House Committee on Education (02/13/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	02/13/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 03:32 PM	Hamner	X
		Holbert	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Joshi	X
		Kerr A.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Massey	Peniston	X
		Ramirez	X
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	*
	Kristen Johnson	Solano	X
		Summers	X
		Todd	X
		Beezley	X
		Massey	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB12-1146 HB12-1124		Amended, Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:33 PM -- House Bill 12-1146

Representative Massey, Chair, made opening remarks. He stated that HB 12-1214 and HB 12-1135, which appear on the day's agenda, will be laid over. He welcomed Representative Nikkel to the table to present her bill.

Representative Nikkel, sponsor of House Bill 12-1146, presented her bill. The bills allows a local education provider and community colleges to enter into an agreement to establish a dropout recovery program allowing a student who has dropped out of high school, or students at risk of dropping out, to complete their high school requirements exclusively at the community college. Any individual aged 16 to 21 years who has dropped out of school may participate. Students who are enrolled, but at risk of dropping out, may participate with the permission of the school district.

If an agreement is entered, any student enrolled in at least seven credit hours per semester is counted as full-time in the school district's funded pupil count. If the student completes the credit hours, the school district pays the college a portion of the student's tuition, not to exceed the established resident rate. The college may also receive stipend payments from the College Opportunity Fund (COF).

The following persons testified:

01:36 PM -- Dr. Geri Anderson, Vice President, Colorado Community College System (CCCS), expressed support for the bill. Dr. Anderson stated that nothing in the bill mandates that a school district, board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), community college, or four-year institution enter into an agreement for a dropout recovery program. She stated that the program is intended for students who are at risk of dropping out or who have already dropped out of high school. She said that school districts will continue to receive the same level of funding for students who participate in the program. She discussed the appropriateness of a 19 year old sitting in a classroom with 14 and 15 year olds, stating that it is better for them to be in a college classroom with other students who are their age and who are taking the same basic courses. She added that we must consider the costs of not providing dropout recovery services.

Dr. Anderson responded to questions from the committee concerning how students are selected to participate in the program; course offerings at the community college; and the resources needed to provide services to at-risk students.

01:50 PM -- Andy Dorsey, President, Front Range Community College (FRCC), expressed support for the bill. Mr. Dorsey stated that one of the reasons why this bill is being brought is to protect the Gateway to College program that exists at FRCC. Mr. Dorsey described the Gateway to College program and how it began. He stated that students who participate in the program are assigned a resource specialist who helps the student select courses that apply to the requirements for a high school diploma. He said that the resource specialist also acts as a mentor to the student. He said that a curriculum is mapped out for each student. He stated that the program has graduated 75 students since its inception in 2008. Mr. Dorsey described the general profile of the students who participate in the program, saying that about half are male and half are female; that they want the same things that all students want, to have a good life and career; and that most of the students have experienced significant challenges in their lives. He stated that student success in the program is due to three factors: the college environment is a better fit for these students; the program provides intrusive academic and personal support; and the idea of earning college credits is very motivating to many students. He stated that this bill is important right now due to specific concurrent enrollment program provisions that cause dual credit opportunities to end at the 12th grade. He added that the program is run like a college program and so it does not meet the specific concurrent enrollment seat time requirements; another reason why this legislation is needed, in order to waive the seat time requirement.

Mr. Dorsey responded to questions from the committee concerning resource specialists, parental involvement, the method of advertisement used to publicize the program, graduation rates, and the types of assessments that are administered to participants in the program. Dr. Anderson returned to the table to respond to committee questions.

02:15 PM -- Isaac Ramon, student, FRCC, and Gateway to College graduate, expressed support for the bill. Mr. Ramon described his experience as a student in the Gateway to College program, saying that it was really a second chance for him. He described his involvement at FRCC and his work in the college's call center. He said that upon entering the program, he was two years behind his high school classmates and had been incarcerated. He stated that his mom was a huge support and that she found the Gateway to College program for him. He stated that he does not have a male role model in his life, but that his resource specialist has filled that role. He stated that he has learned a lot through the program and has been encouraged by the positivity and support provided by the faculty and resource specialist; that he has had a successful transition. He added that upon graduating from the Gateway to College program, he had earned 30 credits toward an associates degree and that he was inspired to enroll as a full-time student at the college.

02:23 PM -- Chris Gdowski, Superintendent, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, expressed support for the bill. Mr. Gdowski stated that kids in the program speak to him about being involved in a classroom and environment where all the students are motivated and engaged in obtaining a postsecondary education. He stated that the program is an essential part of increasing the graduation rates in Colorado. Mr. Gdowski stated that the program offerings are communicated in three ways: by staying in touch with school counselors; through ongoing outreach to community partners like the Boys and Girls Clubs; and through the word-of-mouth of students who have gone through the program. Mr. Gdowski responded to questions from the committee.

President Dorsey returned to the table to respond to a question from Representative Holbert about the number of students the Gateway to College program through FRCC can accommodate. Representative Holbert asked if the program would be able to accommodate 452 students in the next year. Mr. Dorsey said that no, the program could not handle that many students at this time.

Representative Todd asked about how the program is funded. Mr. Dorsey responded that the Gates Foundation provided $325,000 for start-up expenses such as training, but that the program now operates on the Per Pupil Operating Revenue (PPOR) that comes from the school districts.


BILL:	HB12-1146
TIME:	02:35:08 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Adopt prepared Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Summers
		VOTE
	Hamner
	Holbert
	Joshi
	Kerr A.
	Murray
	Peniston
	Ramirez
	Schafer S.
	Solano
	Summers
	Todd
	Beezley
	Massey

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB12-1146
TIME:	02:37:27 PM
MOVED:	Murray
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1146, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:	Ramirez
		VOTE
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kerr A.	Excused
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Ramirez	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Massey	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:42 PM -- House Bill 12-1124

Representative Massey, sponsor of House Bill 12-1124, presented his bill. Subject to the receipt of sufficient money from public and private donations, the bill requires the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to commission a study of digital learning in Colorado. At a minimum, the study must address issues including:

student eligibility for and access to digital learning;
the quality of available digital learning content and instruction;
funding models for digital learning that create incentives for performance;
other state experience integrating digital learning into K-12 education;
information technology infrastructure;
current state statutes and rules concerning digital learning; and
the extent to which current school accountability measures are appropriate and sufficient to measure the performance of online students.

The bill requires CDE to select a Colorado-based vendor to conduct the study, and report its name to the State Board of Education (SBE), the Governor, and the education committees of the General Assembly, no later than July 1, 2012. The vendor cannot be a provider of digital learning or related technologies, or otherwise have a conflict of interest in conducting the study.

The CDE is authorized to seek, accept, and spend gifts, grants, or donations to fund the study; however, the study will not be commissioned until the CDE receives sufficient moneys. The CDE must submit the completed study to the SBE, Governor, and the education committees of the General Assembly no later than January 31, 2013.

Representative Massey responded to questions from the committee concerning the vendor selection process.

The following persons testified:

02:47 PM -- Reilly Pharo, Vice President of Education Initiatives, Colorado Children's Campaign, expressed support for the bill. She stated that the study will look at how the state integrates digital learning into schools and what needs to be done to support these efforts. She stated that digital and blended learning lead to individualized learning systems that allow kids to progress at their own pace.

Ms. Pharo responded to questions from the committee. Representative Schafer asked if Ms. Pharo's organization has studied the psychological and social development of students to identify when they are ready for digital learning. Ms. Pharo referenced a study that the CDE will be completing along side the study purposed in the bill. She said that she understands that this study will look at the profile of students and their needs. Representative Holbert asked how many Colorado-based entities are eligible to conduct the study and if Ms. Pharo believes that the vendor to conduct the study has already been chosen. Ms. Pharo responded that she feels comfortable that the vendor has not already been selected and that the CDE will conduct a strong RFP process.

02:54 PM -- Van Schoales, Democrats for Education Reform, expressed support for the bill. Mr. Schoales stated that digital learning shows enormous promise, especially in blended or hybrid programs. He stated that he worries about having one vendor through the CDE to conduct the study, stating that it may be good to have a committee conduct the study so that a variety of perspectives are represented. He added that digital learning is here and expanding rapidly. Mr. Schoales responded to questions from the committee.

03:01 PM -- Randy DeHoff, representing himself, expressed support for the bill. He spoke to a recent conference he attended concerning digital learning, saying that the same questions of money following students, quality of education, and equal access in rural communities, were raised at the conference. He stated that the value of the study proposed by the bill is that it will provide concrete steps to implement digital learning in Colorado. He said that what works for one state, will not necessarily work for another state. He expressed concern about limiting the vendor to conduct the study to only Colorado-based vendors, saying that several organizations across the nation do good studies in this arena.

03:07 PM -- Jane Urschel, Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), expressed support for the bill. Dr. Urschel stated that she received authorization from the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) to express support for the bill on their behalf, as well. She stated that the bill brings online learning into line. She stated that Representative Massey is onto something with blended learning. She referenced a recent tour she attended of the Hope Online Learning Academy's Learning Center at Tubman Hilliard in Denver. Represnetaive Ramirez asked what the study would investigate. Dr. Urschel referred to page four of the printed bill where the scope of the study is described.

03:10 PM -- Tunda Aswego, Founder, Tubman Hilliard Learning Center, expressed support for the bill. Mr. Aswego provided background on the student population served at Tubman Hilliard and how the school became a blended learning school. He stated that the school has always been an individual-centered institution. He stated that individualization is a huge advantage of blended learning. Mr. Aswego responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Schafer commented on the role public libraries play in delivering digital technology and access to those of all ages.

Representative Massey distributed and explained Amendment L.002 (Attachment B).


BILL:	HB12-1124
TIME:	03:17:37 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Adopt prepared Amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Beezley
		VOTE
	Hamner
	Holbert
	Joshi
	Kerr A.
	Murray
	Peniston
	Ramirez
	Schafer S.
	Solano
	Summers
	Todd
	Beezley
	Massey

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:18 PM

Representative Hamner moved a conceptual amendment to the bill: page five, line nine, after "(VIII)" insert: "The financial benefits and impacts to school districts including".


BILL:	HB12-1124
TIME:	03:18:33 PM
MOVED:	Hamner
MOTION:	Adopt a conceptual amendment to House Bill 12-1124. Amend printed bill page 5, line 9, after "(VIII)" insert: "The financial benefits and impacts to school districts including". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Massey
		VOTE
	Hamner
	Holbert
	Joshi
	Kerr A.
	Murray
	Peniston
	Ramirez
	Schafer S.
	Solano
	Summers
	Todd
	Beezley
	Massey

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB12-1124
TIME:	03:22:30 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1124, as amended, to the House Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Peniston
		VOTE
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Ramirez	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Massey	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:32 PM

The committee adjourned.