Date: 05/04/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-257

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.036 (Attachment E). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 15-257, as amended, to the Commi		PASS
PASS



03:12 PM -- SB15-257

Representatives Hamner and Wilson, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 15-257, which alters the statewide standardized assessment system. Representative Hamner distributed Amendment L.036 and an unofficial preamended version of the bill (Attachments E and F). She spoke about stakeholder input. Representative Wilson discussed the need to lower the number of assessments in Colorado. Representative Hamner went over the provisions of amendment L.036 (Attachment E). She said that districts will be able to use paper and pencil to administer the tests. She spoke about the scope of testing and described the amendment's provisions. She discussed a pilot program and spoke about the debate over including ninth grade in the standardized assessments and how the federal government does not include ninth grade as part of high school. She explained that the state now offers ACT to eleventh graders and that the amendment includes a provision authorizing the use of the ACT Aspire to fulfill tenth grade requirements. She explained that the state will submit a waiver request to the federal government to include ninth grade as part of high school. She spoke about teacher and principal evaluations and how test scores will be used. She spoke about English language learners being able to take test in their native languages and stated that these students' test scores would not be counted in district results for the first two years. Representatives Wilson and Hamner responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseEd0504AttachE.pdf 15HouseEd0504AttachF.pdf15HouseEd0504AttachF.pdf

03:37 PM

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

03:52 PM -- Julie Pelegrin, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee.


03:54 PM

The following people testified:

03:54 PM -- Jen Walmer, representing Democrats for Education Reform, spoke about the bill. She listed her areas of concern: the pilot program for new assessments; ceding decision-making to the State Board of Education regarding accreditation system and accountability; and the lack of no-harm opt-out language for students who opt out and for those who choose to participate. Ms. Walmer responded to questions from the committee.

03:59 PM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke about the bill. He discussed the need to reduce testing but not abandon accountability. He spoke about the pilot program in amendment L.036 and the need for compliance with federal law. He spoke about the opt-out provisions and the data provisions of the bill. Mr. Ragland responded to questions from the committee.

04:15 PM -- Kerrie Dallman, representing the Colorado Education Association, spoke about the bill. She spoke about voter sentiment and polls, and teacher appreciation week. She urged the committee to make the tenth grade ACT-Aspire test optional for districts. She asked to remove penalties for schools, districts, and teachers when parents choose to opt students out. She spoke about voters wanting substantive change. Ms. Dallman responded to questions from the committee.

04:23 PM -- Chelsea Henkel, representing Stand for Children Colorado, spoke about the bill. She discussed comparability and voiced her organization's concerns with the pilot program. Ms. Henkel responded to questions from the committee.

04:31 PM -- Bill Jaeger, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke about the bill. He discussed the inclusion of the ninth grade assessment. He encouraged adding guardrails to the pilot program. Mr. Jaeger responded to questions from the committee.

04:45 PM -- Terry Whitney, representing the College Board, spoke in opposition to replacing the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments with ACT-Aspire. He urged the committee to allow districts some flexibility, or to direct the State Board of Education to do a Request for Proposals.

04:47 PM -- Paula Noonan, representing Parents Coalition on School Assessments, spoke in support of amending the bill. She described parents' concerns and objections to the current testing regimen.

04:55 PM -- Lisa Escarcega, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives, spoke about the bill. She expressed her thanks that a bill still lives. She spoke about the parts of the bill her organization supports.

04:58 PM -- Jess Loban, representing himself, spoke about the bill. He spoke about the need to reduce the amount of standardized testing. Mr. Loban responded to questions from the committee.

05:04 PM -- George Walker, representing himself, spoke about the bill.


05:08 PM

Representative Hamner discussed the provisions of L.036 (Attachment E). Julie Pelegrin, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee.
BILL:SB15-257
TIME: 05:09:06 PM
MOVED:Garnett
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.036 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:Hamner
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Hamner
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


05:20 PM

Representatives Hamner and Wilson offered closing comments to the bill.
BILL:SB15-257
TIME: 05:20:59 PM
MOVED:Hamner
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-257, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:Wilson
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Hamner
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS