01/30/2007 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB55 | |
| HB18 | |
| Overview: Mentoring Project for Teachers and Principals - Department of Education and Early Development | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | HB 18 | ||
| *+ | HB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 30, 2007
3:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bob Roses, Vice Chair
Representative Mark Neuman
Representative Sharon Cissna
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 55
"An Act relating to postsecondary educational services and
programs for Alaska residents."
- HEARD AND HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 18
"An Act amending the functions and powers of the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education; and relating to the
repayment provisions for medical education and postsecondary
degree program participants."
- MOVED CSHB 18(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
OVERVIEW: MENTORING PROJECT FOR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS -
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 55
SHORT TITLE: WWAMI MEDICAL SCHOOL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KELLY
01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07
01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/07 (H) HES, FIN
01/30/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 18
SHORT TITLE: POSTSECONDARY MEDICAL & OTHER EDUC. PROG.
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MEYER
01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07
01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/07 (H) HES, FIN
01/30/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE KELLY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HB 55.
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HB 18.
MIKE PAWLOWSKI, Staff
to Representative Kevin Meyer
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained CSHB 18, Version M.
DENNIS VALENZENO, Ph.D., Director
Alaska WWAMI Biomedical Program
University of Alaska - Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing of HB 18, discussed the
WWAMI program.
ROD BETIT, President
Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Urged passage of HB 18.
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator
AARP Capital City Task Force
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
SUZANNE TRYCK, Director
Regional Programs
University of Washington School of Medicine
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Urged passage of HB 18 today.
JOEL GILBERTSON, Regional Director
Providence Health System Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Urged passage of HB 18.
KAREN PERDUE, Associate Vice President
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
MIKE FORD
Alaska Native Health Board
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Urged passage of HB 18.
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During discussion of HB 18 answered
questions.
TIM KELLY, Lobbyist
for the Alaska State Medical Association
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
BARBARA THOMPSON, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of the Alaska
Statewide Mentor Project.
MO MCBRIDE
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Expressed concerns with the Alaska
Statewide Mentor Project.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:03:09 PM.
Representatives Fairclough, Seaton, and Gardner were present at
the call to order.
HB 55-WWAMI MEDICAL SCHOOL
3:05:25 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 55 "An Act relating to postsecondary educational
services and programs for Alaska residents."
3:05:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE KELLY, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of
HB 55, emphasized that there is a physician crisis in Alaska.
The Alaska Physician Supply Task Force report indicates that the
national physician to patient ratio is 2.4:1,000 while Alaska's
ratio is approximately 2:1,000. The aforementioned report also
indicates that Alaska is short about 375 physicians. He
highlighted that in response to the nursing shortage, the
university doubled its output of nurses. Since Alaska doesn't
have a medical center, in order to increase the output of
physicians the best approach is to increase the output with the
Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) program.
The WWAMI program, he explained, allows Alaska to utilize its
undergraduate programs in Alaska and allow completion of the
[medical] degree in one of the aforementioned states. This
legislation, he further explained, would increase the amount of
students [allowed in the WWAMI program] from 10 to a minimum of
20. Representative Kelly related that in the most recent year
there were 78 applicants to the WWAMI program.
[HB 55 was held over.]
HB 18-POSTSECONDARY MEDICAL & OTHER EDUC. PROG.
[Contains discussion of HB 55.]
3:09:38 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 18 "An Act amending the functions and powers of
the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education; and relating
to the repayment provisions for medical education and
postsecondary degree program participants."
3:09:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt CSHB 18, Version 25-
LS0131\M, Mischel, 1/30/07. There being no objection, Version M
was before the committee.
3:10:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor
of HB 18, explained that the number of students allowed to
attend the WWAMI program hasn't been changed since 1971.
