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Minutes for HB2519 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Creating the students' right to know act to provide information on postsecondary education options.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 12, 2020
Chairperson Huebert called the meeting to order and opened the hearing on HB2601.
Revisor Jason Long gave an overview of the bill and answered questions from the Representatives. (Attachment 1)
Joe Horvath, Opportunity Solutions, shared proponent testimony. He stated that getting accurate financial information about post high school opportunities to students who are making important decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. (Attachment 2)
Heather Morgan, Kansas Community College Trustees, testified as an opponent, stating that much of the information that the bill recommends is already in use. She shared a number of websites and career planning tools that help students. She urged the Committee not to approve this legislation, but rather to promote the tools that are already in place. (Attachment 3)
Matt Lindsey, Kansas Independent College Association, testified as an opponent as he spoke on behalf of the 20 non-accredited, independent colleges that are outside of the Board of Regents system. He stated that this is a redundant tool, in fact he believes students are inundated with college data. The problem is not the lack of data, but rather teaching school counselors and parents and students to interpret the data and make good decisions. (Attachment 4)
Written testimony in opposition to the bill submitted by:
Mark Desetti, Kansas National Education Association (Attachment 5)
Dr. Blake Flanders, Kansas Board of Regents, testified as a neutral conferee stating the present method of communicating post-high school opportunities to students who are in the process of making life changing decisions is effective and adequate. He is not against this bill but shared his belief that the tools offered by the Board of Regents are working. (Attachment 6)
A discussion ensued.
Dale Dennis, Deputy Commissioner, Kansas Department of Education, added that the bill is redundant, and that the present system is useful and if anything it needs to be promoted.
The Chairperson closed the hearing on HB2519 and adjourned the meeting at 2:23.
