H_ED_2017A 01/30/2017 Committee Summary

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.

03:27 PM -- HB17-1106



Representative Pettersen and Representative Wilson presented and summarized House Bill 17-1106. This bill continues the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (commission) in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The commission is scheduled for repeal on July 1, 2018, and this bill extends it through September 1, 2023. The bill also adds five Governor-appointed members to the commission and specifies that one member must be a representative of programs providing early childhood services to military families. The bill makes several other changes to the commission. It removes the requirement that the director and any staff appointed to the commission be paid using money in the Early Childhood Leadership Cash Fund. It also permits the General Assembly to appropriate General Fund to cover the administrative costs incurred by the commission.



Representative Pettersen and Representative Wilson answered questions from the committee.





03:37 PM



Representative Pettersen and Representative Wilson continued to answer questions from the committee.



03:38 PM -- Barbara Grogan, representing the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the role of the ECLC and distributed a handout (Attachment A) and a copy of an annual report (Attachment B).



Attachment A can be viewed at Legislative Council



Attachment B can be viewed at Legislative Council





03:42 PM -- Anna Robinson, representing the ECLC, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the current work and mission of the commission.



Ms. Grogan answered questions from the committee regarding funding for the commission.





03:52 PM



Ms. Grogan continued to answer questions from the committee.



03:54 PM -- Anna Jo Haynes, representing the ECLC, spoke in favor of the bill.



04:00 PM -- Kristina Mueller, representing the ECLC, spoke in favor of the bill. She answered questions from previous testimony.



























04:10 PM



Ms. Mueller and Mr. Haynes continued to answer questions from the committee.





04:27 PM -- HB17-1106





04:29 PM -- Bill Jaeger, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in favor of the bill.



04:31 PM -- Senator Evie Hudak, representing the Colorado PTA, spoke in favor of the bill.



Representative Wilson introduced and summarized Amendment L.001 (Attachment C).



17HouseEd0130AttachC.pdf

Representative Lundeen introduced and summarized Amendment L.004 (Attachment D).



17HouseEd0130AttachD.pdf



The committee members discussed the amendment.

04:43 PM



Representative Pettersen and Representative Wilson provided closing comments on the bill.







































04:46 PM



The committee members provided closing comments.

04:48 PM



The committee adjourned.