Legislature(2025 - 2026)DAVIS 106
04/23/2025 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB90 | |
| HB174 | |
| Presentation(s): "mount Edgecumbe High School: History and Current Overview" | |
| HB183 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 90 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 183 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 23, 2025
8:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Rebecca Himschoot, Co-Chair
Representative Andi Story, Co-Chair
Representative Maxine Dibert
Representative Ted Eischeid
Representative Jubilee Underwood
Representative Rebecca Schwanke
Representative Bill Elam
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 90
"An Act establishing a financial literacy education program for
public schools; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 90 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 174
"An Act relating to the regional educational attendance area and
small municipal school district fund; relating to Mt. Edgecumbe
High School; and relating to teacher housing."
- HEARD & HELD
PRESENTATION(S): "MOUNT EDGECUMBE HIGH SCHOOL: HISTORY AND
CURRENT OVERVIEW"
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 183
"An Act relating to district-wide early education programs; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 90
SHORT TITLE: FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) EISCHEID
02/10/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/10/25 (H) EDC, FIN
04/04/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/04/25 (H) Heard & Held
04/04/25 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/07/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/07/25 (H) Heard & Held
04/07/25 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/16/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/16/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/23/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 174
SHORT TITLE: REAA FUND: MT. EDGECUMBE, TEACHER HOUSING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) BURKE
04/07/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/07/25 (H) EDC, FIN
04/16/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/16/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/23/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
BILL: HB 183
SHORT TITLE: EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STORY
04/11/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/11/25 (H) EDC, FIN
04/23/25 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE TED EISCHEID
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, offered closing comments
on HB 90.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBYN NIAYUQ BURKE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 174 to the
committee.
CALVIN ZULOW, Staff
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Robyn Niayuq
Burke, prime sponsor, presented HB 174 to the committee.
HEATHER HEINEKEN, Director, Division of Finance
Department of Education & Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Robyn Niayuq
Burke, prime sponsor, presented the fiscal note for HB 174.
SUZZUK MARY HUNGTINGTON, Director
Mount Edgecumbe High School
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a presentation titled "Mount Edgecumbe
High School: History and Current Overview"
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 183 to the
committee.
TAMMY SMITH, Staff
Representative Andi Story
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Andi Story,
prime sponsor, presented HB 183 to the committee.
HEATHER HEINEKEN, Director
Division of Finance
Department of Education & Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Story, prime
sponsor, presented the fiscal note for HB 183.
DR. CHRISTINA WEILAND, Professor
Marsal Family School of Education
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Andi Story,
prime sponsor, gave a PowerPoint presentation on HB 183.
JORDAN BERNE, P.HD Candidate
University of Michigan
Ann, Arbor, Michigan
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Andi Story,
prime sponsor, gave a PowerPoint presentation on HB 183.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:05:53 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. Representatives Eischeid,
Underwood, Himschoot, Schwanke, Elam, Dibert, and Story were
present at the call to order.
HB 90-FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS
8:07:35 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 90, "An Act establishing a financial literacy
education program for public schools; and providing for an
effective date."
8:07:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TED EISCHEID, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, offered closing comments on HB 90. He said that the
proposed legislation would create a good opportunity to begin
conversations concerning financial wellbeing and thanked the
committee for hearing HB 90.
8:09:00 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY shared her concern that HB 90 might impose an
unrealistic graduation requirement on school districts in
Alaska.
8:09:35 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT moved to report HB 90, 34-LS0460\A, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 90 was reported from
the House Education Standing Committee.
8:10:14 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:10 a.m. to 8:12 a.m.
HB 174-REAA FUND: MT. EDGECUMBE, TEACHER HOUSING
8:13:06 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 174, "An Act relating to the regional
educational attendance area and small municipal school district
fund; relating to Mt. Edgecumbe High School; and relating to
teacher housing."
8:13:36 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:13 a.m. to 8:14 a.m.
8:14:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROBYN NIAYUQ BURKE, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, presented HB 174 to the committee. She began a
brief PowerPoint presentation [included in the committee packet]
on slide 2, which detailed the policy goals of HB 174 and moved
to slide 3, which explained the necessity of the proposed
legislation. She concluded the presentation on slide 4, where
her staff Calvin Zulow read the sectional analysis for HB 174.
