SB 114: "An Act relating to course credit for students; relating to annual reports regarding school district performance and school district employees; relating to cooperative arrangements between school districts; relating to school operating fund reserves; relating to competency examinations for teacher certificates; relating to the duties and powers of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the Professional Teaching Practices Commission; relating to a virtual education consortium; establishing a reading intervention program for students in grades kindergarten through three; establishing the Alaska middle college program for public school students; relating to the powers of the University of Alaska; relating to reporting requirements of the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska; and providing for an effective date."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 114 01 "An Act relating to course credit for students; relating to annual reports regarding 02 school district performance and school district employees; relating to cooperative 03 arrangements between school districts; relating to school operating fund reserves; 04 relating to competency examinations for teacher certificates; relating to the duties and 05 powers of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the 06 Professional Teaching Practices Commission; relating to a virtual education 07 consortium; establishing a reading intervention program for students in grades 08 kindergarten through three; establishing the Alaska middle college program for public 09 school students; relating to the powers of the University of Alaska; relating to reporting 10 requirements of the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska; and providing for an 11 effective date." 12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
01 * Section 1. AS 14.03.073(a) is amended to read: 02 (a) A school district shall provide the opportunity for students enrolled in 03 grades nine through 12 in the district to challenge one or more courses provided by the 04 district by demonstrating mastery in mathematics, language arts, science, social 05 studies, and world languages at the level of the course challenged. A school district 06 shall give full credit for a course to a student who successfully challenges that course 07 as provided under (b) of this section. 08 * Sec. 2. AS 14.03.073(b) is amended to read: 09 (b) A school district shall establish, within a reasonable time, an assessment 10 tool and a standard for demonstrating mastery in courses provided for students in 11 grades nine through 12 by the district under (a) of this section. This section does not 12 require a school district to establish an assessment tool for every course in 13 mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, and world languages that is offered 14 to students in grades nine through 12 by the district. 15 * Sec. 3. AS 14.03.073 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 16 (e) In addition to providing the opportunity for a student to challenge a course 17 under (a) - (c) of this section, a school district shall allow a student enrolled in grades 18 nine through 12 to receive course credit in career and technical education, physical 19 education, music, or art if the student participates in an activity, including a cultural 20 activity, outside of school hours that the school district determines meets the 21 educational or physical activity requirements of the course. A school district may 22 adopt standards for awarding course credit for an activity under this subsection. 23 * Sec. 4. AS 14.03.078(a) is amended to read: 24 (a) The department shall provide to the legislature and school districts by 25 February 15 of each year by electronic means an annual report regarding the progress 26 of each school and school district toward high academic performance by all students. 27 The report required under this section must include 28 (1) information described under AS 14.03.120(d); 29 (2) progress of the department 30 (A) toward implementing the school accountability provisions 31 of AS 14.03.123; and
01 (B) in assisting high schools to become accredited; 02 (3) a description of the resources provided to each school and school 03 district for coordinated school improvement activities and staff training in each school 04 and school district; 05 (4) each school district's and each school's progress in aligning 06 curriculum with state education performance standards; 07 (5) a description of the efforts by the department to assist a public 08 school or district that receives a low performance designation under AS 14.03.123; 09 (6) a description of intervention efforts by each school district and 10 school for students who are not meeting state performance standards; [AND] 11 (7) the number and percentage of turnover in certificated personnel and 12 superintendents; and 13 (8) a summary of the categories of certificated administrative 14 employees employed