggling schools and districts. He said the department is working hard to ensure that schools and districts do not stay on a turnaround plan for multiple years. Senator Bacon asked for information about how many schools are on turnaround and priority improvement plans. Commissioner Hammond provided this information, noting that six districts are on turnaround plans.

Representative Massey asked how the department's strategic plan addresses underserved student populations and how it addresses blended and online learning. Ms. Hawley provided a response to the question about underserved student populations, describing the supports and interventions that are used. In response to the question about online learning, she referred Representative Massey to goal three, which addresses choice and quality of choice options. Commissioner Hammond talked about achievement gaps, and how districts and schools are held accountable in the unified improvement plan.

10:22 AM

Commissioner Hammond said innovation and choice are critical, and reported that the department has received a variety of grants for work on these issues. He referred to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Commission report, and how the recommendations from that report are being used and implemented.

Representative Hamner asked whether anything has been learned yet from the closing the achievement gap projects that are going on around the state. Commissioner Hammond asked Associate Commissioner Keith Owen and Dr. Sirko to join him at the table to respond to Representative Hamner's questions. Dr. Sirko talked about the findings of the projects, saying intensive/targeted intervention made the most progress in closing achievement gaps. She said SchoolVIEW and similar tools help districts figure out what works. Dr. Owen said the department is trying to be very proactive with districts that are on turnaround and priority improvement plans. He said the work is tough; many of the districts are heavily impacted by poverty. He said they have learned that it is difficult to push money into a school and see results if the district is not invested in the work. He talked briefly about the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver request filed by the department.

10:29 AM

Representative Solano asked about the educator equity gap, asking what is being done to get the best and most experienced teachers into low-performing schools. Dr. Sirko responded, talking about the importance of professional development and educator preparation, specifically discussing incentives and effective support of teachers.

Senator King asked for information about the transition from state standards to common core standards, and also asked for information about the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP). Commissioner Hammond noted that discussion would be next on the agenda.

Senator Johnston asked for further information about what happens to a district that is on a priority improvement or turnaround plan several years in a row. Dr. Owen explained that the statute does not allow a district to stay on one of those plans for more than five years, so the department is being proactive in helping districts move off of those plans before they hit the five-year mark. He responded to follow-up questions from Senator Johnston about what happens when the five-year mark is hit. Dr. Owen also responded to questions from Senator Hudak on this same topic.

10:34 AM

Discussion on this topic continued, with Representative Schafer acknowledging the work of the department in improving outcomes for students. Representative Holbert observed that the goals and objectives in the department's plan refer first to the agency, and it is important to note that the first focus is on kids. He asked if the department is looking out farther -- 10, 20, or even 50 years. Ms. Hawley returned to the table to respond, saying the department's goal is to prepare kids for what the world will look like in coming years.

Representative Ramierez asked for clarification of which figures in the plan are actuals and which are goals. Ms. Hawley responded. Representative Ramirez asked for further clarification on the consequences to schools and districts that do not move off of a priority improvement or turnaround plan. Commissioner Hammond spoke to these issues as well.

10:41 AM

Representative Murray asked about the trend of more females than males enrolling in institutions of higher education, and asked whether the department is working on ways to reach male students. Dr. Sirko responded, talking about the importance of multiple modalities of learning.

10:45 AM

Commissioner Hammond noted that progress is being made on the implementation of Senate Bill 10-191, the educator effectiveness bill.

Dr. Sirko responded to Senator King's earlier questions about common core standards and TCAP. She talked about the adoption of common core standards and their incorporation into Colorado's new standards. In addition, she explained districts' work in implementing new standards as well. She provided information on TCAP and talked about the importance of maintaining the integrity of the growth model. She said the assessment is not assessing all of the new standards, just those at the intersection of the old and new standards. Senator King asked whether analysis had been done on how the changes to the standards will change the "cut points" for schools and districts on priority improvement or turnaround plans. Dr. Sirko responded, saying a downward trend is expected at the outset due to the increased rigor of the new standards. She explained how gaps and deficits will be analyzed as part of a data-driven decision-making process.

