2000-02-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 2178
SB 244                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 244 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act increasing the eligible maximum amount                                 
for quality school grant funding for school districts;                         
and providing for an effective date.                                           
                                                                               

2000-02-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 2179
SB 244                                                                       
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and              
Social Services and Finance Committees.                                        
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Education and              
Early Development.                                                             
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated February 2:                                 
                                                                               
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
As part of the state's Quality Schools Initiative, we have a                   
responsibility to improve student performance and provide them a               
passport to a bright, successful future. One way to accomplish this            
is to help finance school district efforts to develop and maintain             
quality schools and make sure students are getting the academic tools          
they need to succeed. To assist in this statewide effort, I am                 
transmitting this bill to increase the maximum eligible amount of              
grants to school districts.                                                    
                                                                               
In 1998 the legislature established quality school grants as a                 
component of public school funding. The eligible amount was set at             
$16 per adjusted average daily membership. This bill increases that            
amount to $52.  This increase, recommended by the state Board of               
Education and Early Development, is possible because school district           
enrollment projections are down for next year, saving the state about          
$19.9 million.                                                                 
                                                                               
The Department of Education and Early Development is                           
recommending that additional money be provided to school districts             
in the form of grants, rather than increasing the amount of the base           
student allocation. By providing the additional support as a grant,            
Alaskans can be assured the money will go to support the                       
implementation of the quality schools initiative, including the high           
school graduation qualifying examination, instead of being absorbed            
in salaries, building maintenance, or administration.                          
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-02-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 2180
SB 244                                                                       
All Alaska families are concerned whether their children are meeting           
the new high state academic standards in reading, writing, and math.           
Most school districts are taking extraordinary steps to prepare their          
students to meet these standards. Yet some administrators wonder               
what impact the high school graduation qualifying examination will             
have on their ability to deliver a quality program to their students.          
The increased grant funding will allow a qualifying district to take           
creative measures to prepare its students, schools, and communities            
to work toward success on the examination.                                     
                                                                               
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this bill.                          
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor