Charter-school franchise
Senate Democrats who think traditional schools are failing disadvantaged kids sided with minority Republicans Tuesday and added an amendment to a bill that essentially allows a charter school to franchise.
Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, accused critics of “taking a sledgehammer” to her bill with the amendment, which lets three charters open in the state without an invitation from a local school board.
Windels’ bill was intended to let school boards retain exclusive authority to authorize charter schools within their boundaries.
The applicant for the three new charter schools would have to have a “demonstrated history” of at least 85 percent of its students scoring proficient or above on state assessment tests. And at least half of the students at the charter schools would have to be eligible for the free or reduced-lunch program.
The Cesar Chavez Academy in Pueblo is the only school that meets the bill’s criteria.
“It’s beyond my comprehension why that model wouldn’t be duplicated statewide,” said Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who wrote the amendment.
Merrifield battles cancer
Rep. Mike Merrifield made it clear Tuesday that he does not intend to let cancer get him down.
“I’m a Democrat from El Paso County. If I can handle that, I think I should be able to handle cancer,” Merrifield told KUSA-TV Channel 9.
Merrifield said he begins treatment today for neck and throat cancer. His colleagues showed their support with a rousing round of applause.
State ID measure gains
The Colorado House Transportation and Energy committee on Tuesday unanimously approved House Bill 1313, which lists the documents that can be used as valid forms of identification when obtaining a state driver’s license or ID.
The bill, which now goes to the full House for review, also sets up a process for hearings by people who are denied a driver’s license or ID.
The bill would allow a U.S. passport or another state’s driver’s license to be accepted as valid ID.
A birth certificate – combined with a Colorado tax return, a U.S. Social Security card or other accepted documents – also would be accepted.
Junk-mail ban to die
A proposal to allow Coloradans to bar junk mail from their mailboxes is headed to the shredder.
Facing opposition from businesses, unions and postal workers involved in the multibillion-dollar direct-mailing industry, state Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, said Tuesday she planned to ask that her bill be killed and that all parties work together after the session ends to try to reach a compromise.
House passes sex-ed bill
School districts that teach sex education would have to provide information about AIDS, hepatitis C and cervical cancer under a bill passed by the House Tuesday.
House Bill 1292 from Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, says schools should emphasize abstinence, including from oral sex, and it says districts should involve parents in curriculum planning.
But the bill updates state law to make sure public schools are teaching the latest science as well as abstinence.
On the side
Husker don’t
A Nebraska legislative committee has killed a bill that would have changed the state song from “Beautiful Nebraska,” to “I Love Nebraska,” a country song criticized by some for focusing too much on Cornhusker football.
Can we quote you on that?
“Can we reconsider that?”
– Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, watching Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, remove his jacket after relaxing the “coat rule” during Senate debate.
Compiled by Mark Couch and The Associated Press.
