Bill Summary for Bill Number HB06-1005

Date: 01/19/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1005

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Move to refer HB 06-1005 to the Committee of the W	PASS

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