Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/23/2003 01:34 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCR 10-CHARTER SCHOOL TASK FORCE CHAIR FRED DYSON announced SCR 10 to be up for consideration. MR. JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director, National Education Association of Alaska (NEAA), said that charter schools in Alaska have been very successful and NEAA supports them. To make the task force as successful as possible, he recommended that NEAA appoint a member to the task force because that member would bring knowledge and experience and represent the front line employees who make charter schools successful. The NEAA supports a thorough examination of how the federal No Child Left Behind Law is impacting schools in Alaska, including charter schools. MR. KEVIN SWEENEY, Legislative Liaison, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) supported SCR 10, and said the number of charter schools has grown significantly since their inception and DEED envisions adding another 20 to 24 charter schools in the next five years. CHAIR DYSON asked him if DEED's position reflects the attitude of the governor. MR. SWEENEY said he hadn't talked to the governor about it, but he didn't think there would be a problem since the governor supports the idea of charter schools. CHAIR DYSON said he knew the administration was looking for funding for the startup of charter schools. SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS added that [DEED] had found federal funding and, if it comes through, the state would not have to fund it. CHAIR DYSON asked if federal money is available to staff the task force. MR. SWEENEY replied that DEED asked for $10 million for charter school startup funds over the next five years and a portion of those grants could probably be used for this activity. The bill had no fiscal note and he didn't know if all costs would be covered. Technically, DEED is not in the Office of the Governor and he suggested amending the bill to include representation by the department. [SCR 10 was held for further work.]
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