02/22/2001 03:02 PM House HES
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
February 22, 2001
3:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Sharon Cissna
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Reggie Joule
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 41
"An Act repealing the termination date of changes made by ch.
87, SLA 1997 and ch. 132, SLA 1998 regarding child support
enforcement and related programs; repealing the nonseverability
provision of ch. 132, SLA 1998; repealing certain requirements
for applicants for hunting and sport fishing licenses or tags,
and for certain hunting permits, to provide social security
numbers for child support enforcement purposes; and providing
for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 41(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2(HES)
Relating to declaring March 2001 as Sobriety Awareness Month.
- MOVED CSSCR 2(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 101
"An Act relating to charter schools; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 101(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 41
SHORT TITLE:CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT/SOC SEC. #
SPONSOR(S): RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/10/01 0046 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/10/01 0046 (H) HES, JUD, FIN
01/10/01 0047 (H) FN1: ZERO(REV)
01/10/01 0047 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
01/25/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
01/25/01 (H) Heard & Held
01/25/01 (H) MINUTE(HES)
02/15/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
02/15/01 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(HES)
02/20/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
02/20/01 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(HES)
02/22/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SCR 2
SHORT TITLE:SOBRIETY AWARENESS MONTH
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) WARD
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/23/01 0146 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/23/01 0146 (S) HES
01/29/01 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
01/29/01 (S) Heard & Held
01/29/01 (S) MINUTE(HES)
01/31/01 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
01/31/01 (S) Moved CS(HES) Out of
Committee
01/31/01 (S) MINUTE(HES)
02/01/01 0245 (S) HES RPT CS 5DP SAME TITLE
02/01/01 0245 (S) DP: GREEN, WILKEN, LEMAN,
WARD, DAVIS
02/01/01 0245 (S) FN1: ZERO(S.HES)
02/08/01 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP
203
02/08/01 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
02/08/01 0309 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 2/8/01
02/08/01 0312 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
02/08/01 0312 (S) HES CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
02/08/01 0312 (S) COSPONSOR(S): LEMAN, DONLEY,
02/08/01 0312 (S) TAYLOR, WILKEN, ELLIS,
THERRIAULT,
02/08/01 0312 (S) DAVIS, COWDERY, ELTON,
HALFORD, OLSON
02/08/01 0312 (S) PASSED Y17 N- E3 CSSCR 2(HES)
02/08/01 0315 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/09/01 0276 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/09/01 0276 (H) HES
02/22/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 101
SHORT TITLE:CHARTER SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)DYSON
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/02/01 0225 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/02/01 0225 (H) EDU, HES, FIN
02/12/01 0303 (H) EDU REFERRAL WAIVED
02/20/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
02/20/01 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(HES)
02/21/01 0392 (H) COSPONSOR(S): ROKEBERG
02/22/01 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
RANDALL LORENZ, Staff
to Representative Fred Dyson
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 104
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained changes in HB 41, Version F.
BARBARA MIKLOS, Director
Child Safety Enforcement Division
Department of Revenue
550 West 7th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on amendment to HB 41, Version F.
SENATOR JERRY WARD
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 423
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor for SCR 2.
ERNIE TURNER, Director
Division of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
Department of Health & Social Services
P.O. Box 110607
Juneau, Alaska 99524
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SCR 2.
WESLEY KELLER, Staff
to Representative Fred Dyson
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 104
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 101.
DEBBIE OSSIANDER, Legislative Chair
Anchorage School Board
Anchorage School District
4600 DeBarr Road
PO Box 196614
Anchorage, Alaska 99519
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 101.
BILL SYVERSON, Head Teacher
Aurora Borealis Charter School
34640 Kalifornsky Beach Road
Soldotna, Alaska 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 101.
CARL ROSE, Executive Director
Association of Alaska School Boards
316 West 11th Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 101.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-18, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
Members present at the call to order were Representatives Dyson,
Wilson, Coghill, Stevens and Cissna.
HB 41-CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT/SOC SEC. #
CHAIR DYSON announced the committee would again consider HOUSE
BILL NO. 41, "An Act repealing the termination date of changes
made by ch. 87, SLA 1997 and ch. 132, SLA 1998 regarding child
support enforcement and related programs; repealing the
nonseverability provision of ch. 132, SLA 1998; repealing
certain requirements for applicants for hunting and sport
fishing licenses or tags, and for certain hunting permits, to
provide social security numbers for child support enforcement
purposes; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR DYSON noted that the previous hearing had been recessed
with one unresolved issue, but that he and the department [DCED]
are now in agreement. He confirmed that the committee would be
working off of Version F [22-GH1002\F, Lauterbach, 2/16/01],
which rolled SB 19 [CSSB 19(HES), except for the title] into HB
41.