However, the state's population and medical needs have increased
significantly since that time. He explained that currently
those attending the WWAMI program pay the in-state tuition at
the University of [Washington] and the state pays for the out-
of-state portion of the charges. This legislation, HB 18,
proposes forgiving up to 20 percent each year the student
[practices] in Alaska. In other words, if a student returns to
Alaska for five years, the state will forgive the entire out-of-
state portion. The thought is that [after five years], the
physician would be established with a clientele that would keep
that physician in Alaska. Representative Meyer opined that the
WWAMI program has been very successful. In fact, one study
shows that almost 80 percent of the students who utilize the
WWAMI program return to Alaska as physicians. He then
highlighted that the proposal in HB 18 will allow the residency
program to occur outside of Alaska. This program is important
and the cost incurred to utilize it is well worth it, he opined.
3:13:28 PM
MIKE PAWLOWSKI, Staff to Representative Kevin Meyer, Alaska
State Legislature, began by stating that the changes encompassed
in Version M are meant to bring HB 18 and HB 55 together. He
then paraphrased from a written statement, which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Section 1: Replaced section one of HB 18 with section
1 of HB 55 and inserted clarifying language on line 9
that specifies the program should admit at least 20
participants each year.
Section 2: Replaced one-third on page 2 line 7 with
50 percent (new page 2 line 6) to bring the base
obligation a program participant accrues in line with
existing statute.
Replaced "student" with "program participant"
throughout section 2 to better reflect the status of
person under the WWAMI program since a person serving
their residency is still under the program but not
technically a student.
3:15:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON drew attention to Section 1 of Version M
and asked if there are limitations on the WWAMI slots available.
In other words, are there 20 slots in WWAMI per year for Alaskan
students, he asked.
MR. PAWLOWSKI deferred to upcoming witnesses who will testify as
to the number of slots available and the overall implementation
of the WWAMI program.
3:16:10 PM
MR. PAWLOWSKI, in response to Representative Gardner, explained
that under Version M, interest doesn't accrue during the
residency program outside of the state. Version M, with the 50
percent, attempts to bring in line the state subsidy and the
difference between resident and nonresident tuition. The state
subsidy per WWAMI student is in and around $50,000 a year. The
difference between resident and nonresident tuition is about
$25,000 per year. "In the current program there was always an
implicit subsidy in there and I think the rationale behind that
is if you consider whether or not tuition ever covers the cost
of educating a student, and it doesn't. There's a GF [general
fund] in the University of Alaska system ... increment that will
pay for the corresponding state responsibility for that
student," he explained. Since WWAMI is Alaska's medical school,
the remainder of the obligation is the state's part of paying
for that student. Therefore, the difference is in terms of
repayment.
3:18:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked if those students who don't return
to Alaska currently are responsible for the full $50,000 a year
or only half of it.
MR. PAWLOWSKI specified that it works out to about half under
the current program and the proposed program.
3:18:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH highlighted that one of the goals is
retention of physicians. She then inquired as to whether there
is a chart illustrating the retention level of physicians who
utilize WWAMI, stay in the Alaska, and practice in Alaska.
MR. PAWLOWSKI related that the report should include such a
chart. He offered to locate the chart for Representative
Fairclough.
3:19:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH, referring to the report from the
Alaska Physician Supply Task Force, echoed the earlier mentioned
difference between the ratio of physicians to population in
Alaska versus the national average. However, the report
indicates that Alaska is above the national average in regard to
the proportion of nurse practitioners and physician assistants
per population. Therefore, she inquired as to the ratio of
nurse practitioners and physician assistants per 1,000 in
population in Alaska.
MR. PAWLOWSKI said he wasn't sure, but suggested that others may
be able to respond.
3:21:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH, referring to the issue of retention,
asked if there has been consideration given to shortening the
repayment fee by moving from a 20 percent over five years to 25
percent over four years.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER said that he hasn't had any such
discussion. He reiterated his belief that the longer a
physician is in the state and has his/her business established,
the more likely that physician will remain in Alaska.
Therefore, it probably doesn't matter much whether the repayment
occurs over the course of four or five years.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH noted her appreciation to the sponsors
for being proactive with regard to health care in Alaska, in
which the fastest growing population is over age 65. The
aforementioned is also impacting medical providers in the state.
