2001-02-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0473
SB 114                                                                                            
SENATE BILL NO. 114 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                   
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
          "An Act relating to increasing the base student                                           
          allocation and the maximum amount of quality                                              
          school funding grants for public schools; and                                             
          providing for an effective date."                                                         
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Community and Regional                                  
Affairs, Health, Education and Social Services and Finance                                          
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Education and Early                                               
  Development                                                                                       
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 20:                                                    
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
A new investment in education is necessary as the next step toward                                  
school excellence in Alaska. This bill I transmit today takes that step                             
by increasing the per student allocation in school funding as well as                               
the quality schools grants.                                                                         
                                                                                                    
This legislation is built on the recommendations of the Education                                   
Funding Task Force that identified specific initiatives and programs                                
over a five-year period to improve student achievement in Alaska. The                               
legislation increases the base student allocation in the funding formula                            
in the first year by $115 per student, from the current $3,940 to                                   
$4,055.  The base student allocation will increase approximately $63                                

2001-02-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0474
per year in each of the remaining four years of the plan. These                                     
increases will help provide the resources to ensure that all of Alaska's                            
children have opportunities to meet the high academic standards we all                              
know are necessary to succeed in today's world.                                                     
                                                                                                    
The base student allocation increase is just one piece of a funding                                 
commitment we need to achieve academic excellence in our schools.                                   
Another piece is raising the quality schools grant, which this bill                                 
proposes, from $16 to $65 per average daily membership. The                                         
Legislature last year provided one-time funding for learning                                        
opportunity grants. Improvement in student performance requires a                                   
continuous commitment of resources so that all students meet high                                   
academic standards. By providing the additional support through the                                 
quality schools grant, Alaskans can be assured the money will go to                                 
support student success in a standards-based instructional program.                                 
                                                                                                    
This legislation is an investment in our children and Alaska's future. If                           
we are serious about preparing all of our children for the workforce                                
and the challenges of this new century, we must provide the resources                               
for students to meet high academic standards and to hold schools                                    
accountable for their students' performance. I urge your prompt and                                 
favorable action on this bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                    
       Sincerely,                                                                                   
       /s/                                                                                          
       Tony Knowles                                                                                 
       Governor