RANDALL LORENZ, Staff to Representative Fred Dyson, Alaska State
Legislature, speaking as the committee aide for the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee,
informed members that the only difference between SB 19 [CSSB
19(HES)] and HB 41 [Version F] is the inclusion of
Representative Coghill's change from five years to two years
[for the sunset date, Section 16 - from 2006 to 2003].
Number 0210
CHAIR DYSON remarked that the letter [dated February 21, 2001]
from Ms. Miklos, Director of Child Safety Enforcement Division
(CSED), includes CSED's proposal to solve the problem when the
noncustodial parent - the obligor - is paying child support via
payroll deductions; if CSED receives the money in the last few
days of the month, the money gets credited to that month instead
of the next month, for which it is intended. Chair Dyson noted
that the director has proposed to change the wording in AS
25.27.103 to say that if [the money] comes in the last five days
of the month and [was made in the course of regular wage
withholding], it would be credited to the next month. Chair
Dyson said he had asked Ms. Miklos, prior to the meeting,
whether she would object to the insertion of "business" between
"five" and "days", so that it would read "five business days";
he requested confirmation from Ms. Miklos that she had no
objection.
Number 0314
BARBARA MIKLOS, Director, Child Safety Enforcement Division,
Department of Revenue, came forth and remarked that Chair Dyson
was correct in his statement, and that she had no objection.
Number 0340
CHAIR DYSON made a motion to adopt a conceptual amendment "here,
in the middle of this page, to [AS] 25.27.103, as written, with
the word 'business' inserted." There being no objection, the
conceptual amendment was adopted.
CHAIR DYSON asked whether there was further discussion about HB
41, as modified to reflect SB 19, Representative Coghill's
amendment regarding the sunset date, and the clarifying language
just added regarding billings that come in on the last five
business days.
Number 0410
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to move Version F [22-
GH1002\F, Lauterbach, 2\16\01], as amended, out of committee
with individual recommendations. He remarked that there had
been discussion about "re-amending that date" but said he would
like it to go through conference committee just for the
committee's information.
CHAIR DYSON noted that Ms. Miklos had nodded. He then asked
whether there was any objection to the motion. There being no
objection, CSHB 41(HES) moved from the House Health, Education
and Social Services Standing Committee.
SCR 2-SOBRIETY AWARENESS MONTH
CHAIR DYSON announced the committee would hear testimony on CS
FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2(HES), Relating to
declaring March 2001 as Sobriety Awareness Month.
Number 0463
SENATOR JERRY WARD, Alaska State Legislature, came forth as a
sponsor for SCR 2. He relayed a conversation he had with people
who are planning the blanket toss at the Special Olympics. He
said they are the real heroes of the sobriety movement. They
have been honored in the community because either they or their
families have been touched by the devastating effects of alcohol
and drugs. They have chosen to lead a life, as an example,
honoring sobriety at every turn, which is not easy in a lot of
communities. This month, March 2001, would honor those people
who chose to honor sobriety in relation to drugs, inhalants, and
alcohol. Senator Ward said, for example, that this gave Mike
Williams the opportunity to carry the sobriety pledge on his way
to the Iditarod, as well as to visit some 137 villages. This
resolution will give opportunities to teachers, educators, and
"providers" to be able to talk about alcoholism. For those who
chose to wear the white ribbon during the month of March, people
will know what it represents. This is a time that is set aside
for Alaskans to say its OK to be sober. And not only is it OK
but it is honored, and those leaders who have chosen this
lifestyle are held in the highest esteem.
Number 0672
SENATOR WARD recalled that a man he had just spoken with had
mentioned the Red Road that is derived from the Athabascan
culture. The Red Road refers to the blood that runs through
everyone, blood that deserves to be free of these devastating
effects [from alcohol and drugs].
Number 0730
ERNIE TURNER, Director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse,
Department of Health & Social Services, came forth in support
SCR 2. He said the department truly supports SCR 2 because it
is important to people, especially those along the Iditarod
Trail, who plan on doing some sobriety celebration. He noted
that there are other communities as well that celebrate March as
Sobriety Awareness Month.