8:18:03 AM
CALVIN ZULOW, Staff, Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Robyn Niayuq
Burke, prime sponsor, presented HB 174 to the committee. He
read the sectional analysis for HB 174 [included in the
committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Sec. 1: Amends language in AS 14.11.025(a) that
authorizes the Department of Education and Early
Development to make grants from the REAA fund to
REAA districts and small municipal school districts.
Adds Mt. Edgecumbe to the eligibility list for
school construction and major maintenance grants.
Adds eligibility for major maintenance projects
for teacher housing in eligible areas that is
owned by the district or by the state
Sec. 2: Amends language in AS 14.11.030(a) that adds
Mt. Edgecumbe High School and major maintenance for
teacher housing to the description of the purpose of
the REAA fund.
Sec. 3: Deletes language in AS 14.11.030(b) that the
unobligated and unexpended cash balance of the fund
may not exceed $70,000,000.
8:19:24 AM
HEATHER HEINEKEN, Director, Division of Finance, Department of
Education & Early Development, on behalf of Representative Robyn
Niayuq Burke, prime sponsor, presented the fiscal note for HB
174. She explained that the proposed legislation would create 2
positions in the facilities section of the division of finance
support services within DEED, one being a school finance support
specialist and the other being a building management specialist.
8:21:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE asked what the proposed school finance
position's duties would entail.
MS. HEINEKEN answered that the Department of Education & Early
Development (DEED)'s Division of Finance Support Services does
not currently have the necessary workers that the proposed
legislation would require and explained that the proposed
positions within the DEED would be specialized for the needs of
HB 174.
8:24:131 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked Ms. Heineken how many school districts
in Alaska are equipped with teacher housing and asked if it
would make more sense to "draw from the expertise of other state
departments" to fill the role of the proposed school finance
position. She asked how teacher housing is funded in built and
asked if any of the proposed policies in HB 174 would cover
major maintenance needs at Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS).
MS. HEINEKEN replied that the DEED does not keep track of
teacher housing offered by school districts and said that it
would be "a lot to ask of another department" to address teacher
housing issues. She said that the Alaska Housing Finance
Corporation (AHFC) does offer grants for teacher housing to
school districts, but local communities are often responsible
for the funding that might build teacher housing in a Regional
Education Attendance Area (REAA).
REPRESENTATIVE BURKE added her understanding that the major
maintenance needs of MEHS are minimal and said that one person
is generally responsible for all
8:30:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM asked how MEHS differs from other REAA
schools in Alaska.
MS. HEINEKEN answered that MEHS is considered a state facility,
wherein all of its deferred maintenance is handled through the
state rather than the local school district.
8:34:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE asked about the history of the 70
million dollar fund cap for REA school districts in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE BURKE said that her office would follow-up with
information later.
8:38:15 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY opened public testimony on HB 174. After
ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, she
closed public testimony on HB 174.
[HB 174 was held over].
^PRESENTATION(S): "Mount Edgecumbe High School: History and
Current Overview"
PRESENTATION(S): "Mount Edgecumbe High School: History and
Current Overview"
8:38:55 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the next order of business would
be a presentation titled "Mount Edgecumbe High School: History
and Current Overview"
8:39:35 AM
SUZZUK MARY HUNGTINGTON, Director, Mount Edgecumbe High School,
gave a presentation titled "Mount Edgecumbe High School: History
and Current Overview" She began on slide 2, which highlighted
the Mission, Vision, and Purpose of MEHS and moved to slide 3,
which described how MEHS is meeting the five strategic
priorities of the DEED. She moved to slide 4, which displayed
an organizational chart of the staff at MEHS and continued
through slides 5-6, which listed historical data and statistics
associated with MEHS. She moved to slide 7, which detailed the
capacity of the dormitory halls at MEHS and continued to slide
8, which listed a series of "fun facts" about MEHS. She moved
to slide 9, which described the student composition of the MEHS
attendees for the 2024-2025 school year and continued to slide
10, which detailed the MEHS admissions process. She moved to
slide 11, which listed a series of academic highlights for MEHS
and continued to slide 12, which highlighted the various
industry certifications and career & technical education (CTE)
classes that are offered at MEHS.
