02/20/2012 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Delta Greely School District | |
| HB242 | |
| SB8 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 242 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 20, 2012
8:02 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
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: DELTA GREELY SCHOOL DISTRICT
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 242
"An Act relating to funding for digital learning as a component
of public school funding."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 8
"An Act relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in
the public schools."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 242
SHORT TITLE: PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING: DIGITAL LEARNING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) P.WILSON
04/17/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/17/11 (H) EDC, FIN
02/20/12 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SB 8
SHORT TITLE: STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
01/19/11 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11
01/19/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/11 (S) EDC, HSS
02/16/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/16/11 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
02/21/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/21/11 (S) Heard & Held
02/21/11 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
02/25/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/25/11 (S) Heard & Held
02/25/11 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
02/28/11 (S) EDC RPT 3DP 2NR
02/28/11 (S) DP: THOMAS, DAVIS, FRENCH
02/28/11 (S) NR: MEYER, STEVENS
02/28/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/28/11 (S) Moved SB 8 Out of Committee
02/28/11 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/16/11 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/16/11 (S) Moved SB 8 Out of Committee
03/16/11 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/18/11 (S) HSS RPT 2DP 1DNP 1NR
03/18/11 (S) DP: DAVIS, EGAN
03/18/11 (S) DNP: DYSON
03/18/11 (S) NR: MEYER
04/01/11 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/01/11 (S) VERSION: SB 8
04/04/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/04/11 (H) EDC, HSS
01/27/12 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
01/27/12 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
02/20/12 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
DUNCAN WARE, Superintendent
Delta/Greely School District
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint titled "Delta/Greely
School District."
CARL ROSE, Executive Director
Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 242.
BOB WHICKER, Director
Consortium for Digital Learning (CDL)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 242.
THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff
Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 8 on behalf of the prime
sponsor, Senator Bettye Davis.
EMILY NENON, Alaska Government Relations Director
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 8.
WARD HURLBURT, M.D., Chief Medical Officer/Director
Division of Public Health
Central Office
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during discussion of SB
8.
RYAN KAUFFMAN
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 8.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:42 AM
CHAIR ALAN DICK called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Representatives Dick, Kawasaki,
Feige, and P. Wilson were present at the call to order.
Representatives Seaton, Pruitt, and Cissna arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
8:04:02 AM
[Due to technical difficulties, the committee took an at-ease
from 8:04 a.m. to 8:08 a.m.]
^Presentation: Delta Greely School District
Presentation: Delta Greely School District
8:08:55 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the first order of business would be a
presentation by the Superintendent of the Delta Greely School
District.
DUNCAN WARE, Superintendent, Delta Greely School District,
introduced the "Board of Education," slide 1, and shared that
the Board was comprised of seven stakeholders within the
district, as well as a student representative and a military
representative. He moved on to slide 2, "Delta Greely's
Schools," which listed the seven schools in the district,
including a homeschool and a cyber-school. Slide 3, "Delta
Greely School District Demographics," listed the enrollment of
919 students for all the schools, and the corresponding
breakdown by grade structures. He directed attention to slide
4, "Delta Greely's Students," depicting a pie graph showing the
enrollment by ethnicity, and he noted an increase for the
Hispanic student community.
8:10:48 AM
MR. WARE showed slide 5, "Early Learning," and described the
Pre-K program use of typical peers, the all-day kindergarten
program, and the emphasis on early literacy skills. He
described slide 6, "Instructional Supports," and stated that the
district utilized the Measuring Academic Progress (MAP) testing
program to measure academic progress, IPass for math
intervention to identify the skills needing development, and Six
Traits Writing and Cross-curricular Writing to focus on a
yearlong writing program. He spoke about the district's
substantial curriculum mapping process which reviewed Alaska
standards and looked for additional resources to identify the
priorities and direction for the district. He shared that Title
I was utilized for students needing additional assistance with
remedial reading and writing.
8:12:49 AM
MR. WARE visited slide 7, "Special Areas of Instruction," and
said that these special areas of instruction included welding,
auto-CAD, robotics, bush physics, accounting, and a radio
station.
