Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

H_ED_2017A 12/05/2017 09:05:00 AM Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date: 12/05/2017
ATTENDANCE
Time: 09:05 AM to 12:30 PM
Bridges
E
Buckner
X
Place: RM 271
Everett
E
Exum
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Gardner
E
Representative Pettersen
Garnett
E
Lee
X
This Report was prepared by
Leonard
X
Damion Pechota
Lundeen
*
McLachlan
X
Merrifield
*
Navarro
E
Neville T.
E
Priola
*
Sias
X
Todd
*
Wilson
X
Zenzinger
X
Hill
X
Pettersen
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call, R = Remote Participation
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Presentation by History Colorado

Presentation by Department of Higher Education

Teacher Shortages

Presentation by Colorado Department of Education
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only





09:07 AM -- Presentation by History Colorado



Steve Turner, Executive Director of History Colorado, provided an overview of History Colorado. He distributed a handout of the presentation (Attachment A), the 2017-18 Annual Performance Evaluation Update (Attachment B), the 2017-18 Performance Plan (Attachment C), and a brochure for a current exhibit (Attachment D). Mr. Turner provided an overview of the organization's finances and museum attendance. He discussed the modernization of technology services, museum revenue, and employee engagement.























17JtEducation1205AttachA.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachA.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachB.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachB.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachC.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachC.pdf Attachment D can be viewed at Legislative Council.



09:21 AM



Mr. Turner answered questions from the committee regarding the History Colorado Board of Directors. He also answered questions regarding the finances of History Colorado.





09:26 AM -- Presentation by Department of Higher Education



Dr. Kim Reed, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), provided an overview of the department. She provided a copy of the presentation (Attachment E), the CDHE SMART Act Report (Attachment F), a letter on the Governor's budget request for higher education funding (Attachment G), a report on Senate Bill 16-196 on the Inclusive Higher Education Pilot Program (Attachment H), and the CDHE master plan (Attachment I).



17JtEducation1205AttachE.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachE.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachF.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachF.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachG.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachG.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachH.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachH.pdf





Attachment I can be viewed at Legislative Council.





Dr. Reed answered questions from the committee regarding the low number of Hispanic males that will earn a two or four year degree. She discussed current programs to target Hispanic males in order to provide greater higher education opportunities.



Dr. Reed answered questions from the committee regarding dual enrollment programs.





09:36 AM



Dr. Reed answered questions regarding the equality gap in Colorado for earning higher education degrees. She also answered questions regarding the pathways available to high school students that do not pursue a degree at a higher education institution.



















09:43 AM



Dr. Reed discussed the need to train and educate students for jobs that do not yet exist. She also discussed the demographics of student attainment of higher education degrees. Dr. Reed spoke on the costs associated with post secondary education.



Dr. Reed discussed CDHE goals for increasing higher education attainment, including increasing credentials, erasing equity gaps, improving student success, and creating greater affordability. She answered questions regarding recent grant funding awarded to CDHE.





09:53 AM



Dr. Reed discussed dual enrollment programs. She answered questions from the committee regarding specific courses available in dual enrollment programs. She also answered questions regarding the transferability of credits.



09:57 AM --
Dianne Duffy, Chief Operating Officer of the CDHE, answered questions from the committee regarding the funding of dual enrollment programs. She also answered questions regarding the transfer of credits.



The committee members continued to discuss and ask questions regarding concurrent enrollment programs.



Dr. Reed answered questions regarding the challenges of financing concurrent enrollment programs. She also answered questions regarding access to online classes.





10:12 AM



Dr. Reed continued to discuss the current goals for increasing degree attainment.



Dr. Reed answered questions regarding retention data. She also answered questions regarding the value and return on investment of a higher education degree.





10:24 AM



Dr. Reed continued to answer questions from the committee. Specifically, she answered questions regarding the funding formula for Pell Grant students. She also answered questions regarding workforce training.



The committee members provided closing comments to the CDHE presentation.





