10:52 AM

Committee questions continued with Senator Johnston asking for further clarification of what will be assessed on the TCAP. Dr. Sirko and Commissioner Hammond provided that clarification. Commissioner Hammond explained that having a new assessment system to assess the mastery of the new standards is critical.

Commissioner Hammond reiterated the department's progress on the implementation of Senate Bill 10-191. He said they are prepared to answer questions on school finance, online education, and innovation and choice.

Senator Bacon said the department would be invited back for further discussion on all of these issues. He thanked the department for their good work.

10:58 AM -- SMART Act Briefing by Department of Higher Education

The committee took a brief recess.

Upon the committee's return, Lieutenant Governor Garcia, Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education, came to the table to brief the committee pursuant to the SMART Act (House Bill 10-1119) and Joint Rule 25. The department provided a packet of materials (Attachment B). Lieutenant Governor Garcia explained that each institution of higher education has its own master plan. He said critical issues for the department are to improve quality, access, and affordability. He reminded the committee that the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) is the state's central policy and coordinating board, and that its advisory committee includes six legislators. He talked about the need to coordinate better with K-12 education, saying a new appointee to the CCHE might provide that link. Lieutenant Governor Garcia talked about the role of the CCHE and the institutions' governing boards. He said higher education, by design, is not uniform, and that institutions with different roles and missions serve different types of students.

11:13 AM

Lieutenant Governor Garcia continued his remarks, talking about institutions' autonomy, saying they have been given more flexibility in the past several years. He described the department, providing information about the funding for its various divisions, noting that most funding comes from federal funds, grants, and cash funds (fees). Referring to slide 11, he discussed funding for higher education in Colorado.

11:19 AM

Continuing his presentation, Lieutenant Governor Garcia explained that there are 31 public institutions in the state, more than 330 private occupational schools, and over 100 degree-granting private colleges. He noted that in public institutions, there are over 250,000 students enrolled, with many of those being part-time students. He explained that the state does not collect enrollment data for private institutions at this time, but legislation may address that issue this year. He provided information on where students are being served.

Senator Johnston asked for clarification regarding the use of the term "Local Districts," which Matt Gianneschi, Deputy Executive Director at the department, provided.

11:24 AM

Lieutenant Governor Garcia continued his remarks, discussing enrollment by gender, noting that female enrollment has exceeded male enrollment for many years. He discussed how the department is planning for demographic changes, specifically the large increase in the Hispanic population in the state. Representative Massey asked how the department is helping Hispanic students, who tend to have a more difficult time navigating the financial aid system. Lieutenant Governor Garcia responded, noting the work being done in Denver Public Schools around this, and talking about the reluctance of many Hispanic families to take out loans. He said GEAR UP is working on these issues. Senator Bacon asked whether the department works with K-12 on the needed outreach. Lieutenant Governor Garcia described the work of College In Colorado on this issue.

11:29 AM

Senator King asked for clarification of what is being displayed on the "Minority Share of Education Credentials in Colorado, 2010" chart in the handout. Lieutenant Governor Garcia responded to the question from Senator King as well as a question on the same topic from Representative Ramirez. Representative Joshi asked about the number of international students attending higher education institutions in the state. Lieutenant Governor Garcia said all of the institutions are reaching out more aggressively to international students.

Lieutenant Governor Garcia continued, talking about the CCHE master planning timeline and how it ties in with performance contracts required pursuant to state law. He talked about the effort, as directed by Senate Bill 11-052, to set statewide goals. He discussed how the different roles and missions of the institutions impact the goals and outcomes specific to the institutions. He spoke to the institution-specific master plans, and the need to tie state goals to the performance plans.

