Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 106
02/16/2009 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview(s) Department of Education - No Child Left Behind; Minimum Expenditure by District | |
| HB94 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 94 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 94-POSTSECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS 9:37:25 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 94, "An Act creating a postsecondary scholarship program for Alaska residents based on high achievement and financial need." 9:38:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HB 94, as prime sponsor. He characterized HB 94 as a needs- and merit-based scholarship bill. He noted that the National Center for Public Policy has given Alaska an "F" grade in terms of affordability of college. People are not going to college because of financial cost and "burdens." Qualifications related to the bill have to do with defining "needs" and considering a person's grade point average (GPA). Representative Guttenberg said he thinks the grade point average is set too high in the bill. He explained that a single parent with two kids, who is working two jobs, should not have to jump too high a hurdle in terms of his/her GPA. He said he would like to see the person who has graduated [from high school] but has not gone directly to college to "come back" to school. 9:43:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG, in response to Chair Seaton, confirmed the bill, as currently written, would require a person to have a "B" or above GPA in order to be eligible. In response to a question from Chair Seaton, he suggested that the use of the term "qualifying postsecondary institution" may need to be discussed to determine whether it means only a state institution. The union trade schools are covered, he said, "because there is no tuition." He added, "But those other ones would be qualified if they're covered under this." 9:44:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said it is open for the committee to establish how those parameters would fall. CHAIR SEATON cited page 3, lines 27-29, which read as follows: (2) "qualifying postsecondary institution" means a postsecondary school located in the state that is accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; CHAIR SEATON asked if all the [postsecondary] schools in the state, including trade schools, fall under that definition. 9:45:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG replied that most are, but not all. He indicated his intent for the bill to include programs that are Alaska-based but could be accredited Outside. 9:46:57 AM DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director, Postsecondary Education Commission, Department of Education and Early Development, in response to Chair Seaton, said the commission agrees that there is unmet financial need in the state that is not covered by available programs. She suggested an administrative change that would address whether or not the record can reflect the level of authority the commission has to modify or add rules for the proposed program. She said when insufficient funding is available, "we are to look to those with the greatest need and address their need first." She said it would be helpful to specify a maximum award amount in the bill or allow the commission, by regulation, to set the amount. Without that guideline, decisions would have to be made regarding how far the money should be spread when less than adequate funds are available. 9:49:51 AM CHAIR SEATON asked Ms. Barrans to confirm she is saying that the bill, as currently written, may result in the neediest person receiving everything while other needy students receive nothing. MS. BARRANS answered that is correct. Regarding how financial need is determined, she noted that the language on page 2, lines 20-21, references the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The inclusion of this in the bill, she indicated, ensures that all students seeking funds through the proposed program would be seeking other federal funds first. She explained that FAFSA works by collecting information regarding current or prior year income and assets of the parent of the student on whose behalf the FAFSA is being filed. The formula is complex and - based on that information - calculates what funds should be available to pay the estimated family contribution (EFC). The unmet need of the student is whatever cost is left over after subtracting the EFC and the amount of aid. In the case of an independent student, just the student's income and assets would be considered in that formula. 9:52:34 AM MS. BARRANS, in response to a question from Representative Gardner regarding summer or part-time jobs, said the formula takes into consideration earnings and assets of the student based on the prior year. Typically, she said, the FAFSA is filled out each year between January and March. There is no preset contribution that the student would be expected to have earned during that period of time, she added. 9:53:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON observed that the intent of the bill is to "encourage the postsecondary administration to confine this program to instate institutions," but "you could probably still provide this to Alaska residents who were going to school outside the state as well." He asked Ms. Barrans to confirm if that is correct. 9:54:02 AM MS. BARRANS offered her understanding that "we would be precluded from making awards to students attending outside of Alaska." 9:54:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON directed attention to the language on page 2, lines [4]-6, which read: (a) There is created the Alaska achievers' incentive scholarship program to be administered by the commission for the benefit of eligible students who have been admitted to a qualifying postsecondary institution. 9:54:40 AM MS. BARRANS cited language on page 3, lines 27-29, [text provided previously], which specifies the location be in the state. 9:54:55 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER directed attention to page 2, line 25, which read: (3) has an unmet financial need that is not less than $4,000; MS. BARRANS said that is determined on an annual basis. 9:55:38 AM MS. BARRANS, in response to Chair Seaton, said as the bill is currently written, there is no limit placed on the number of years that a person could apply to receive the proposed scholarship. The language on page 2, lines 29-31, indicates that in order to continue his/her eligibility, the student would be attending school not less than half time and must be making satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree or certificate. She said that would presume that satisfactory progress is a set number of credits being accumulated in each term. In theory, someone attending school half-time might take four years to earn an associate degree and eight years to earn a baccalaureate degree. She said it might be worth considering the addition of cap either on the amount of grants a person could receive cumulatively or the number of years the person would be eligible to receive the grant. A person who transfers from one institution to another may end up spending a number of years attending school full time before receiving his/her degree. MS. BARRANS added that currently the bill language is "wide open" with respect to collegiate level; there is no limitation to a first undergraduate degree or even to undergraduate studies. She explained that means, in theory, a person could pursue multiple undergraduate degrees, move on to graduate school, and continue to qualify for the scholarship program. 9:57:52 AM CHAIR SEATON brought up the issue of "professional students," and he questioned whether the idea is to keep people in school or to help Alaskans through school. 9:58:28 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked if there is a standardization of grades between districts, such that earning a "B" would mean the same thing in all districts. MS. BARRANS said she has no expertise on that subject, thus she deferred to others in the department who might be better equipped to answer the question. 9:59:44 AM MS. BARRANS, regarding the question of whether or not a "B" average requirement is sensible, suggested that there may be a need for an alternative methodology to determine if a person is likely to succeed. She said the department is currently promoting the use of a "work keys assessment," which assesses actual competency that may not necessarily be reflected in a GPA. 10:00:53 AM CHAIR SEATON said he would like the committee and the bill sponsor to work together toward producing a better means of assessment. 10:02:17 AM MS. BARRANS, in response to Chair Seaton, indicated that no further language is needed in the bill regarding the issue of scholarship funds being a supplement to, not a replacement of, other non-loan aid; however, she said that is an area where the commission's administrative ability to issue regulations could offer clarity. 10:02:28 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER observed that the sponsor statement stipulates the number two reason students drop out is because of financial need; she asked what the number one reason is. MS. BARRANS said she could only speculate. 10:03:57 AM MS. BARRANS suggested that the committee consider what institutions will be considered for this funding. She said the Council for Higher Education Accreditation focuses its approval on collegiate institutions. She said changes would be necessary to include at least the two vocational institutions in the state that are nationally accredited: the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) and the Career Academy. In response to Chair Seaton, she noted that those vocational institutions are the only two which are regionally or nationally accredited and located in Alaska. There are providers of workforce training in the state that are not accredited, and those institutions would not be eligible under the proposed bill. She said she would provide the committee with a complete list. [HB 94 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| AS 14.17.520.doc |
HEDC 2/16/2009 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Board of Education Resolution on Minimum Expenditure for Instruction.pdf |
HEDC 2/16/2009 8:00:00 AM |
|
| NCLB Information.doc |
HEDC 2/6/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/16/2009 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 94 Materials.pdf |
HEDC 2/16/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 94 |
| HB 94 Fiscal note.pdf |
HEDC 2/16/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 94 |
| FY10 Governor's_121508 (2).pdf |
HEDC 2/16/2009 8:00:00 AM |