|
Only
16 days left in the legislative session and there is still much work to be done! Rural issues are front and center and critical questions remain unanswered. As of press time, we are still talking about the possibility of a flat Negative Factor and/or some rural funding. A compromise has been offered on charter school mill levy sharing and rural teacher incentive bills are making their way through the respective chambers. Things are moving (and changing) quickly and we are grateful for strong leadership from our rural legislators and support from both sides of the aisle.
Follow the Rural Advocacy Network on Facebook and Twitter to receive information/updates on pending legislation and other issue of import to rural schools and communities.
|
|
|
The Big Issues: Finance, assessment and flexibility
Finance
School Finance
The School Finance Act,
SB 296 , was introduced last Wednesday afternoon and, as expected, the bill sets base per pupil funding at $6,546.20, an inflationary increase of 2.8%, and total program funding at $6,585,800,182. The bill is rather straight-forward at this point but a myriad of provisions could be added depending on the outcome of the debates around (among other things) rural funding, transportation and charter school mill levy sharing. SB 296 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Senate Education Committee Thursday afternoon.
Rural Funding
Senator Sonnenberg has been quoted as saying that the Rural Sustainability Act, SB 267, which brings critical resources to rural hospitals, roads and schools, is on "life support." The largely partisan debate centers primarily on the re-designation of the Hospital Provider Fee as an enterprise under TABOR, something many Republicans oppose, and the reduction of the current TABOR revenue cap, which most Democrats oppose. Thus far,efforts to reach a compromise on the reduction of the revenue cap have fallen short and we continue to work with leadership in both chambers to ensure the vitality of our rural communities. The Rural Alliance supports SB 267 because it brings critical resources to rural communities and is consistent with the short term solution laid out in the
Superintendents' Work Towards Fair and Equitable Funding.
Residential Assessment Rate
There is some good news around funding. Last week, the State Tax Administrator announced that the projected drop in the residential assessment rate, required by the Gallagher amendment, may only decrease by about half of what was initially expected. This dramatic shift could stave off more than $100 million dollars in cuts to schools, local governments and special districts that provide critical services such as utilities, ambulances and fire protection and could free up as much as $190 million for the state's budget this year. This money could be used to eliminate cuts to rural hospitals, in the absence of a deal on the hospital provider fee, and/or keep the Negative Factor flat for 2017-18.
Vision and Study bills
HB 1340, sponsored by Representatives Lundeen and Garnett, creates a legislative interim committee to study school finance and create a new school finance funding formula. The structure of the study aligns with the superintendents' funding formula and the Rural Alliance has taken a support/amend position on the bill, which is making its way through the House. Board members question the need/efficacy for another study but understand this may be the only available for changing the funding formula consistent with the priorities laid out in the
Superintendents Statement on Funding.
HB 1287, championed by Representatives Rankin and Hamner, creates a legislative task force and several advisory committees tasked with creating a vision for public education. This vision will, in turn, provide the foundation for a campaign to generate the revenue necessary to adequately and equitably fund public education in Colorado. The bill made its way through the House but has been assigned to State Affairs (knows as the "kill committee") in the Senate. The Rural Alliance has not take a position on this bill, though members have shared questions/concerns about the need for a state-wide vision.
Charter school mill levy sharing
SB 61, which requires school districts to share mill levy revenues with district charter schools is still awaiting consideration by the House. The amendments adopted in the Senate did not go far enough to eliminate strong opposition and a compromise was set forth late last week. No word yet as to whether the compromise will hold though many have expressed concerns. The Rural Alliance remains opposed to the bill.
Flexibility and assessments
Flexibility
School districts will retain flexibility with regard to student discipline.
HB 1210, which prohibits expulsions and limits suspensions for students in grades Pre-K-2, was killed by the Senate State Affairs Committee last week. The Rural Alliance opposed the bill after hearing from numerous members concerned about the lack of resources available in their schools and communities in the rare cases when suspension is required for our youngest students. We caught some bad press on this issue, which was based on bad data, and remain committed to working with the proponents of the legislation to explain our concerns and bring critical resources and supports to our struggling students. .
Assessments
The State assessment issue is settled for the session.