11:36 AM

Senator Bacon asked how Lieutenant Governor Garcia's remarks tie in to the SMART Act requirements, and Lieutenant Governor Garcia noted that the Senate Bill 11-052 requirements align with the House Bill 10-1119 (SMART Act) requirements, but the timelines do not line up. He then discussed the preliminary statewide goals outlined on page 18 in the handout, saying they will trickle down to the institutions' performance plans. He said there would be a fifth goal added that speaks to economic development.

11:41 AM

Next, Lieutenant Governor Garcia spoke to the Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget request, saying the initial request included a $61 million reduction, but improved revenue projections have resulted in a proposed restoration of the reductions for state-based financial aid. He noted that the reductions mean that public college and university operating funds will have decreased by about 31 percent since Fiscal Year 2009-10, while enrollment has increased by about 28 percent. He noted that the institutions have agreed to the proposed budget.

Senator Heath commented on the budget situation and the challenges faced by the state and the institutions. Representative Peniston asked about textbook costs. Lieutenant Governor Garcia spoke to this issue, noting that high textbook prices is one reason financial aid dollars are so important. Senator Bacon commented on the issue as well, noting the move to electronic textbooks might help alleviate some costs.

Representative Holbert asked if there are any four-year institutions that are providing online courses to first-time freshman students. Lieutenant Governor Garcia said virtually every institution provides online courses to all of their students. He said this has not resulted in a dramatic decrease of cost, but has allowed for more flexibility for students.

11:48 AM

Representative Hamner asked what can be done to enroll and graduate minority students. Lieutenant Governor Garcia responded, saying many times cost is the main barrier to these students. He said the department is working with the K-12 system to graduate more students who are college ready.

Representative Summers asked for clarification about tuition increases and enrollment increases and the impact on funding for institutions. Lieutenant Governor Garcia referred the committee to page 21 of the handout, saying that institutions, even with increased tuition, are receiving almost $500 less per student. He talked about the change in the funding split, saying students are bearing more of the burden than they were 10 years ago. He said families have lost buying power in terms of higher education.

11:53 AM

Representative Ramirez asked for clarification of the charts on pages 23 and 21. Lieutenant Governor Garcia explained that enrollment changes are driving those numbers.

Lieutenant Governor Garcia briefly discussed several legislative initiatives, including one to improve college completion rates. He said CCHE meetings during the legislative session are held in the Capitol, and he invited committee members to attend those meetings.

11:57 AM

Representative Todd asked Lieutenant Governor Garcia to comment on the recent meeting between the CCHE and the institutions' governing boards. Lieutenant Governor Garcia said the department felt it was important to involve the governing boards in the discussions around statewide goals and plans.

11:59 AM

Ed Nichols and Joseph Bell, History Colorado, came to the table to speak to the committee about History Colorado, which is housed in the Department of Higher Education. They provided a packet of materials (Attachment C). Mr. Nichols referred the committee to History Colorado's strategic plan. He also talked about the statewide preservation plan, and invited Education Committee members to tour the new History Colorado Center on February 1.

12:03 PM -- Educational Success Task Force Update

Senator King came to the table to provide an update on the work of the Educational Success Task Force. He provided a handout (Attachment D). He was joined at the table by Geri Anderson and Scott Mendelsberg, who are members of the task force. Dr. Anderson provided information on the task force and its membership, noting it is a diverse and passionate group. She talked about the task force's work, saying two subgroups have been formed -- one will study transition points, and the other will study competency-based education. She said tremendous work has gone on in P-20 education over the past three years, and the task force is sensitive to not "piling on," but wants to impact student success. Mr. Mendelsberg touched upon the issue of remediation, talking about attainment gaps and the issues faced by students impacted by those gaps. He discussed the need for alignment between K-12 and higher education and how that will help students as they move on to higher education.

Senator Bacon told committee members that they would be seeing the task force's legislation in committee, in the near future.

12:09 PM

The committee adjourned.