8:13:40 AM
MR. WARE shared slide 8, "Student Activities," explaining the
importance of the student activities, which included the
unicycle program and athletics, and had participation by 95
percent of the student body.
8:14:24 AM
MR. WARE discussed slide 9, "Community Connections," and stated
that the Partners for Progress Delta worked in coordination with
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), the Fairbanks Community
and Technical College, Alaska Works, and the Alaska Department
of Labor. He stated that this program allowed for teaching the
operation of heavy equipment, construction trades academies, and
certified assistant nursing courses. He described the
partnership with Fort Greely allowing use of the swimming and
bowling facilities. He listed the rocketry club and the
Engineers in Classrooms programs that occurred in partnership
with Boeing Corporation. He mentioned that the school district
also worked in conjunction with the Delta Chamber of Commerce,
the Youth Hockey Association, and the Delta Community Library.
8:15:46 AM
MR. WARE reported on slide 10, "Special Projects," detailing the
weatherization of the Delta High School, a biomass boiler for
the high school complex, iPads for Literacy, and efforts to
bring the high school into a better position to serve as a
community emergency shelter. He shared that additional projects
included improvement for instructional space usage, an upgrade
to the kitchen facilities, an emergency generator, improvement
of the science room complex with a shared lab, and creation of a
fine arts classroom.
8:17:59 AM
MR. WARE reported on slide 11, "HD 6 iPad Literacy Project,"
which depicted the results of this project with third grade pre
and post test results. He then shared slide 12, which graphed
the results of this project with third graders. He reported on
the significant increases in results for both grade levels.
8:18:55 AM
MR. WARE, slide 13, explained the three year, 2009-11,
proficiency reports in language arts, mathematics, and
graduation rates for the five schools. He reported that the
Delta Cyber School, a statewide, on-line school through the
service center in the Anchorage area, served a large number of
at risk students. He explained that the New Horizons High
School was an alternative high school program, within the Delta
High School building, with small groups and individualized
instruction.
8:20:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, referring to the New Horizons High
School, asked if they were included in the Delta High School
graduation rate.
MR. WARE replied that they were not included in the Delta High
School graduation rate, as it was a school of its own.
8:21:26 AM
CHAIR DICK asked if MAP testing was sufficient and additional
testing was not necessary.
MR. WARE opined that MAP provided sufficient information to make
immediate decisions regarding student achievement.
CHAIR DICK asked for a description of the bush physics course.
MR. WARE replied that it was through UAF.
8:23:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked when parent teacher conferences were
conducted.
MR. WARE replied that these conferences were held at a variety
of times, primarily to meet the schedule needs of the parents.
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked if the school was closed during these
conference times.
MR. WARE confirmed that the school did close for parent teacher
conferences.
8:24:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if remedial instruction was
required for the military children upon their enrollment, or did
they arrive "up to par" with the other students.
MR. WARE replied that most students from military families were
where they needed to be. He pointed out that a majority of the
military families were assigned for extended placements in
Delta.
8:25:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked how the iPad was distributed to
students.
MR. WARE explained that the iPads were on a mobile cart for use
in the school, and did not, typically, go to a student's home.
HB 242-PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING: DIGITAL LEARNING
8:26:29 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 242, "An Act relating to funding for digital
learning as a component of public school funding."
8:26:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON presenting HB 242 as the prime sponsor,
paraphrased from a prepared statement, which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
House Bill No. 242 establishes a "digital learning
funding factor" in law to assist school districts in
implementing a full range of digital technology.
The bill proposes to multiply the Average Daily
Membership (ADM) by 1.005 to create a new digital
learning factor. The new factor should provide about
$6 million per year to spread across the state. Funds
can be used to acquire a range of technologies, such
as mobile devices, tablets, notebooks or smart boards,
plus software and services like professional
development and technical support. School districts
will retain complete flexibility to use the funds
based on local priorities.
We have heard a lot of rhetoric around the building
about education and how there is resistance to just
increasing the Base Student Allocation. The bill
provides the direct method for change that will
improve our educational outcomes. The digital Learning
program has been proven with the "Leveling the Playing
Field" Pilot Program. I think it fits the goal of
spending funds to get measureable improvements in
outcomes.