by each school district that includes the ratio of 15 (A) the number of certificated administrative employees in 16 each category employed by each school district compared to the number 17 of students enrolled in the school district on October 1 of the previous 18 year; 19 (B) the total number of certificated administrative 20 employees employed by each school district compared to the total number 21 of classroom teachers employed by the school district on October 1 of the 22 previous year; and 23 (C) the total number of classroom teachers employed by 24 each school district compared to the total number of students enrolled in 25 the school district on October 1 of the previous year. 26 * Sec. 5. AS 14.03.078 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 27 (c) Each school district shall make available to the public the portion of the 28 report under (a)(8) of this section that pertains to the school district by posting the 29 information in a prominent location on the school district's or local community's 30 Internet website or by another easily accessible method. 31 (d) In this section,
01 (1) "administrative employee" means an employee who does not 02 provide direct classroom instruction for students as a regular part of the employee's 03 job; 04 (2) "classroom teacher" means a person who holds a teacher certificate 05 under AS 14.20.010 and instructs students in activities designed to promote 06 intellectual, social, and physical growth, prepares outlines for courses of study, assigns 07 and corrects assignments and tests, records learning processes, maintains order in the 08 classroom, and discusses with parents a student's progress. 09 * Sec. 6. AS 14.07.168 is amended to read: 10 Sec. 14.07.168. Report to the legislature. Not later than the 30th legislative 11 day of each regular session of the legislature, the board shall prepare and present in 12 person to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education an annual 13 report that describes the efforts of the board to develop, maintain, and continuously 14 improve a comprehensive quality public education system, as provided for under the 15 bylaws of the board. The report must include 16 (1) a summary of the resolves and rationales provided in support of 17 policy decisions made under AS 14.03.015; 18 (2) program and curriculum changes made, discussed, or 19 recommended in meetings held under AS 14.07.125; 20 (3) additional information relevant to efforts made to improve and 21 maintain the public education system; 22 (4) a summary of the Alaska middle college program established in 23 AS 14.30.780; the summary must include the 24 (A) number of students participating in the program; 25 (B) types of courses in which students have enrolled; 26 (C) total number of credits that students have earned; 27 (D) rate of subsequent enrollment in postsecondary 28 institutions by students who participated in the program; and 29 (E) postsecondary remediation rates of students who 30 participated in the program for courses taken through the program. 31 * Sec. 7. AS 14.14.115(a) is amended to read:
01 (a) To encourage cooperative arrangements between school districts and 02 between school districts and businesses, nonprofit organizations, and state or 03 local government agencies to provide more efficient or economical administrative or 04 educational services, a school district may receive a one-time cooperative arrangement 05 grant from the department of up to $200,000 if the school district demonstrates that 06 the arrangement will result in a cost savings to the district [$100,000]. 07 * Sec. 8. AS 14.14.115 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 08 (d) To be eligible for a cooperative arrangement grant between school districts 09 under this section, other than a cooperative arrangement grant for assistance with the 10 costs of transferring a health insurance policy under (e) of this section, a district must 11 either be a rural school district or enter into a cooperative arrangement with a rural 12 school district. 13 (e) The department may award a one-time cooperative arrangement grant 14 under this section to a school district to assist the school district in paying for the costs 15 of transferring school district employees from a health insurance policy provided by 16 the school district to a policy of group health insurance under AS 39.30.090. The 17 department may not award a cooperative arrangement grant to a school district to pay 18 the school district's contributions to the costs of the health insurance policy. 19 (f) During the first three fiscal years after a cooperative arrangement grant is 20 awarded under this section, a district awarded a grant may accumulate in its school 21 operating fund, in addition to the unreserved portion allowed under AS 14.17.505(a), 22 an amount equal to the savings resulting from the cooperative arrangement. 23 (g) In this section, "rural school district" means a regional educational 24 attendance area or a small municipal school district as that term is defined in 25 AS 14.11.025(c). 26 * Sec. 9. AS 14.17.505(a) is amended to read: 27 (a) Except as provided under AS 14.14.115(f), a [A] district may not 28 accumulate in a fiscal year an unreserved portion of its year-end fund balance in its 29 school operating fund, as defined by department regulations, that is greater than 15 30 [10] percent of its expenditures for that fiscal year. 31 * Sec. 10. AS 14.20.020(i) is amended to read:
