Date: 02/17/2014
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB14-1202
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
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01:56 PM -- HB14-1202
Representative Hamner welcomed Representative Scott to the committee. Representative Scott introduced House Bill 14-1202, which directs the State Board of Education to waive most of the statewide testing requirements for a school district that submits an assessment plan that meets specific requirements. Representative Scott described how his constituents persuaded him to introduce the bill and the amount of testing currently taking place in Colorado schools. He advocated for fewer, but more rigorous, tests. Representative Hamner discussed the proposed strike-below amendment and asked that it be distributed to the committee (Attachment B).
14HseEd0217AttachB.pdf
The following people testified:
01:59 PM -- Dr. Elizabeth Fagen, superintendent of Douglas County School District, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Fagen responded to questions from the committee.
02:07 PM -- Syna Morgan, representing Douglas County School District, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Morgan responded to questions from the committee.
02:13 PM -- Douglas Bissonette, Superintendent of Elizabeth School District, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bissonette responded to questions from the committee.
02:24 PM -- Jean Kirshner, a teacher in Douglas County School District, testified in support of the bill.
02:27 PM -- Mary Lisa Harper, a teacher in Douglas County, testified in support of the bill.
02:30 PM
The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.
02:36 PM -- Kevin Larsen, President of the Douglas County School Board, testified in support of the bill.
02:39 PM -- Lisa Escarcega, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives, testified in support of the strike-below amendment. Dr. Escarcega responded to questions from the committee.
02:49 PM -- Ilana Spiegel, representing Supportive Parents, Educators, and Kids (SPEAK) for Cherry Creek, testified in support of the bill Ms. Spiegel distributed a handout from her organization (Attachment C).
14HseEd0217AttachC.pdf
02:53 PM -- Melissa Scully, representing SPEAK for Cherry Creek, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Scully responded to questions from the committee.
02:58 PM -- Rachel Stickland, representing SPEAK for Cherry Creek, testified in support of the bill.
03:02 PM -- Peggy Robertson, representing SPEAK for Cherry Creek and United Opt-Out National, testified in support of the bill.
03:06 PM -- Josephine Moore, representing SPEAK for Cherry Creek, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Moore responded to questions from the committee.
03:13 PM -- Paul Trollinger, representing SPEAK for Cherry Creek, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Trollinger responded to questions from the committee.
03:22 PM -- Charlene Shelton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
03:26 PM -- Don Batt representing SPEAK for Cherry Creek, testified in support of the bill.
03:30 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the strike-below amendment to the bill.
03:34 PM -- Karen Wick, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the strike-below amendment to the bill.
03:37 PM
Dr. Urschel and Ms. Wick responded to questions from the committee.
03:41 PM -- Dr. Paula Noonan, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Noonan distributed her testimony (Attachment D). Dr. Noonan responded to questions from the committee.
14HseEd0217AttachD.pdf
03:49 PM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ragland responded to questions from the committee.
03:57 PM -- Anita Stapleton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
04:01 PM -- Natalie Adams, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
04:04 PM -- Jennifer Butts, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
04:07 PM -- Amy Attwood, representing Mesa Valley District 51, testified in support of the bill and the strike-below amendment.
04:08 PM
Jennifer Mello, representing the Department of Education (CDE), came to the table to discuss testing in Colorado, surveys and studies by WestEd, and to respond to questions from the committee. She clarified that the department and the State Board of Education do not have a position on the bill or on the strike-below amendment. Ms. Mello distributed a background sheet on CDE's Assessment Implementation Study (Attachment E). Ms. Mello responded to questions from the committee.
14HseEd0217AttachE.pdf
04:24 PM
Representative Hamner called a 10-minute recess.
04:33 PM
Representative Hamner called the meeting back to order. Representative Scott thanked the witnesses. Representative Hamner laid the bill over until Wednesday, February 19, for action only.
04:35 PM
The committee adjourned.