HB 1181, which eliminates 9th grade PARCC and replaces it with an assessment aligned with the 10th grade assessment, currently SAT, has been approved by both chambers and will be signed by the Governor.
All the rest...
HB 1176, sponsored by Representative Becker and Senator Sonnenberg, eliminates the 110/140 day limitation on PERA retirees who return to work as a teacher, bus driver or cook in a Rural school district. The bill made its way through the House and faced some strong opposition in the Senate Education Committee. The bill was ultimately approved on a 4-3 vote and was approved on second reading by the Senate. The Rural Alliance supports this bill and we thank CASE and CEA for their hard work in the face of opposition.
HB 1294 clarifies that a student who participates in the ASCENT program, which allows the student to remain enrolled as a high school student while concurrently enrolling in postsecondary courses during the school year immediately following the student's twelfth-grade year, is counted in the enrolling school district's graduation rate in the year in which the student completes the high school graduation requirements. This technical change allows a school to count a student as a graduate even if they remain enrolled as part of the ASCENT program, so long as they have completed all graduation requirements. The Rural Alliance supports this bill, which addresses an issue that has been raised by many of our members.
HB 1344 creates the innovative teacher preparation program and directs CDE to create a system to collect data concerning teacher preparation programs and create multiple pilot programs to support and investigate innovative approaches to teacher preparation and teacher induction, identify effective strategies, and share best practices among local education providers, alternative teacher programs, and institutions of higher education. The bill is the result of a two year stakeholder process and, we understand, several of our rural members (at least) support the legislation.
HB 1201 authorizes a high school diploma endorsement for students who demonstrate mastery in STEM. As introduced, the bill set a high standard for students to earn the STEM endorsement and we heard from many members concerned that rural students will be disadvantaged due to the lack of access to STEM (and other advanced coursework opportunities) in rural schools. We have worked with the sponsor and other stakeholders to provide more flexibility for local districts. The bill has passed both houses and is off to the Governor for signature.
HB 1003, sponsored by Representative Mclachlen, requires the department of higher education and the department of education to prepare a strategic plan to address teacher shortages. The bill is being championed by Robert Mitchell from CDHE who has already begun to look at these issues with a number of rural and urban educators/experts. The Rural Alliance supports, which was approved by the Senate Education Committee.
|
|
|
Hanover School District is turning solar/wind power into revenue and opportunities for students
|
|
The Hanover school district is working with VINCO Energy Corp. in Parker, CO to determine how the district can benefit financially (and otherwise) from solar power generation. VINCO will perform a site audit to determine the feasibility of installing solar panels on the two school sites, utilizing battery storage for the solar energy generated and selling the extra energy generated from the Hanover solar panels to the local utilities. The District is also working with the developer of a 700-acre solar farm within its boundaries to develop a public private partnership that will bring renewable energy courses and other resources to the school and students.
There is currently great opportunity for schools and communities to take advantage of PV Solar (Photo Volataic Solar) long term energy savings and possibly selling energy back to your local utility. Not alll cases are equal and require research and analysis. Contact Grant Schmidt, Superintendent in Hanover, or Don Mack at VINCO Energy, if you have an interest in exploring the potential benefits of PV Solar.
|
|
 |
|
Giving Voice to Colorado's Teachers
|
|
Those Who Can is a new storytelling project focused on what it’s like to be a teacher in Colorado.
The aim of the project is to share the untold stories of our state’s teachers – to try to more fully understand what it means to be a teacher, about the challenges of the teaching profession that most don’t see or recognize – the struggles in finding housing, in having second jobs, etc.
They are looking for teachers willing to share their stories of what it’s like to be a teacher in Colorado – have questions, suggestions, or know somebody we should talk to? Send them a message, or fill out our survey if you’re interested in being interviewed.
Here’s a link to the website: thosewhocan.blog
|
|
|
|
|
Advocacy and Learning Resources
|
|
We are delighted by the growth of our
Associate Membership Program
, which has allowed us to begin to expand our activities and impact. Our current partners share our commitment to increasing opportunities for rural students and communities and have much to offer by way of information, opportunity and resources-advocacy and otherwise!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
