State lawmakers accomplished today what no other legislature has, at least not in recent memory:  They passed a bill and sent it to the governor–only three days into the 2010 legislative session.

They were in a race against the clock to meet a Tuesday deadline to apply for a federal K-12 education grant  called “Race to the Top.” To compete for the federal grant, the state must show that it is ready to implement a plan to recruit, develop, reward and retain effective teachers and principals. The nationwide initiative by the Obama administration is intended to provide seed money to stimulate wide-ranging education reform.

Under the measure adopted by Colorado lawmakers, teachers and principals who graduate from an education licensure program in the state will have their performance tracked for three years after graduation, providing data to evaluate the effectiveness of their training.

Filed as Senate Bill 36, the proposal is sponsored by newcomer Sen. Michael Johnston, D-Denver, and a veteran lawmaker, Rep. Michael Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs.

The bill has enjoyed broad bipartisan support, handily sailing through both House and Senate Education Committees, and passing both chambers with only a handful of lawmakers voting in opposition.  Many lawmakers expressed their support for the tracking program; some of them have long been advocating for the kind of accountability this bill provides.

“It is so exciting for me that we are finally including higher-ed in the loop of accountability for the teachers that are working in our system,” said Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock.

The innovative nature of the program is not lost on lawmakers, who see Colorado as a leader in the effort.

“This bill is extremely important in terms of looking at being the jet-setters of the nation for education,” said Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora.

One of the few lawmakers who voted against the bill, Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, offered his colleagues the reasoning behind his vote: the cost to taxpayers, not the merits of the program itself.

“Washington is drowning in a sea of red ink,” said Lundberg, questioning the potential $400 million that could be paid out to the state if the grant is won. “From whom will it come?” he asked.  “Our children.”

The bill is now on its way to Gov. Bill Ritter, who is expected to sign it into law today or Monday.