Legislature(2011 - 2012)BARNES 124
03/09/2011 09:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB154 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 9, 2011
9:16 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Alan Dick, Chair
Representative Lance Pruitt, Vice Chair
Representative Eric Feige
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Chris Tuck
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 154
"An Act providing for the establishment of a statewide early
childhood education plan and guidelines."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 154
SHORT TITLE: PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLANS/GUIDELINES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI
02/11/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/11/11 (H) EDC, FIN
03/09/11 (H) EDC AT 9:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 154, as the sponsor of the
bill.
ALICIA MARYOTT, Intern
Representative Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 154, on behalf of the sponsor,
Representative Kawasaki.
JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director
National Education Association of Alaska (NEA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 154.
JOY LYON, Director
Association for the Education of Young Children in Southeast
Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 154.
ABBE HENSLEY, Executive Director
Best Beginnings
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 154.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:16:17 AM
CHAIR ALAN DICK called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 9:16 a.m. Representatives Dick, P. Wilson,
Feige, Kawasaki, Seaton, Cissna, and Pruitt were present at the
call to order. Representative Tuck was also in attendance.
9:16:43 AM
HB 154-PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLANS/GUIDELINES
CHAIR DICK announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 154, "An Act providing for the establishment of a
statewide early childhood education plan and guidelines."
9:17:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, listed
the extensive numbers of teachers, staff, students, and children
currently participating in pre-Kindergarten and child care
programs throughout Alaska. He stated that the continuum of
education should begin with birth.
9:18:31 AM
ALICIA MARYOTT, Intern, Representative Scott Kawasaki, Alaska
State Legislature, paraphrased from the prepared Sponsor
Statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Alaska remains one of the only states that do not
provide pre-Kindergarten (pre-K) education to its
children on a statewide basis. HB 154 seeks to add
Alaska to the ranks of states that recognize that
children benefit from early education. Children who
participate in early education programs earn more
money as adults, enter the job market in much larger
numbers, obtain college education in higher numbers,
remain off of public assistance and are more likely to
stay out of jail.
Alaska has a responsibility to provide the best
education possible for its children. Currently,
outside of few school district classrooms, the state
only provides pre-K education through Head Start
programs and through the Best Beginnings partnership.
Head Start is underfunded and only available to the
poorest students. Due to underfunding, the Alaska
Head Start Association estimates that more than 50% of
the children who qualify cannot receive Head Start
education. Head Start has consistently lagged far
behind its need. Providing early public education
opportunities is a crucial stepping stone to
brightening the future of the young Alaskans.
Extensive research shows that a child's intellectual
development is especially important before age six. A
study by the National Institute for Early Education
research in 2004 found that children who attended
state-funded pre-kindergarten programs demonstrated
improvements in vocabulary 31% greater than those who
did not participate, and 44% greater in math. Young
children who receive high quality early education do
better in school academically and are more likely to
stay in school, graduate, and go on to attend college.
The beneficial impact of early education also extends
to the economy with multiple studies showing that
funds invested in early education pay dividends in the
long run. Every dollar invested in high quality pre-
kindergarten programs saves Alaskans from paying for
remedial and special education and public assistance.
An ongoing study of 40-year old adults in Michigan who
participated in the 1962 Perry Pre-Preschool Project
found that adults with pre-K were more likely to be
employed and earned 33 percent higher average income
than their peers who did not have state funded early
education.
Additionally a study prepared for the University of
Alaska Southeast, states that 87% of Alaska residents
think it is important for state government to provide
financial support for early education and child care.
9:21:21 AM
MS. MARYOTT explained that there were three sections to the
bill: The first section stated that the state would devise a
plan for a statewide early education program that would work
with Head Start and other current early education programs; the
second section stated that the Department of Education and Early
Development (EED) should adopt guidelines that the programs be
cost efficient and optional; the third section required that a
report be submitted by January 15, 2012.
9:22:15 AM
MS. MARYOTT explained the fiscal note, which outlined the cost
of the program to be $150,000. She detailed that $40,000 would
be required to write the plan, $86,455 would be for travel costs
to four statewide meetings, and $23,545 would pay for the final
council review and publication of the plan.
9:23:41 AM
CHAIR DICK opened public testimony.
9:24:00 AM
JOHN ALCANTRA, Government Relations Director, National Education
Association of Alaska (NEA), stated that investment in pre-K
education was important. He quoted "change occurs when the
necessity for it overcomes our resistance to it," and he
emphasized that it was now necessary for this wise investment in
pre-K. He urged passage of HB 154.
