House Committee on Education (01/19/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	01/19/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:12 PM to 04:04 PM	Benefield	X
		King	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Larson	X
		Massey	X
This Meeting was called to order by		McKinley	X
	Representative Merrifield	Penry	X
		Pommer	X
This Report was prepared by		Rose	X
	Cathy Eslinger	Solano	X
		Todd	X
		White	X
		Paccione	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1005 HB06-1021		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:13 PM

The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Representative Merrifield.

02:14 PM -- House Bill 06-1005

Representative Pommer reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1005, concerning the authorization of additional school district revenues to fund costs associated with full-day kindergarten programs. He discussed the importance of kindergarten and the movement in other states toward mandating full-day kindergarten. He acknowledged the potential for inequities among school districts. For this reason, a school district that utilizes a mill levy for full-day kindergarten would have to give up its preschool slots under the Colorado Preschool Program.

02:18 PM

The following persons testified:

02:18 PM -- Cheryl Caldwell, representing the Denver Public Schools, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the district's research affirming the value and importance of full-day kindergarten. The data indicates higher retention rates for students who have attended full-day kindergarten. Full-day kindergarten students also score higher on literacy tests, according to research discussed by Ms. Caldwell. She relayed information from her informal conversations with first-grade teachers concerning students who have had full-day kindergarten.

02:24 PM

Ms. Caldwell responded to several questions from committee members. Representative Pommer responded to a question regarding case law on school finance pertaining to "thorough and uniform" provisions. Representative McKinley raised questions as to the likelihood of such a ballot issue being approved by voters.

02:28 PM -- Phil Fox, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), testified in support of the bill and said that CASE had long espoused the importance of full-day kindergarten. He expressed concern about the number of school districts in the state, however, that have never passed a mill levy override.

02:29 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified in support of the bill. She provided two reasons. First, she said that full-day kindergarten strengthens the overall school system. Second, she said that local voter investment in this issue assists local governance and local control of schools.

02:31 PM -- Vicki Newell, representing the Colorado Parent-Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

02:34 PM -- Jennifer Landrum, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill and said that the research shows how much full-day kindergarten helps emotional, academic, and social development. She testified that Colorado's percentage of students in full-day kindergarten is lower than the national average. She said that full-day kindergarten is a priority of the Colorado Children's Campaign.


BILL:	HB06-1005
TIME:	02:36:48 PM
MOVED:	Pommer
MOTION:	Move to refer HB 06-1005 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 13-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Paccione
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	King	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	White	Yes
	Paccione	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:38 PM -- House Bill 06-1021

Representative Benefield, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1021, concerning physical education teachers employed by school districts. It requires a physical education endorsement to teach in this area. She distributed a hand-out (Attachment A). Representative Benefield also discussed a potential amendment to the bill. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the applicability of the bill and the potential impact on small, rural school districts.

02:44 PM

Representative King discussed a potential amendment to address alternative licensure programs, teacher-in-residence programs, and emergency authorizations.

02:46 PM

The following persons testified:

02:46 PM -- Terry Todd, representing himself as a Metropolitan State College instructor in physical education preparation, testified in support of the bill. He provided a hand-out listing the current program requirements at Metropolitan State College (Attachment B).

02:53 PM

Mr. Todd responded to questions regarding a teaching degree and licensure requirements versus requirements for an endorsement in a content area. Mr. Todd said that fulfilling the requirements for an endorsement through Metropolitan State College would take about two semesters.

02:56 PM -- Byron Pendley, representing the Colorado Department of Education, responded to questions regarding teachers who have a license and an endorsement in another area. He spoke about the requirement for 24 hours of professional development and a content-area assessment in order to receive an additional endorsement. Representative Benefield said that the potential amendment addresses the implementation time line.

02:59 PM

Representative White said that he had concerns that small school districts might have to drop physical education courses because no qualified teachers are available in that area.

03:01 PM -- Paula Stephenson, Executive Director, Rural Schools Caucus, testified on the bill. She said that finding qualified physical education teachers was not usually a problem; however, problems are created when physical education teachers are teaching in other areas. Ms. Stephenson responded to additional questions about school districts that struggle to find teachers in core subject areas. Committee discussion on these issues continued.

03:07 PM

Mr. Todd responded to questions regarding continuing education requirements for teachers. He also answered questions regarding the hours required to meet endorsement requirements. Representative McKinley asked questions clarifying the potential impact of the bill and the Colorado Student Assessment Program.

03:14 PM -- Judy Cooper, representing the Jefferson County Schools, testified in support for the bill. She discussed the curriculum and content standards for current physical education courses. She described the data around the number of hours that an average student spends in physical education courses. She said that qualified physical education instructors have expertise and training that are critical to good physical education instruction.

03:21 PM -- Dan Daly, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill. He stressed the importance of having well-trained, endorsed teachers in every classroom situation. He responded to questions regarding the authority of school districts to undertake the provisions of the bill currently.

03:25 PM -- Marilou Miller, representing the Colorado Association for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, testified in support of the bill and said that the bill would uphold the integrity of physical education instruction in the state. She spoke to the importance of appropriate and well-taught physical education courses. She responded to questions from committee members.

03:31 PM -- Vicki Newell, representing the Colorado Parent-Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill. She that the provisions of the bill address a public health issue. She responded to concerns raised about rural school districts.

03:37 PM -- Erin Bertolli, representing the American Heart Association (AHA), testified in support of the bill and distributed a hand-out (Attachment C). Ms. Bertolli referenced the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's annual Youth Risk Assessment. She said that AHA is advocating for daily exercise for youth across the country.

03:41 PM -- Chris Straiter, representing herself as a physical education teacher, testified in support of the bill. She said that there are many teachers in Aurora Public Schools without a physical education endorsement who are teaching physical education courses.

03:44 PM -- Stacy Fowler, representing the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, testified in support of the bill. She described her experiences as a physical education teacher and as a member of the Governor's council. She said that developmental factors in students must be taken into account in physical education courses.

03:47 PM

Committee members made final comments in anticipation of an amendment to the bill and considered several additional issues regarding emergency authorizations.


BILL:	HB06-1021
TIME:	03:48:42 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Moved L.003 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	King
		VOTE
	Benefield
	King
	Larson
	Massey
	McKinley
	Penry
	Pommer
	Rose
	Solano
	Todd
	White
	Paccione
	Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB06-1021
TIME:	03:49:06 PM
MOVED:	Rose
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to exempt all communities under a population of 5,000 from the provisions of the bill. The motion passed on an 8-5 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	McKinley
		VOTE
	Benefield	No
	King	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Solano	No
	Todd	No
	White	Yes
	Paccione	No
	Merrifield	No



Not Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

3:56 PM

The committee discussed the amendment offered by Representative Rose.

04:00 PM

Lisa Perry, Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to respond to questions. She said the department offers professional development opportunities across the state.


BILL:	HB06-1021
TIME:	04:03:06 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Moved to refer HB 06-1021, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 13-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Paccione
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	King	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	White	Yes
	Paccione	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:04 PM

The committee adjourned.