01 (i) A [BEGINNING ON JULY 1, 1998, A] person is not eligible for an initial 02 regular teacher certificate unless the person has taken and successfully completed a 03 competency examination or examinations designated, at the time the person took the 04 test, by the board. The board shall review nationally recognized examinations that are 05 designed to test the competency of new teachers and shall designate those 06 examinations that it finds adequately test the skills and abilities of new teachers. For 07 each examination designated under this subsection, the board shall establish the 08 minimum acceptable level of performance, including a passing score. The board 09 shall reevaluate the passing score of a competency examination at least once 10 every five years and shall review all examinations designated by the board at 11 least once every three years. The board shall prioritize the review of those 12 examinations for which the minimum passing score deviates the greatest from the 13 mean of passing scores adopted by other jurisdictions. When reevaluating a 14 passing score, the board shall consider the historical effect of the established 15 passing score, the potential effect of changing the passing score, and the passing 16 scores currently used by other jurisdictions. The board shall adopt regulations to 17 implement this subsection. A regulation that changes the minimum acceptable 18 level of performance on a competency examination may not take effect earlier 19 than one year after the date the board adopts the regulation. The board may 20 allow a teacher who passed a comparable competency examination required by 21 another jurisdiction to satisfy the competency examination requirements under 22 this subsection. In this subsection, "competency examination" includes basic 23 competency examinations with sub-examinations in the areas of reading, writing, 24 and mathematics and subject area examinations that are specific to the subject 25 area the teacher will be teaching. 26 * Sec. 11. AS 14.20.380 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 27 (b) The department shall provide administrative support services to the 28 commission. 29 * Sec. 12. AS 14.20.460 is amended to read: 30 Sec. 14.20.460. Duties of commission. The commission shall 31 (1) establish procedures [,] and adopt regulations to implement the
01 purposes of AS 14.20.370 - 14.20.510; 02 (2) conduct investigations and hearings on alleged violations of ethical 03 or professional teaching performance, contractual obligations, and professional 04 teaching misconduct; 05 (3) review the regulations of the department as they relate to teacher 06 certification and recommend necessary changes; 07 (4) review the decisions of the department regarding the issuance or 08 denial of certificates and, in the [ITS] discretion of the commission, recommend 09 reversal of decisions; 10 (5) reduce the commission's administrative costs by using 11 administrative support services provided by the department. 12 * Sec. 13. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 13 Article 15. Virtual Education. 14 Sec. 14.30.760. Virtual education consortium. (a) The department shall, in 15 cooperation with school districts, establish a virtual education consortium for the 16 purpose of making virtual education and professional development resources available 17 to students and teachers in the state. The consortium shall create and maintain a 18 database of virtual education courses for students, training in virtual instruction for 19 teachers, and professional development courses for teachers of students in any grade 20 throughout the state if the coursework curriculum is aligned with state standards 21 established by the department. The database must be accessible to all school districts. 22 (b) For teachers delivering or facilitating virtual coursework to students in the 23 consortium, the consortium shall provide training and professional development on 24 virtual instruction methods and the differences between virtual instruction and 25 instruction offered in a classroom. A teacher may not provide instruction through a 26 course for students that is in the database unless 27 (1) the teacher has completed the training or professional development 28 provided by the consortium; or 29 (2) the consortium determines that the teacher's previous experience 30 has prepared the teacher to provide virtual instruction and the teacher demonstrates the 31 skills necessary to provide virtual instruction.