9:27:03 AM
JOY LYON, Director, Association for the Education of Young
Children in Southeast Alaska, reported on the Best Beginnings
and Parents as Teachers partnership, and its fit into the early
learning system. She offered an anecdote on the effectiveness
of the Imagination Library program and its connection to other
family literacy events in Southeast Alaska. She stated that
more than half the children in Juneau were enrolled in
Imagination Library. She shared that the Best Beginnings
partners created these programs together. She described the
partnership as a magnet for the local elements in early learning
programs. She reported that the Parents as Teachers program
would now be the highest priority to encourage early literacy.
She reported that reading with a child for 20 minutes each day
would increase the child's literacy by a year when the child
entered kindergarten. She encouraged support to engage parents
into early learning programs.
9:31:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if HB 154 provided the community
integration for early childhood programs.
9:32:49 AM
MS. LYON stated that it was important that an early learning
system went beyond the pre-K classroom. She touted the critical
importance for the years from birth to three.
9:33:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked to have any suggestions brought to
the committee. He expressed a concern that EED would continue
to focus on K-12, and that for early learning programs to be
more effective, it would be necessary for HB 154 to include more
guidance and support.
9:35:07 AM
ABBE HENSLEY, Executive Director, Best Beginnings, stated that
early learning was critical and it was necessary to have a plan.
She applauded the early learning guidelines as a foundation, but
that a plan educating 3-4 year olds did not incorporate the
birth to age five kids, which was critical. She stated that
high quality formal programs, as well as informal activities,
were needed. She touted a need for determining the state and
private investments to develop an early learning plan and
outcome. She asked that HB 154 be expanded to include a more
comprehensive approach to early childhood learning from birth to
school entry.
9:39:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked for her comments on the results of
the pilot pre-K program.
9:39:52 AM
MS. HENSLEY deferred any comment on the program results.
However, she said questions should be asked to identify the best
practices to be shared between communities.
9:41:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA suggested that current economic challenges
could hinder participation in many activities. She asked if
groups were supporting members to participate.
9:42:45 AM
MS. HENSLEY, in response to Representative Cissna, said that
local partnerships were assessing, developing priorities, and
implementing a strategic plan in each community.
9:44:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked if there was adequate funding for the
programs.
MS. HENSLEY replied that there was funding from the State of
Alaska, as well as from private foundations, corporations, and
individuals. She declared that the need for funding would
increase with the growth of the programs. She pointed to the
potential growth of the Imagination Library, as there were
50,000 kids [in Alaska] under the age of five, and books were
being provided to only 12,260 kids.
9:45:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked how many other pre-K programs existed
in Alaska.
9:46:08 AM
MS. HENSLEY explained that Best Beginnings brought together
people and resources so communities could develop activities and
programs for its children. She noted that these partnerships
existed in 11 communities and offered assistance to parents to
locate available programs.
9:47:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON reported that Wrangell had a
partnership and that parental support and training had
increased, especially for young parents. She offered her belief
that there were Best Beginnings plans with proven outcomes
throughout Alaska, and that these could use increased funding.
She asked if it was necessary to start with a new plan.
9:50:02 AM
MS. HENSLEY stated that the mission of Best Beginnings was to
empower communities and parents through a variety of mechanisms.
She directed attention to the early childhood coordinating
council and other early childhood work which could form a base
of the formal and informal components that would include
childcare, Head Start, pre-school, and other programs.
9:51:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reflected on studies which had tracked
children in Head Start, and reported that the initial advantages
from the program had vanished by the third grade. He asked how
to determine the overall effectiveness of a program.
9:53:05 AM
MS. HENSLEY, in response to Representative Seaton, said that
although it was difficult to determine, it was an important
question to keep asking. She stated that high program quality,
meaningful parental engagement, and continuity through the
grades were all important. She pointed to studies which
indicated the necessity for a strong reading background by the
third grade. She noted that Best Beginnings had recently
received a grant from Providence Health and Services to enroll
the children born at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, and then
the children born in Valdez and Kodiak, in Imagination Library.
She opined that children and parents should continue to receive
support for development beyond the beginning of the formal
classroom program.
9:56:56 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that public testimony would remain open and
that HB 154 would be held over.
9:59:00 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:59 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 154 Support.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| HB154 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| HB 154.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| HB 154 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| HB 154 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| Econ Dev Early Ed Summary 2011.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
|
| BMillett handout 03 09 11v2.doc |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Investing in Young Children Priorities 2011- final final 2.pdf |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Bill Millett bio.doc |
HEDC 3/9/2011 9:00:00 AM |