I have been asked by the Association of Alaska School
Board's Consortium for Digital Learning (CDL) on
digital learning, the implementers of the pilot, to
introduce this legislation. I believe the Digital
Learning program could be one of the tools we need to
engage our students and help keep them in the
classroom.
There are Consortium for Digital Leaning members
present that will be able to answer your questions
relating to this program much better than I. Mr.
Chair, with your permission, I ask that they come
forward and answer program questions the committee may
have.
8:29:25 AM
CARL ROSE, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), directed attention to the committee handout
titled "Transforming Alaska Education through Digital Learning"
[Included in members' packets] and indicated how quickly the
change had progressed since 2006. Referring to Representative
Wilson's testimony, he declared that the infrastructure to
support this rapid advance was necessary to ensure that the
network would work. He shared that curriculum apps were now on
line, and that the infrastructure support was growing as
connectivity became available. He opined that the impetus
behind proposed HB 242 was to sustain this effort for technology
seed money.
8:32:52 AM
BOB WHICKER, Director, Consortium for Digital Learning (CDL),
stated that the proposed bill accomplished some necessary
sustained program funding. He detailed that it would enable new
projects, expand existing projects, and refresh other programs.
8:34:51 AM
MR. WHICKER reported that, since his iPad demonstration during
the past year, the Consortium for Digital Learning had
progressed to become a service organization which provided
aggregate ordering, broad reaching professional development,
leadership training, projects, and a library of courses based on
Alaska themes.
8:36:58 AM
MR. WHICKER directed attention to the Consortium's latest
project, detailed in the HD6 IPADS4LITERACY handout [Included in
members' packets], which described that nine school districts
had received a total of 600 iPads, targeted at the third grade
level. He said that the data results of the program were still
being received. He indicated page 3 of the handout, "Have the
iPads changed your instruction?", noting the overwhelming
affirmative response. He referred to an additional handout
titled "Rationale for Inclusion of Digital Learning in Education
Foundation Support" [Included in members' packets] and stated
"we're in a place of change right now where all the efforts that
you see with these [digital learning] projects are starting to
move to ... change." He opined that proposed HB 242 would
encourage this forward movement.
8:40:05 AM
MR. ROSE, referring to page 2, line 8 of the proposed bill,
explained that the funding factor of 1.005 equaled $5.9 million
from the state to be used as "seed money." He opined that "when
districts have skin in the game, they pay close attention to
what they're doing." He suggested the three funding options for
sustainability to be the general fund, grant processes, and
capital budgets. He declared that this was a model for all
schools to follow, and this seed money would create opportunity
and impetus.
8:41:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, directing attention to the aforementioned
ratio for 1 to 1 distribution of the iPads, asked why the
devices were left in the classroom. He relayed that other
reports indicated that it was educationally beneficial when the
devices were taken home by the students. He offered his belief
that some of the gains for extending the educational day were
being lost if this optional use was not allowed. He asked if
the consortium was considering an expansion to the usage.
8:43:21 AM
MR. WHICKER voiced his agreement, stating that research
supported the expanded use outside of the classroom. He pointed
out that, since 2006, the laptop take home policy was strongly
encouraged, even though each district made its own
determinations for management of the devices. He reported that
the iPad program policies were not scrutinized and, referring to
the graph in the aforementioned handout titled "Rationale for
Inclusion of Digital Learning in Education Foundation Support,"
he declared that the adoption of change in schools did not come
as quickly as the change in technology. He professed his strong
support for the use of iPads outside the classrooms.
8:45:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, addressing concerns for the breakage of
technology when taken from the classroom, reported that the
students were very responsible and protective of the devices.
He pointed out that the apps on the devices allowed for use
without connection to the internet.
8:47:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI, directing attention to page 4 of the
aforementioned HD6 IPADS4LITERACY handout, asked to clarify why
Fairbanks had such a small number of users. He opined that
tying proposed HB 242 to the average daily membership (ADM)
student count would not allow for the necessary program seed
money in all the school districts, and he asked how to ensure
equity among all the school districts.
8:49:02 AM
MR. ROSE explained that the 53 school districts were each
governed by a local school board, which allowed for different
policies and approaches. He gave examples for different means
of implementation by the districts, and pointed out that smaller
school districts had more flexibility for change. He explained
that funding was from a block grant.
8:50:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked how the technology interfaced with
culture and local knowledge.
MR. WHICKER, in response to Representative Cissna, said that
students were able to use the laptops to record cultural
activities, including the filming of dance groups, conferences,
and oral histories by the elders. He said that CDL had helped
bring people together around a common infrastructure, which
brought many different projects to light.
8:53:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA offered her belief that built-in
incentives were motivators, and she asked whether the separate
school boards were involved, especially as mentors to each
other.
8:54:34 AM
MR. ROSE replied that the diversity of the school districts was
broad and that, although the technology and information was
shared with each of the districts, it was necessary for each
district to determine its local need and to find the money to
invest.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if legislators were invited to the
AASB meetings.
MR. ROSE extended an invitation to the annual conference.
8:57:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, referring to the handout [included in
members' packets] titled "Transforming Alaska Education through
Digital Learning" and read: "The challenge is that all children
do not have access to an equitable education experience." She
expressed her agreement with the statement, and continued
reading:
Additional designated funding will help school leaders
meet that responsibility. Adding funds to the
foundation formula and collaboration between
individual legislators and school districts to expand
digital learning opportunities for students can
transform education in Alaska. For us to miss this
opportunity to change the face of teaching and
learning now would be a tragedy.
She offered her belief that it was necessary to recognize this
as a sustainable opportunity and for the legislature to make it
happen.
8:59:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE stated his support for the advantages of
digital learning. He questioned whether enough money was being
requested in the proposed bill.
MR. ROSE replied that the requested amount was a starting point,
but that it could be larger. He opined that it was better to
ask for an amount that would be accepted rather than rejected as
too large.
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE remarked that technology, as it changed,
required an ongoing capital investment. He suggested that it
would require more funding to accomplish what was necessary. He
asked if there were controls in the proposed bill to ensure that
the funds were spent on digital learning.
MR. ROSE expressed agreement that definitions for accountability
should be included.
9:02:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the Alaska apps were free to the
school districts.
MR. WHICKER replied that all the content at iTunes U was free,
and that CDL was continually working with partners to "help to
fill that repository." He noted that other groups were also
working to collect and distribute information, and he stated,
"That's a good thing in that this is too big of an issue for any
one entity to take on by themselves."
9:03:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referenced a report from a school district
that district purchases of iPod Touch were double that of iPads.
He reflected that the iPod Touch offered the same applications,
was smaller, and was less expensive. He asked if iPads were
more effective for increasing education.
MR. WHICKER replied that the proposed bill allowed each
individual school district to select its device. He agreed
that, although there was a lot of current excitement about the
iPad, many devices were available and that proposed HB 242
allowed funding for a variety of devices to meet the differing
needs. He stated that there was no explicit advantage to any of
the devices, but rather it was "a decision of form factor."
9:07:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked to clarify that the consortium would
offer a comparison of each technology, instead of focusing on a
single piece, to ensure the best results for each user group.
9:08:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked what controls would be implemented
to allow that individual users would not be distracted by other
uses.
MR. WHICKER, in response to Representative Pruitt, explained
that each school loaded different apps on the iPads, based on
its instructional strategy, and that the distractions were a
result of work online. He shared that schools had installed
filters to support established policies and were offering
professional development for teachers to learn how to teach with
this technology. He suggested that kids would often use the
tools for their own learning enhancement.
9:13:26 AM
CHAIR DICK relayed that Dell was developing a system to allow
teachers to monitor each student's use of the device.
9:13:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked if there was a way to ensure that
teachers were ready to integrate these technologies, even though
some teachers were resistant to change.
MR. WHICKER offered his belief that professional development and
training for the use of these tools were the most necessary
fundamentals, and that funding was usually the key to both of
these.
9:16:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON indicated that the technology had to be
synched with the school computers which could erase any
unauthorized applications.
MR. WHICKER confirmed this, and he pointed out that future
technology allowed for easier management, noting that the iPads
had teacher, rather than tech, managed solutions.
9:18:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON directed attention to page 2 of the
fiscal note, and read: "this legislation will need to be
updated to include new vocational education factor, or CTE,
which passed in the 2011 legislative session and signed by the
governor into law." She asked if the committee would like this
included.
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE opined that the House Finance Committee
would request it.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, directing attention to page 2, line 8 of
the proposed bill, asked if the funding factor of 1.005
eliminated the 1 percent which had been passed during the prior
year.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON replied that that the 1 percent had
been a one-time distribution.
MR. ROSE offered his belief that this was now 21 percent in the
block grant, and he agreed that it was ongoing.
9:20:15 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that HB 242 would be held over.
SB 8-STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS
9:20:36 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 8, "An Act relating to questionnaires and
surveys administered in the public schools."
9:20:45 AM
THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, stated that this bill would return the
administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to
passive parental consent from active parental consent. He read
a statement from the Department of Health and Social Services
website:
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is part of a national
surveillance system developed by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist with
assessing and addressing the health risk of youth. It
is conducted in Alaska every other year by the
Department of Education and Early Development and the
Department of Health and Social Services in
cooperation with public schools.
He shared that the survey was given in the spring of 2011 to
1327 students from 40 high schools, scientifically selected to
represent all public high schools and public high school
students in grades 9 - 12, excluding boarding, alternative,
correspondence, correctional, and home study schools in Alaska.
In addition, 969 students from 16 alternative high schools in
Alaska, defined as serving high risk students, were
correspondingly given the same survey, with the results for both
surveys posted on the website. He paraphrased from the sponsor
statement [original punctuation provided] [Included in members'
packets]:
The purpose of SB 8 is to increase participations in
the national biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey
(YRBS) in order to meet the minimum 60% participation
level required by the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) for the results to be validated and published
along with other states. There have been years when
the state has not met minimum participation levels.
Failure to obtain survey information adversely affects
the ability of educators, planners, policy makers, and
parents to understand and address the important health
and social issues that affect students' happiness and
success in the future.
To help achieve this objective SB 8 changes the
parental consent requirement for the YRBS from active
to passive, that is, from written to implied consent
if parents are given notice at least two weeks in
advance of the survey by U.S. mail, or home delivery;
the opportunity to review the entire survey at the
school or the district's web site; and a form with
return envelope to deny permission in writing.
Parents who do not want their children to participate
usually notify the school immediately at registration
in the beginning of the school year, or after notice
and before the YRBS is given early in the spring
semester. It is the attention of the other parents SB
8 is designed to reach. Failure of parents to return
written consent forms in the past has been found often
to be the result of lack of attention rather than
refusal. Since the biennial survey is only given to a
representative number of the 53 Alaska School District
and only to a representative sampling of high school
classes, many parents and students will never be
involved with the survey.
Students are not forced or required to participate.
They may independently decline to participate or to
answer specific questions in this completely voluntary
and anonymous survey. If they do participate,
absolute privacy and anonymity are maintained by
strict administrative procedures and the return of
individual surveys in private and secure sealed
envelopes to CDC.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey helps guide and
evaluate important health and prevention programs in
both the public and private sectors. Local, state,
and federal officials, schools, state and federal
agencies, public and private grant programs, and
nonprofit health organizations rely on these surveys
to educate, allocate resources, and compare trends
concerning safe behaviors. These include injury
prevention, tobacco prevention and control, obesity
prevention, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke
prevention, safe and drug free schools, substance
abuse prevention, violence and suicide prevention, HIV
and STD prevention, and connectedness to teachers,
parents and other adults.
In short, SB 8 simply makes it easier to obtain
information on youth risk behaviors without violating
students' or parents' rights to privacy, nor
diminishing the ability of parents to supervise their
children. At the same time SB 8 increases parental
notice with ample opportunity, instructions, and forms
to opt out.
He pointed out that SB 137, suicide awareness and prevention
training for teachers and other school personnel, had been
introduced for attention as a result of the YRBS.
