h_ed_2016a_2016-01-20t09:49:54z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/20/2016

09:58 AM -- Presentation by Departments of Education and Higher Education on graduation



Senator Hill invited the representatives from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to begin their presentation on graduation requirements and college readiness. Jennifer Sobanet, Chief Operating Officer, DHE, and Gretchen Morgan, Executive Director of the Innovation and Choice Unit, CDE, introduced themselves to the committee and distributed two handouts (Attachments A and B). Ms. Morgan talked about aligning the expectations of exiting high school with the expectations of entering a postsecondary institution. She explained a menu of different ways students can demonstrate competency in math and language arts before leaving high school and entering postsecondary or the work force. She explained that districts establish graduation requirements, put adequate supports in place to make sure students can meet these requirements, and make sure they align with the requirements of higher education. Ms. Morgan answered questions from the committee.



15JointEd0120AttachA.pdf 15JointEd0120AttachB.pdf



10:07 AM



Ms. Sobanet talked about the work that has been done between CDE and DHE to align graduation requirements with college admissions standards. She discussed the new admissions policies being introduced and a shift in the world of higher education from thinking about inputs to thinking about outputs and completions. She talked about the two-year long process that went in to developing the new admissions policies. The committee discussed the remedial training needs of students entering higher education.





10:20 AM



The committee discussed the need to provide information about the remedial needs of students back to the school districts from which they graduated. Misti Ruthven, Director of Postsecondary Readiness, CDE, came to the table to answer questions from the committee about the remedial needs of students.





10:31 AM



The committee discussed DHE's new admissions policies, concurrent enrollment programs, and student debt.





10:50 AM



The committee continued to discuss the cost of education, assessments, and work force readiness, Career and Technical Education, and Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-Tech) programs.





11:00 AM



Senator Hill made several announcements and thanked the presenters.





11:00 AM



The committee adjourned