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S_ED_2025A 03/31/2025 05:32:13 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Date 03/31/2025
Attendance
Bright X
Kipp X
Lundeen *
Michaelson Jenet X
Rich X
Marchman X
Kolker X
Time 05:32:13 PM to 08:10:44 PM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Kolker
This Report was prepared by Rachel Kurtz-Phelan
Hearing Items Action Taken
Conf 25-Higher Education — Colorado Commission On Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar
Conf 25-Charter School Institute Board, State Favorably Refer to Full Senate
SB25-200 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

Conf 25-Higher Education — Colorado Commission On - Favorably Refer to Full Senate

05:33:15 PM  
Dr. Angie Paccione,
Executive Director, Colorado Department of Higher Education, introduced
appointees Jill Barkin, Theresa Kostenbauer, and Cassandra Walker-Harvey
to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.



The Governor's
appointment letters can be found as Attachments A through C.  
05:35:56 PM  

The appointees took turns speaking about their background and why they would like to serve on the commission.
05:40:35 PM  
The appointees responded
to questions from the committee.
05:50:36 PM  
Committee discussion
continued.


06:02:14 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Jill Barkin to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Marchman
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman No
Kolker No
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Conf 25-Higher Education — Colorado Commission On - Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar


06:02:48 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Teresa Kostenbauer to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Marchman
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman Yes
Kolker Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Conf 25-Higher Education — Colorado Commission On - Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar


06:03:13 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Cassandra Harvey to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Marchman
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman Yes
Kolker Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Conf 25-Charter School Institute Board, State - Favorably Refer to Full Senate
06:03:22 PM  
Terry Croy Lewis,
Executive Director, Charter School Institute, introduced appointees to
the board: Nicholas Thompson, Kenneth Smith, and Deborah Hendrix.



The Governor's
appointment letter can be found as Attachment D.
06:04:39 PM  

The appointees took turns speaking about their background and why they would like to serve on the board.

06:16:08 PM  
The appointees responded
to questions from the committee.
06:23:34 PM  
Committee discussion continued.


06:42:19 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Deborah Hendrix to the Charter School Institute Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Marchman
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman No
Kolker No
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Conf 25-Charter School Institute Board, State - Favorably Refer to Full Senate


06:42:41 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Kenneth Smith to the Charter School Institute Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Marchman
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman No
Kolker No
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Conf 25-Charter School Institute Board, State - Favorably Refer to Full Senate


06:43:55 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Nicholas Thompson to the Charter School Institute Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Marchman
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman No
Kolker No
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-200 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

06:44:03 PM  
Senators Kolker and
Mullica, co-sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 25-200 to the committee. The
bill makes several changes to the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development
(READ) Act.  
06:45:44 PM  
The committee took
a brief recess.
06:47:45 PM  
The committee came
back to order.
06:48:53 PM  
Winston Unger, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.
06:52:57 PM  
Kaden Forsha, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Addison Allan, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Mary Williams, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
provided comments on witness testimony.
07:01:32 PM  
Lena Drakos, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Thalia Drakos, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members
provided comments on witness testimony.
07:06:48 PM  
Madeleine Ashour,
representing Colorado Children's Campaign, testified to amend the bill.
Lydia Waligorski, representing Clayton Early Learning, testified to amend
the bill.



Witnesses responded
to questions from the committee.
07:13:41 PM  
Lindsay Drakos, representing
COKID, testified in support of the bill. Kristin Allan, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Forsha, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill. Rachel Arnold, representing International
Dyslexia Association - Rocky Mountain Branch, testified in support of the
bill.
07:25:12 PM  
Laura Mitchell, representing
COKID, testified in support of the bill. Anna Lebedda, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill. Kristin Allan read testimony on behalf
of Janine Runfola, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Anna Unger, representing themself, testified in support on the bill.
07:34:41 PM  
Elisa Sodja, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Valerie Thompson, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Jessica Capsel, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Michelle Qazi, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.
07:44:53 PM  
Witnesses responded to questions from the committee.
07:50:51 PM  
Sarah Robirds, representing
Colorado PTA, testified in support of the bill. Wendy Strait, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.
07:53:22 PM  
Dawn Odean, representing Colorado Department of Early Childhood, responded to questions from the committee.
07:57:22 PM  
The bill sponsors
introduced and explained amendments L.001 and L.003 which can be found
as Attachments E and F.


07:59:53 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment E)
Moved Kolker
Seconded
Bright
Kipp
Lundeen
Michaelson Jenet
Rich
Marchman
Kolker
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


08:00:40 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment F)
Moved Kolker
Seconded
Bright
Kipp
Lundeen
Michaelson Jenet
Rich
Marchman
Kolker
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
08:00:41 PM  
The bill sponsors
provided final comments on the bill.
08:08:07 PM  
Committee members
provided final comments on the bill.
Written public
testimony submitted can be found as Attachment G.


08:10:37 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-200, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Kolker
Seconded
Bright Yes
Kipp Yes
Lundeen Excused
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Rich Yes
Marchman Yes
Kolker Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


08:10:44 PM   The committee adjourned.






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