Updated 7:30 p.m. – The undocumented students tuition bill was killed this evening in the House Education Committee on a 7-6 vote, Republicans opposing and Democrats supporting.
What’s churning:
Senate Bill 11-126, which would create a form of resident tuition for undocumented students who meet certain requirements, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee at 1:30 this afternoon.
After being held on the calendar for weeks, the bill passed the Democratic-controlled Senate on a 20-15 party line vote last week. While many observers give the ASSET little chance in the Republican-controlled House, sponsor Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, said Friday he remains hopeful he can pick up sufficient votes in House Ed, where Republicans have a 7-6 edge. Chair Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, often votes with Democrats.
Ahead of the committee hearing, two liberal research groups on Friday released a study that concluded undocumented immigrants in Colorado pay as much in taxes as they receive in public services. See the study by the Bell Policy Center and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.
And the activist group Padres y Jovenes Unidos was mobilizing its supporters behind SB 11-126, urging them to call House Ed members and to rally at the Capitol this afternoon.
Stateline.org, a news service that covers issues in state legislatures around the nation, has an interesting backgrounder on immigration-related bills this year.
Also today, Denver Public Schools board members will meet in a work session that includes discussion of three new innovation school proposals, all in Far Northeast Denver – Denver Center for International Studies at Ford Elementary, Rachel B. Noel Arts Academy and Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello High. As part of the proposals, teachers would work “at-will” at the schools and would receive an additional $5,000 in compensation for the year. See this letter from district staff about the proposals.
The DPS board also is expected to discuss support for two initiatives filed by state Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, to raise taxes and increase funding for K-12 and higher education. And at their regular meeting on Thursday, the DPS will be asked to approve a tentative agreement with the teachers’ union over “mutual consent” hiring provisions in the educator effectiveness law, also known as Senate Bill 10-191.
What’s on tap:
See the week’s full legislative calendar here.
MONDAY
The Denver school board has a work session scheduled at 4:30 p.m. at 900 Grant St. Agenda.
The Boulder Valley school board meets at 1 p.m., kicking off a week of interviews with three superintendent finalists. Meetings are public. Details.
TUESDAY
The Boulder Valley school board meets at 6 p.m. in the Education Center at 6500 East Arapahoe Road, Boulder. Agenda.
WEDNESDAY
The University of Colorado Board of Regents hold a special meeting starting at 9 a.m. to discuss budget items. The meeting will be at St. Cajetan’s Center on the Auraria campus.
The State Board of Education meets starting at 3 p.m. for private interviews with the two commissioner candidates.
The St. Vrain board meets at 6:30 p.m. at Educational Services Center, 395 South Pratt Parkway, Longmont. More info.
THURSDAY
Denver school board members meet at 5 p.m. at 900 Grant St. Agenda.
Jefferson County school board members meet at 5 p.m. for a work session at district headquarters, 1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg. 27, in Golden. Agenda.
Good reads from elsewhere:
Common core: A look at one of 100 New York City schools experimenting with the new curriculum standards. New York Times.
In case you missed it: Chester Finn is yawning about the State Board’s pick of finalists for the job of education commissioner. Flypaper blog. And the latest word in the Denver Post’s chronology of mayoral candidate James Mejia’s take on school reform in Far Northeast Denver.