Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/13/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB57 | |
| SB47 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 47-STIPEND FOR STATEWIDE BOARDING SCHOOL
8:40:58 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 47. [SSSB 47 was
before the committee.]
RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff, Senator John Coghill, introduced SB 47 to
the committee on behalf of the sponsor. She thanked Senators
Stevens, Huggins, and Gardner for past support of boarding
schools. She noted that work on this issue began back in 2005
with HB 16 and a discussion on boarding homes. At that time
there was a provision that allowed for stipends for students who
were coming from communities that lacked 9 - 12 education.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if she would be discussing version P.
MS. MOSS said yes.
CHAIR STEVENS requested a motion to adopt version P for
discussion purposes.
8:42:22 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to adopt [work draft CS for SSSB 47],
labeled 28-LS0408\P, as the working document.
CHAIR STEVENS announced that without objection version P was
before the committee.
MS. MOSS continued to explain that in 2005, the Department of
Education provided a stipend of $500 a month per student. When
HB 16 was passed, regional rates the department had been using
were used. She noted there has been a steady increase in the
program since then. It has helped rural students attend
residential boarding schools that offer more classes, vocational
training, sports, band, and art.
MS. MOSS opined that boarding schools have provided an excellent
curriculum for students who want to go on to college and succeed
in the work force. She maintained that many of the students
would drop out of school if they did not have boarding schools
to attend.
She said the stipend helps the schools cover the cost of
residential boarding school facilities, including meals and 24/7
supervision.
She reported that in 2011 the program was expanded with
increased stipends. The legislature doubled the rate at that
time, but expenses still exceed income.
8:45:39 AM
MS. MOSS explained that SB 47, version P, a requirement that
boarding schools had to have been in operation before June 1,
2005, is deleted. That opens it up for more boarding schools to
be created within the public school system.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if any schools have opened since 2005.
MS. MOSS replied that the provision allowed for the expansion of
three additional boarding schools. A section of SB 47 adds
terminology called "variable length" which allows for magnate
schools.
CHAIR STEVENS asked for clarification.
MS. MOSS responded that the total participation in school would
have to be for at least 180 days in order to qualify as a
boarding school. The bill allows for magnate schools and schools
with vocational training.
8:47:18 AM
MS. MOSS explained that Section 2 addresses the regional base
rates for stipends - it triples what the base rate was in 2005.
Section 3 allows public school districts to contract with
private Alaska Native organizations or non-profit organizations
to provide room and board services. Section 4 repeals the limit
of three additional boarding schools and the definition of
district operated statewide residential programs because the
terminology is included in Section 1. Section 5 provides for an
immediate effective date.
MS. MOSS said the sponsor is asking the committee to make a
policy call and believes that the boarding schools will continue
to offer high school students in small communities an
opportunity to attend high school and become better prepared for
college, vocational training, and the workplace. By removing the
limit on the number of boarding schools, new opportunities will
arise for Alaskan high school students.
She related that a school in the Kotzebue area is considering
developing a magnet school, working in cooperation with Red Dog
Mine to train students for future jobs.
She concluded that Senator Coghill believes that boarding
schools are not the only road to success for education, but
definitely one very important avenue of success. She requested
the committee's support for SB 47.
8:49:29 AM
SENATOR GARDNER expressed excitement about the bill. She
recalled efforts in previous years to promote a magnet school in
Kotzebue. She recalled that Representative Reggie Joule did not
wish to see the idea come from the legislature, but rather to
"ferment" locally and not be imposed. She asked if local input
was part of the process.
MS. MOSS replied yes. Several Native organizations and rural
school districts have requested the legislation as the mechanism
to offer vocational training.
SENATOR GARDNER stated that she went to a boarding school for
three years.
SENATOR GARDNER asked what the rational was for limiting
boarding schools to only three schools.
MS. MOSS replied that she did not know. She noted that there was
concern about displacing rural students and closing rural
schools. She stressed that SB 47 is operated through the public
school system.
SENATOR GARDNER asked about the provision to triple the base
rate. She wondered if costs went up or if expanded services are
being offered.
MS. MOSS replied that the hope was that parents and school
districts would absorb some costs, but that has not been the
case. Costs have gone up, especially fuel costs. She said she
would provide information about the actual operating cost of the
four boarding schools currently in operation: Bethel, Nenana,
Galena, and Mount Edgecumbe.
8:52:27 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked for an explanation of magnet schools.
MS. MOSS explained that magnet schools are schools that provide
vocational training and educational courses. They have shorter,
varied terms and include traditional education curriculum along
with vocational coursework.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how boarding school housing is funded.
MS. MOSS replied that boarding schools have housing facilities.
Mount Edgecumbe is state-owned and contracts for room and board.
The other schools have their own facilities and hire supervision
for the facilities.
SENATOR HUGGINS recalled that debt reimbursement applies to the
schooling, but not the housing.
MS. MOSS agreed that is an issue. She said she would ask the
Department of Education to address it. She noted that the 70/30
reimbursement cannot be used for boarding facilities.
8:54:38 AM
CHAIR STEVENS mentioned the Red Dog Mine's agreement to hire 100
percent from Native corporations. He said that SB 47 would help
Red Dog Mine fulfill that promise.
MS. MOSS said she was excited about that.
8:55:30 AM
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, answered questions about SB 47. He said the
department recognizes the value of the changes made in the bill.