Representative Fairclough then stated her support of the concept
of this legislation.
3:22:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the language referring to
residing in Alaska means that the individual is eligible for a
permanent fund dividend (PFD). He further asked if an
individual attending school outside of Alaska who has an excused
absence for four years would be eligible for this program.
MR. PAWLOWSKI deferred to Ms. Barrans.
3:24:36 PM
DENNIS VALENZENO, Ph.D., Director, Alaska WWAMI Biomedical
Program, University of Alaska - Anchorage (UAA), informed the
committee that he is responsible for the first year program that
is given at the University of Alaska to the 10 Alaskans accepted
into the WWAMI program, the pathway programs leading into
medical education, as well as the collaboration of the education
done in Alaska for the third and fourth year students. Dr.
Valenzeno highlighted that the Alaska WWAMI program doesn't send
students to the University of Washington to receive their
medical education. At this time, students can complete three of
the four years of medical school in state. Dr. Valenzeno said
he highlighted the aforementioned because he didn't want to
overlook the educators and physicians in Alaska who are
providing an education. Furthermore, physicians do tend to stay
where they are educated, and thus it's more likely that those
physicians educated in Alaska will stay in Alaska. He
attributed the aforementioned as one of the reasons Alaska
experiences nearly 85 percent return on this investment in 10
slots as compared to the national average that's just under 40
percent.
3:26:47 PM
DR. VALENZENO, in response to Representative Seaton, pointed out
that with five states and six institutions, a significant amount
of coordination must occur in order for class size to change.
He related that the program can accommodate 20 students as early
as this fall, but to go beyond 20 students would require some
"ramp-up" time. He related his understanding that the
University of Washington and the University of Alaska are
available to accommodate [more than 20 students]. Of the 78 who
applied for the WWAMI program this year, Dr. Valenzeno estimated
that 30-35 are well-qualified for acceptance.
3:28:05 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if classrooms are being built to accommodate
20 students or will [the education] be done in shifts.
DR. VALENZENO answered that current classrooms can be
reconfigured to accommodate 20 students. However, additional
study space would be needed for the program, which the
university is addressing. Beyond 20 students, the physical size
of the classroom and laboratory is limiting.
3:29:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked if the state has a contract with
the WWAMI program. She then pointed out that the legislation
before the committee utilizes "shall" language. She related her
understanding that the contract with the University of
Washington School of Medicine to qualify for 20 slots; the
latitude is necessary because other states in the WWAMI program
are competing for the vacant/new slots. She acknowledged that
Alaska can't be guaranteed the additional 10 slots, but may
obtain an additional 1-10 slots.
DR. VALENZENO related his understanding that the current
contract between Alaska and the University of Washington School
of Medicine specifically states that Alaska has 10 slots. He
relayed that representatives from the University of Washington
School of Medicine have stated that the program can accept 20
students from Alaska. In further response to Representative
Fairclough, he acknowledged that the contract would need to be
amended, although he mentioned that he didn't have legal
expertise on the matter.
3:31:18 PM
ROD BETIT, President, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home
Association (ASHNHA), noted that he is also testifying on behalf
of a partnership that was formed from two different physician
groups in Providence Hospital in order to highlight some of the
access issues in the state. He reminded the committee that this
[partnership] drew attention to the shortage of physicians in
the state. He further reminded the committee that last year's
capital budget appropriations provided funding to start the
infrastructure improvements to increase the WWAMI program at the
University of Alaska - Anchorage. Mr. Betit opined that the
task force report is alarming in terms of the number of
physicians that the state is short currently and the projected
numbers over the next 10 years. The shortage is further
compounded by the fact that current physicians desire more of a
life than those at the end of their careers. Therefore, it
isn't unrealistic to believe that 1.5 physicians will be
required to replace a retiring physician. He noted that every
state is facing this situation today. As the task force report
points out, the state needs to be proactive and aggressive to
attract the necessary number of physicians from medical schools,
especially given the fact that the number of students graduating
as physicians isn't keeping pace with the need. Mr. Betit
opined that WWAMI is a great program with an excellent return to
the state for its investment. The proposal today, he opined, is
a critical step to begin to fill the gap and should move forward
quickly in order to provide the University of Washington
assurance as to Alaska's plans. He related that the State of
Wyoming is also pursuing additional slots from the University of
Washington. In conclusion, Mr. Betit urged the committee to
pass HB 18 from committee.