01 (c) The department may require a school district that participates in the 02 consortium to pay a fee to the consortium. If the department requires a fee, the 03 department shall establish the fee in regulations, based on a recommendation made by 04 the consortium, and may adjust the fee annually as necessary. The fees must 05 approximately equal the consortium's prorated administrative costs related to 06 reviewing and approving courses and maintaining the database. 07 (d) The consortium may require, as a condition of participation, that school 08 districts that provide courses or have students participating in courses included in the 09 database under (b) of this section adopt the same school term and class schedule for all 10 or part of a school day. The school term must meet the requirements of AS 14.03.030. 11 (e) In this section, "virtual education" or "virtual instruction" means 12 instruction delivered through telecommunications or another digital or electronic 13 method. 14 * Sec. 14. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 15 Article 16. District Reading Intervention Program. 16 Sec. 14.30.790. District reading intervention program. (a) Each district shall 17 establish a reading intervention program for students in grades kindergarten through 18 three to ensure that students who struggle with reading can read at or above grade 19 level by the end of grade three. A district shall provide the reading intervention 20 program in addition to core reading instruction that is provided to all students in the 21 general education classroom. In implementing the reading intervention program, a 22 district shall 23 (1) as part of a comprehensive assessment system, administer a state 24 universal screening tool for reading approved by the department to all students in 25 grades kindergarten through three, once in the fall, once in the winter, and once in the 26 spring; the assessment must include 27 (A) for students in kindergarten, phonemic awareness, letter 28 naming fluency, letter sound fluency, and letter word sound fluency; 29 (B) for students in grade one, letter word sound fluency and 30 oral reading fluency; and 31 (C) for students in grades two and three, vocabulary and oral
01 reading fluency; 02 (2) establish a plan based on an articulated Response to Intervention or 03 Multi-Tiered System of Support model that includes 04 (A) a universal screening and benchmark assessment process; 05 (B) a data review process that includes the teacher, parents, and 06 other appropriate staff that assists with interventions for students who struggle 07 with reading; 08 (C) use of identified intervention procedures for students who 09 struggle with reading; and 10 (D) a process for monitoring the progress and addressing the 11 needs of students who continue to struggle with reading; 12 (3) implement the program during regular school hours and through 13 any available method, which may include using online teachers or coaches that use 14 explicit and systematic instruction. 15 (b) Not later than 15 days after a student in grades kindergarten through three 16 is identified by the state determined universal screening tool to be struggling in a 17 specific area, the district shall notify the parent of the student in writing. The written 18 notice must 19 (1) advise that the student has been identified as a struggling reader; 20 (2) indicate whether a plan based on a Response to Intervention or 21 Multi-Tiered System Support model has been implemented for the student; 22 (3) include a description of the intervention program that will be 23 provided to the student, including the research and evidence-based reading 24 interventions and supplemental instructional services and support that will be provided 25 to the student for the purpose of addressing the areas in which the student struggles; 26 (4) inform the parent that the parent will be notified in writing at least 27 once every two weeks of the student's progress toward reading at grade level; and 28 (5) provide strategies that the parent can use at home to help the 29 student succeed in reading. 30 (c) Each district shall provide intensive reading intervention services to 31 support areas of need for students identified as struggling readers based on the state
01 determined universal screening test. The reading intervention services must include 02 effective instructional strategies to accelerate student progress. Each school district 03 shall conduct a review of plans based on Response to Intervention or Multi-Tiered 04 System Support models implemented for students identified as struggling readers. The 05 review must address additional support and services needed to remedy the identified 06 needs of students consistent with this subsection. The intensive reading intervention 07 services must include 08 (1) instruction, either in person or online, from a highly effective 09 reading teacher, as determined by student reading performance data and teacher 10 performance evaluations; 11 (2) use of reading instruction and intervention methods based on 12 scientific research; 13 (3) use of reading strategies and programs based on scientific research 14 that have proven results in accelerating student reading achievement within a single 15 school year; 16 (4) daily targeted small group reading instruction based on student 17 needs, either in person or online; 18 (5) instruction, either in person or online, with detailed explanations, 19 extensive opportunities for guided practice, and opportunities for error correction and 20 feedback; and 21 (6) throughout the school year, frequent monitoring of adjustments to 22 instruction according to a student's progress in reading. 23 (d) Each district shall establish an intensive acceleration class to support 24 students that need additional support in reading instruction as determined by 25 instructors providing intensive reading intervention services under (c) of this section. 26 The intensive acceleration class must provide 27 (1) a reduced teacher-to-student ratio; and 28 (2) for a period of reading instruction and interventions that accounts 29 for most of the student contact time each day. 30 (e) On or before September 1 of each year, each district shall provide to the 31 department a report describing for the previous school year
