Committee flunks answer to state's teacher shortage
A creative proposal to solve Colorado's teacher shortage was voted down by Republicans in the State Senate Finance Committee last Tuesday, despite strong bipartisan backers on the bill and no opposition.
Without clear explanation, the three GOPers on the five-person committee stood firm against
Senate Bill 18-147, the Educator Loan Forgiveness Program. My colleague on the bill, Sen. Coram (R) of Montrose, understands too well the urgency of this teacher shortage that plagues the rural parts of Colorado.
Last year, the legislature authorized CDE and CDHE to study the situation and recommend strategies to address the shortage. The report included a variety of policy suggestions, including the loan-forgiveness solution that was largely incorporated into SB18-147.
The program targeted educators employed in hard-to-fill positions due to geography or content area,
The report estimated that the loan forgiveness would go far toward helping to fill the 100 teacher jobs that go unfilled every year, on average.
Meeting with 5th grade students from Arvada K-8
"Community Schools" concept goes to committee
This Thursday, the Senate Education Committee will hear my bill
SB18-159 that would permit a public school with innovation status to operate as a "Community School".
I believe that chronically low-performing schools and districts, also known as Turnaround schools, need more options and strategies to help them improve. Year after year, Turnaround schools struggle to make changes that will increase student achievement. Senate Bill 159 introduces an option that could help. This concept is known as "Community Schools".
A "Community Schools" model integrates academics and community engagement in order to improve student learning. It is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. The model produces transformational change because it focuses on the whole child.
I'm excited to highlight this model and hopefully, upon adoption, we will provide another great tool for schools and districts to improve. For more information about this concept, check out the Coalition for Community Schools website.
The Transportation Committee with students from the state chapter of FCCLA
Statutory Revision Bills
This year I am the co-prime sponsor of several
Statutory Revision Committee bills that have already passed through the Senate, in most cases unanimously.
SB18-090 Terminology Referencing "Rights Of Married Women":Concerning modernization of language in statutory sections concerning "rights of married women"
: The bill modernizes the language in statutory sections concerning the 'rights of married women' to be inclusive of married men and women.
SB18-095 Outdated References To "Illegitimate" Children: Concerning the removal of statutory references to the marital status of parents of a child. The bill removes or modernizes outdated statutory references to a 'legitimate' or 'illegitimate' child and a 'child born out of wedlock'.
SB18-102 Odometer Reading Physical Vehicle Identification Number Verification: Concerning the requirement for an odometer reading when a motor vehicle's identification number is physically verified. The bill repeals the requirement that the odometer be read when a motor vehicle's identification number is physically verified.
SB18-107 Repeal Nomination Vacancy Filling In Municpal Elections: Concerning the repeal of procedures to fill vacancies in candidate nominations for elections conducted under the "Colorado Municipal Code of 1965".
Rally at the Capitol in support of the Civil Rights Division & Commission
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She serves on the Senate Trasnportation Committee, Education Committee, and Statutory Revision Committee. She is also a member of several interim committees including the CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee and the School Finance Interim Committee.
Save the date for
"Great Schools" townhall
Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 10 at 10:30 am for a special town hall meeting that will focus on the "Great Schools, Thriving Communities" ballot petition drive. The purpose is to
acquaint people with the efforts to improve the state's school funding formula. The meeting and petition drive will allow voters to learn about the school-funding ballot initiative and will provide an opportunity for voters to put their names on the official ballot petition. We will have a line-up of special guests including Lisa Weil, of Great Ed Colorado. For more information on the initiative, visit the Great Schools, Thriving Communities website. The location for the meeting is TBD.
Receiving Golden Apple Award from CO Coalition of Cyberschool Families
Next "What's Brewing" at the Denver Beer Co.
Join us for the next "What's Brewing at the Capitol" event on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 pm at the Denver Beer Company,
5768 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002. This is an informal event where you can enjoy a craft beer with your Senator. We hope to see you there!
Members of the Association of Colo Centers for Independent Living
Coffee With Constituents
Please join me on Friday, March 9 from 7 - 8 am at the Indian Tree Golf Course for my monthly Coffee With Constituents event. I provide the coffee and you provide the questions. Hope to see you then!
Constituents visiting for Lutheran Advocacy Day at the Capitol
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, I had lunch with members from the
ACCIL (Association of Colorado Center for Independent Living)... Presented
SB18-107 to the State Affairs Committee... Met with constituent
Amy Warden of CCASA (Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault)... On Tuesday, I attended the
Colorado Succeeds luncheon... I rallied at the Capitol in favor funding the
Civil Rights Division and Commission... I presented
SB18-147 to the Senate Finance Committee... On Wednesday, I met with 5th graders from
Arvada K-8 at the Capitol... Also, I met with Paul Williamson about
SkyTran... And I met with members of the
Colorado Craft Brewers Guild... On Thursday, I met with leaders from the
Metro North Chamber of Commerce... I listened to a presentation by students from the national
FCCLA chapter on transportation safety... I attended the
Colorado Wheat Growers legislative luncheon... I participated in the
Rally Against Human Trafficking... I interviewed with
Shaun Boyd of Channel 4 News about legislation... I met with
Colorado Mesa University President Tim Foster... I met with members of the
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Day at the Legislature... I was a guest speaker to the
Colorado Municipal League legislative panel... I met with officials from the
Colorado Department of Education... I attended the
Annual Labor Education Event... I attended the
CML legislation reception... On Friday, I attended the
Arvada Chamber of Commerce 3rd Friday Breakfast... I received the
Golden Apple Award from the
Colorado Coalition of Cyberschools Families... I interviewed with
Telemundo about legislation... On Saturday, we had our monthly legislative
Town Hall meeting on mental health.
Interviewing with Telemundo
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations
Can you help us by making a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with constituents. Your contribution helps pay for events, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools that make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANK YOU!