3:35:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked whether Mr. Betit is confident that
the additional slots [at the University of Washington] will be
available.
MR. BETIT related that there has been considerable discussion on
this matter over the last year and a half. Therefore, he said
he was confident those slots would be available if the state
provides the University of Washington assurance early on that
such is the desire of the State of Alaska.
3:35:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON returned attention to Representative
Fairclough's earlier comments regarding the task force report's
assessment of need. He highlighted the finding that Alaska
should maintain a higher ratio of mid-level providers, such as
advanced nurse practitioners and physician assistants. He asked
if the legislation addresses the aforementioned need.
MR. BETIT said that to his knowledge nothing in the legislation
addresses that. However, he noted that maintaining a higher
ratio of mid-level providers was something that is necessary to
address the shortage discussed by the task force.
3:37:25 PM
MARIE DARLIN, Coordinator, AARP Capital City Task Force,
directed attention to AARP's letter in support of HB 18, which
should be in the committee packet. She opined that WWAMI is one
way in which to address the shortage of physicians in Alaska.
Furthermore, [increasing the number of slots in the] WWAMI
program is one way to address the many AARP members who are
unable to find physicians willing to accept patients with
Medicare. She then highlighted that the Alaska Physician Supply
Task Force suggested that there be as many as 30 slots per year
in the WWAMI program. In conclusion, Ms. Darlin urged the
committee members to vote in favor of HB 18.
3:40:04 PM
SUZANNE TRYCK, Director, Regional Programs, University of
Washington School of Medicine, urged the committee to pass HB 18
out of committee today. She explained that this legislation is
timely because the University of Washington is currently going
through its admissions process. Therefore, the sooner the
legislation is passed, the sooner the University of Washington
can invite more Alaskans to join classes. In response to Chair
Wilson, Ms. Tryck confirmed that classes for 2007 begin in
September and thus students are being admitted into the program
now.
3:41:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked if Alaska has to amend the
current contract with the State of Washington in order to add
these proposed new slots.
MS. TRYCK replied yes, adding that the contract is currently
under review. The expectation, she said, is that the contract
will be in place in time to offer the positions to the increased
class size. In further response to Representative Fairclough,
Ms. Tryck related the preference for the language of the
legislation to provide latitude [with regard to the number of
slots]. However, she informed the committee that the University
of Washington has already committed to the extra 10 slots.
3:42:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for clarity with regard to which
commissioner the language in Section 1 of Version M refers.
MS. TRYCK related her understanding that it refers to the
commissioner of the Commission on Postsecondary Education.
3:43:32 PM
JOEL GILBERTSON, Regional Director, Providence Health System
Alaska, reiterated the importance of the passage of HB 18. Mr.
Gilbertson then related his personal belief that the physician
shortage in Alaska is one of the largest public health risks at
this time. Across the state, including Anchorage, large
portions of individuals aren't receiving timely access to care,
continuity in care, and strong services to support chronic
disease management. The aforementioned results in loss of care
for individuals and creates an inefficient health care system.
The WWAMI program provides additional man power to provide a
myriad of health care services. As has been mentioned, almost
85 percent of the [Alaska] WWAMI participants practice in the
state. He noted that elements of HB 18 ensure that such will
continue in the future while opening the door to see more
Medicare insured patients. In conclusion, Mr. Gilbertson urged
passage of HB 18.
3:46:26 PM
KAREN PERDUE, Associate Vice President, University of Alaska,
remarked that being involved in the nursing expansion and the
Physicians Supply Task Force has been a great experience. The
University of Alaska supports the expansion embodied in HB 18.
