Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/15/2003 09:45 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HCR 19-ALASKA HISTORY CURRICULUM CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19, Urging implementation of an Alaska history curriculum in public schools. Number 0249 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER, as sponsor of HCR 19, explained the purpose of this resolution and answered questions from the members. She told the committee this legislation has created a bit of consternation and that fact is a puzzlement to her. She said this resolution is different from another resolution before the body. She said the other resolution asks the school districts to look at fourth grade Alaska history, and this resolution asks the board of education to look at Alaska high school students and their Alaska history requirements. She said she hopes both resolutions pass because she believes they are both worthy of consideration. Number 0307 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER explained that HCR 19 asks the board of education by regulation to implement a requirement that Alaska seniors have a stand-alone, one-semester course in Alaska history or an integrated course that school districts can weave into their already existing curriculum. This resolution would allow for a lot of local discretion on the part of school districts. In 2002, Senator Ted Stevens furnished a grant for Alaska history. The total of the grant was $397,400 and was awarded to the Alaska Humanities Forum. A portion of it would go to curriculum development and a portion toward the development of textbooks. The grant was approved by the U.S. Department of Education and signed by President George Bush in 2002, and the Alaska Humanities Forum is preparing a project team to develop the Alaska history text and curriculum. The project is headed by Marjorie Menzi who is former employee of the state Department of Education and a former teacher. Senator Stevens made it clear to the legislature that he believes this is very important and wants to see Alaska history taught in Alaska's schools. Most states have [a state history course], but Alaska does not. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER mentioned a partial list of supporters including: Commonwealth North, Alaska Humanities Forum, Association of School Boards, Association of School Administrators, and many more. Representative Kapsner told the committee that she thinks both her resolution and Representative Gatto's resolution are outstanding and hopes they both will pass the legislature. She said she believes both fourth grade students and high school students should have the benefit of learning about Alaska's history. These are good resolutions and worthy of discussion and consideration. Number 0372 REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked Representative Kapsner if Alaska history is currently taught in Bethel. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that it is taught in most school districts, but not all districts. It is taught at different levels. Some school districts teach it at the elementary level, but this resolution asks the Department of Education to make it a high school requirement to be taught in either the junior or senior year. She said she believes the Lower Kuskokwim School District does require some form of Alaska history in high school. It may be the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act or another option. She told the committee it was an elective when she was going through school. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if Alaska history is required in all of its elementary schools. He said he believes it is a state requirement to have state history, U.S. history, and world history. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that she is not sure what the elementary school level requirements are. She said her primary focus is on high school requirements because, as a legislator, she believes there are kids graduating from high school who do not understand some basic things about Alaska before they get to the ballot box. For example, she said it is important for students to know about the permanent fund, permanent fund dividend, subsistence, and other things. She said she is hoping that school districts and the Department of Education will look at standardizing high school students' graduation requirements. The Alaska Municipal League has said they would like to see a civics component included in graduation requirements, as this is not a requirement for Alaska. Representative Kapsner commented that many people are unaware that this is not a requirement because they moved here from another state. Number 0558 REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL told the committee that the school board [board of education] has already drafted a two-volume set that could be the basis for this curriculum. These books were commissioned in 1989 or 1990 and even though they will not be sufficient for what this resolution is requiring, he said he does not believe this is going to be a huge cost. He noted that there are two questions that need to be answered. The first question is how this material will be covered in one semester. It will be very intensive. The other question is the cost of putting a book together. The problem here, he said, is that it is an unfunded mandate. Since much of the work is [already completed], some of the costs could be saved. He asked if the sponsor would see to it that the prior work was not done in vain. Number 0670 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that Senator Stevens has made an appropriation that would cover a majority of those costs. Last year, before that appropriation was made, a number of different state organizations felt so committed to getting an Alaska curriculum in high school that they offered to pay for it. The complication came when trying to show it in the fiscal note. It so rarely happens that people are so enthusiastic about getting something done that they are willing to contribute to it. That offer still stands. Many school districts, including the Anchorage School District, recently mandated that their high school students have a one semester, stand-alone course. They are in the process of developing a curriculum. Carol Comeau [Superintendent of the Anchorage School District] has offered that curriculum to the state. CHAIR WILSON asked if there is an estimate in what it would cost to produce a book. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER replied that she does not know, but there is also the consideration that the school districts might integrate components of the curriculum into other classes. Commissioner of Education, Shirley Holloway, envisioned that a CD ROM could be made available to teachers so they could pull lesson plans out of the curriculum to include in U.S. or world history classes. For example, if there is discussion about exploration, then the section about Russians exploring Alaska could be integrated into world history. She reiterated that there are about 20 organizations on a partial list she has that have offered to help pay for this class. Number 0807 REPRESENTATIVE WOLF commented that he finds it surprising that Alaska history is not a requirement. In 1978, Kenai Central High School taught Alaska history from textbooks, so he said he knows the literature is there to be used. Number 0871 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that there are numerous books available. There are some recent publications including Dr. Steve Haycock's book; however, it was written for college level classes. She said that she believes the sooner this book is put together the better, because there are members of the constitutional convention who are still alive - such as John Coghill and Vic Fischer - who would be a wonderful resource in putting this book together. Number 0912 REPRESENTATIVE GATTO commented that books on Alaska history are available everywhere. The problem he has is that it will be a requirement. If required at a high school level it means giving up something. Representative Gatto said that in the high schools where he has been there are no times available during the day when there is an empty classroom and an available teacher. This class would have to replace an elective. He pointed out that some kids are intent on going to college and when they produce their transcripts for the college it could mean that the student has 21 credits plus Alaska history or 21 credits and physics. That extra science or math course could give these students an edge over someone else. By requiring the course, according to No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) then it will be necessary to have highly qualified teachers. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO indicated that it is a difficult time [for school districts]. For instance, at Colony High School they are giving up sports and, in fact, just discharged two coaches from the middle school. They have also eliminated the music program. Representative Gatto questioned if asking schools to take on another subject at a time when they are being asked to eliminate programs they have previously had is something the legislature wants to do. He asked if it makes sense to simply make the subject available rather than mandatory. Number 1044 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER agreed with Representative Gatto's points. She said she spent a lot of time worrying about that issue, especially in small schools where there is one teacher instructing in every subject. That is why the provision was added that this does not have to be a stand-alone class. It could be integrated into U.S. or world history. Number 1070 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked Representative Kapsner to clarify that the resolution encourages the use of modules to insert into existing programs. For example, a history course or civics course taught by a certified teacher could have a portion added that would merely bring in additional material to compliment an existing class. She asked if that is correct. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that that is exactly what she envisions; however, she pointed out that this is just a resolution, so it would be entirely up to the board of education. She said her hope is that it could be an either/or situation and the modules could be inserted. She pointed out that the language in the resolution does not specify that it funds a standards based curriculum for Alaska history through the efforts of the Alaska Humanities Forum. However, it requests the board of education to require by regulation the equivalent of at least one semester of Alaska history. So, it could be a stand-alone class or woven into an existing class. She reiterated that the resolution says on page 2, line 21, "the equivalent of at least one semester". Number 1172 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON told the committee he is also concerned about the displacement of other classes. The students do have full schedules and it is hard to add anything to the day. He said he believes that the board of education and the districts will be able to sort this out. Representative Seaton said he is willing to see the bill move out of committee. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said he agrees with Representative Seaton's comments. Number 1201 REPRESENTATIVE GATTO commented that if the board of education requires this by regulation, the districts have no choice but to find time during the day to make the equivalent of one semester, either in one stand-alone class for that semester, which the schools may not have available, or by incorporating it into another class in two half semesters and giving up something else for two half semesters. Representative Gatto said it would really make him feel better about this resolution if he knew what [would be given] up. He said he does not believe the board of education or the school districts know what that would be. Number 1240 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER responded that she does not know. She asked Representative Gatto from what state he graduated high school. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO responded that he graduated from a New York high school. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked him if his school required a New York history class. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said he has no idea. It was in the last millennium. CHAIR WILSON told the committee that these questions could be further explored in the House Special Committee on Education. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HCR 19 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCR 19 was reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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