01 (1) the district school board's policies and procedures on student 02 retention and promotion; 03 (2) by grade, the number and percentage of students in grades 04 kindergarten through three performing below the designated threshold on the state 05 determined universal screening tool; and 06 (3) the number and percentage of students in grade three demonstrating 07 reading skills sufficient for that grade level based on the state determined universal 08 screening tool. 09 (f) The department shall approve a universal screening tool for reading and 10 establish a uniform format for the school districts to report on reading progress as 11 required under (e) of this section using existing data collection methods. For the 12 information received under (e) of this section, the department shall annually 13 (1) compile, validate, and approve the information; 14 (2) create a state-level summary report of the information; and 15 (3) providing a copy of the report to the board and the governor, 16 publish the report on the board's Internet website, and notify the legislature that the 17 report is available by October 1 of each year. 18 * Sec. 15. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 19 Article 17. Dual Credit. 20 Sec. 14.30.850. Alaska middle college program established. (a) The Alaska 21 middle college program is established for eligible students to enroll in courses offered 22 by the University of Alaska. A student shall earn both high school and college credit 23 for each course the student has satisfactorily completed through the program. College 24 credit earned through the program is fully transferable within the University of Alaska 25 system. 26 (b) Every school district shall participate in the program. Each school district 27 shall enter into an agreement with the University of Alaska for the purpose of carrying 28 out the program. An agreement under this subsection must allow any student eligible 29 under (c) of this section to participate in the program. 30 (c) A student is eligible for the program if the student 31 (1) is enrolled in public school in the state;
01 (2) has completed the eighth grade and has demonstrated, to the 02 satisfaction of the school district and the University of Alaska, the academic ability 03 necessary to complete college level coursework; 04 (3) has not been awarded a high school diploma; and 05 (4) complies with the requirements of the program. 06 (d) Every school district shall provide information about the program to 07 students in grades eight through 12 who are enrolled in a public school in the state. 08 The information provided must include the 09 (1) process that the University of Alaska uses in awarding credit for 10 completing a course through the program, including the minimum scores generally 11 required to receive college credit from a state postsecondary institution; 12 (2) availability of program courses offered online and throughout the 13 school district; 14 (3) benefits of earning college credit while enrolled in high school; 15 (4) availability of academic support services; 16 (5) academic and social responsibilities associated with participating in 17 the program; and 18 (6) consequences of failing or not completing a course taken through 19 the program. 20 (e) A student who is enrolled in the program may not be required to pay 21 tuition or other costs associated with the program. An agreement entered into by a 22 school district and the University under (b) of this section must state the manner in 23 which costs associated with the program will be shared between the participating 24 school district and the University of Alaska. The agreement may provide for 25 scholarship opportunities and fee waivers to reduce the cost to the school district of 26 participating in the program. 27 (f) A program course may be offered and taught at a public high school in the 28 state if 29 (1) the content and curriculum of the course is consistent with the 30 standards and learning outcomes of the equivalent course offered at the University of 31 Alaska;
01 (2) the instructor teaching the course meets the University of Alaska's 02 standards for adjunct faculty members; 03 (3) the instructor uses the same textbooks and instructional materials 04 used for the equivalent course offered at the University of Alaska; and 05 (4) the course and the instructor are subject to regular evaluation by the 06 University of Alaska to ensure compliance with these standards. 07 (g) A student who enrolls in the program shall be permitted to enroll in up to 08 12 credits each semester and earn up to 60 total credits. 09 (h) For the purpose of calculating a school district's ADM under 10 AS 14.17.410, a student participating in the program is considered a full-time student 11 of the school district in which the student is enrolled. 12 (i) The University of Alaska and a school district may release to each other the 13 transcript of a student to determine the student's eligibility for the program or for 14 graduation. 15 (j) In this section, 16 (1) "program" means the middle college program established under 17 this section; 18 (2) "school district" has the meaning given in AS 14.30.350. 19 * Sec. 16. AS 14.40.040 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20 (c) The University of Alaska shall implement the Alaska middle college 21 program established under AS 14.30.780. The University of Alaska may not require an 22 applicant to the program to meet eligibility criteria in addition to the eligibility 23 requirements under AS 14.30.780(c). The University of Alaska shall 24 (1) evaluate and regularly review each course offered in the middle 25 college program under AS 14.30.780(f) to ensure consistency with national standards 26 for awarding dual credit; 27 (2) enter into an agreement with a school district consistent with the 28 middle college program standards; and 29 (3) award to a student college credit that is fully transferable within the 30 University of Alaska system for each course satisfactorily completed under the middle 31 college program.
