House Education Committee advances framework to sustain K–5 social-emotional programs

The Colorado House Education Committee voted 7–5 to send Senate Bill 178 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The bill sponsor, Representative Gilchrist, said the measure would create a structured process for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to consolidate and sustain competitive grants that fund social and emotional supports in K–5 schools.

Supporters and witnesses told the committee the bill would help sustain programs that place mental-health professionals in elementary schools and would streamline dozens of competitive grants that currently operate under separate rules. "I urge your support for Senate Bill 178 for the sake of our students, our teachers, and the future of education in Colorado," Representative Gilchrist said.

Jordan Posamenteier, vice president of policy and partnerships at Committee for Children, testified that the bill builds on an existing pilot and ties the initiative to chronic absenteeism. "Chronic absenteeism in particular, which means, kids missing more…