He responded to the question asked regarding the limitation of
boarding schools to only three. He recalled that it was
previously not managed by the department. The provision was seen
as a way to manage growth.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY addressed variable-term boarding schools
versus year-round schools. He opined that regulations relating
to year-round schools do not necessarily prohibit variable-term
schools, as long as the schools operate as a school for the full
school year. He noted the State Board of Education recently
adopted a regulation that allows for the variable-term
component, with funding mechanisms that allow for a boarding
stipend. The BSA would stay with the student's home district.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY spoke of a need the department also
addressed - to open up periods of public application. The open
application period will be available until the end of May 2013.
8:57:32 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if open application means new schools, as
opposed to open enrollment.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said yes.
SENATOR HUGGINS inquired if boarding schools include all grades.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY answered that statutorily it is grades 9 -
12.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked why earlier programs are not offered.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that it was due to the boarding
component. Schools are hesitant to board children younger than
high school.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there is any opposition to the bill.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY replied that he has not heard any
opposition. He said a primary component begins with the boarding
stipend increase. If the stipend sunsets this year, the three
programs currently in place will really struggle to meet their
responsibilities. He said he has only heard positive comments
and suggestions regarding better ways to meet the needs of
students.
9:00:09 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if after the open application period
closes, it will be reopened on a regular basis.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that he has never heard of an open
application being held before. He said the open application is
based on perceived need and capacity and interest, and he
anticipated it would be offered again relatively soon.
9:01:28 AM
GARY BALDWIN, Superintendent, Lower Kuskokwim School District,
stated support for SB 47. He related that his district has two
outstanding programs that will struggle without the passage of
the bill. The first program is the Kuskokwim Learning Academy, a
school of 60 students that targets dropouts. The other program
is RAMSEP, which requires the flexibility in language for a
variable-term district operated school and the ability to
contract with a non-profit for the boarding home component. The
program is currently supplemented with funding from the Rasmuson
Foundation, which is running out.
He explained that RAMSEP provides Alaska Native Science &
Engineering Program (ANSEP) access to village students. Bethel
High School has been recently identified as an ANSEP academy
school. In order for village students to have access ANSEP, the
district developed RAMSEP named after Rasmuson funding. Students
come into Bethel for a semester at a time to take upper level
math, science, and pre-engineering classes, along with regular
courses. The success rate is very high and students are eligible
for college-level courses.
9:05:19 AM
MR. BALDWIN described the district's robotics program, which he
described as a feeder program to engineering careers and math
and science classes. The course raises academic expectations and
outcomes. He hoped to expand the model to an aviation program.
He stressed the need for SB 47 to pass.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if the dropout rate would increase without a
boarding school.
MR. BALDWIN said yes. Both programs have been successful at
preventing and recovering dropouts.
9:07:36 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked what ages of students are in the academy.
MR. BALDWIN replied that the Kuskokwim Learning Academy serves
students in grades 9 -12 and recovering dropouts include older
students up to 20 years old. The RAMSEP program is for juniors
and seniors in high school.
LISA RIEGER, General Counsel, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, stated
that the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) supports SB 47. She
said CITC supports the increase in stipend, the school
district's delivery of district-wide residential programs and
the variable-term programs, and the local partnership provision.
9:10:46 AM
MS. RIEGER explained the CITC program called the Dena'ina
Academy, a public/private partnership model between CITC and the
Anchorage School District. She said that CITC provides the
residential program and the district provides the curriculum.
She said the Dena'ina Academy is designed as a culture-based
leadership program. She reiterated support for SB 47.
9:12:52 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked about the Academy's location and makeup.
MS. RIEGER explained that the Academy is in a pilot stage and is
applying to the Anchorage School District during the open
application period. There are two students who will test the
program; one student is from Dillingham and one is from a
homeless Anchorage family. The Academy will be accepting rural
students, also. Currently, there are house parents residing with
the students. Elders will be involved in the future.
9:16:03 AM
CHAIR STEVENS summarized that the Academy provides room and
board and the students are enrolled in public schools in
Anchorage.
MS. RIEGER said that is correct.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if that would be maintained into the future.
MS. RIEGER said yes.
CHAIR STEVENS asked what type of students would be invited to
enroll.
MS. RIEGER answered that the Academy would be open to all
students. Right now the targeted population is males who are
juniors or seniors in high school.
9:18:41 AM
CHAIR STEVENS noted it was shocking to hear that half of the
students who move to Anchorage do so without their parents.
SENATOR GARDNER noted three categories of students that might
attend the Academy, kids who are at SAVE and Covenant House, or
who are aging out of foster care.
MS. RIEGER replied that those kids have been considered as
referrals.
9:21:41 AM
CHAIR STEVENS thanked the presenter.
CHAIR STEVENS said his intention is to set the bill aside.
MS. MOSS addressed Senator Huggins' question on elementary-age
students. She said when working on SB 47, some interest in
providing boarding school education for elementary students was
expressed. She noted the sponsor has committed to work with
Representative Gattis on that issue.
9:23:06 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS opined that it is so important to identify
students who need support early on.
He asked about a boarding school called Camp Challenge.
MS. MOSS said she was not familiar with that school. She pointed
out that there are only three schools that currently receive
stipends.
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that Camp Challenge is a statewide
program. He suggested that it would fit the definition of a
boarding school.
9:24:16 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held SB 47 in committee.