Number 0779
CHAIR DYSON shared that he grew up in an alcoholic home and that
it was not until he was an adult that he realized what that
[environment] produces in the kids. He remarked that giving
attention to the heroes who are fighting the battle and giving
people courage to change and speak up about what's going on is
commendable.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA remarked that Alaska truly does have a
serious alcoholism problem, which has had significant effects on
relationships, lives, and the quality of life. A person can't
live in this state very long without having alcohol affect his
or her life. Until sobriety is something that everyone feels
very strongly about and upholds as a standard to try to help
other people not to abuse alcohol, sobriety, at least in the
public sense, would be something to celebrate.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL commented that there is a real battle
that has to be won here, and it has to be done in a very
positive way. Quite often, people refuse to look at what the
real enemy is.
Number 0956
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to move CSSCR 2(HES) out of
committee. There being no objection, CSSCR 2(HES) moved from
the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee.
HB 101-CHARTER SCHOOLS
CHAIR DYSON announced the committee would hear testimony on
HOUSE BILL NO. 101, "An Act relating to charter schools; and
providing for an effective date."
Number 1020
WESLEY KELLER, Staff to Representative Fred Dyson, Alaska State
Legislature, came forth to address proposed committee substitute
(CS), version 22-LS0254\O, Ford, 2/22/01. He stated that Alaska
is in its fourth year of charter schools. In 1995 the charter
school Act was passed, and in the fall of '97 schools began to
put in applications. Since 1997, 19 schools have opened and two
have closed. There are currently 17 operating, with a student
population of 1,271 this past fall. According to a recent
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory federally funded study
of Alaskan charter schools, dated 4/14/2000, most charter
schools have a very high level of parental participation; half
of the schools require it. There is an overall average pupil-
to-teacher ratio of 17-to-1, which is approximately the same as
the state average. Many of the schools utilize classroom aids
and parents in the classroom, which brings the student-adult
ratio down to about 9-to-1.
MR. KELLER stated that 11 schools have acquired permanent
facilities, and 5 are in temporary buildings, which include
schools, community centers, portables, spaces in shopping malls,
and buildings on military bases. Several school districts do
not provide anything by way of facilities. He continued,
stating that charter schools employ 87 full-time and 178 part-
time teachers, with an average of seven years' experience. Nine
of the sixteen schools that reported have a special education
teacher on staff. He stated that the estimated cost per student
ranges between $3,813 and $7,736, with an average of about
$5,236. He added that the statewide average is about $7,500.
Number 1150
MR. KELLER stated that there is a group called the Center for
Education Reform that has evaluated all the charter school laws
in the United States. Alaska is rated 26th of the 39 laws.
Other states have done things for charter schools that Alaska
has not, including: multiple chartering authorities;
legal/operational autonomy; guaranteed full funding, where the
money just follows the student to wherever the student chooses
to go; exemption from collective bargaining agreements, fiscal
autonomy, where Alaska is rated 1 out 5; and automatic waivers
from school and district regulations.
Number 1210
MR. KELLER remarked that HB 101 is just a small step and does
none of these things. He reviewed the sections for the
committee in order to clarify what the bill does. He said that
Section 1 doubles the allowable number of charter schools in
Alaska, from 30 to 60.
Number 1240
CHAIR DYSON added that Section 1 also eliminates geographical
distribution.
MR. KELLER continued, stating that Section 2 specifies that
charter schools be subject to the benchmark and qualifying exam,
like all public schools. Section 3 deals with a section of law
that explains what must be in the contract. He added that these
changes are mostly grammatical; one change just conforms to the
change made in Section 5. Section 4 adds a new section of law
that allows for a one-time charter school grant, in the amount
of $500 per student, to be used in the year that the school
applies.
CHAIR DYSON stated that the original Alaska charter school laws
were set up as a pilot [program] because there was federal money
available to get the schools going. He asked whether that
[federal money] would be going away.
ME. KELLER answered that [the money] is dribbling away.
CHAIR DYSON asked if the $500 mentioned is really significant in
helping the charter schools get going.
Number 1324
MR. KELLER replied that the state board recommended, several
years ago, that startup money for the charter schools be
available, and this complies with that. He continued describing
the bill, stating that Section 5 changes the allowable charter
school contract length from a maximum of five years to a maximum
of ten years. This is a significant change because some
landlords have been hesitant for charter schools to make changes
if they only have a five-year commitment. He stated that this
ties in with Section 7, which gets rid of the sunset date for
the charter schools. Section 6 specifies that a charter school
would need at least 150 students to be counted as a separate
school for the purposes of the foundation formula calculations.
He noted that existing law states that alternative schools need
at least 200 students. He added that a lot of the charter
schools, even though they are small, receive the same funding as
that for students who attend the largest schools in the
district.
Number 1430
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked whether any of the 17 charter
schools are approaching this 150 figure.
