Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/16/2011 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB43 | |
| SB83 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 43 | ||
| = | SB 83 | ||
SB 83-TEACHER BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVES
8:23:24 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of SB 83.
8:23:57 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to adopt the work draft for CSSB 83( ),
labeled 27-LS0425\I, as the working document.
CO-CHAIR MEYER objected for the purposes of discussion.
MURRAY RICHMOND, Staff to Senator Joe Thomas, Co-Chair of the
Senate Education Standing Committee, sponsor of SB 83, said
teachers have a difficult job. SB 83 provides incentives for
teachers to improve their teaching skills by becoming nationally
certified through the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards (NBPTS). If a teacher gets certified they would
receive an extra $1,000 per year as an incentive. For teachers
working in a high poverty, low performing area they would
receive an additional $500 per year. Finally, for teachers
working in a rural area they would receive an additional $1,000
in order to become certified. He explained that the
certification process is rigorous and is equivalent to a
master's degree in education.
Section 2 of version I would allocate interest free loans, run
by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE), to
the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) for
teachers who are employed by either the department or public
school districts. This section would also ask the commission to
develop an application process to define who is eligible for the
loan.
He noted that NBPTS is the only recognized board for national
certification. A list of the 25 different areas for
certification is included in the document packet [labeled NBPTS:
Field of Certification].
8:28:54 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS concurred; the national certification process is
very comprehensive. He added that the attached information in
the document packet is very informational and complimentary to
the bill.
CO-CHAIR MEYER opened public testimony.
8:30:38 AM
JOHN ALCANTRA, Lobbyist, National Education Association-Alaska
(NEA-Alaska), stated support for SB 83. He said that the members
of NEA had some suggested changes to the CS that he would review
with the committee.
He turned to page 3, line 4, of version I where the current
language used could possibly deny funding to professionals
working in preschool or special education. Members of NEA-Alaska
suggested that the CS be amended to include preschool, at a
minimum.
He explained that some of the larger school districts that
already pay a supplemental incentive are concerned that this
will supplant any additional incentives. He said that the
members of NEA-Alaska hope that an additional income incentive
will supplement what these teachers are already receiving.
Page 2, lines 2-5, discusses the loan amount that a teacher can
receive to become certified. He explained that while the process
to achieve certification is a $2,565 process, teachers often
retake individual sections at an additional cost of $350 per
section. The members of NEA-Alaska asked that this section be
more specific, by reading: "$1,000 paid toward the cost of
initial certification and no more than $1,000 annually for
teachers retaking one or more components".
Finally, he explained that the quarterly payment system used by
the commission to pay NBPTS on behalf of teachers could prove
difficult for applicants.
He mentioned that NEA-Alaska has a jumpstart program held at the
University of Anchorage (UAA) in the summer. This lays out the
national board certification program and encourages individuals
to become certified. He said that similar funding and loan
programs have worked well in other states to encourage
individuals to become certified.
8:36:13 AM
SENATOR FRENCH asked how many members of NEA-Alaska are
currently certified.
MR. ALCANTRA answered that about 110-120 individuals are
certified out of the 8,000 teachers who are members of NEA-
Alaska. He said that the fiscal note for SB 83 speaks to about
20 individuals going through this certification per year. He
said that NEA-Alaska is trying to assert that, as a minimum,
this number remain at 20.
SENATOR FRENCH asked for clarification that certification is
equivalent to a master's degree.
MR. ALCANTRA replied yes.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if the Anchorage School District pays extra
for a master's degree and by how much.
MR. ALCANTRA answered that they get paid about $1,500 extra per
year.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if the Anchorage School District pays the
same amount extra for national certification.
MR. ALCANTRA replied that the annual addendum in Anchorage is
$2,000.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if this varies by school district.
MR. ALCANTRA replied yes.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked whether a teacher who has both a master's
degree and is nationally certified would receive both amounts.
MR. ALCANTRA replied that he believes this is correct but would
need to confirm.
8:39:31 AM
MARTHA FLEMMING, representing herself, stated support for SB 83.
She said she is a counselor in the Seward School District and
while she is speaking for herself today, she believes that the
Seward PTSA [Parent Teacher Student Association] would support
this bill as well. She explained that there is a huge difference
between having a master's degree and being nationally certified.
There are many watered down versions of a master's degree. The
practice of going through this certification is so in depth that
it would help to have some incentive to get through the process.
