MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex
March 1, 2016
Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
Sen. Jim Dabakis
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Mark B. Madsen
Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart
Members Absent: Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Members Excused: President Wayne L. Niederhauser
Staff Present: Ms. Allyson Goldstein, Policy Analyst
Ms. Tonya Hadley, Committee Secretary
NOTE: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed
with the committee minutes.
Chair Millner called the meeting to order at 4:27 p.m.
SB 224 Student Assessments (Sen. Stephenson)
Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke to the bill: Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Acting Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to request the committee’s support to submit an interim study item to study, with feedback from the State Board of Education, the recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act, including provisions related to accountability and assessments, particularly those related to assessment participation and ways of implementing innovative assessments. The purpose of this study item is to specifically learn what measures the Legislature should implement in statute to allow the State Board of Education to accomplish the requirements of ESSA.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to request that the Legislative Management Committee authorize a summit with the education partners.
Chair
Millner asked to postpone the motion until tomorrow so she could add it to the
agenda. Sen. Stephenson withdrew the motion.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to hold S.B. 244 in committee. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis absent for the vote.
SB 239 School Governance Amendments (Sen. Stephenson)
Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Ms. Angie Stallings, Associate Superintendent, Utah State Office of
Education
Motion: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass out SB 239 to the floor with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis absent for the vote.
SB 242 Special Education Intensive Needs
Fund Amendments (Sen. Fillmore)
Sen. Fillmore explained the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass SB 242 to the floor with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis absent for the vote.
HB277S01 Personalized Learning and Teaching
Amendments (Rep. Knotwell)
Rep. Knotwell explained the differences between the 1st Substitute and the 2nd substitute.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to replace 1st Sub H.B. 277 with 2nd Sub. H.B. 277. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis absent.
Spoke to the bill: Mr. Dave Thomas, Vice Chair, State Board of Education
Spoke for the bill: Mr. Mike Anderson, Administrator, Jordan School District
Ms. Susan Edwards, Legislative Liaison, Canyons School District
Spoke against the bill:
Ms. Nancy Kennedy, President, Utah School Boards Association
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass out 2nd Sub. HB 277 with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.
HB289S01 Charter School Closure Amendments (Rep. DiCaro)
Rep. DiCaro explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Mr. Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools
Mr. Ben Horsley, Director of Communications and Outreach, Granite
School District
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass 1st Sub HB 289 to the floor with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis and
Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
HB301S01 School Bus Route Grant Program (Rep. Stanard)
Rep. Stanard explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke to the bill: Dr. Scott Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Utah Board of Education
Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Acting Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education
Spoke against the bill: Ms. Nancy Kennedy, President, Utah School Boards Association
MOTION: Sen. Fillmore moved to pass 1st Sub. HB 301 to the floor with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis and Sen. Urquhart to the floor with a favorable recommendation.
MOTION: Sen. Fillmore moved to approve the minutes from February 29, 2016 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Fillmore moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
Chair Millner adjourned to meeting at 5:55 p.m.
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Sen. Ann Millner, Chair