Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/03/2002 08:08 AM House EDU
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 11-COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE/AK HISTORY CHAIR BUNDE announced that the next order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 11(FIN), "An Act relating to required school attendance; and providing for an effective date." Number 1860 SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT, Alaska State Legislature, testified as the sponsor of SB 11. He explained that the current law specifies that education is mandatory at age seven. However, most people in Alaska enroll their child in first grade at age six. Therefore, in many schools there are one or two children who are enrolled at age six and the parents utilize the school as a babysitter. In such cases, the child [often] attends school sporadically, which establishes a dynamic in which the teacher spends an inordinate amount of time attempting to keep these children up with the rest of the class. He suspected that in such a situation, the child would likely be held back. Therefore, CSSB 11(FIN) specifies that if one chooses to enroll his/her child at age six, then that will be the compulsory age for that child. "Once you've made that decision, then you're going to have to make a good faith effort to get that child to school on a regular basis, and if you don't, then the truancy laws would apply," he explained. CHAIR BUNDE recalled debate [regarding legislation] to reduce the mandatory education age to six. Among some parents, there was considerable angst because they felt that age six was [too young]. He asked if there has been such testimony in relation to SB 11. SENATOR THERRIAULT recalled that initially SB 11 was misunderstood because some read it to require all children to attend public school. Also, many people felt that SB 11 merely changed the age for mandatory attendance from seven to six. Therefore, CSSB 11(FIN) was born. Senator Therriault noted that most of Alaska's children, at the age of six, are in some sort of school whether it be a home school, private school, or public school. He estimated that 1-2 percent of parents choose not enroll their children until age seven. Senator Therriault stressed that adding subsection (c) doesn't impact the current subsection (b), which includes a lengthy list of reasons why one could keep their child from attending a public school. Number 2049 CHAIR BUNDE pointed out that much research is pointing out [the benefits] of early education. However, he understood Senator Therriault to have found that [some Alaskans] are resistant to taking advantage of early learning opportunities. SENATOR THERRIAULT said that most children in Alaska are enrolled in Kindergarten at age 5. Although the statutes don't require education of young children, many districts offer programs for children who need help getting up to speed [before] entering the regular school system. This legislation merely says that if one chooses to put their child in school at age six, then the parent must make a good faith effort to get their child to school on a regular basis. CHAIR BUNDE related, from his wife's experience as a Kindergarten teacher, that many people "push and fudge with that date" so that their child can start Kindergarten [early]. Number 2120 REPRESENTATIVE GUESS requested that Senator Therriault discuss what happens when a parent decides to withdraw their child. SENATOR THERRIAULT pointed out that there are truancy laws. Therefore, if a child was enrolled in public school at age six and that child didn't attend school, then that child would be [in violation] of the truancy laws. In further response to Representative Guess, Senator Therriault explained that currently a six-year-old enrolled in public school could come [as often or as little] as the parent wanted. In such a situation there was nothing that the district could do because the child didn't have to be present until the following year. REPRESENTATIVE GUESS posed a situation in which a six-year-old begins first grade, but the parents then decide it's not best for the child. SENATOR THERRIAULT related his belief that a parent could utilize one of the options listed under subsection (b) and [withdraw their child]. CHAIR BUNDE viewed SB 11 as merely expanding the social contract. He remarked that there is a difference between withdrawing a child and a child having sporadic attendance. SENATOR THERRIAULT pointed out that sporadic attendance not only impacts the child who is sporadically attending class, but the other students in the class as well. Number 2270 JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director, National Education Association - Alaska (NEA-AK), testified in support of [CSSB 11(FIN)]. Mr. Alcantra, as a parent of a Kindergartner, told the committee that there is a strong correlation between a child's attendance and the child's ability to keep up. Mr. Alcantra viewed this legislation as positive. Number 2332 DEBBIE OSSIANDER, Legislative Chair, Anchorage School Board, testified in support of SB 11, in its original version. The committee substitute (CS) considerably weakens the bill, he said. [The Anchorage School Board] believes that the compulsory education age should be age six. She pointed out that there are high standards and expectations for reading, writing, and math for children age five to seven. Young children are expected to learn to read, distinguish between common genres of text, know basic phonics, and write complete stories with paragraphs and sentence structure. TAPE 02-13, SIDE B MS. OSSIANDER continued by pointing out that seven-year-olds are required to be familiar with simple addition and subtraction and recognize and understand the concept of fractions. She noted her appreciation of Chair Bunde's comments with regard to the solid data that highlights the importance of early educational experiences for children. Ms. Ossiander related that [the board] feels that children entering the system at age seven are at a disadvantage. This last year, [the Anchorage School District had] 50 seven-year-olds enter the system without any prior school experience. Such children are difficult to place. Ms. Ossiander said that the state should recognize that six- year-olds should be in some kind of educational environment. Therefore, Ms. Ossiander urged the committee to return to the original bill, SB 11. CHAIR BUNDE remarked, "I hate to lose the good in search of the perfect." There being no one else wishing to testify, Chair Bunde closed public testimony. Number 2302 REPRESENTATIVE GUESS moved to report CSSB 11(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSB 11(FIN) was reported from the House Special Committee on Education.
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