Committee advances SB170 to create a task force to study 'opportunity gaps' in Colorado schools

The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday advanced Senate Bill 170, a bill to create a statewide task force charged with identifying Colorado schools and practices that close so‑called opportunity gaps and recommending how to replicate those results across the state.

Sponsor Sen. Coleman told the committee SB170 is intended as an exploratory effort to “find those educators, schools, districts, students, and families that are beating the odds” and to recommend state policy that can help replicate those successes. Coleman said the bill carries no general‑fund appropriation and that the initial work would be funded by gifts, grants and donations.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on several definitions and risks. Senators asked how the bill will define “opportunity gaps,” how the task force will identify members with a demonstrable record of narrowing gaps, and whether the work could undermine locally accountable school boards. Senator Marchman described two paragraphs of the bill’s preamble (referred to in committee as the “ledge deck”) as “incredibly offensive” and said she would seek to strike the language if it reached the floor.

Witnesses offered differing views. Dr. Mike DeGeer, testifying remotely, urged rejection, arguing that the bill conflates opportunity gaps with test‑score gaps and that Colorado and national research already address these issues. Transform Education’s Fernanda Serros and Nadia Shore of the Colorado Children’s Campaign urged support, saying families face concentrated disparities tied to race, income and geography and that a task force could surface promising, scalable practices. Liz Waddick of the Colorado Education Association said the bill required strengthening, recommending additions on educator recruitment and retention, fiscal sustainability and the effects of accountability systems; CEA also asked for structural fixes to appointments and an explicit minority‑report right.

Senator Coleman moved and the committee adopted amendment L001, which swaps a task‑force appointment between legislative leaders and ensures task‑force members have the right to request a minority report. The sponsor also committed to additional conversations about task‑force membership, the definition of opportunity gaps and safeguards around potential funder influence; multiple witnesses said they would support an amendment to prevent donors from sitting on the task force.

After final remarks stressing the bill’s exploratory intent, the committee polled and unanimously voted to advance SB170 to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

Next steps: SB170 will be scheduled in Appropriations, where committee members will consider budgetary implications, further amendments and any statutory refinements.