Governor's
P-20 Council Approves Recommendations
 The
final meeting for the first session of Governor Ritter's
P-20 Council was held at the Colorado Children's Museum in
Denver yesterday, November 27. The Council approved
all of its subcommittee's recommendations--most
unanimously, a few more narrowly. These ranged from
a proposal to expand funding for full day kindergarten for
all students whose parents choose to enroll them, to
exploring alternative compensation systems for educators,
to creating an integrated P-20 data system. Many of
the proposals related directly to discussions we heard as
part of Conversation 2007. To learn more, go to:
Denver
Post Article
Conversation
2007
Presents Findings to P-20 Council
On
November 16, Bill Fulton from the Civic
Canopy shared the findings from Conversation 2007
with the P-20 Council. He highlighted the common
goals for public education that emerged in the
process, the strategies participants believe will best
reach those goals, and the need for new partnerships
among all stakeholders to create a "21st Century
Learning System."
On
November 27, at the final P-20 meeting, the Canopy
was joined by Lisa Weil from Great Education
Colorado and Jane Urschel from the Colorado
Association of School Boards to show how a number of
statewide conversation efforts were coming together
to share results and connect their different
efforts.
No Child Left Behind and
Military Recruiting
Parents may opt out of giving information to schools
The Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 commonly known as FERPA or
just the Privacy Act has changed. The No Child Left Behind in 2001 and the
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2002 made changes to FERPA
allowing military recruiters access to "directory" information of
name, address and phone numbers of students, just as they allow it to higher
education and employers. Recruiters are also allowed to come to high schools if
representatives of higher education or employers are allowed on campus. The
important thing to know is that parents MUST be informed by all the schools what
information they release.
During registration for the new school year it is
common for this information to be filled out in the student handbook. Parents
may OPT OUT of this information being released.
School
Crossing Guards and Sponsors
Colorado PTA works with many organizations to promote state policies benefiting children and their families.
The work of PTA members across the state helps you gain insight into positions and issues.
Colorado PTA would like to call your attention to the state law “Immunity from Civil Liability for School Crossing Guard and Sponsors” (C.R.S. 13-21-115-6). See actual wording.
This law was initiated in 1996 by Colorado PTA because the Volunteer Immunity Act did not cover school crossing guards.
Please note that the law applies to any person, organization, or agency that sponsors school crossing guards, not just PTAs.
With this law in place, school crossing guards are now protected from civil liability; it is NOT necessary for them to be covered by insurance—either the school district’s or the PTAs.
It is always preferable for crossing guards to have training, but that is not required by the law.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Colorado PTA office or Evie Hudak, member of the Colorado PTA Board of Directors, who was the PTA lobbyist who initiated the legislation.
Both contacts can be reached at 303-420-7820 or 1-888-225-8234.
Colorado PTA Legislative Committee Meetings
Meetings of the full committee are held twice a month
from January to May, at 6:30 p.m.
on the 2nd and 4th Mondays, and once a month from June and December, at times
to be determined, unless otherwise scheduled.
Meetings are held at the Colorado PTA office in Wheat Ridge and are open to Colorado PTA members to attend and take back legislative information and advocacy tips to their units. Please contact
Vicki Newell for more information.
|
|
