Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/19/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB265 | |
| SB285 | |
| HB310 || HB312 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 285 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 265 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 310 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 312 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 285
"An Act relating to the power and duties of the
Department of Education and Early Development for
improving instructional practices in school districts;
and providing for an effective date."
Co-Chair Stedman addressed the intent to adopt the
Committee Substitute, hear additional testimony, and move
the bill out of Committee.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT a committee substitute for
SB 285, work draft 25-LS1522\K.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.
9:23:13 AM
Tim Lamkin, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, presented an
overview of the Committee Substitute. He remarked that the
changes establish criteria under which the department may
intervene as necessary in a school district to improve
instructional practices. The regulations must include
(page 3, lines 15-25):
(A)a notice provision that alerts the district of the
deficiencies and the instructional practice changes
proposed by the department;
(B)an end date for departmental intervention after the
district demonstrates three consecutive years of
improvement consisting of not less than two percent
increases in student proficiency on standards-based
assessments in math, reading, and writing as provided
in AS 14.03.123(f)(2)(A); and
(C)a process for districts to petition the department
for continuing or discontinuing the department's
intervention.
Mr. Lamkin mentioned an additional change on page 5, lines
1-3, that specifies the department to direct decisions to
those with supervisory authority, not teachers. Page 5,
line 6, in regard to withholding funds, has been changed to
"redirect."
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, the work draft 25-LS1522\K was adopted.
9:26:04 AM
Mr. Lamkin attributed this bill to the Moore vs. the State
of Alaska case. The judge in that case determined that
where schools were failing in math, reading, and writing
the Legislature was failing its constitutional mandate to
provide a meaningful opportunity to receive that education.
The bill attempts to give the department further delegated
authority to step in on behalf of the Legislature and
provide guidance to those districts to meet their
educational goals.
Senator Elton thanked the bill sponsor who went out of his
way to answer the previous concerns of the Committee. He
asked Mr. Jeans if anything in this bill would allow the
department to change a teacher's contract.
9:27:50 AM
EDDY JEANS, DIRECTOR, EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, replied that
there is nothing in the bill that would allow the
department to change a teacher's contract. The previously
mentioned portion, page 5 lines 1-3, mentioned that this
will only deal with supervisory personnel.
Senator Olson questioned if there was adequate funding for
the personnel who will intervene in the school districts.
Mr. Jeans remarked that the intent is to redirect the
instructional practices in reading, writing, and math to
involve collaborative meetings with the teachers, using the
state's online informative assessments, as well as
leadership training in the school or district. The
attached fiscal note provides for district coaches, not
counselors.
9:29:58 AM
Senator Olson asked for the department's plans for adding
personnel when it is necessary for the intervention.
Mr. Jeans replied that the department has not arrived at
that level of intervention, but believed the department
would work with the superintendent and the school board
before making those decisions.
Senator Thomas appreciated the additional information from
the department.
Co-Chair Stedman commented that this bill has been worked
on by the department since the last committee meeting.
9:31:14 AM
Senator Dyson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1:
Page 4, after line 18, add new subparagraphs:
(14) assure that all school board members
(A) have adequate training defining the boards'
Responsibilities, authority, and assistance resources:
and
(B) have ready access to legal, business, and
accounting
Consulting and guidance assistance.
(15) assure that all school personnel and parents
have access to
Information about available education choices
including, but not limited to
(A) cyber schools;
(B) home schools;
(C) boarding schools;
(D) charter schools; and
(E) tutoring.
(16) assure school personnel and parents know how
to access the
Choices set forth in (15) above.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.
Senator Dyson stressed the need for school boards to be
empowered throughout the state. He remarked that school
boards can often feel at the mercy of the school
administration and may not understand their authority and
responsibility. This amendment assures that school board
members have the training to understand their
responsibilities and authority. Senator Dyson believed in
the importance of school boards having access to legal and
accounting information. He specified that parents should
know their choices and how to access them under No Child
Left Behind.
9:35:32 AM
Mr. Lamkin considered the amendment suggestions already on
the books. He remarked that including these changes would
broaden the intent of the bill. The intent is for the
department to concentrate on the instructional practices in
school districts.
Mr. Jeans agreed that this bill was drafted very narrowly
to address the issues raised in the Moore trial case.
9:37:12 AM
Senator Olson asked Mr. Jeans if the department was in
favor of this amendment.
Mr. Jeans replied that the department was not in favor of
this amendment.
Senator Huggins inquired about the training the school
board receives.
9:38:00 AM
CARL ROSE, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA SCHOOL BOARDS,
appreciated the concern of the amendment. He believed that
the general population does not understand the function of
the school or school boards. He stressed that school
boards are elected but often work on a volunteer basis.
Mr. Rose believed that Alaska school boards were well
trained in their role to advocate for children in providing
a quality education with the focus on student achievement
through effective local governance.
9:40:25 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked Mr. Rose his opinion on the
amendment.
Mr. Rose believed that good training was already provided
to the school boards.
Senator Huggins proposed that training school boards were a
larger issue than covered by this bill. The bill was only
meant to deal with failing schools. Mr. Rose replied that
school boards are trained but when school districts have
been identified with problems, the association leadership
and governance components would be happy to cooperate.
Senator Elton considered the amendment a problem as it
could be read that the legislature was trying to supplant
the training role of the Association of School Boards and
shifting the training to the Department of Education. He
wondered if Mr. Rose might have the same concern.
9:42:43 AM
Mr. Rose agreed it concerned him. He believed a large part
of the association's responsibility is to fulfill the
mission of training school boards. He thought the
amendment could pass this role to the Department of
Education.
Senator Dyson agreed that most school board members are
doing a good job, but questioned if they really understood
their authority and training to confront a school
administration who may not be doing a good job. He
stressed that he wanted parents to have the training,
information and tools to be in control of local education.
Senator Dyson believed that some school boards are not
doing their job and are often actively seduced by the
school administration.
9:45:49 AM
Senator Thomas referred to page 1, line 13, of the bill
referring to "advisory and consultative services to all
public school governing bodies and personnel." He believed
this might answer some of the questions set forth in the
amendment.
Senator Huggins agreed with Senator Dyson about the
suggestions reflected in the amendment, but believed all
school boards should be involved, not just those in failing
schools.
9:47:24 AM
Senator Dyson believed it was clear in the amendment that
it refers to all school boards.
Co-Chair Stedman MAINTAINED his OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to ADOPT Amendment
1.
IN FAVOR: Dyson
OPPOSED: Stedman, Hoffman, Olson, Huggins, Elkins, Thomas
The MOTION FAILED (1-6).
Senator Dyson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2:
Page 3, after line 11 add new subparagraph:
(16) audit schools for compliance with AS
14.33.120,and provide a
Report on the results to all parents of students in
the respective schools.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.
9:49:15 AM
Senator Dyson reported that earlier legislation required
every school to go through a process with parents giving
them an opportunity to decide and direct the handling of
school disciplinary and safety issues. The collaborative
decisions would then become part of the school disciplinary
and safety standard. Senator Dyson maintained that most
schools ignore these decisions and very few are following
the law. He wanted to make sure that parents know about
this process.
Senator Elton referenced a part of the bill - page 3, line
9 - that required the reporting of information regarding
school disciplinary and safety programs. He commented that
there was no need for this amendment.
9:51:43 AM
Mr. Jeans answered that Senator Elton was correct that
there is already a requirement for reporting the
information to the department. The school boards are
required to adopt a written school disciplinary and safety
program and report any disciplinary action they took under
their program to the Department of Education.
Mr. Lamkin reiterated that this bill has been tightly
drafted to address a particular situation and he does not
think this amendment is relevant to the intent for the
bill.
9:53:40 AM
Senator Dyson requested an analysis from the department
showing that parents have participated in the school's
process for learning, disciplinary actions, or safety.
Co-Chair Stedman requested the Department of Education look
into Senator Dyson's questions and send the information to
the Committee.
Mr. Lamkin agreed to provide that information.
Senator Dyson stressed that this amendment just calls for
an audit and to make sure that parent's rights are
protected under the law.
Co-Chair Stedman MAINTAINED his OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to ADOPT Amendment
2.
IN FAVOR: Dyson
OPPOSED: Olsen, Thomas, Elton, Huggins, Stedman, Hoffman
The MOTION FAILED (1-6).
9:55:58 AM
Mr. Jeans referred to the fiscal note for $538,000 for the
intervention between school districts and $25,000 for
travel and supplies.
AT EASE: 9:56:35 AM
RECONVENED: 9:57:37 AM
Co-Chair Stedman requested that Mr. Jeans explained the
fiscal note to the operating budget.
Mr. Jeans reported that in the department's operating
budget there is a request in the House budget for $235,000
for school interventions, but it is not in the Senate
operating budget.
9:58:40 AM
NORMAN ECK, SUPERINTENDENT, NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT, testified in support of SB 285. He thanked the
Committee for listening to the concerns voiced in his
letter (March 7, 2008, copy on file). He recommended three
additions to this bill for consideration:
Page 3, Section 1, 16(C) "a process for districts to
petition the department prior to the initiation,
continuation, or discontinuation of a department
intervention." The rationale will allow a district to
appeal to the state board on the front end of
intervention.
Page 5, Section 2, 15(C) "School improvement grants
shall be made available to the district or school
under intervention when the district or school
improvement plan requires additional service to
support student achievement. Additional funds may be
used for curricular materials and/or educational
specialist (such as school psychologists, speech
pathologist, community school liaisons, etc. as
written in the district or school improvement plan)."
The rationale is depending upon the size of district
and/or schools in intervention, and number of students
affected, this could be a grant ranging from $250,000
to $1,500,000 per district. For example, with 5
districts in intervention, these supplemental grants
would total $5 to $6 million dollars, statewide total.
Page 5, Section 2 15(D), "In districts where less than
half the schools are the target of the intervention,
the intervention should be focused on those schools,
not the entire district." The rationale is, for
example, if a large district such as Anchorage has
several schools under intervention, the intervention
activities should not disrupt the entire district or
other well-performing schools in Anchorage.
Mr. Eck thanked the Committee for their hard work and
requested the above suggestions be adopted into the bill.
10:04:21 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to REPORT CSSB 285(FIN) from
Committee with individual recommendations, a Senate Finance
Letter of Intent and an accompanying fiscal note. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSB 285(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation, a Senate Finance Letter of Intent,
and an accompanying fiscal note by the Department of
Education & Early Development.
AT EASE: 10:05:46 AM
RECONVENED: 1:09:52 PM
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