Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:02/25/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:10:21 AM to 12:37 PM
Everett
X
Fields
*
Place:HCR 0112
Garnett
X
Lee
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Lundeen
X
Representative Buckner
Moreno
X
Priola
X
This Report was prepared by
Wilson
X
Lisa Gezelter
Windholz
X
Pettersen
X
Buckner
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB15-1170
HB15-1184
HB15-1156		Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to Appropriations


10:22 AM -- HB15-1170

Representative Buckner, Chair, welcomed the committee members. Representatives Kraft-Tharp and Wilson, co-sponsors, introduced House Bill 15-1170, which changes the way the Colorado Department of Education measures postsecondary and workforce readiness to include an emphasis on non-collegiate postsecondary options. Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed the Colorado Pipeline report and its recommendations for policy changes. She discussed the industries needing employees, and the weaknesses in the school district accountability system as far as ensuring students' success after graduation. Representative Wilson discussed previous legislation and the need for changes to current policy. He discussed the graduating class of 2015, and explained that one-third will not attend college. He further explained that of the two-thirds that go to college, half of those students will not complete a bachelor's degree program. He discussed the high school students that need career training and explained that he wants to redefine the meaning of success after high school to focus more on career readiness for the kids who need it. He explained the provisions of the bill and discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed the provisions of the amendment. The co-sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseEd0225AttachA.pdf15HouseEd0225AttachA.pdf










10:36 AM

The co-sponsors continued to respond to questions from the committee.


10:47 AM

The following people testified on the bill:

10:47 AM -- Geri Anderson, representing Aims Community College, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the reasons legislators should support the bill and how it would help Colorado students. She discussed the importance of Career and Technical Education and the challenges faced by teachers and administrators.

10:53 AM -- Bud Starker, representing Associated General Contractors of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. He talked about the construction industry's need for skilled workers and how the bill would help fill those positions. He listed other groups that support the bill.

10:55 AM -- Tony Milo, representing the Colorado Contractors Association, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the need to redefine success after high school and how the bill would help fill skilled openings in the construction industry.


10:56 AM

The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

10:59 AM -- Jeff Barratt, representing Emily Griffith Technical College, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the need to fill jobs in the skilled trades. He discussed the importance of the statewide coordinator. He discussed public-private partnerships to help fill the need for workers, and how the bill would assist his institution's efforts. Mr. Barratt responded to questions from the committee.

11:07 AM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the need for a highly-skilled workforce to attract investment in the state. He discussed the skills gap among high school graduates in Colorado and how the bill addresses that gap.

11:10 AM -- Dale McCall, representing himself, spoke about his experiences as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher, spoke in support of the bill. He explained the impact of the bill on CTE and on school districts. He shared several stories about the need for CTE in Colorado. Mr. McCall responded to questions from the committee.

















11:18 AM
BILL:HB15-1170
TIME: 11:18:31 AM
MOVED:Buckner
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Priola
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































11:19 AM

Representative Kraft-Tharp offered closing comments to the bill. Representative Wilson offered closing comments to the bill.
BILL:HB15-1170
TIME: 11:22:23 AM
MOVED:Buckner
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1170, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:Pettersen
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


11:26 AM -- HB15-1184

Representative Lontine, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1184, which defines charter school networks and defines their authority and operations. She discussed the nature of charter school networks and how the bill addresses the operation of networks, brings policy in line with practice, and defines charter school networks in state law. She explained that the law does not undermine authorizers' authority or academic accountability. Representative Lontine responded to questions from the committee.


11:31 AM

The following people testified:

11:31 AM -- Dan Schaller, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in support of the bill. He described the need for the bill and the operations of charter schools in Colorado. Mr. Schaller responded to questions from the committee.








11:38 AM -- Dominic DiFelice, Superintendent of New America School Board, spoke in support of the bill. He described his organization and how it operates its three alternative education schools in Lakewood, Thornton, and Aurora. He described the provisions of the bill and how his organization's practices align therewith.

11:42 AM -- Whitney Bride, Chief Operating Officer for Strive Preparatory Schools, spoke in support of the bill. She described the nine schools her organization operates. She described the efficiencies that result from operating a network of charter schools. She discussed the provisions of the bill.

11:45 AM -- Jennifer Holladay, representing Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bill. She described 47 charter schools in DPS and how more than half are part of charter school networks. She outlined the reasons that DPS supports the bill. Ms. Holladay responded to questions from the committee.


11:50 AM

Ms. Bride responded to questions from the committee.

11:51 AM -- Chelsea Henkel, representing Stand for Children, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the benefits the bill would provide.


11:53 AM

Representative Lontine explained the provisions of Amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

15HouseEd0225AttachB.pdf15HouseEd0225AttachB.pdf
BILL:HB15-1184
TIME: 11:55:57 AM
MOVED:Pettersen
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Fields
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



12:03 PM

The committee recessed.


12:13 PM

The committee came back to order.
BILL:HB15-1184
TIME: 12:13:10 PM
MOVED:Pettersen
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1184, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Moreno
VOTE
Everett
Yes
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Excused
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:14 PM -- HB15-1156

Representative VanWinkle, sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1156, which makes certain changes to the higher education funding model enacted in House Bill 14-1319. He described the need to direct General Fund moneys only to in-state students.

12:17 PM -- Kachina Weaver, representing the Department of Higher Education, spoke in favor of amending the bill. She discussed House Bill 14-1319, which changed the higher education funding model, and the process of implementing that bill. She described a handout she distributed to the committee (Attachment C). Ms. Weaver responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseEd0225AttachC.pdf15HouseEd0225AttachC.pdf








12:26 PM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, spoke in opposition to the bill. He distributed his testimony to the committee (Attachment D). He spoke about the funding model and the need to maintain it.

15HouseEd0225AttachD.pdf15HouseEd0225AttachD.pdf

12:32 PM
BILL:HB15-1156
TIME: 12:32:23 PM
MOVED:Moreno
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.

15HouseEd0225AttachE.pdf15HouseEd0225AttachE.pdf
SECONDED:Garnett
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



















12:36 PM

Representative Van Winkle offered closing comments to the bill.
BILL:HB15-1156
TIME: 12:36:44 PM
MOVED:Moreno
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1156, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 8-2, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Everett
VOTE
Everett
Yes
Fields
Yes
Garnett
No
Lee
Excused
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
No
Final YES: 8 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:37 PM

The committee adjourned.