01 * Sec. 17. AS 14.40.190(b) is amended to read: 02 (b) In addition to the report required under (a) of this section, the Board of 03 Regents shall prepare and present in person to the legislative committees having 04 jurisdiction over education a biennial report, [NOT LATER THAN THE 30TH 05 LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE FIRST SESSION OF EACH LEGISLATURE,] titled 06 "Alaska's University for Alaska's Schools" that describes the efforts of the university 07 to attract, train, and retain qualified public school teachers. The report must include an 08 outline of the university's current and future plans to close the gap between known 09 teacher employment vacancies in the state and the number of state residents who 10 complete teacher training. The information reported under this subsection may also 11 include short-term and five-year strategies with accompanying fiscal notes and 12 outcome measures. Not later than the 30th legislative day of the first regular 13 session of each legislature, the Board of Regents shall deliver a copy of the report 14 to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and 15 notify the legislature that the report is available. 16 * Sec. 18. AS 14.40.190 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 17 (c) In addition to the reports under (a) and (b) of this section, the Board of 18 Regents shall prepare a semiannual report on accreditation. The report must, for each 19 instructional program of the university, assess the program's quality and effectiveness 20 for purposes of accreditation, assess the program's alignment with applicable national, 21 regional, and specialized accreditation standards, and describe the efforts the 22 university has made to achieve or maintain the program's accreditation. The report 23 must be disaggregated by university campus, school or college, program, accrediting 24 body, date of initial accreditation, next review date and review cycle, and current 25 accreditation status. For each instructional program that has lost or is at risk of losing 26 accreditation, the report must describe the university's plan to remediate the loss or 27 risk. The Board of Regents shall 28 (1) deliver a copy of the each semiannual report to the senate secretary 29 and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the 30 report is available on or before 31 (A) the 30th legislative day of each regular legislative session
01 for the first semiannual report of the calendar year; and 02 (B) July 1 of each year for the second semiannual report of the 03 calendar year; 04 (2) annually, present both reports in person to the legislative 05 committees having jurisdiction over education. 06 * Sec. 19. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 07 read: 08 VIRTUAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM TASK FORCE. The Department of 09 Education and Early Development shall develop a virtual education consortium task force led 10 by the commissioner of education and early development and made up of leaders in 11 technology in education in the state. The task force shall begin developing the virtual 12 education consortium one year prior to the effective date of sec. 12 of this Act. In developing 13 the virtual education consortium, the task force shall finish defining the structure of the 14 consortium, including its functionality within school districts, whether teacher training 15 requirements are necessary, and possible fee structures. 16 * Sec. 20. Sections 4, 5, 7 - 12, and 19 of this Act take effect immediately under 17 AS 01.10.070(c). 18 * Sec. 21. Sections 1 - 3, 6, and 13 - 16 take effect July 1, 2020.