9:26:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, directing attention to the sectional
summary of the proposed bill from Division of Legal and Research
Services, dated January 27, 2011, [Included in members' packets]
read from Section 3, "Adds specific questions and process for a
student and parent to refuse to participate in a student survey
by submitting a written denial of permission." He pointed out
that the proposed bill did not state that a student had to
provide a written denial of permission, but that, per Section
3(e) of the proposed bill, a student "may refuse to answer
specific questions [on] or participate in a questionnaire." He
offered his belief that a parent could provide a written denial,
but that the student could, on their own authority at the time
of the survey, refuse to answer certain questions or participate
in the survey. He asked to clarify that the wording in the
proposed bill took precedence over the sectional summary.
MR. OBERMERER confirmed that Section 3 of the proposed bill was
correct.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON suggested that the sectional summary be
revised to avoid confusion.
9:29:17 AM
CHAIR DICK asked who designed the questionnaire. He expressed
concern that the questions could be changed in the future to
appear to endorse certain behaviors, rather than inquire or
identify as risky behavior.
MR. OBERMEYER, in response to Chair Dick, stated that the survey
was designed by the CDC and the exact same questions had to be
on each survey when given nationwide every two years, in order
to validate the results. He pointed out that a person or
legislature could contact the CDC with concerns for the
questions, and that CDC desired that every state be involved in
order to obtain knowledge regarding risky behavior nationwide.
He shared his observations that participation in the survey did
not induce thoughts about or endorse any specific behavior, as
students faced these matters daily. He declared the survey to
be an identification bank of information from nationwide
schools. He directed attention to the 2011 summary, titled
"Healthy Alaska," [Included in members' packets] which indicated
that smoking, drug use, and suicide were all prevalent, relevant
issues.
9:32:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked to clarify that these surveys
were necessary for other organizations, such as the American
Lung Association, to prove that their techniques were effective
and to obtain funding.
MR. OBERMEYER replied that the survey materials tracked the
increase and decline within each behavior specific area. He
noted that a "fairly high rate" for smoking continued, even as
the overall rate had decreased.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, referring to the 2011 summary,
declared that smoking had decreased, though not as much in the
alternative schools which illustrated that those students were
at a greater risk. She pointed out that these surveys offered
information and assessments without any cost to the schools.
MR. OBERMEYER confirmed that alternative schools had higher
percentages for risky behaviors.
9:36:17 AM
CHAIR DICK asked how Alaska benefited from these surveys.
Offering his belief that many non-profit organizations needed
this data in order to obtain funding, he asked which non-profit
groups benefited from these surveys.
MR. OBERMEYER offered to provide a list of the non-profits which
benefited from this survey. He declared this to be an
informational issue for schools, in order to deal with high risk
behaviors. He pointed out that there was a zero fiscal note for
SB 8, and he acknowledged that private funding was raised to get
more participation in the survey. He expressed his belief that
the CDC process was not driven by nonprofit organizations
looking for increased funding. He declared that the only way to
deal with high risk student behaviors was "to know what they're
doing and this is probably the very best way that we've been
able to come up with."
9:38:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA observed that proposed SB 8 addressed the
issues for comparing Alaska to other states, with a focus on the
appropriate spending of public money. She offered her belief
that the worldwide philanthropic organizations donated huge
amounts of funding to Alaska based on data from surveys such as
YRBS.
MR. OBERMEYER pointed out that the survey results provided
extensive details, allowing Alaska the opportunity to review the
risk behaviors in other states. He clarified that the handout
was merely a thumbnail sketch for Alaska.
9:40:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON declared that the survey was most
helpful to Alaska and the legislature for determining where
efforts needed to be concentrated.
[CHAIR DICK opened public testimony.]
9:42:11 AM
EMILY NENON, Alaska Government Relations Director, American
Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, assured the committee that
the American Cancer Society encouraged the efforts of the
Division of Public Health in the schools. She explained that
the YRBS gathered necessary information in order to "measure the
effectiveness of all of the programs that we support," and for
recognition of the emerging issues. In the last decade,
although youth smoking had decreased by 50 percent, it was still
an issue to be addressed. She clarified that proposed SB 8
addressed a problem with logistics, as current law tied the
hands of the school districts for implementation of the survey
in a manner that worked best for each district. She reported
that, pre-1999, there was a vague definition to the means for
in-school surveys; whereas, in 1999, the law was more protective
for parent and student information. She clarified that these
protections and details were maintained and expanded in proposed
SB 8, but the logistical hurdle of implementation by school
districts was made easier. She declared support for proposed SB
8 in order to protect parental engagement, better serve youth,
and monitor the state investments.
