Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE and LOCAL

CONDITIONAL FISCAL IMPACT

Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 99-0221

Sen. Evans

Rep. Kaufman

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

January 18, 1999

Senate Education

Janis Baron (303-866-3523)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING CREATION OF THE COLORADO SCHOLAR PROGRAM.



Fiscal Impact Summary

FY 1999/2000

FY 2000/2001

FY 2003-04

State Revenues

General Fund


 

 


 

State Expenditures

General Fund


 

 

Potential Increases

FTE Position Change

0.0 FTE

0.0 FTE

0.0 FTE

Other State Impact: None.

Effective Date: 90 Days Upon Adjournment.

Appropriation Summary for FY 1999-2000: None Required.

Local Government Impact: See Local School Districts Impact.



Summary of Legislation


            The bill creates the Colorado Scholar Program to reward 10th and 12th grade students who perform at the proficient or greater level on statewide assessments in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. In order to participate in the Colorado Scholar Program, a student shall achieve ratings of proficient or greater in accordance with:

 

               Section 22-7-409 (1) (e), C.R.S. — Beginning in the spring semester 2001, and each spring semester thereafter, the department shall administer a statewide assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics to all students enrolled in the 10th grade in public schools throughout the state.

               Section 22-7-409 (1.5), C.R.S. — Beginning in the spring semester 2003, and each spring semester thereafter, all students enrolled in the 12th grade in public schools throughout the state who scored below proficient in the statewide assessment administered pursuant to Section 22-7-409 (1) (e), shall be required to take the assessment.


            The bill directs the Department of Education to award certificates to Colorado scholars, and stipulates that each Colorado scholar's transcript identify him or her as such and state the level of achievement on the statewide assessment. Lastly, the bill requires that each Colorado scholar, and certain students not qualifying as Colorado scholars but showing high achievement, shall be admitted to any state institution of higher education upon graduation from high school and completion of specific course requirements.



State Expenditures


            Background. Current statutes require the State Board of Education to adopt state model content standards, state assessments, and timelines; require school districts to adopt content standards which meet or exceed state model content standards; and require the Department of Education to implement the Colorado Student Assessment Program and to administer statewide assessments. Statewide assessments will be administered in the spring of 1999 to include 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th grades.


            Pursuant to current statute, 10th graders are to be tested in reading, writing, and mathematics in 2001; and 12th graders, who scored below proficient in the statewide assessment administered in 2001, shall be required to take the assessment in 2003. According to the Department of Education, CTB McGraw Hill has been awarded the contract to develop student assessments. The assessment to be administered to 10th graders in 2001 has yet to be developed.


            Department of Education. The department's responsibility under the bill is to prepare/present the certificates for Colorado scholars (based on names provided by local school districts), and obtain the required certificate signatures: Governor; President of the State Board of Education; Speaker of the House of Representatives; and President of the Senate. The department indicates the cost of the certificates would be minimal and could be absorbed within existing resources.


            Department of Higher Education. The bill requires that each Colorado scholar, and certain students not qualifying as Colorado scholars but showing high achievement, shall be admitted to any state institution of higher education upon graduation from high school and completion of specific course requirements. The standard-based assessments have yet to be developed for 10th graders in 2001. The fiscal impact of the bill in the Department of Higher Education cannot be determined because the yet-to-be-developed statewide assessments cannot be compared to current higher education admissions standards. The statewide assessments may not be as rigorous as the current entrance criteria for state colleges and universities. The number of eligible students for admission to state colleges and universities may increase under this bill. Under current practice, the individual state colleges and universities select scores, from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing Program (ACT), to apply for admission.


            who perform at the proficient or greater level on statewide assessments in 2001, qualify as Colorado scholars, eligible for admission to any state institution of higher education. (The Department of Education indicates the first 10th grade assessment will be in the spring of 2001, with results available in the fall of 2001.) Twelfth graders who perform at the proficient or greater level on the statewide assessment in 2003, qualify as Colorado scholars, eligible for admission to any state institution of higher education. The fiscal note assumes the number of eligible students choosing admission to state colleges and universities may increase, thus creating a conditional fiscal impact in the Department of Higher Education in FY 2003-04.



Local School Districts Impact


            Under the bill, school districts are responsible for certifying those students qualifying as Colorado scholars. School districts must also include added information on each Colorado scholar's transcript. Any costs associated with this workload will be borne by the school districts within existing resources. 



Departments Contacted


            Education

            Higher Education