She confirmed that the University of Alaska has worked with the
University of Washington to ensure that the additional 10 slots
will be available. She mentioned that students wouldn't be
admitted in the first year of the program if the university
didn't believe the additional slots would be available later at
the University of Washington. Ms. Perdue then highlighted that
the fiscal note for the university's cost of the first year of
the program isn't in the committee packet. The University of
Alaska anticipates that its costs for the first year of 10
additional students would be $280,000. The aforementioned would
be a one-time cost and doesn't accumulate as does the University
of Washington costs do. The fiscal note also includes a request
for additional capital money to complete and equip the
classroom. Ms. Perdue related the university's strong support
of HB 18.
3:48:40 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if the classroom will only be utilized by the
medical students.
MS. PERDUE said she doubted that the classroom would be
available to others since the medical students really utilize
the room throughout the day.
3:48:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH requested information regarding the
administrative cost of the program.
MS. PERDUE said she would provide such information.
3:49:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that the committee was provided a
summary of the projected costs in revenue in relation to
doubling the size of the classroom.
MS. PERDUE explained that the summary specifies the capital
cost, of which $475,000 was appropriated last year. Therefore,
the fiscal note will reflect that going forward. She further
explained that the operating costs would be $280,000 as
specified on the projected revenue side.
3:50:24 PM
MIKE FORD, Alaska Native Health Board, noted his agreement with
earlier testimony that Alaska has a very serious health problem.
The Alaska Native Health Board, he related, views HB 18 as a
step in the right direction. In fact, one of the priorities of
the Alaska Native Health Board is to develop a sustainable
workforce of health care professionals who will come to Alaska
and stay in Alaska. He, too, urged the committee to pass HB 18.
3:51:44 PM
CHAIR WILSON, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
announced that public testimony was closed.
3:51:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER related her understanding that HB 18 says
that students repay the full amount that the state has paid.
However, the sponsor statement for HB 18 says, "House Bill 18
removes the limit on the number of students currently set in
statute, decreases the amount a person is required to pay back
if they don't return to Alaska ...." Therefore, she asked if
the legislation increases the amount a student has to pay if
he/she doesn't return to Alaska.
3:53:24 PM
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education (ACPE), Department of Education and
Early Development, clarified that there is a change in terms of
the principal of the loan, although the dollar amount hasn't
changed. She related her understanding that the objective of
the task force was to make it concrete with regard to how the
principal obligation was determined. Therefore, rather than
have the language of the differential between the resident and
the nonresident tuition, a percentage approximating the same
amount of money was utilized. Currently, an individual
graduating from the WWAMI program this year will have a
principal obligation of $76,000 on which interest would accrue.
If that graduate failed to return to the state, the graduate
would pay the principal plus the interest. However, Version M
takes 50 percent of the state support fee and makes that the
obligation, which amounts to about $75,000. With respect to the
interest, there's a slight difference. She explained that
currently interest accrues at the end of the graduate medical
education program, but is deferred until repayment. Repayment
is postponed until the completion of any residency program or
period of service to public health, Indian health services, or
the military. This legislation changes the aforementioned such
that the interest doesn't begin to accrue until the [completion
of any residency program or period of service to public health,
Indian health services, or the military]. She opined that the
reasoning behind the change in interest accrual is because there
isn't an opportunity for all 20 students within Alaska's
residency program.
3:56:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to the change on page 1, line 6,
from "may" to "shall" and posed a situation in which the ACPE
doesn't receive enough funds from the legislature to cover 20
students. He asked if the ACPE is concerned with such a
situation and whether it would place it in violation of the law.
MS. BARRANS replied no because the current contract addresses
the situation in which the legislature doesn't sufficiently fund
the contract. In such a situation, the [number of students]
would be relevant to the funding level. However, it does place
the University of Washington School of Medicine in an awkward
position because it will have a certain number of students and
annual funding.
3:57:45 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:57 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..
