Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION
Date:
03/08/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
12:09 PM
to
12:53 PM
Balmer
X
Benefield
X
Place:
HCR 0107
King
X
Larson
E*
This Meeting was called to order by
McKinley
X
Representative
Merrifield
Penry
X
Pommer
E*
This Report was prepared by
Rose
X
Cathy Eslinger
Solano
X
Todd
X
White
X
Paccione
E
Merrifield
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed:
Action Taken:
SB05-088
SB05-003
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
12:10 PM
The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Representative Merrifield.
12:11 PM -- Senate Bill 05-088
Representative Solano reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 05-088, concerning kindergarten. Representative Solano discussed her reasons for bringing the bill and indicated that it requires each school district to provide kindergarten for all children who are five years of age.
12:13 PM
The following persons testified:
12:13 PM --
Mike Paskiewicz, representing Adams School District #12, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the importance of kindergarten programs and said that while the bill does not require full-day kindergarten, he supports full-day kindergarten. He discussed kindergarten in the context of requirements under the "No Child Left Behind Act." He stated that he feels that failure to offer kindergarten is unethical and immoral, as well as being more costly than later-life interventions.
12:20 PM
Mr. Paskiewicz responded to questions from committee members regarding statutory requirements in other states.
12:21 PM --
Lynn Zimmerman, representing kindergarten teachers in Colorado and the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill. She discussed her experiences in the kindergarten classroom and research in early childhood education. She distributed a hand-out (Attachment A). She testified that mandatory kindergarten would alleviate future needs for remediation.
12:29 PM --
Tony Salazar, representing the Colorado Education Association (CEA), testified in support of the bill. He said that kindergarten is a very high priority for the CEA, and noted that the bill does not have a fiscal impact because all school districts are offering kindergarten currently.
BILL:
SB05-088
TIME:
12:30:58 PM
MOVED:
Solano
MOTION:
Move to refer Senate Bill 05-088 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
Larson
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Yes
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Excused
Paccione
Excused
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES:
11
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
12:32 PM -- Senate Bill 05-003
Representative Hall reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 05-003, concerning the creation of the Colorado Achievement Scholarship Program.
12:34 PM
The following person testified:
12:34 PM --
Rick O'Donnell, Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill and discussed the development of the bill. Mr. O'Donnell responded to questions regarding the CCHE's definition of a precollegiate curriculum. There was committee discussion regarding a requirement for a specific grade point average. Mr. O'Donnell said that a 2.5 GPA is the requirement for the Oklahoma program, which is program similar to the one proposed in Senate Bill 05-003.
12:40 PM
Mr. O'Donnell responded to further questions about amendments made in the Senate. Representative Larson discussed and asked Mr. O'Donnell about the applicability of the bill to vocational technical institutions. There was also discussion of the availability of the scholarships to community college students.
BILL:
SB05-003
TIME:
12:47:56 PM
MOVED:
Merrifield
MOTION:
Moved amendment L.014 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Todd
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Excused
Paccione
Excused
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
SB05-003
TIME:
12:49:22 PM
MOVED:
Merrifield
MOTION:
Moved amendment L.013 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Todd
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Excused
Paccione
Excused
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
12:49 PM
Michele Hanigsberg, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions regarding the applicability of the amendment.
BILL:
SB05-003
TIME:
12:52:45 PM
MOVED:
Pommer
MOTION:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 05-003, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
King
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Yes
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Excused
Paccione
Excused
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES:
11
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
12:53 PM
The committee adjourned.