Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/10/2012 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR21 | |
| Moore Case Settlement Overview | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 10, 2012
8:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Senator Joe Thomas, Co-Chair
Senator Bettye Davis, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Gary Stevens
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 170
"An Act requiring vocational education counseling in public
schools."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21
Relating to an amendment to Rule 20(a), Uniform Rules of the
Alaska State Legislature, relating to standing committees.
- MOVED SCR 21 OUT OF COMMITTEE
OVERVIEW: MOORE CASE SETTLEMENT
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SCR 21
SHORT TITLE: UNIFORM RLS:EDUC./HSS STANDING COMMITTEES
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
02/03/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/12 (S) EDC
02/10/12 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
EDRA MORLEDGE, Staff
Senator Kevin Meyer
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed SCR 21.
CHARLES WOHLFORTH, Executive Director
Citizens for the Educational Advancement of Alaska's Children
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Summarized The Moore Settlement and answered
questions.
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Summarized The Moore Settlement and answered
questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:01:10 AM
CO-CHAIR KEVIN MEYER called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators French, Stevens, Davis, Co-Chair Thomas and
Co-Chair Meyer.
SCR 21-UNIFORM RLS:EDUC./HSS STANDING COMMITTEES
8:02:46 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced the first order of business was the
consideration of SCR 21.
8:03:10 AM
EDRA MORLEDGE, staff to Senator Meyer, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, said Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 21 makes the
Senate and House standing education committees permanent in both
bodies. She said the committees become permanent by repealing
two sections of Uniform Rule 20 that served as a sunset clause.
She said the 2008 Legislature changed the Uniform Rules to
create stand-alone committees in both bodies via Legislative
Resolve Number 35. She said prior to 2008, education was under
the purview of the merged Health, Education and Social Services
Committees in both bodies. She said at the time, due to the
unknown logistics of maintaining a new standing committee, a
five year sunset provision was added. She said without SCR 21,
jurisdiction over education would revert back to the merged
committees in both houses on January 15, 2013. She said it was
determined that it was in the best interest of diligent policy
making to continue the Standing Education Committees on a
permanent basis. She said there was a zero fiscal note attached
from the Legislative Affairs Agency.
8:04:47 AM
SENATOR STEVENS commented that he was surprised that Alaska did
not have a standing committee due to the amount of issues. He
said Alaska was probably the only state without a standing
education committee.
CO-CHAIR MEYER agreed with Senator Stevens.
8:06:02 AM
SENATOR DAVIS commented that her goal since 1991 was to make
education a permanent committee.
8:07:07 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to report SCR 21 from the committee with
individual recommendations and an attached zero fiscal note(s).
8:07:20 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER said without objections, SCR 21 moved from the
Senate Education Standing Committee.
8:08:25 AM
At ease from 8:08 a.m. to 8:09 a.m.
^Moore Case Settlement Overview
MOORE CASE SETTLEMENT OVERVIEW
8:10:04 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced the next order of business was an
overview of the Moore Case Settlement.
8:10:10 AM
CHARLES WOHLFORTH, Citizens for the Educational Advancement of
Alaska's Children (CEAAC), Anchorage, said CEAAC was a non-
profit corporation with 22 Alaska school district members; 21
members were rural districts plus the Anchorage district. He
said CEAAC had a five member board of directors: Norman Eck,
President, Northwest Arctic Borough School District; Kerry Boyd,
Vice President, Yukon-Koyukuk School District; Joe Beckford,
Secretary-Treasurer, Aleutian Region School District; Carol
Comeau, At Large, Anchorage School District and Todd Poage, At
Large, Alaska Gateway School District.
He said the Moore Case began in 2004 and was based on similar
cases that were brought up in 42 states with constitutional
guarantees of public education. He said the majority had been
successful from the plaintiffs' point of view in trying to
compel states to observe their constitutional obligation for
public schools.
8:13:13 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH said in 2007, Judge Sharon Gleason defined the
state's constitutional obligation and identified what rights
were given to students. He said Judge Gleason found that the
state met its obligation in three out of four parts and failed
in terms of chronically underperforming schools. He said CEAAC
continued to push towards state compliance for underperforming
schools after Judge Gleason's order.
8:14:33 AM
He said Judge Gleason had two subsequent orders in 2009 and 2010
that laid out exactly what would be required for compliance. He
said those orders were based on expert testimony that addressed
root causes of low educational attainment with solutions.
8:15:03 AM
He said CEAAC put together a settlement that closely matched
Judge Gleason's orders. He said settlement discussions started
in 2011 with Commissioner Hanley from the Department of
Education and Early Development (DEED) and former Attorney
General John Burns. He said the case was settled in January,
2012.