4:00:30 PM
MS. BARRANS said that as a fiscal agent for the state, she would
ensure that there is a provision in the contract that
contemplates a day in which the legislature wouldn't be able to
fund the program. Therefore, everyone entering into the
contract would understand what would occur in such a situation.
Ms. Barrans clarified that this is an obligation of the State of
Alaska not the Alaska Student Loan Corporation.
4:01:07 PM
MS. BARRANS, in response to Representative Seaton, stated that
the PFD residency requirements wouldn't suffice. The ACPE has
specifically defined a resident for the purposes of eligibility
for this program as someone who has physically resided in the
state for two years prior to admittance into the program, or
that the absence from the state be solely due to the full-time
educational pursuit of the individual or his/her spouse and that
the two years preceding the absence, the individual was
physically present in the state.
4:02:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER inquired as to the repayment requirements
for a graduate who doesn't return to the state to practice.
MS. BARRANS explained that the only change would be in a
situation in which an individual who attended a residency
program outside of Alaska and served some period of service
obligation to another entity; that individual would potentially
have a number of years of interest-free status on the principal
of the loan. Ms. Barrans characterized whether the legislature
would want to have the interest added to the debt of the
individual in the aforementioned situation and require such an
individual to repay the entire debt as a policy call. The
current interest on such a loan amounts to 8.25 percent. Ms.
Barrans noted that currently the debt is interest free during
the four years of the program and the repayment is over the
course of 15 years.
4:04:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER referred to page 2, line 5, which relates
that a student of the program who doesn't return to Alaska and
isn't in any of the other exclusionary programs is required to
repay 50 percent of what the state has paid.
MS. BARRANS replied yes.
4:05:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER inquired as to why the state wouldn't
require a student in such a situation to repay the full amount.
MS. BARRANS relayed that the discussion around the original
legislation were that students wouldn't take advantage of a
program with a punitive debt if an individual didn't return to
Alaska. While someone entering the program may intend to return
to Alaska, there may be another outcome due to various life
changes, she noted.
MS. TRYCK explained that because the money is located in ACPE,
it's viewed as a subsidy of students of medical education.
However, it's structurally the same as the public funds for the
University of Alaska. One way to view whether the student
should repay 100 percent is to question whether every student in
the University of Alaska pays the full cost of education. Ms.
Tryck pointed out that when students attend private medical
schools, they do pay a high tuition rate. Still, students in
private medical schools don't pay 100 percent of the actual
cost.
4:07:51 PM
MS. BARRANS referred to the language on page 2, lines 18-22,
which she characterized as "a grey area" that is difficult to
program into a system code. She related that deleting the
language would be preferable.
4:09:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the [language on page 2, lines
18-22] addresses a situation in which an individual is a
perpetual student and isn't making progress toward graduation.
MS. BARRANS said that in the over 20 years she has been with the
program, that hasn't happened. In situations in which a student
has to sit out one year, the status of the account is suspended
until a resolution occurs.
MS. TRYCK noted that WWAMI does have a means for terminating
students. However, there are Alaskans who go into a fifth year
and the program provides allowances for that. In further
response to Representative Seaton, Ms. Tryck said that
elimination of the provision wouldn't encourage students to
become derelict with their education.
4:12:16 PM
TIM KELLY, Lobbyist for the Alaska State Medical Association
(ASMA), relayed that HB 18 is important legislation, which he
characterized as a top priority this legislative session. He
further relayed that ASMA is supportive of Version M.
4:13:34 PM
CHAIR WILSON, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
4:13:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved that the committee adopt Amendment
1, as follows:
Page 2, lines 18-22;
Delete "If the commission finds that the program
participant has withdrawn from the medical education,
residency, or fellowship program, or that the program
participant is otherwise failing to make adequate
progress toward completion of the program, the
commission may start the accrual of interest after
notifying the program participant."
There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
4:14:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report CSHB 18, Version 25-
LS0131\M, Mischel, 1/30/07, [as amended] out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CSHB 18(HES) was reported from the
House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
^Overview: Mentoring Project for Teachers and Principals -
Department of Education and Early Development
CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be
the overview of the mentoring project for teachers and
principals.
