MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 24, 2014

Members Present: Sen. Stuart C. Reid, Chair

Sen. Patricia W. Jones

Sen. Mark B. Madsen

President Wayne L. Niederhauser

Sen. Aaron Osmond

Sen. Howard A. Stephenson

Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart

Staff Present: Ms. Tiffany Stanley, Policy Analyst

Ms. Wendy Hill, Committee Secretary

NOTE: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Chair Reid called the meeting to order at 8:19 a.m.

S.B. 215 Public School Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan Amendments (Sen. A. Osmond)

Sen. Osmond explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Abigail Acton, student, Copper Canyon High School

Raegan Stirling, student, Copper Canyon High School

Matthew Hansen, student, Copper Canyon High School

Cassidy Gummersall, student, Copper Canyon High School

Susan Edwards, Public Engagement Coordinator, Canyons School

District

Spoke against the bill: Peter Cannon, Board Member, Davis District School Board

MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen. Niederhauser and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

S.B. 209 School Grading Revisions (Sen. J. Adams)

Sen. Adams explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke to the bill: Dr. Martell Menlove, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Spoke for the bill: Chris Bleak, President, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools

Judi Clark, Executive Director, Parents for Choice of Education

Charles Evans, Director for Government Relations Canyons School District

Heidi Erickson, Research Analyst, Utah Taxpayer Association

Spoke against the bill: Sarah Jones, Director of Education Excellence, Utah Education

Association

MOTION: Sen. Niederhauser moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2014 and February 20, 2014 meetings. The motion passed unanimously.

S.B. 218 Charter School Amendments (Sen. H. Stephenson)

Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Page 1, Lines 17 through 19:

17 ▸ requires a charter school that is approved with high priority status after

May 13, 2014, and is located in a

18 high growth area to give an enrollment preference to students who reside within a

19 two-mile radius of the charter school.

2. Page 3, Lines 67 through 73:

67 (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b) or (6)(b) , in approving an increase in charter school

68 enrollment capacity for new charter schools and expanding charter schools, the State Board of

69 Education shall give:

70 {(a)} (i) high priority to approving a new charter school or a charter school expansion in a

71 high growth area; and

72 {(b)} (ii) low priority to approving a new charter school or a charter school expansion in an

73 area where student enrollment is stable or declining.

(b) An applicant seeking to establish a charter school in a high growth area may elect to not receive high priority status as provided in Subsection (6)(a)(i).

3. Page 4, Lines 103 through 105:

103 (5) ( a) {A} Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), a charter school that is approved by the State Board of Education after May 13,

104 2014, and is located in a high growth area shall give an enrollment preference to students who

105 reside within a two-mile radius of the charter school.

(b) The requirement to give an enrollment preference under Subsection (5)(a) does not apply to a charter school that was approved without a high priority status pursuant to Subsection 53A-1a-502.5(6)(b).

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Niederhauser absent for the vote.

Spoke for the bill: Kim Frank, Executive Director, Charter School Network

Chris Bleak, President, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools

Spoke against the bill: Kaleen Whitelock, taxpayer

MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Niederhauser absent for the vote.

S.B. 202 Charter School Funding Amendments (Sen. H. Stephenson)

Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee. “Percentage of Revenue Contributed for Non-attending Students” was distributed to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Kim Frank, Executive Director, Charter School Network

Spoke against the bill: JoDee C. Sundberg, Executive Board member, Utah School Board

Association

MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Jones voting in opposition and Sen. Niederhauser absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Niederhauser absent for the vote.

Chair Reid adjourned the meeting at 9:59 a.m.

________________________

Sen. Stuart C. Reid, Chair