S_ED_2020A 03/05/2020 01:36:56 PM Committee Summary

Senator Todd invited the appointee and reappointee to the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) to come to the table.  Joe Garcia, Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), and Rollie Heath, Vice Chair of the SBCCOE, provided background information about CCCS and SBCCOE.  Hanna Skandera and Richard Garcia introduced themselves and spoke about why they would like to be serve on the board.  A copy of the Governor's appointment letter can be found as Attachment A.

The panel from the State Historical Society Board of Directors came to the table.  Steve Turner, CEO of History Colorado, and Cathy Finlon, Chair of the board, introduced Cathy Carpenter Dea.  A copy of the Governor's appointment letter can be found as Attachment B. Ms. Dea told the committee about her background and about why she would like to be reappointed to the board.

Senators Fields and Lundeen, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1007, which concerns increasing the diversity of Colorado's educators in elementary and secondary public schools. They made opening comments.

The following people testified on the bill:

Evie Hudak, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Aya Saad-Masri, representing herself as a student, spoke in support of the bill.

Paula Gallegos, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Krista Spurgin, representing Stand For Children, spoke in support of the bill.

The panel answered questions from the committee.

Stephanie Perez-Carillo, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill.

Samantha Nuechterlein, representing Education Reform Now and Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in support of the bill.  She stated that Colorado Succeeds also supports the bill.

Sophia San Miguel, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Maggie Miller, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

The co-sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.

Senators Bridges and Lundeen, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 20-184, which concerns financial literacy standards for public schools.  The co-sponsors distributed a letter in support of the bill (Attachment C).

The following people testified on the bill:

Michael Van Norstrand, representing the Independent Bankers of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.  

Cindy Ficklin, representing herself as a realtor and former teacher, spoke in support of the bill.

Victoria Dadet, representing New Era Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

Eli Grimm, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

The panelists answered questions from the committee.

Ethan Hollar, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.

Britta Schwochau, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Helen Gibson, representing the Mountain West Credit Union Association, spoke in support of the bill.

The panel answered questions from the committee.

Jennifer Roberts, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, spoke in support of the bill.

Melanie Layton, representing the Colorado Bankers Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Maggie Miller, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

The co-sponsors and committee members provided closing comments on the bill.

Senators Lundeen and Todd, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1135, which concerns removing the requirement for the department of education to administer a state assessment in social studies to high school students. The co-sponsors provided opening comments on the bill.

Evie Hudak, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Kevin Vick, representing the Colorado Education Association, spoke in support of the bill.

The panel answered questions from the committee. Committee members made comments.

Kristi Hargrove, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

The co-sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.