4:16:07 PM
BARBARA THOMPSON, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education
and Early Development, reminded the committee that about four
years ago Commissioner Sampson and University President Hamilton
discussed the need for teacher mentoring in Alaska. The
university, the department, and school districts created a plan
and a formal memorandum of understanding with the university was
created. The Alaska Statewide Mentoring Project is based on the
new teacher mentor model out of the University of California at
Santa Cruz. This mentoring model isn't a buddy system but
rather has full-time mentors work with beginning teachers across
the state.
4:18:42 PM
MS. THOMPSON relayed that the mentoring teachers are either from
the classroom on loan from a school district for two years or
they are recently retired educators. Ms. Thompson recalled the
question last year regarding why the good teachers were being
taken out of the classroom, which resulted in the suggestion to
take a harder look at recently retired teachers. The suggestion
was followed, and therefore of the 27 mentors this year
approximately one-third are recently retired teachers. She then
highlighted that this is the third year of implementation. The
first two years were funded by federal ear marked grants. Since
the project was successful, funding was requested and received
last year from the legislature. There will be a request for
funding in the fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget, she stated.
4:20:15 PM
CHAIR WILSON inquired as to how critical is the retention of
teachers.
MS. THOMPSON said that there is currently a shortage of
teachers, particularly in the areas of special education, math,
and science. She called attention to page 2 of the January 2007
document entitled, "Alaska Statewide Mentor Project" and the
chart illustrating the teacher turnover rate after five years.
Although the graph is based on national data, the same scenario
is occurring in Alaska. After five years, 46 percent of new
teachers nationwide quit. However, those involved with this new
teacher mentoring style have a much better success rate as
reflected in the 94 percent [who attended this mentoring
program] nationwide who are still teaching.
4:21:49 PM
MS. THOMPSON continued her presentation. She related that there
have always been only two goals for the Alaska Statewide Mentor
Project, as follows: to increase teacher retention and to
increase student achievement. There has been progress in the
retention rate as it has increased from 68 percent to 78 percent
over the last two years. The expectation, she said, is for the
retention rate to continue to climb higher as the program is
refined.
4:22:31 PM
MS. THOMPSON, in response to Representative Fairclough,
confirmed that many different mentoring models were reviewed.
The new teacher center model, unlike others at the time, had 15
years of research behind it.
4:23:04 PM
MS. THOMPSON returned to her presentation and pointed out the
map in the committee packet. The map illustrates that the
program is addressing the needs in all areas of the state, urban
and rural. Should the program be expanded, more beginning
teachers in the urban areas could be served, she remarked. Ms.
Thompson pointed out that this project began three years ago
with 31 districts wanting to participate. Of those 31
districts, almost all of their needs were served 100 percent,
save the Anchorage School District and other large districts.
The program currently has 41 districts participating in the
program. Ms. Thompson acknowledged that there are other models
of mentoring being utilized in the state, but those are
different models than this project.
4:24:56 PM
MS. THOMPSON relayed that after using this model for three
years, the department has discovered the need to expand the
principal coaching. She related that that there are currently
nine part-time coaches who are assisting more than 60 principals
across the state. In order to realize greater effectiveness in
teaching and student achievement, more principals need to be
included. She then referred to a handout in the committee
packet that addresses principal coaching, which is being refined
so as to be systematic with a combination of site visits with
group training. The coaches work with six to eight new
principals and will make about two trips to the sites per year
to the principal's school. All of the principals in the
coaching program are brought into Anchorage four times a year
for systematic and specific training. These training sessions
for principals have been very successful, she opined. In
conclusion, Ms. Thompson related that the department is happy
with the success of the program, and therefore would like to see
continued legislative support for the Alaska Statewide Mentor
Project.
4:28:30 PM
CHAIR WILSON related her understanding that a new teacher in a
remote area can be in contact with his/her mentor every day by
e-mail.
