Monday Churn: Second half kicks off

What’s churning:

Monday is the 62nd of the 2011 legislature’s 120 days, and as lawmakers move into the second half, their attention will turn increasingly to the 2011-12 budget, which is expected to see significant cuts to K-12 schools and noticeable ones to higher education.

The March state revenue forecasts will be issued Friday, setting the base on which the budget will be built.

Some key education measures are on the calendar this week, including House Bill 11-1270, the parent-trigger proposal that will be heard in the House Education Committee this afternoon. If this one advances through the House, it’s given little chance in the Senate. The Colorado Education Association, which lobbies actively at the statehouse but which makes public statements on only a few bills every session, has publicly opposed this one.

The concussion bill, Senate Bill 11-040, faces a final House vote this morning, as does the “recess” bill, House Bill 11-1069, in the Senate.

On Thursday, the Senate Education Committee will take up Senate Bill 11-052, the proposal to base 25 percent of higher education funding on performance measures starting in 2016-17. While influential legislators and the Hickenlooper administration are interested in this idea, college leaders are wary of changing the financial rules at a time when state funding is dropping.

On Friday, the Senate may take up one of the most ideologically charged education measures of 2011, Senate Bill 11-126. That’s the proposal to make undocumented students eligible for lower tuition rates.

Meanwhile, expect a newsy week in school districts as well. The Douglas County school board is set to vote on a voucher pilot on Tuesday while the Denver school board takes up the restructuring of its pension plan on Thursday.

What’s on tap:

(Go here for the full legislative calendar.)

MONDAY

A Denver school board closed executive session starts at 4 and an open work session begins at 4 p.m., 900 Grant St. The bulk of the meeting time is devoted to prep for Thursday’s vote on the district pension restructuring. Agenda.

Cherry Creek school board meets starting at 6:30 p.m. at West Middle School, 5151 S. Holly St., Greenwood Village. Agenda.

TUESDAY

The Jefferson County school board holds a special meeting on state legislation at 7:30 a.m. in room 354 at the state Capitol. Agenda.

The Douglas County school board convenes at 5 p.m., 620 Wilcox, Castle Rock. A closed session is scheduled to last until 6:30 p.m., when the board goes into open session. A vote on the district’s voucher proposal is scheduled at 8 p.m., following public comment set for 7:30 p.m. Agenda.

The Aurora school board meets at 6 p.m. in the Educational Services Center, 1085 Peoria St. Agenda.

WEDNESDAY

The Adams 12-Five Star board meets starting at 5 p.m., Educational Support Center, 1500 E. 128th Ave. in Thornton. Agenda.

The St. Vrain school board holds a study session at 6 p.m. in the Erie High School Commons, 3180 County Road 5, Erie.

THURSDAY

The Denver school board holds a regular meeting beginning at 5 p.m. and a public comment session beginning at 6:30 p.m., 900 Grant St. Agenda.

FRIDAY

The State Council for Educator Effectiveness meets from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., location to be determined.

The March state revenue forecasts will be issued during a Joint Budget Committee hearing at 1:30 p.m. in room A of the Legislative Services Buildings, 200 E. 14th Ave.

Good reads from elsewhere:

Reform fail? Things were bad in Detroit Public Schools, and then the radical changes began. New York Times.