9:09:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID asked for the "financial algebra" class
offered by MEHS.
MS. HUNGTINGTON said that she knows that MEHS students
appreciate the financial literacy classes offered at the
institution.
9:11:33 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY asked if the financial algebra class is a
graduation requirement at MEHS.
MS. HUNGTINGTON answered that not all students are enrolled in
financial literacy classes offered at MEHS.
9:12:32 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked how many students enrolled at MEHS are
from Sitka.
MS. HUNGTINGTON answered that there are currently 17 students
from Sitka attending MEHS.
9:14:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM asked how MEHS goes about priority and
decision-making within its admission process.
MS. HUNGTINGTON explained that the MEHS admission process is
outlined in Alaska Statute.
9:17:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE asked what the total expenditure per
student is at MEHS.
MS. HUNGTINGTON explained that MEHS is working with DEED to
provide a solid answer and said that she would follow-up with an
answer later
[CO-CHAIR STORY handed the gavel to Co-Chair Himschoot.]
HB 183-EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
9:19:10 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 183 "An Act relating to district-wide early
education programs; and providing for an effective date."
9:19:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 183 to the committee. She read from the
sponsor statement for HB 183 [included in the committee packet],
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Student learning is highly valued and desired in
Alaska. One key-way to gain strategic momentum is by
investing in voluntary, early learning pre-k programs
for our four and five year old children. Pre-k
programs improve children's language, literacy, social
and emotional skills, math, and executive functioning
at kindergarten entry. Coming to school kindergarten-
ready allows children to thrive in their learning
environments and eliminates the costly expense of
remediation efforts in education.
According to the Department of Education and Early
Development, the 2024 statewide Alaska Developmental
Profile (ADP), for preschoolers, approximates only 31
percent of our children in Alaska come ready for
kindergarten. This is one of the lowest in the nation.
However, our state has had proven success in helping
prepare our children for kindergarten. Data from the
Department of Education and Early Development in doing
evaluations on our state sponsored pre-schools, found
that children in preschool entered more prepared for
kindergarten than their peers who did not attend
preschool. Other Alaska school districts with
preschool programs also report seeing this success.
The Alaska Reads Act, passed in 2021, set out to build
on this momentum and increase the ability of more
districts to offer voluntary pre-k programs. However,
the goal has fallen short. Currently, only three
school district's pre-k programs are approved for
annual funding through the Foundation Formula. House
Bill 183 seeks to remove limits on the number of pre-k
children and district pre-k programs that can be
funded in a year. Currently it caps the spending for
state funded pre-school at 3 million a year. This bill
also seeks to change the calculation of the Average
Daily Membership (ADM) to count pre-k children as
full-time rather than one-half time. This will allow
more districts to afford to implement and expand pre-k
programs. Importantly it gives families who want
access to a quality pre-school programs for their
children this opportunity. Research shows that
positive learning effects are even greater for
children from low-income families who attend pre-k
programs. Reports show many families want access but
are not able to find affordable, quality preschool
programs.
The Alaska Reads Act requires high quality early
learning standards, early educator training, and
evaluations to be in place for approval to receive
state funding for pre-k programs. It is critical to
have quality early childhood programs to get higher
learning results. Our children are the most precious
resource we have. Investing in their early learning
sets Alaska up for future success.
9:24:23 AM
TAMMY SMITH, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Andi Story, prime
sponsor, presented HB 183 to the committee. She read from the
sectional analysis for HB 183 [included in the committee
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1.
Amends AS 14.17.500 by allowing enrolled pre-
kindergarten students to count as full-time students
in the Average Daily Membership rather than one-half.
Section 2.
Repeals statutes repealing the Alaska Reads Act
district approved pre-kindergarten program sunset
clauses under Section 47 Chapter 40 SLA 2022. The
statute repeals the current pre-kindergarten funding
system in 2034. Section 2 removes these repeals
protecting pre-kindergarten funding in perpetuity.
Section 3.
Repeals a subsection of AS 14.17.500 limiting state
funding for district approved prekindergarten
programs. Section 3 repeals the limits on pre-
kindergarten foundation formula funding that caps the
annual funds at $3 million.
Section 4.
Establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025.