MS. THOMPSON explained that the teacher mentors make a site
visit at least once a month and there is daily contact via phone
or e-mail for the entire year. Also, the mentors receive four
trainings annually in order to remain up to date with regard to
the practices and information necessary to help teachers be more
effective.
4:29:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON recalled an education conference a couple
of years ago which reviewed scores and classroom improvement.
The factor that made the most difference was teacher training.
Therefore, he expressed his pleasure that Alaska has instituted
a formal training program.
CHAIR WILSON provided a personal story of a new teacher in a
rural village who said that without the help of the mentor, he
wouldn't have been able to continue teaching.
MS. THOMPSON highlighted the relationship this project has built
with the University of Alaska and its impact on the teacher and
administrator preparation/training programs. She expressed the
need to be sure that the teacher preparation programs are doing
as much as they can to prepare teachers in a manner that's most
helpful while providing support for those new teachers.
4:33:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked if the governor's budget includes
funding for this program.
MS. THOMPSON replied yes, and specified that the FY 08 reflects
a status quo budget for this program. The aforementioned would
allow 30 teacher mentors to serve about 350 beginning teachers.
However, she informed the committee that the program is going to
have to reduce the number of beginning teachers a mentor serves
because the mentors find it difficult to serve the 15-17
beginning teachers they currently do. The recommended ratio is
1 mentor for 12 beginning teachers. Therefore, an additional
five mentors would allow the program to serve the 400 beginning
teachers [at the recommended ratio]. In response to
Representative Seaton, Ms. Thompson confirmed that the
appropriation in the FY 08 budget does include the administrator
coaching. In response to Chair Wilson, Ms. Thompson specified
that the FY 08 budget specifies for the program $4.5 million in
the department's budget and the University of Alaska will
provide another $500,000 bringing the total budget for the
program to $5 million. She offered to provide the committee
with specific numbers as to how much more funding is necessary
to serve the 400 beginning teachers.
4:35:55 PM
MO MCBRIDE informed the committee that she is currently a
graduate student at Boston University doing distance education
through the rural programs on line. In fact, one of the
programs she is currently taking involves coaching and
mentoring. She further informed the committee that she retired
from the Sitka School District after 21 years as a related
service provider. After talking with many of her contacts, Ms.
McBride related that she has heard from those in the mentoring
program that the program is more job coaching versus mentoring,
which is self-directed. A mentoring program doesn't have such
defined lines, but rather has an interpersonal quality and is
not as goal directed. She reiterated that this program is more
of coaching and success in the job than true mentoring.
4:40:03 PM
MS. THOMPSON explained that although the program refers to
administrator coaching, it's considered mentoring. The program
has systematic delivery methods in order to have accountability
and like comparisons. Ms. Thompson mentioned that there are
occasions when the beginning teacher is not suited to be a
teacher and the mentor does work with the teacher to help that
teacher determine [a career for which] he/she might best be
suited. The model being used isn't simply a buddy; there are
goals to help the teacher become effective and learn how to
instruct and stay in the profession.
4:41:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if there is any data with regard to
the satisfaction of the mentors or coaches.
MS. THOMPSON directed attention to the pie chart on the last
page of the document entitled, "Alaska Statewide Mentor
Project." The pie chart reflects what beginning teachers felt
about their mentoring last year. She then informed the
committee that every year the mentors are surveyed in reference
to their thoughts on their mentoring experience. In further
response to Representative Seaton, Ms. Thompson confirmed that
mentors provide feedback and one of the issues has been the high
mentor to beginning teacher ratio. She reiterated that the very
successful model from the New Teacher Center recommends 10-12
beginning teachers to a mentor. Additional [new beginning
teachers] have been [divided amongst the mentors] in order to
serve more beginning teachers in the state. However, at this
point the program has reached its limit with regard to the
number of new beginning teachers that can be assigned to
mentors.
4:44:40 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education, and Social Services Committee meeting was
adjourned at 4:44:49 PM.
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