Bill Summary for Bill Number HB15-1200

Date: 03/11/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1200

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion p Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The motion p Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment D). The motion p Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). The motion p Amend proposed committee amendment L.002, page 1, Refer House Bill 15-1200, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection PASS PASS PASS Pass Without Objection PASS

10:26 AM -- HB15-1200

Representative Buckner, Chair, welcomed the committee. Representative Priola, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1200, which uses $4 million to create bonuses for highly effective teachers employed in low performing schools. He distributed a folder of handouts to the committee (Attachment A). He discussed the information presented in the packet and listed the supporters of the bill. He described the provisions of the bill and his goal of reducing the state's achievement gaps. Representative Priola responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseEd0311AttachA.pdf

10:42 AM

Representative Priola continued responding to questions from the committee.

11:04 AM

Representative Priola continued responding to questions from the committee.

11:10 AM

The following people testified:

11:10 AM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed research showing that teachers are the most important in-school factor for student success and research showing that disadvantaged students lack access to excellent teachers. He talked about the efficient targeting of resources and the need to reward top talent. He discussed a recent multi-state study that provided a $10,000 bonus for high-performing teachers to move to low-performing schools, leading to a rise in student test scores. He talked about the need to shift the way Colorado thinks about the teaching profession and how the bill moves toward that. He explained that children learn a great deal more from high-performing teachers than they do from low-performing teachers, and discussed the long-term impact that high-performing teachers have on children.

11:16 AM -- Michelle Deats, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. She talked about her experiences as a sixth-grade teacher in Adams County. She discussed the assumption that highly effective teachers in one location will be just as effective in another and mentioned the different skill sets that teachers need to deal with kids at different socio-economic levels. She described her concerns with retention over recruitment and the need to nurture highly effective teachers. She talked about the turnover rate among teachers in low-performing schools. She described her concerns with working conditions and stated that a better use of money would be to grow highly effective teachers by improving working conditions. She described turnover among administration. Ms. Deats responded to questions from the committee.

11:29 AM -- Kerrie Dallman, President of the Colorado Education Association (CEA), spoke in opposition to the bill. She described the position of CEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)-Colorado. She described problems with the educator evaluation system in Colorado and stated that the system is not normed across the state or even within districts. She described the bill's bonuses as "combat pay" for teachers to move to low-performing schools. She discussed a CEA survey of teachers asking whether they would be willing to move, and the results of that survey. She talked about the need for stable school leadership, for board certified teachers in these schools, and how to attract those teachers. She discussed the difference between recruitment and retention, the difference in bonuses provided in the bill, and asserted that there is no need for a pilot program of only four years if the data exists as Representative Priola suggested. Ms. Dallman responded to questions from the committee.

11:57 AM -- Barb McDowell, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. She described her personal experiences as a teacher and the differences between teachers in different districts. She discussed closing achievement gaps and the steps communities should take toward that end. She described the problems in poorer communities with lack of access to local funds, leading to lack of money available to fix buildings or provide technology. Ms. McDowell responded to questions from the committee.

12:13 PM -- Chelsea Henkel, representing Stand for Children, spoke in support of the bill. She described her organization and why it supports bonuses for highly effective teachers in low-performing schools. She described the impact highly effective teachers have on students. Ms. Henkel responded to questions from the committee.

12:22 PM -- Sal Conca, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He described his personal experiences as a teacher in Title 1 schools. He explained that he spent money out of his own pocket for his students, and how a lack of funding has impacted his classroom. He discussed the challenges faced by teachers in low performing schools, the importance of teachers building relationships with students, and how high mobility rates among teachers in those schools negatively impact those relationships.

12:28 PM -- Martin Mendez, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He described his personal experiences as a parent in the Mapleton School District. He described his school district's efforts to reinvent itself and his children's experiences in local schools. He described his efforts to run for school board and his involvement in his children's education. He spoke about the different schools in his school district and how some schools perform better than others. He described the importance of teacher retention and how he would like his children to be able to have highly effective teachers. Mr. Mendez responded to questions from the committee.

12:42 PM -- Pamela Maloney, representing herself, spoke about her experience as a board-certified teacher in Adams 12 schools. She spoke about board certification and what that means to teachers. She spoke about what teachers value such as school and district leadership, shared beliefs, partnership and support of families, and a sense of shared responsibilities. She suggested ways other than the current bill to support teachers and increase student achievement. She talked about the importance of school funding. Ms. Maloney responded to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB15-1200
TIME:	12:52:57 PM
MOVED:	Priola
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection. 15HouseEd0311AttachB.pdf
SECONDED:	Wilson
		VOTE
	Everett
	Fields
	Garnett
	Lee
	Lundeen
	Moreno
	Priola
	Wilson
	Windholz
	Pettersen
	Buckner

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB15-1200
TIME:	12:23:50 PM
MOVED:	Lee
MOTION:	Amend proposed committee amendment L.002, page 1, line 6 to strike "TEACHER" and substitute "TEACHING." The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Moreno
		VOTE
	Everett
	Fields
	Garnett
	Lee
	Lundeen
	Moreno
	Priola
	Wilson
	Windholz
	Pettersen
	Buckner
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB15-1200
TIME:	12:55:47 PM
MOVED:	Lee
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C), as amended. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5. 15HouseEd0311AttachC.pdf
SECONDED:	Moreno
		VOTE
	Everett	No
	Fields	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Lundeen	No
	Moreno	Yes
	Priola	No
	Wilson	No
	Windholz	No
	Pettersen	Yes
	Buckner	Yes

YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:00 PM

Julie Pelegrin, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to respond to questions about Amendment L.002 (Attachment C).


BILL:	HB15-1200
TIME:	01:07:34 PM
MOVED:	Lee
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment D). The motion passed on a vote of 7-4. 15HouseEd0311AttachD.pdf
SECONDED:	Pettersen
		VOTE
	Everett	No
	Fields	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Lundeen	Yes
	Moreno	No
	Priola	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Pettersen	No
	Buckner	No

YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB15-1200
TIME:	01:09:54 PM
MOVED:	Moreno
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 7-4. 15HouseEd0311AttachE.pdf
SECONDED:	Pettersen
		VOTE
	Everett	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Lundeen	No
	Moreno	Yes
	Priola	No
	Wilson	No
	Windholz	No
	Pettersen	Yes
	Buckner	Yes

YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:21 PM

Representative Priola offered closing comments to the bill. Committee discussion ensued.


BILL:	HB15-1200
TIME:	01:27:33 PM
MOVED:	Priola
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1200, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-4.
SECONDED:	Fields
		VOTE
	Everett	No
	Fields	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Lee	No
	Lundeen	No
	Moreno	Yes
	Priola	No
	Wilson	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Pettersen	Yes
	Buckner	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:29 PM

The committee adjourned.