9:45:35 AM
WARD HURLBURT, M.D., Chief Medical Officer/Director, Division of
Public Health, Central Office, Department of Health and Social
Services, corroborating the testimony of Mr. Obermeyer, declared
that the YRBS was important to the schools, school districts,
the Department of Health and Social Services, CDC, and the
Department of Education and Early Development. He shared that
experience indicated that 10 percent of parents would decline,
and an additional 20 percent of parents would not return the
survey, even after multiple attempts to contact them. He
pointed out that the survey required 60 percent participation
for statistical significance, and that the governor acknowledged
the importance of the survey. He reported that about 25 of the
106 survey questions were submitted by the state. He clarified
that questions could be changed over the years, and that some of
the questions were put in the context of presumption that youth
engaged in behavior that many other young people did not engage
in. He explained that the reason for the context of presumption
was to elicit honest response. He stated that the governor was
committed to strengthening Alaskan families, did not support
passive permission, and did not support SB 8, as he felt active
consent was necessary to engage parents with their children.
9:48:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA reflected that there had not been
testimony from the parents, and she opined that parent response
was critical to obtain data, as Alaska leads the nation in many
aspects of behavioral health risks.
MR. OBERMEYER pointed out that parental consent was requested
during student registration, and again prior to the
questionnaire.
9:51:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked about the value of the data
collected by the survey.
DR. HULBURT, in response to Representative Kawasaki, stated that
the data was quite valuable as it addressed many issues of youth
behavior that could present risks, and that the governor also
agreed with the value of the data.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked how the governor wanted to obtain
compliance in order to reach the necessary 60 percent of
participation.
DR. HULBURT agreed that the participation rates were greater
with passive consent; however, he opined that the governor
wanted to strengthen families in the state and preferred the
current method.
9:53:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked to clarify that the data was not
scientifically defensible if there was not 60 percent
participation. He asked if the Division of Public Health used
the data regardless.
DR. HULBURT explained that, in years when they had not achieved
60 percent participation, the data was informative but not
conclusive for statistical significance, and "a handicap to us
in obtaining grants for some of the important programs that we
believe can benefit Alaska's youth." He reported that, in 2011,
participation was almost 63 percent.
9:55:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA offered her belief that it was important
to know what was happening with the school districts.
9:56:22 AM
RYAN KAUFFMAN stated that he was representing himself on his own
time, and that he supported youth and the efforts to reduce
their risk behaviors and increase their success. He reminded
the committee that the survey was completely anonymous and
confidential, and that it was an evaluation tool which allowed
relevant and consistent services for risk behaviors experienced
by Alaskan students. In response to Chair Dick, he pointed out
that addressing high risk behaviors at a younger age was a
benefit to Alaska as it lowered the risk behaviors in the adult
population, thereby reducing fiscal costs and increasing the
quality of life for Alaskan residents. He offered his belief
that there was a fiscal benefit to passage of proposed SB 8, as
the data ensured that the increasing number of prevention
programs were effective. He described that his role with the
Sitka School District for coordinating the YRBS had required an
extraordinary effort to collect the minimum 60 percent by
necessitating active parental consent. He declared that it
required multiple mailings to parents, sending permission forms
home with students, and following up with door to door visits to
homes and work places. He pointed out that the current system
operated to accommodate the 10 percent of parents who actively
opted out of participation. He encouraged support of proposed
SB 8.
10:00:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE expressed his belief that 60 percent
participation seemed high for scientific validation, as a
typical sample was often for much lower participation. He asked
what standard deviation was scientifically valid and what sample
size was necessary.
10:01:28 AM
CHAIR DICK said that public testimony would remain open.
[SB 8 was held over.]
10:02:01 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 242 Supporting Document AASB.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB 242 Supporting Document CDL Leveling the Playing Field.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB 242 Version A.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB242 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB242-EED-ESS-2-17-12.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |