h_ed_2017a_2017-01-30t13:30:38z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/30/2017

Location:

01:31 PM -- HB17-1022



Representative Salazar presented and summarized House Bill 17-1022 concerning teaching competent history in public schools. Under current law, Colorado’s public schools are required to teach the history and civil government of the United States, including the history, culture, and contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans. This bill requires that schools also teach the history and civil government of the state of Colorado, and the history, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans. The bill creates the 15-member History, Culture, and Civil Government in Education Commission (commission) and sets the conditions for the commission’s selection and composition. The commission must make recommendations to the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) related to the learning of history, culture, and civil government. Under current law, each school district board of education is required to periodically convene a community forum to discus the district's adopted standards for civics. These forums must be conducted not less than once every 10 years. This bill requires that boards of education convene community forums not less than once every two years.



Representative Salazar answered questions from the committee concerning current history curriculum.





01:41 PM



The committee members continue to dialogue with the sponsor regarding current practices for history curriculum.





01:51 PM



Representative Salazar continued to answer questions from the committee members.



01:55 PM -- Andres Martinez, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed his experience as a history teacher in public schools. Mr. Martinez answered questions from the committee.





02:05 PM



Representative Salazar answered questions from the committee regarding curriculum and increased student outcomes.



Mr. Martinez answered questions from the committee regarding multicultural teaching.



02:10 PM -- Hayley Breden, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed her experience as a teacher.



02:14 PM -- Jesse Sheer, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill.



02:17 PM -- Dr. Ramon Del Castillo, Professor of Chicano Studies at Metropolitan State University, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed student successes in schools with multicultural curriculum.





02:27 PM



Dr. Del Castillo answered questions from the committee.



02:37 PM -- Amber Garcia, representing Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the importance of multicultural education.





02:39 PM



The committee recessed.





02:54 PM



The committee returned from recess.



Ms. Garcia continued to testify on the bill.



02:56 PM -- Justin Valas, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He spoke about Asian American history and the importance of multicultural education.



Mr. Valas answered questions from the committee regarding curriculum.



03:04 PM -- George Walker, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill.



03:10 PM -- Marcus Hyde, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill.





03:15 PM



Representative Salazar provided closing comments on the bill.



The committee members provided closing comments on the bill.