S_ED_2019A 04/11/2019 02:25:56 PM Committee Summary

The reappointees to the board of trustees for Adams State University came to the table. Cleave Simpson and John Singletary introduced themselves and told the committee why they would like to continue serving on the board. A copy of the Governor's appointment letter can be found as Attachment A.

Lorna Candler, Director, Division of Private Occupational Schools, came to the table to introduce the appointee and reappointees to the Private Occupational School Board: Christopher Reister, Rochelle Krovitz, Paul Garibay, and Abbas Behbehani. A copy of the Governor's appointment letter can be found as Attachment B. The appointees took turns telling the committee members about their backgrounds and about why they would like to serve on the board.

Joe Garcia, President of the Colorado Community College System, came to the table to introduce the appointees and reappointee to the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education: Hanna Skandera, Landon Mascarenaz, Terrance McWilliams, and Presley Askew. A copy of the Governor's appointment letter can be found as Attachment C. The appointees took turns telling the committee about their backgrounds and about why they would like to serve on the board.

Former Senator Rollie Heath, member of the board, provided comments on the appointees.

Senator Bridges, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-216, concerning incentives for local education providers to provide innovative learning opportunities for high school students.  The bill was on the table for action only. Senator Bridges distributed and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment D).

Senator Todd and Senator Rankin, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-199, which was on the table for action only.  The bill concerns measures to support effective implementation of the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act for all students who receive services pursuant to READ plans.  Senator Todd explained amendments L.003, L.004, L.005, and L.006 to the bill that were adopted previously (Attachments E, F, G, and H).  The co-sponsors answered questions from the committee.  Committee discussion ensued.

Senator Lundeen distributed and explained amendments L.007, L.008, L.009, L.010, and L.011 (Attachments I through M).  The committee continued to discuss the bill.

The committee continued to discuss the bill.

Floyd Cobb and Melissa Colsman, Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to answer questions from the committee.

The committee continued to discuss the bill and amendments.

The committee continued to discuss the amendments.

Senator Moreno, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-231, concerning the creation of the Colorado Second Chance Scholarship in the pursuit of higher education for youth previously committed to the Division of Youth Services.

Jonathon McMillan, representing My Brother's Keeper, spoke in support of the bill.

Gretchen Russo, representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, spoke about the bill in a neutral position.  Senator Moreno read a written statement of support of the bill into the record.  

Senator Moreno, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1196, concerning student financial assistance for students who are classified as in-state students for tuition purposes.

Senator Moreno distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment N).

Chloe Mugg, Legislative Liaison, Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE) read written statement in support of the bill.

Angela Marquez, representing Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver), spoke in support of the bill.

Mariana Pascual, representing herself as a student, spoke in support of the bill.

Alejandra Merjil, representing herself, read a written statement in support of the bill.

Nayda Benitez, representing United Leaders of Higher Education, spoke in support of the bill.

Ariadna Ochoa, representing MSU Denver, spoke in support of the bill.

Jen Walmer, representing Education Reform Now and Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in support of the bill.

Bernabe Soto-Ramirez, representing himself as a student at MSU Denver, spoke in support of the bill.

Evie Hudak, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Senator Moreno answered questions from the committee.

Chloe Mugg, Legislative Liaison, DHE, came back to the table to answer questions from the committee.

The committee took a brief recess.

Senator Gonzales, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1192, which concerns the inclusion of matters relating to American minorities in the teaching of social contributions in civil government in public schools.

Kirk Fry, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Fry answered questions from the committee.

Jordan Anthony, representing One Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

Mariana Galvez Seminario, representing the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), spoke in support of the bill.  She distributed several handouts to the committee (Attachments O, P, and Q).

Karla Gonzales Garcia, representing COLOR, spoke in support of the bill.

Kent Willmann, representing himself as an educator and also the Colorado Education Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Adriadna Ochoa Magallanes, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Ramon DelCastillo, representing himself, spoke in support of bill.

The panel of witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Nayda Benitez, representing herself as a student at MSU Denver, spoke in support of the bill.

Bernabe Soto Ramirez, representing himself as a student at MSU Denver, spoke in support of the bill.

Senator Gonzales provided closing comments on the bill.

Senator Fields and Senator Priola, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1194, concerning the discipline of preschool through second grade students enrolled in publicly-funded education programs.  They distributed several handouts to the committee (Attachments R through V).

Christina Walker, representing Clayton Early Learning, spoke in support of the bill.

Christiano Sosa, representing the Arc of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

Rachel Sandoval, representing the Colorado Education Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Jake Cousins, representing Padres y Jovenes Unidos, spoke in support of the bill.

Sam Stokesberry read a written statement from Darby West, Principal of Sunshine KIPP Elementary, in support of the bill.

Robert Lawhead, representing the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, spoke in support of the bill.

Bill Jaeger, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill.

The panel of witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.

Senator Story, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-204, concerning implementaion of supplemental accountability systems by local education providers for measuring public school performance.

Julie O'Brien, representing the University of Colorado Denver School of Education, spoke in support of the bill.

Kirk Banghart, representing the Colorado Rural Education Collaborative, Colorado Association of School Executives, Colorado Association of School Boards, and the Rural Alliance, spoke in support of the bill.

Leslie Colwell, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill if amended.  She stated that Colorado Succeeds and the Colorado League of Charter Schools also support the bill if amended.

Prateek Dutta, representing Education Reform Now and Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in support of the bill.

Jody Ernst, representing the Opportunity Measure Consortium, spoke in support of the bill.

Senator Story distributed amendments L.002 and L.003 (Attachments W and X). She explained the amendments and committee discussion ensued.