The Senate gave its nod to a bipartisan effort--championed by Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, and Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genesee--that will establish new tracking standards for schools, from pre-kindergarten to college.

The Senate also gave its full approval to an amendment to the Senate Bill 212--the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids--enhancing the way Colorado students' progress is assessed.  The amendment, authored by Penry, addresses the growing dissatisfaction with the Colorado Student Assessment Program and works to modernize and streamline standardized curriculum assessment.  

Penry and Witwer were joined by legislative Democrats, Sens. Chris Romer of Denver and Suzanne Williams of Aurora, as well as Rep. Christine Scanlan, of Dillon--all co-sponsors on the bill.  They commended Penry for his efforts to improve the CSAP.

"The global economy dictates where our schools need to be, we need to decide whether or not we want to step up and meet those challenges," Penry said. 

Broomfield Republican Sen. Shawn Mitchell's bid to make high school students demonstrate proficiency in the English language won approval from the full Senate today--after Mitchell amended the idea into another bill. It represented another stride forward for the GOP's legislative education agenda for 2008.

Mitchell's move effectively folded Senate Bill 98 into Senate Bill 212, a bipartisan measure that aligns rigorous course content standards with meaningful proficiency assessments and standardized college admission requirements.

“While SB 212 raises standards and aspirations for the bulk of students, this amendment provides a lifeline for students who need it most,” said Mitchell, a legislative veteran rounding out his first term in the Senate.

“Kids who graduate without knowing English are at risk of becoming economically disadvantaged, socially isolated and unprepared to participate in their communities,” he said.