MR. KELLER replied that, from memory, about 25 percent are, and
maybe five or six are at the 100/125 range. He remarked that
this is a matter of interest to the charter schools because they
would like that number as low as possible.
Number 1640
DEBBIE OSSIANDER, Legislative Chair, Anchorage School Board,
Anchorage School District, testified via teleconference. She
said that charter schools are a wonderful experiment; they are
proving to have a real value for education across the state.
They offer an innovative way to try different types of
curriculum and instruction. She said that [charter schools]
offer more choices to families, who can basically design their
schools with the district's cooperation. However, they have
faced major challenges, particularly with the startup costs.
She remarked that the Anchorage School Board is very supportive
of this bill and committee substitute. She added that they are
especially pleased that expensive administrative reporting
requirements are being avoided, and that the startup funds will
be available as new dollars, instead of coming from existing
schools' programs.
Number 1684
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked if Ms. Ossiander would comment on
how the charter school [students] did on the exit exam testing.
MS. OSSIANDER replied that she didn't have the specific
information with her, but, in general, the charter schools
performed very well. She added that there is one family-
partnership charter school that is consistently above the
district average in terms of test scores.
Number 1723
BILL SYVERSON, Head Teacher, Aurora Borealis Charter School,
testified via teleconference. He said that Aurora Borealis
Charter School has a student population of 100, is expanding to
120 for next year, and in four years will be up to 200. He read
a letter that was submitted to Chair Dyson from the board
chairman:
This letter is in support of HB 101 regarding charter
schools. The academic policy committee at Aurora
Borealis Charter School is in support of the
provisions of HB 101. We particularly urge passage of
the provisions in the bill to eliminate the sunset
clause, and to extend the term of contract to ten
years.
MR. SYVERSON continued to read:
Aurora Borealis Charter School is providing a valuable
alternative to regular public school. Our enrollment
has increased annually, our students have received
benchmark test results that are among the highest in
the district, and parents are happy with our school.
We have a waiting list of 200 students, which is twice
our current enrollment. Removing the sunset date and
extending the contract term will be advantageous to
all charter schools, especially in retracting and
retaining qualified teachers. Longer contract terms
will help charter schools that were having
difficulties securing facilities. Additional funding
to charter schools would be advantageous, especially
since the current law does not give specific direction
to school districts on how to fund charter schools.
MR. SYVERSON concluded reading:
We are also very much in favor of the provision which
establish alternative schools as separate schools for
funding purposes. Kenai Peninsula Borough School
District apparently has been penalized with lower
funding because our enrollment is added to the larger
school district. This inequity in the funding formula
needs to be corrected.
Number 1823
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked how the students at the Aurora
Borealis Charter School did on the exit exam.
MR. SYVERSEN said they did very well and that the school's
[scores] are among the highest in the district. Test scores
have continually risen each year. He stated that every grade is
tested with the CAT 5 each year, so there has been an excellent
track record since year one.
CHAIR DYSON stated: "We sometimes hear the criticism that
charter schools sweep the cream of the students out of the
district, and have the best and most active parents." He asked
if that was true at Aurora Borealis Charter School.
MR. SYVERSEN replied that they do generally have supportive
parents. He added that, by law, every student that comes
through the door is accepted. He said the tracking has proved
that there are students who have improved dramatically with
their test scores. One contracted administrator, with 30 years
of district experience, has stated that several kids who would
probably qualify for special education are doing quite well.
CHAIR DYSON asked Mr. Syversen if there were any kids who had
been expelled from other schools in the school system
Number 1895
MR. SYVERSEN answered that there haven't been any students who
have been expelled, but there have been some who have gone from
school to school in the first year or two. He stated that two
or three had left the school because things were not working out
well for them; however, that is the case with the other schools
as well.
CHAIR DYSON asked if there were any foster or adopted kids at
the Aurora Borealis Charter School.
MR. SYVERSEN replied that he is not sure about foster kids but
said there are some adopted kids.
Number 1950
CARL ROSE, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), came forth and stated the AASB's concern is to
maintain authority to govern charter schools with local control.
Another concern, which has been addressed in HB 101, is the
startup cost. He added that these schools were struggling in
their early years without assistance from a district pot of
money. He stated that there had also been some concerns with
the earlier [bill] version's language, counting alternative
schools as charter schools, but that has been clarified. He
added that he thinks it is appropriate that the number of
students has been increased to 150.
MR. ROSE remarked that the AASB looks at this bill very
favorably. He expressed that as the charter school date is
removed, there's a sense of permanency. He concluded that one
worry would be how to provide oversight in terms of the progress
of the charter school effort throughout the state.
