2001-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0172
SB 56                                                                                             
SENATE BILL NO. 56 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                    
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
          "An Act relating to initiatives for quality schools;                                      
          relating to pupil competency testing and the issuance                                     
          of secondary school diplomas; relating to certain                                         
          reports regarding academic performance of schools;                                        
          and providing for an effective date."                                                     
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and Social                            
Services and Finance Committees.                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Education and Early                                         
  Development                                                                                       
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 24:                                                     
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
As the next step in continuing the progress of the Quality Schools                                  
Initiative, which calls for higher academic standards and improved                                  
student achievement in Alaska, I am transmitting this bill relating to                              
fair and responsible timelines for the high school graduation                                       
qualifying exam.                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
A date change from current law, which sets the effective date of the                                
graduation exam at January 1, 2002, is necessary for several reasons.                               
School districts need to make sure their lesson plans teach the                                     
standards being tested. Students need more time to learn those                                      
standards and to get help if they are not on track for a diploma. Proper                            
resources must be in place to provide that help. In short, any final                                
decision to deny a high school diploma must be made fairly,                                         
thoughtfully, compassionately and legally.                                                          
                                                                                                    
Under this bill, the effective date of the statutory provision requiring                            
high school students to pass the graduation exam in order to receive a                              
diploma would be changed to January 1, 2006. That means the class of                                

2001-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0173
2006 - today's seventh graders - will have the benefit of two                                       
benchmark exams before taking the graduation exam. They took                                        
benchmark tests in reading, writing and math last year as sixth graders.                            
They'll take them again next year as eighth graders. Then, as                                       
sophomores three years from now, they'll take the high school                                       
graduation exam for the first time.                                                                 
                                                                                                    
This will allow parents and teachers the time to help students who                                  
need it well before the graduation exam. This is not the case with the                              
current effective date, or for the students who are now in high school                              
and will be denied diplomas next year if the law does not change. To                                
recognize the unique needs of our special education students, the bill                              
provides for those students' graduation requirements to be developed                                
by the state Board of Education and Early Development.                                              
                                                                                                    
The bill also requires regular reports from the Department of                                       
Education and Early Development to the Legislature on the progress                                  
each school is making in helping students achieve high academic                                     
performance. The state Board of Education and Early Development                                     
will use these reports to recommend to the Legislature whether a                                    
different effective date should be used to implement the graduation                                 
exams.                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
Finally, the bill makes it clear the graduation qualifying test will be                             
given, scored and counted in the interim between 2002 and 2006.                                     
Diplomas will be awarded to those students who complete their                                       
coursework but do not pass the test. However, the test results will                                 
appear on transcripts so that teachers, prospective employers and                                   
colleges can review students' proficiency in reading, writing, and                                  
math.                                                                                               
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
                                  Sincerely,                                                       
                                 /s/                                                                
                                 Tony Knowles                                                       
                                 Governor