j_src_2016a_2016-10-13t09:02:15z12 Hearing Summary

Date: 10/13/2016

10:51 AM -- 5e. Update and align various statutes within Title 22, C.R.S.E_Edited_CDERecommendations.pdf



Ms. Ritter introduced the issues discussed in the memo, which were brought to staff by the Department of Education (CDE). The first deals with district accountability committees and how often they have to make recommendations to school districts regarding performance plans. Legislation enacted last year had changed the requirement from every year to every two years. However, the statute that requires the timing of the recommendations says they continue to have to make annual recommendations. The second issue deals with the mileage count date and pupil enrolment count date. In 2012, a house bill changed statutory references in Title 22 from the traditional October 1 count date to a defined term, "the pupil enrollment count day", and conforming amendments were missed, leaving incorrect references to the October 1 date in statute. The final issue deals with various references in statute to accredited independent schools and accredited nonpublic schools; however, the state board of education has never accredited these schools and is not authorized to do so. The CDE suggest repealing these terms in statute.

Representative Arndt suggested there may be a value to the annual reports required of district accountability committees and that changing that requirement to every two years is outside the scope of the committee. CDE bringing communication between local committee and local board that the CDE isn't involved in. Senator Steadman then added that the issues between district accountability committees and school district boards of education are local and not the purview of the CDE. He also questioned why the second issue was brought to the SRC and not to the Revisor for inclusion in the Revisor's Bill. Ms. Ritter replied that it was her understanding that the Revisor had rejected this correct for inclusion in the Revisor's Bill because the change to statute was made in 2012, the mistake is not a typo or clearly omitted on accident. He suggested that staff include a statement in memos indicating that the Revisor had considered and rejected making the change in the Revisor's Bill. Senator Holbert shared that his experience on an education committee suggested to him that any change to any reference to pupil count day would be lobbied.