8:16:41 AM
He said the parties involved in the settlement came up with four
programs and a three year lump sum appropriation. He said
programs continued after three years would presumably require
legislation.
He said the appropriation would be allocated by the Moore
Collaborative Committee (MCC). He said MCC's "shared
partnership" was determined to be the most effective means for
rural districts and DEED to work together. He said MCC would be
comprised of seven members; three appointed by CEEAC, three
appointed by DEED and one co-appointed as a non-voting chairman.
He said MCC would be comprised of rural educational experts who
designed programs, allocated funds and assured success.
8:17:59 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH said an independent contractor would be used to
evaluate MCC grants. He said he was hopeful an effective set of
programs would be established that the state continued to fund.
8:18:23 AM
He said the Two Year Kindergarten Program (TYKP) was the
centerpiece for assisting underperforming schools. He said
children were arriving at kindergarten behind their peers and
struggled to start reading by the third grade. He said the
settlement gave rural schools the opportunity to get four year
olds into school and ready for kindergarten.
8:19:35 AM
He said the focus would be on the 40 lowest performing schools
that are based on the Standard Based Assessment scores over
three years. He said the communities where the program was
implemented would have to show support through resolutions from
local organizations and parents.
8:20:14 AM
He said the second program was targeted resource grants that
allowed schools to identify their own problems and their own
solutions. He said there was a significant matching component
for local communities to contribute their own funds.
8:20:58 AM
He said the third program was a teacher retention grant that was
available to any school with high teacher turnover and low
student test scores. He said teacher retention was one of the
root causes of low achievement. He said the grant deals with
issues beyond teacher compensation, e.g., housing and community
relations.
8:23:00 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH said the fourth program was the High School
Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) Remediation Reimbursement
Program. He said Judge Gleason stated that underperforming
schools were not providing students with the necessary
curriculum to take the HSGQE. He said students in the 40
chronically underperforming schools who did not pass the HSGQE
would receive remedial support. He said the settlement would
provide $3000 per student to pay for remedial support and funds
would follow a student to other school.
8:24:30 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH said CEAAC agreed to dismiss $750,000 in legal
expenses as part of the settlement. He said CEAAC required
districts to use accountability measures to assure curriculum
execution. He said attendance requirements would be enacted for
HSGQE remedial students and TYKP children.
8:25:49 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH said the state agreed that the $18 million
appropriation be used as "new money" and not used in current
programs that were underfunded or recently cancelled. He said
CEAAC would not advocate sweeteners for the settlement or
increases in the appropriation during the 2012 legislative
session.
8:27:08 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if there were current programs that could
be implemented as quickly as possible.
8:27:44 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered that CEAAC would like to use components
from successful programs. He said the keys would be adding
higher levels of accountability and quality. He said CEAAC would
assist districts with the application process to expedite
grants. He said CEAAC wanted to quickly implement within the
time frame required to do them right.
8:31:44 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if CEAAC would meet with the University of
Alaska (UA) to address their teacher preparedness program and
impact on retention.
8:32:12 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered yes. He said teacher quality and quantity
were important settlement issues for CEAAC. He said UA teaching
graduates were ready to teach and stay in rural districts. He
said UA was training 30 percent of the teachers needed in
Alaska. He said there was a direct correlation between teacher
recruitment and low performance. He said CEAAC would like to see
the UA substantially increase the number of teachers who are
being trained in the skills and backgrounds that rural schools
need. He said a teacher information channel between districts
and UA was needed.
8:34:41 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH said funds could be used for cultural camps that
orient teachers to local communities. He said camps had been
done successfully in several districts.
SENATOR STEVENS asked for a student estimate on the 40
underperforming schools.
8:36:08 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered approximately 4000 students.
SENATOR DAVIS asked who would administer the $18 million
settlement.
8:36:49 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered MCC.
SENATOR DAVIS asked how CEAAC would choose their MCC
representatives and if rural districts would be represented in
MCC.
8:38:00 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered that the CEAAC board would choose
candidates with rural district representation.
8:38:27 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked who would choose the remaining four members
for MCC.
MR. WOHLFORTH answered that three members would be appointed by
Commissioner Hanley and a non-voting chairman would be appointed
by mutual consent.
8:38:45 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked what the qualifications were for
Commissioner Hanley's appointments.
MR. WOHLFORTH answered that it was Commissioner Hanley's
decision.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if $6 million was appropriated for TYKP.
8:39:59 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered yes.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if the $6 million was appropriated over a
three year period.
MR. WOHLFORTH answered yes.
