H_ED_2016A 04/25/2016 Committee Summary

01:36 PM



Representative Pettersen, chair, welcomed the committee and audience. Representative Hamner, sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1446, which allows school districts to give Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act assessments in English or in Spanish. Representative Hamner responded to questions from the committee.





01:42 PM



The following people testified:



01:43 PM -- Christina Medina, representing the Colorado Education Association, spoke in support of the bill.



01:44 PM -- Charlotte Mendez, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.





01:46 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



01:53 PM -- Susana Cordova, Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bill.



01:57 PM -- Christine Muldoon, Director of English Language Acquisition for Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bill.















02:00 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



02:25 PM -- Jorge Garcia, representing the Colorado Association for Bilingual Education, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Garcia responded to questions from the committee.



02:34 PM -- Jeannie Frickey Saito, representing Stand for Children Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.



02:38 PM -- Jen Walmer, representing Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Walmer responded to questions from the committee.



02:46 PM -- Leslie Colwell, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Colwell responded to questions from the committee.



02:53 PM -- Val Flores, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. Ms. Flores responded to questions from the committee.









































































03:03 PM



No further witnesses being present, Representative Pettersen closed public testimony. Representative Hamner spoke about the provisions of Amendment L.001 (Attachment A).



16HouseEd0425AttachA.pdf

03:05 PM



Committee discussion ensued.

03:18 PM -- HB16-1343



The committee recessed.





03:28 PM



The committee came back to order. Representative Moreno, sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1343, which repeals the authority of the State Board of Education (SBE) to automatically waive state statutes or board rules for charter schools. Representative Moreno responded to questions from the committee. He referenced a memo from the Office of Legislative Legal Services (Attachment B). Committee discussion ensued.



16HouseEd0425AttachB.pdf



03:56 PM -- Julie Pelegrin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee.

















04:01 PM



The following people testified:



04:02 PM -- Kelly Rosensweet and Jennifer Mello, representing the Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee.



04:21 PM -- Dan Schaller, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill.



04:24 PM -- Jessica Johnson, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill.





04:28 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee.



04:38 PM -- Maya Lagana, a member of the portfolio management team for Denver Public Schools and Tom McMillen, representing Douglas County School District, spoke in opposition to the bill. Ms. Lagana and Mr. McMillen responded to questions from the committee.



04:53 PM -- Farrah Nicole Martin, founder and executive director of Amon STEAM Academy, a charter school opening in Aurora, spoke in opposition to the bill

.

04:57 PM -- Bill Kottenstette, representing Compass Montessori School, spoke in opposition to the bill.





05:00 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



05:07 PM -- Cinde Will, principal of a charter school, spoke in opposition to the bill.



05:12 PM -- Deborah Cole, representing the School Coaliltion for Excellence, spoke in opposition to the bill.





05:14 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



05:23 PM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in opposition to the bill.



05:26 PM -- Jen Walmer, representing Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in opposition to the bill.



















05:31 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to the committee.



05:34 PM -- Marcia Crawford, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



05:38 PM -- Wenda Wilson, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.





05:43 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.



05:59 PM -- Sally Kate Tinch, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



06:03 PM -- Jonna Levine, representing Colorado Parent Teacher Association (PTA), spoke in support of the bill.





06:06 PM



The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



06:11 PM -- Scott Gilpin, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Gilpin responded to questions from the committee.





06:20 PM



No further witnesses being present, Representative Pettersen closed public testimony and laid the bill over for action only at a later date.





06:21 PM



The committee adjourned.