Those who go through this certification improve their teaching
style and their communication with parents and the public.
8:43:18 AM
CYNTHIA CURRAN, Director, Division of Teaching & Learning
Support, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED),
said she is a former NBPTS certified teacher.
SENATOR FRENCH asked what the process is like for teachers to
become certified.
MS. CURRAN answered that the process is very rigorous and gives
teachers the opportunity to look at their practice. She
explained that there are five core propositions in national
board certification; on top of this each of the 25 areas of
focus has additional set standards. She explained that she
looked at how children's language develops, math, social studies
as building a community, and science. Within each focus she had
to create a portfolio showing how particular lessons fit into
the district's curriculum and standards. After turning in her
portfolio she took an assessment exercise to show what she knew
about each of her chosen topics and how she incorporated these
into her teaching practice using the standards and core
propositions. The certification occurred while she was teaching
and it gave her an opportunity to look at what she was doing in
the classroom. It changed the way that she looked at the
classroom and the patterns she had as a teacher.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if every teacher who embarks on this
certification can finish it.
MS. CURRAN answered no, at the time that she was nationally
certified the pass rate was 67 percent.
SENATOR DAVIS asked when she completed her certification.
MS. CURRAN answered that she was nationally board certified in
1998. She explained that she chose not to be recertified when
she moved to DEED and was no longer a classroom teacher.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if a teacher must recertify every year.
MS. CURRAN replied every 10 years.
CO-CHAIR MEYER said the bill addresses additional incentive
payments for teachers employed in a high poverty area that has
received a low performance rating. He asked if it is fairly easy
to tell which schools are in high poverty areas.
MS. CURRAN answered the AYP [Adequate Yearly Progress]
calculations go to the school level. She said that she believed
low performance is what the bill is addressing.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if this only pertains to public schools.
MS. CURRAN replied that a teacher can teach in a private or
charter school and become nationally certified.
8:52:03 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if teachers in private or religious schools
would be eligible for the proposed incentive program. He said he
believed the answer was no.
MS. CURRAN replied in order to become certified a teacher must
"hold a bachelor's degree, have completed three full years of
teaching/counseling, possess a valid state teaching/counseling
license for that period of time, or if teaching where a license
is not required (which is not in the state of Alaska) have
taught in schools recognized and approved to operate by the
state."
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if schools in high poverty areas can easily
be identified or if it is solely based on academic performance.
MS. CURRAN answered yes, Title I schools are considered high
poverty through NBPTS.
SENATOR FRENCH said it seems the committee is getting
conflicting answers from the aides and the department in regards
to teacher eligibility.
SENATOR DAVIS asked what her connection is, through the
department, to nationally certified teachers in the state.
MS. CURRAN replied that she is currently the director for the
Division of Teaching & Learning Support for DEED, which oversees
the office for Teacher Certification.
SENATOR DAVIS asked what she does to oversee this office.
MS. CURRAN answered that the office for Teacher Certification
receives approximately $20,000 per year from the federal
government to allow teachers to defray some of the costs
involved with national certification. This funding is allotted
to teachers according to the criteria set by the NBPTS. Only
$1,000 of the certification process is covered by this funding,
which leaves $1500 for the teacher to pay.
SENATOR DAVIS asked for confirmation that they receive $20,000
per year from federal funding.
Ms. CURRAN replied yes.
SENATOR DAVIS asked whether a teacher, in a school district that
gives a monetary incentive for certification already, would also
be eligible to receive money from the department.
MS. CURRAN answered that the $2,000 paid by certain districts is
the incentive a teacher would receive after they are nationally
certified.
SENATOR DAVIS said she would like to get clarification from the
school districts that offer this incentive. She explained that,
to her knowledge, these districts also give teachers money
towards certification.
8:57:30 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony.
MR. RICHMOND explained that SB 83 provides incentives only to
public school teachers employed by state districts or the
department. He explained that NBPTS has different standards for
certification.
He noted that the CS reflects Mr. Alcantra's concern about the
quarterly payment system [page 3, lines 11-12].
CO-CHAIR MEYER added that public schools also include charter
and alternative schools.
8:58:59 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced he would hold SB 83 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB83-EED-ACPE-2-11-11 Teacher Board Certification Incentives.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| CSSB 43 Work Draft 2-16-11.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 43 |
| Meeting Packet 2-16-11.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Funding Mechanism Diagram.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |