Date: 02/23/2012
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1091
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS
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12:35 PM -- House Bill 12-1091
Representative Solano, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1091, concerning reducing the requirements of statewide student assessments to not exceed federal testing requirements, and, in connection therewith, providing funding for the Colorado Preschool Program. Committee members received a packet of information regarding statewide student assessments (Attachment G). Representative Solano discussed the materials in Attachment G, and the fiscal impact of the bill. Representative Solano responded to questions regarding the potential cost savings to be realized from the bill, and how the bill redirects the savings. Representative Solano responded to further questions regarding spending trends for early childhood education in Colorado.
12:46 PM
In response to questions, Representative Solano recapped the effect of the bill on statewide student assessment requirements. Discussion ensued regarding student preparedness for higher education. The following persons testified regarding House Bill 12-1091:
12:50 PM -- Mr. Jayson Haberkorn and Mr. Christopher Quintal, representing themselves, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Haberkorn explained how statewide student testing disrupts the learning environment and de-emphasizes certain portions of the educational curriculum. Mr. Quintal provided his impressions of statewide student testing. Mr. Haberkorn responded to questions regarding how best to measure student achievement and hold schools accountable for student learning. Discussion ensued regarding the proper level of statewide testing. Discussion followed regarding the scheduling for the bill.
01:04 PM -- Mr. Eric Sellstrom, representing Adams Twelve Schools, and Ms. Wendy Oldenbrook, representing Catholic Charities, testified in support of the House Bill 12-1091. Mr. Sellstrom discussed the benefits of early childhood programming, and the negative consequences of not funding such programming. Ms. Oldenbrook advocated on behalf of preschool students.
01:10 PM -- Ms. Catherine Brown, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Brown explained that data being compiled under the current testing program is not effective.
01:11 PM -- Mr. Scott Poindexter demonstrated his students' proficiency in language.
01:14 PM -- A group of students from Jefferson County Open Schools, including Alex Kacsh and Ty Ogborn, representing Students 4 Our Schools, testified in support of House Bill 12-1091. Mr. Kacsh provided his perspective on the current statewide student testing program. Mr. Ogborn also provided his perspective on the program, and explained how it is ineffective. Mr. Kacsh and Mr. Ogborn responded to questions regarding their career plans.
01:18 PM -- Mr. Steve Davis and Mr. Ron Tilton, representing Junior Achievement, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Davis spoke about the importance of certain curriculum subjects, including history, economics, and social studies, and opposed the bill based on its elimination of testing on these subjects. Mr. Davis responded to questions regarding the effect of the bill on these curriculum subjects. Discussion ensued regarding the deemphasis of certain subjects, such as social studies, in K-12 classrooms, and the impact of statewide student testing on the teaching of these subjects. Mr. Tilton also discussed the importance of teaching certain subjects such as social studies and economics.
01:29 PM -- Mr. Marc Johnson, representing the Colorado Council on Economic Education, testified in opposition to House Bill 12-1091. Committee members received copies of the written testimony of Ms. Peggy Altoff (Attachment H). Mr. Tilton spoke against the neglect of certain subjects in K-12 education, including social studies, and provided an anecdote about incentives created by statewide student testing.
01:33 PM
The committee adjourned.