SENATOR FRENCH commented on the wisdom to not allow the
settlement to be used to reduce funding in current or recently
cancelled programs. He asked about the difference between the
current Pilot Pre-Kindergarten Program (PPKP) and TYKP. He also
asked if the two programs might work together.
8:40:42 AM
MR. WOHLFORTH answered that CEAAC encouraged PPKP to continue.
He said TYKP required additional teacher training and a
community buy-in component. He said it made sense to begin
dovetailing the two programs to cover more schools with one
program.
8:42:04 AM
SENATOR FRENCH commented that 345 children were being served in
PPKP and asked how many students would be served in TYKP.
MR. WOHLFORTH answered that he did not know. He said 40 schools
were chosen based on Judge Gleason's orders to statistically
identify the lowest performing schools. He said selection was
derived from low proficiency ratings.
8:44:46 AM
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development, Juneau, said he looked forward to continue working
with CEAAC. He said the focus would be on implementing program
accountability and collaborating with rural districts.
8:46:18 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if approximately 4000 students would be
affected by the settlement.
MR. HANLEY answered correct.
8:46:42 AM
SENATOR FRENCH asked if PPKP and TYKP would be simultaneously
implemented.
8:47:07 AM
MR. HANLEY answered correct.
SENATOR FRENCH commented that approximately 700 children would
be involved in the two kindergarten programs. He asked if there
were ideas for the thousands of young Alaskans who also required
the same type of education.
8:48:10 AM
MR. HANLEY answered that he hoped data from the two kindergarten
programs would lead to statewide expansion.
8:49:06 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked how long PPKP had been in existence.
MR. HANLEY answered three years.
SENATOR DAVIS asked how much money was in the budget for PPKP.
MR. HANLEY answered $2 million. He said $1 million was base,
$300,000 for two intervention districts and $700,000 in onetime
funding.
SENATOR DAVIS asked what two intervention districts received
funding.
MR. HANLEY answered the Yupiit School District and the Lower
Yukon School District.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if PPKP was an actual pilot program. She
said pots of money were going into other areas.
MR. HANLEY answered that the department originally called PPKP a
pilot program with the intent to keep everything consistent. He
said the goal was to continue funding and eventually build
capacity to implement effective programs statewide.
8:50:45 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked what the new attendance requirements were.
MR. HANLEY answered that parents involved in TYKP would have to
sign an agreement to assure an 85 percent attendance rate. He
said districts would have a choice of what kindergarten model
was best to incorporate.
8:52:38 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked how money would be utilized for training the
students who failed the HSQE.
MR. HANEY said districts could choose many ways to assist
students to gain HSQE skills including summer camps or in-house
programs.
8:53:40 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS said he hoped existing successful programs were
sought out.
8:54:51 AM
MR. HANLEY said ten percent of the settlement funds would go
into program efficacy for new or proven ideas.
8:55:20 AM
SENATOR STEVENS commented that there were some troubling
implications from funding education by court order. He said all
of the settlement issues were important to every student in
Alaska. He said the state could not afford $18 million for every
increment of 4000 students. He asked if the parents of the forty
first school would possibly sue and demand similar programs.
8:56:46 AM
MR. HANLEY answered that oversight was important. He said the
settlement was a wakeup call to remedy the state's
constitutional deficits. He said the amount of low performing
schools was expanded to 40 locations via input from CEAAC. He
agreed that it was an erroneous model to try and fund education
by court order.
8:58:51 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked about Mr. Hanley's MCC candidates.
MR. HANLEY answered that he wanted a consensus type of
committee. He said candidates would have a statewide vision with
respect in rural Alaska. He said CEAAC'S input would be
welcomed.
9:00:32 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER said he agreed that candidates with an
understanding of rural culture would be important.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if MCC candidates would be from DEED.
MR. HANLEY answered that there would be no one accountable to
him from DEED.
9:01:25 AM
SENATOR FRENCH commented that he appreciated the collaborative
approach between DEED and CEAAC. He said it was the
legislature's job to fund education and provide DEED with the
tools to educate children.
9:02:05 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER commented that education was a collaborative
process and the settlement was a good first step. He said he
looked forward to MCC updates.
9:03:16 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Meyer adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 9:03 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Moore Settlement Agreement.pdf |
SEDC 2/10/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Summary of the Moore Settlement (2).pdf |
SEDC 2/10/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SCR021A.PDF |
SEDC 2/10/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Sponsor Statement SCR 21.pdf |
SEDC 2/10/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SCR 15 (2008).pdf |
SEDC 2/10/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SCR21 2-8-12.pdf |
SEDC 2/10/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SCR 21 Fiscal Note |