10:34 AM -- Teacher Shortages



Commissioner Katy Anthes, Commissioner of Education for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and Dr. Reed, Executive Director of CDHE, provided an overview of teacher shortages in Colorado. The committee members were provided a copy of the presentation (Attachment J), a report on Colorado teacher shortages (Attachment K), and a report on teacher shortages in the United States (Attachment L).



17JtEducation1205AttachJ.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachJ.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachK.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachK.pdf



17JTEducation1205AttachL.pdf17JTEducation1205AttachL.pdf



Commissioner Anthes provided a summary of the teacher shortage problem. She discussed the decline in the number of individuals in educator preparation programs. Commissioner Anthes discussed the issues in rural districts, specifically in recruitment and retention. She discussed the different challenges depending or geographic location.





10:43 AM



Commissioner Anthes discussed the cost of living for teachers and it's impact on turnover and attrition.



Commissioner Anthes answered a question from the committee regarding the cost of living in rural areas.





10:53 AM



Dr. Reed discussed potential legislation to promote the teacher profession, specifically marketing the profession, financially assisting individuals, and providing pathways for teachers.



Commissioner Anthes answered questions about the teacher evaluation rubric.





11:10 AM



Commissioner Anthes continued to answer questions on policy concerns regarding teacher shortages. She also answered a question regarding teacher licensure.































11:18 AM



Dr. Reed discussed the strategic goals for addressing teacher shortages. She spoke on the retention and recruitment of educators by increasing compensation and benefits. In addition, she discussed creating programs to increase enrollment and completion of preparation programs.



Commissioner Anthes answered questions from the committee regarding pre-kindergarten teacher shortages.





11:28 AM



Commissioner Anthes answered questions from the committee regarding alternative ways to study teacher shortages.



The committee members discussed their concerns regarding teacher shortages in Colorado.





11:36 AM -- Presentation by Colorado Department of Education



Commissioner Anthes, Commissioner of Education for CDE, provided an overview of the department. She discussed the work of CDE during 2017, including standard reviews, accountability hearings, plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Student's Success Act, and a new performance plan. She distributed a copy of the presentation (Attachment M), the 2017 CDE legislative priorities (Attachment N), the CDE strategic plan (Attachment O), the report on facts and figures for CDE (Attachment P), the CDE program forecast (Attachment Q), the CDE organizational chart (Attachment R), the CDE regulatory agenda (Attachment S), a report on capital construction projects (Attachment T), and a report on the Career Success Pilot Program (Attachment U).



17JtEducation1205AttachM.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachM.pdf 17JTEducation1205AttachN.pdf17JTEducation1205AttachN.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachO.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachO.pdf 17JTEducation1205AttachP.pdf17JTEducation1205AttachP.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachQ.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachQ.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachR.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachR.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachS.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachS.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachT.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachT.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachU.pdf17JtEducation1205AttachU.pdf















11:50 AM



Commissioner Anthes discussed the achievement gap in Colorado schools and provided a breakdown of the new performance plan.



11:51 AM --
Joyce Zurkowski, Executive Director of Assessment, CDE, answered questions from the committee regarding assessments for different grade levels.



Commissioner Anthes spoke on the new performance plan to address the achievement equality gaps. She discussed current benchmarks for reading levels, maintaining and increasing performance, increasing post secondary credentials, and targeting underserved students.



11:55 AM --
Dr. Melissa Colsman, Associate Commissioner of Student Learning, CDE, answered questions from the committee regarding students with reading deficiencies.



Commissioner Anthes answered questions from the committee regarding the development of measurable goals.



Commissioner Anthes discussed five key incentives for CDE: support high quality early learning and literacy for all students, expand access and opportunity for historically underserved students, prioritize and maximize support for schools and districts identified for academic improvement, expand high school options to ensure that all students are ready for college and living wage jobs, and develop a strong pipeline of high-quality teachers and principals and provide deeper support for school and district leaders.





12:12 PM



Commissioner Anthes answered questions from the committee regarding sharing information from successful practices at K-12 schools. She discussed the Connect for Success program. She also answered questions regarding foster care students.





12:24 PM



Commissioner Anthes discussed the efficiency and effectiveness of the department to provide services and resources to K-12 schools.



The committee members provided closing comments.





12:30 PM



The committee adjourned.