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517AB2792750E206872584F10073AB26 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SMART ACT PRESENTATION

JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
Date Jan 16, 2020      
Location Old State Library



Colorado Department of Education SMART Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only


02:03:26 PM  

Senator Todd invited the presenters from the Colorado Department of Education to the table.  Dr. Katy Anthes, Commissioner of Education, Dr. Melissa Colsman, Associate Commissioner of Student Learning, and Alyssa Pearson, Deputy Commissioner of Education, introduced themselves to the committee.  A copy of their PowerPoint presentation can be found as Attachment C.  Dr. Anthes talked about several of the department's advisory councils and provided an update on the department's strategic plan and five core initiatives.  Dr. Anthes answered questions from the committee.

02:13:56 PM  
Dr. Anthes spoke about the need to build
capacity to support districts, bolstering school climate, and expanding
professional development opportunities for educators and staff.  She
answered questions about the achievement gap and what the department is
doing to ensure that good teachers are placed in high-needs schools, as
well as what the department is doing to help principals with the evaluation
process by giving meaningful feedback to help teachers grow.

02:25:00 PM  

Dr. Anthes told the committee about the department's library of promising practices.  Dr. Colsman spoke about the Strong Foundations initiative, updates to the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act, the Colorado Preschool Program and Early Childhood At-Risk Enhancement (ECARE) slots, and the dyslexia working group.

02:38:40 PM  

Dr. Colsman and Dr. Anthes spoke about identifying and providing intervention and supports for students with significant reading deficiencies and the impact that teacher training has had on this process.  Dr. Colsman answered questions from the committee.  Committee discussion ensued.

02:58:55 PM  

Dr. Anthes discussed the definition of quality schools, schools and districts that have come off the accountability clock, districts accessing resources for improvement, grants for a local accountability pilot program, and adjustiong frameworks for elementary and middle schools.  Dr. Anthes and Ms. Pearson answered questions about district accountability committees.

03:08:12 PM  

Ms. Pearson spoke about the accountability clock.  Dr. Anthes discusse dthe department's goal that all students graduate ready for all types of postsecondary options.  She discussed teacher preparation programs, alternative licensing programs, and the importance of strong school leadership to teacher retention.