The Senate Tuesday evening approved yet another version of the 2009-10 school finance act, but not before Republicans lambasted the Democratic majority for supporting an “irresponsible” bill. The House approved the compromise with less fuss, making the bill a done deal.
The Senate Tuesday gave final approval to the educator identifier bill and to the proposal to create a statewide dual enrollment system.
With no debate, the House voted 65-0 Monday evening to repass the compromise version of Senate Bill 09-256, the 2009-10 school finance act.
The proposal to let some parents take leave from work for school conferences has survived the 2009 legislative session with 45-20 House approval Monday of compromise language proposed by a conference committee. The Senate had signed off on April 27.
The bill to merge the Denver Public Schools Retirement System into the state Public Employees’ Retirement Association was approved by a 51-14 House vote Monday morning. Since there were no House amendments, the bill now goes to the governor.
“It’s kind of gone through quietly, but in the education world it’s making a big noise” was how Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, described Senate Bill 09-163 after the Senate accepted House amendments and just before it was repassed 28-5. The bill, known as the Education Accountability Act of 2009, makes substantial changes in the ways that student, school and district performance are measured and reported, in how underperforming schools are improved and will expand what information is available about school performance.
