The most controversial education-reform legislation of the session faces a tough battle and a tight deadline as the House Education Committee is scheduled to consider the bill Thursday — four working days before the session's end.
"Nothing is impossible. But it's definitely pushing the calendar," said the bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon.
Senate Bill 191, which passed the Senate on Friday and was introduced into the House on Monday, seeks to tie 50 percent of teacher and principal evaluations to student growth and would change the way teachers get and keep tenure.
The 13-member House Education Committee has five vocal Democratic opponents of the bill, including the committee chairman, former music teacher Rep. Michael Merrifield of Colorado Springs.
"This is an incredibly complicated and important measure," Merrifield said. "We're looking at significant change to policy that we have had in place for a number of years."
Lawmakers say they are getting bombarded with e-mails, mostly from teachers, urging no votes.
Five Republicans are in favor of the bill, leaving two Democrats as possible key votes for its approval: Sue