Number 2034
CHAIR DYSON called an at-ease at 3:39 p.m. The meeting was
called back to order at 3:40 p.m.
Number 2045
CHAIR DYSON stated that the following was omitted from an
earlier version:
A charter school may be operated in an existing school
district facility or in a facility within the school
district that is not currently being used as a public
school, if the chief school administrator determines
the facility meets requirements for health and safety
applicable to public buildings or other public schools
in the district.
CHAIR DYSON explained that this allows the charter schools to
operate in a facility that meets public facility safety
standards but not necessarily public school standards. It can
only do so if school administrators, in conjunction with the
local building safety experts, determine that the building is
safe for kids. It allows the school to operate in a church or
any other public building that's acceptable for public
occupancy.
Number 2141
CHAIR DYSON made a motion to adopt a conceptual amendment to the
proposed CS for HB 101, version 22-LS0245\O, Ford, 2/22/01, that
will add new Section 7, taken from Section 3 of the 1-LS0598\T.a
version [SCS CSHB 191(FIN), from 2000], to state as follows:
A charter school may be operated in an existing school
district facility or in a facility within the school
district that is not currently being used as a public
school, if the chief school administrator determines
the facility meets requirements for health and safety
applicable to public buildings or other public schools
in the district.
CHAIR DYSON clarified that existing Sections 7 and 8 will be
renumbered consecutively. There being no objection, the
conceptual amendment was adopted.
Number 2252
Representative Wilson asked why the number is changed from 30 to
60 [allowable number of charter schools] when there are only,
presently, 17 schools.
MR. KELLER replied that he assumes it will be more attractive
for charter schools to open because of the startup money.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked what the reason would be for people
to pull out of a public school and start a charter school.
CHAIR DYSON responded that charter schools are public schools;
they are just an alternative that allows people to rally around
particular ideas.
Number 2314
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked how the funding process works.
CHAIR DYSON replied that all the funding comes from the local
school districts, which distribute the funds according to their
own understanding, rules, policies and accounting, as they do
for all schools in the district.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if teachers would have to transfer
to the charter schools from the public schools.
TAPE 01-18, SIDE B
CHAIR DYSON answered that the charter schools are free to hire
their own teachers, as long as those teachers sign the contract
that the district has.
Number 2319
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if there is enough funding in the
district to do this.
CHAIR DYSON answered that most school districts are allowing
several kinds of alternative schools to operate within the
district, and the charter school is just another kind of
alternative school. He stated that he doesn't think it is fair
to think of these students as being taken away from other
schools. He added that many charter schools have a significant
amount of students who were being home-schooled; therefore, they
should be considered additions to the public school system.
Number 2266
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if any of these charter schools have
special education students that require extra help.
CHAIR DYSON replied yes, and the districts will use the same
resources used to serve the special education kids in the rest
of the district.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked, if this bill passes, what the rules
and regulations are for a charter school to get started.
MR. KELLER answered that each charter school has an academic
policy committee that goes to the school board with a proposal.
The school board considers the request and gives a "yea" or a
"nay" based on that plan.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she is wondering how easy this would
be for school systems. She asked if there would be
ramifications across the state if school systems, all at once,
started charter schools because they could get $500 extra a
student.
Number 2176
CHAIR DYSON stated that there has been a struggle, when making
these alternatives available, not to build an incentive for
existing schools to divide in half. The foundation formula, as
it presently exists, mitigates against this because a school
loses funding if it starts another small school. A charter
school can only start if the local district and local school
board approve it.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA remarked that from knowing many people
involved in the charter school program, she feels that [charter
schools] really afford a unique opportunity for parents with
like views, in terms of the kind of education they would like
for their kids, to be able to put in a lot of effort and create
something special. She added that it is really tough to get a
group of people together and raise the funds needed, because
[the school] has to adhere to the public school regulations.
Number 2070
CHAIR DYSON noted that there are more students involved in the
public school system as a result of charter schools, because
they offer the environment that their parents wanted.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked whether charter schools get extra
funding.
CHAIR DYSON answered no, that there has been help available
through some federal money, but that is going away. He stated
that several of the districts have been good at working with the
charter schools to make sure that funding available to the other
public schools in the area is also available to the charter
schools.
Number 1993
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to move the CS for HB 101,
version 22-LS0245\O, Ford, 2/22/01, as amended from committee
with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CSHB 101(HES) moved out of the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
Number 1971
CHAIR DYSON called an at-ease at 4:00 p.m. in order to hear the
Child Advocacy's overview. [The minutes for the Child
Advocacy's overview are in the 4:04 p.m. cover sheet for the
same date.]
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