Senate Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill by Senator Linda Newell to Better Align Services for Colorado Children
DENVER – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved Senate Bill 130 by Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton). This legislation will align several of the state’s early childhood service programs into one office called the “Office of Early Childhood.” The new office will operate under the Colorado Department of Human Services.
The Office of Early Childhood will allow the state’s splintered early childhood programs to better coordinate efforts and collaborate to improve the health, safety and welfare of Colorado’s most vulnerable children. Currently, there are multiple child service funding sources spread across several departments. The Office of Early Childhood will streamline the delivery of these services in an unprecedented collaboration between agencies and programs.
Senator Newell offered the following comment on the committee passage of Senate Bill 130 today:
“We’re putting politics aside when it comes to the health and safety of Colorado kids. We should always be looking for opportunities to make our government more efficient. Unifying these early childhood programs into one department will increase accountability, allow for consistent quality, and ensure better outcomes for kids and families.”
Senate Bill 130 requires the Office of Early Childhood to create a state plan for the delivery of early childhood services to ensure standardized guidelines and policies. The Office of Early Childhood will also be responsible for establishing performance methods to measure service effectiveness and child outcomes. This legislation directs the Early Childhood Leadership Commission to be the advisory board for the implementation of the Office of Early Childhood.
Senate Bill 130 is also sponsored by Senator Mary Hodge (D-Brighton) and in the House byRepresentative Tom Massey (R-Poncha Springs) and Representative Millie Hamner (D-Summit County). The bill will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Students from Adams City Middle School Shadow Senator Newell as part of Gifted and Talented day at the Capitol
Students from Adams City Middle School Shadow Senator Newell as part of Gifted and Talented day at the Capitol
DENVER – Today, two Adams City Middle School eighth grade students, Sean Valdez and Angel Orona, shadowed Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton) as a part of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented’s Legislative Day at the Capitol. This is the 13th year that the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented has brought students from around the state to shadow a lawmaker for the day to gain firsthand experience about the legislative process.
Senator Newell offered the following comment on working with Sean and Angel today:
“It’s an honor to meet with such exceptional students. These children truly have a gift to share with us, and it’s important that we work to provide them with the educational opportunities to help them reach their potential. Loved my time with them.”
Students were nominated to shadow a legislator by a school official, and were then required to complete an online application and submit an essay. Students were also encouraged to research current bills and explore the legislative process prior to their trip to enhance the experience.
The Colorado Association for the Gifted and Talented focuses on creating broader understanding of gifted children, and advocates for appropriate education and resources for their specific learning needs.
Gifted children are typically defined as scoring in the top five percent of the population on an I.Q. test.
There are more than 50,000 gifted students in Colorado.
Senator Newell to be Shadowed by Local Gifted and Talented Students from Mountain Ridge and Sheridan Middle Schools
|
Senator Newell to be Shadowed by Local Gifted and Talented Students from Mountain Ridge and Sheridan Middle Schools |
|
DENVER – Tomorrow Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton) will be shadowed by two students, Pedro Valdez and Katherine Stevens, as a part of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented’sLegislative Day at the Capitol. Katherine Stevens is an eighth grade student at Mountain Ridge Middle School in Colorado Springs, and Pedro Valdez is an eighth grade student at Sheridan Middle School in Englewood. The students will be joining the Senator on the floor, for a luncheon, and attending committee in the afternoon. This is the 13th year that the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented has brought students from around the state to shadow a lawmaker for the day to gain firsthand experience about the legislative process. Students learn how to engage in effective advocacy, and about critical issues affecting gifted education. The Colorado Association for the Gifted and Talented focuses on creating a broader understanding of gifted children, and advocates for appropriate education and resources for specific learning needs.
WHO: Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton) WHAT: Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented Legislative Day at the Capitol WHEN: Thursday February 23, 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. WHERE: State Capitol Building, 200 E. Colfax, Denver |
Senator Newell Works to Build a Sustainable High-Tech Workforce
Senator Newell Works to Build a Sustainable High-Tech Workforce
DENVER - Today, Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton) and the University of Colorado facilitated a talk between Information Technology (IT) employers and educators. The purpose of the talk was to determine how to put Colorado educated graduates to work and keep up with the demand for well educated, efficient employees.
The participants included the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Technology Association, University of Phoenix, and others. The discussion focused on how to develop an effective curriculum aimed at preparing students for the workforce. The University of Colorado has a number of different computing tracks including technology, arts and media minor (MTAM), business administration/operations and information management, computer science engineering, and telecommunications and interdisciplinary telecommunications.
“I was excited to work with my South Metro Chamber in bringing business, workforce, and higher education folks together today in looking at how we can build our bench for the future IT workforce. Colorado is poised to be a key state in the computing industry, particularly with growing, innovative programs like the programs at the University of Colorado. We need to create Colorado solutions to filling the talent pipeline of qualified IT professionals so we can keep those jobs filled with Coloradans. We have more work to do, and it will take some time, but stay tuned,” said Newell.
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that 1.4 million computing jobs will open between 2008-2018. However, the National Center for Women and Information Technology projects only 61 percent of the open jobs could be filled by U.S. educated workers if schools continue to produce computing graduates at the existing rate.
“Senator Newell provided a key link between necessary stakeholders in the computing industry for workforce development. The computing industry is vital for the South Metro Denver community, and it provides consistent growth to our local economy. We need to keep the conversation going, but this was an exciting start,” said John Brackney, President of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.
The group agreed that the following topics warranted further exploration: continuing education programs, K-12 curriculum, and coherent internships for students who study computing.
This meeting was part of series of talks organized by the University of Colorado to connect employers, educators, stakeholders, and leaders such as Senator Newell.
CINEMA Day at the Capitol
|
||
|
Join us on February 8 For CINEMA Day at the Capitol and help us rally support for increased film incentives in Colorado. 