First Regular Session

Sixty-second General Assembly

LLS NO. R99­0833.01 Jane Ard­Smith

STATE OF COLORADO

BY SENATORS Evans, Andrews, Epps, Lamborn, and Owen;

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 99-033

CONCERNING AN INTERIM STUDY ON FINANCING PUBLIC SCHOOLS BASED ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, CREATING A TASK FORCE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND DEVELOP LEGISLATION.

WHEREAS, The recent test results for fourth­grade reading and writing skills were dismal and clearly demonstrate that Colorado's public education system needs to be reformed; and

WHEREAS, The financing of Colorado's public schools is based on student enrollment rather than on how well students perform in the classroom; and

WHEREAS, The practice of funding public schools based on student enrollment rather than student performance does not provide any financial accountability of the schools that are performing poorly nor has it led to better academic achievement by Colorado's children; and

WHEREAS, The public school system should be child­centered, which means tying a public school's funding to its ability to attract and retain students; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty­second General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1)  That there shall be a task force to meet in the interim after the First Regular Session of the Sixty­second General Assembly to study the financing of public schools. Such interim task force shall consist of thirteen members as follows:

(a)  Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(b)  Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(c)  The chair of the state board of education;

(d)  One member who represents school boards, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(e)  One member who represents school administration, appointed by the Governor;

(f)  One member who is a teacher, appointed by the Governor;

(g)  One member who is a parent of school age children, appointed by the Governor;

(h)  One member who represents charter schools, appointed by the Governor; and

(i)  One member who represents private business and industry, appointed by the Governor.

(2)  That the appointments to the task force shall be made no later than June 1, 1999. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint the chair of the task force. The chair shall call the first meeting of the task force no later than June 15, 1999.

(3)  That the task force shall perform the following duties:

(a)  Review and make recommendations on methods of financing public schools that would link financial accountability to state standards and test results and that would base the level of funding public schools on schools' performance rather than on student enrollment; and

(b)  Develop legislation to implement the task force's recommendations by November 15, 1999.

(4)  That, in conducting such study, the task force shall consult with school districts, parents, appropriate local and state agencies, and interested members of the public and may hold public hearings in locations outside the Denver metropolitan area as deemed necessary for purposes of the study. The study shall not require additional staff for any state agency or any additional appropriation to any such agency. Members of the task force shall not be compensated for their participation.

(5)  That the Legislative Council shall report the findings and recommendation of the task force to the Second Regular Session of the Sixty­second General Assembly.

(6)  That all expenditures incurred in the conduct of the study enumerated on this Resolution shall be approved by the chair of the Legislative Council and paid by vouchers and warrants drawn as provided by law from funds allocated to the Legislative Council from appropriations made by the General Assembly.