9:26:04 AM
HEATHER HEINEKEN, Director, Division of Finance, Department of
Education & Early Development, on behalf of Representative
Story, prime sponsor, presented the fiscal note for HB 183. She
explained that the first fiscal note outlined how the proposed
legislation would change funding for DEED-approved district-wide
early education programs operated by the local school district
and said that the other zero fiscal note concerned the
foundations program.
9:29:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE asked for clarification on the numbers
listed on the fiscal note for HB 183.
MS. HEINEKEN explained that the amount of money written in the
first fiscal note was meant to reflect the current financial
need of HB 174.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY added her understanding that school
districts would first have to meet the requirements of the
Alaska READS act of 2021 in order to qualify for the funding
proposed by HB 183.
9:32:29 AM
DR. CHRISTINA WEILAND, Professor, Marsal Family School of
Education, University of Michigan, on behalf of Representative
Andi Story, prime sponsor, gave a PowerPoint presentation on HB
183. She began the PowerPoint presentation on HB 183 [hardcopy
included in the committee packet] on slide 2, which displayed a
bar graph that compared the percentage of pre-kindergarten (pre-
k) students that have low proficiency in math and literacy and
moved to slide 3, which displayed a series of graphs that
compared the disparity in pre-k proficiency among children of
lower socio-economic status.
9:35:56 AM
JORDAN BERNE, P.HD Candidate, University of Michigan, on behalf
of Representative Andi Story, prime sponsor, gave a PowerPoint
presentation on HB 183. He picked up the presentation on slide
4, which emphasized the outsized impact that a pre-k education
has on a child's preparedness for kindergarten and moved to
slide 5, which highlighted the long-term positive impact of a
child's pre-k education. He continued to slide 6, which
detailed a series of less-examined outcomes of a pre-k education
and moved to slide 7, which highlighted evidence of the positive
impacts of a pre-k education on a person's adulthood.
9:42:09 AM
DR. WEILAND resumed the presentation on slide 8, which displayed
a bar graph that compared the various measures of qualities of
pre-k programs around the United States and moved to slide 9,
which listed a series of academic sources regarding the quality
of a pre-k curriculum. She continued to slide 10, which
displayed a bar graph that highlighted certain "active
ingredients" that contribute to positive outcomes within a
state-funded pre-k program and moved to slide 11, which
emphasized the policy needs of a mixed-delivery pre-k program.
She continued to slide 12, which highlighted investments that
are currently being made into pre-k research and concluded the
presentation on slide 13, which detailed two academic documents
relating to pre-k education published by the University of
Michigan.
9:48:33 AM
CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT opened public testimony on HB 183. After
ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, she
closed public testimony on HB 183.
[HB 183 was held over].
9:49:32 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:49 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 90 Sponsor Statement 3.20.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/4/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 90 |
| HB 90 Bill v.A.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 90 Sectional Analysis 3.20.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/4/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 90 |
| HB 90 Fiscal Note v.A.pdf |
HEDC 4/4/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 90 |
| HB 90 Presentation HEDC 4.4.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/4/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 90 |
| HB 90_Letters of Support to 4.9.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 90 |
| HB 90 Letter of Support Alaska Chamber 4.7.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/16/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 90 |
| HB 174 Bill A.pdf |
HEDC 4/16/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 174 |
| HB 174 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 4/16/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 174 |
| HB 174 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 4/16/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 174 |
| HB 174 Fiscal Note OMB #2737.pdf |
HEDC 4/16/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 174 |
| HB 174 H EDC presentation 4.22.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 174 |
| Presentation MEHS Overview 04.23.25.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 183 A.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 FN 4.21.25 Foundation Progm #141.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 FN 4.21.25 Pub Ed Fund #2804.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 Sponsor Statement Version A..pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 Article. InBrief-Science-of-Early-Childhood-Dev, Harvard 3.17.2007.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 Article: Child Care & Early Learning AK First 5 Years Fund 2024 Factsheet.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183 Invited Testimony, Evidence of Pre-K Impacts Weiland-Berne, Univ Michigan.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/28/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183-050525-EED-N #141.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 183-050525-EED-Y #2804.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 183 |
| HB 174 (H)Edu DEED Follow to Q's 04.23.2025.pdf |
HEDC 4/23/2025 8:00:00 AM |
HB 174 |