04/03/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB15 | |
| SB82 | |
| Confirmation Hearing: State Board of Education & Early Development | |
| HB87 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 3, 2013
8:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Vice Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 15
"An Act relating to prekindergarten programs within a school
district; relating to pre- elementary students and pre-
elementary schools; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 82
"An Act providing for public school funding for
telecommunications or Internet services."
- HEARD AND HELD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 87(FIN)
"An Act relating to the governing board and duties of the
special education service agency; relating to allocations to the
special education service agency; extending the special
education service agency; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
CONFIRMATION HEARING
State Board of Education & Early Development
JAMES FIELDS
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 15
SHORT TITLE: PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) FRENCH
01/16/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/13 (S) EDC, FIN
04/03/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 82
SHORT TITLE: BROADBAND DISCOUNTS FOR SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) OLSON
03/19/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/19/13 (S) EDC, FIN
03/25/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/25/13 (S) Heard & Held
03/25/13 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/03/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 87
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HIGGINS
01/28/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/28/13 (H) EDC, FIN
02/15/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/15/13 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
02/18/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/18/13 (H) Moved CSHB 87(EDC) Out of Committee
02/18/13 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
02/22/13 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) NT 5DP
02/22/13 (H) DP: SEATON, P.WILSON, LEDOUX, SADDLER,
GATTIS
02/22/13 (H) LETTER OF INTENT WITH EDC REPORT
03/14/13 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/14/13 (H) Heard & Held
03/14/13 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
03/19/13 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/19/13 (H) Moved CSHB 87(FIN) Out of Committee
03/19/13 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
03/20/13 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 8DP 2AM
03/20/13 (H) DP: HOLMES, MUNOZ, NEUMAN, THOMPSON,
T.WILSON, COSTELLO, STOLTZE, AUSTERMAN
03/20/13 (H) AM: KAWASAKI, GARA
04/02/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/02/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 87(FIN)
04/02/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/13 (S) EDC, FIN
04/03/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SB 15.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education & Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 15 and SB
82.
PETER HOEPFNER, School Board President
Cordova School Board
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 15.
RICH RHODES, Superintendent
Wrangell School District
Wrangell, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 15.
ELIZABETH COREY, representing herself
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 15.
BETH SNYDER, Early Childhood Specialist
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 15.
DIRK SHUMAKER, Executive Director
Kids Corp., Inc.
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 15.
DAVID SCOTT, Staff
Senator Donny Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes in the new CS for SB
82 on behalf of the sponsor.
JAMES FIELDS, representing himself
Glennallen, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during his confirmation hearing
for the State Board of Education and Early Development.
REPRESENTATIVE PETE HIGGINS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 87.
PATRICK PILLAI, Executive Director
Special Education Services Agency (SESA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to HB 87.
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner
Department of Education & Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information about SESA.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:00:52 AM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gardner, Huggins, Stedman, Dunleavy, and
Chair Stevens.
CHAIR STEVENS reviewed the meeting's agenda.
8:01:36 AM
At ease
SB 15-PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS
8:02:35 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 15.
8:02:59 AM
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor,
introduced SB 15. He related that he came to the issue of pre-
kindergarten school programs as a former prosecutor. He said in
2009 the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
delivered a study to the legislature based on a crime study
called "The Cost of Crime." He explained that the study deal
with the question whether the state could reduce future crime
and save money by expanding education and treatment programs.
He showed a slide called "How Effective Are Various Programs at
Saving Money and Reducing Crime." He stated that the Head Start
program for young children saves six times more than it costs
and reduces future crime among participants by about 16
percentage points. He credited that information with the
beginning of his interest in pre-kindergarten education as a
crime deterrent.
8:04:36 AM
SENATOR FRENCH recalled information from a crime summit in 2012.
He addressed slides called, "More Education, Less Crime,"
"Washington State Institute for Public Policy," "Crime: The Big
Picture," and "An Example of Prevention: Early Childhood
Education (ECE)."
8:06:18 AM
SENATOR FRENCH discussed the results of studies on crime
prevention as a result of early childhood education:
standardized test score went up, high school graduation rates
increased, crime in later life decreased, special education
placement decreased, as did other factors.
SENATOR FRENCH showed cost benefit information related to early
childhood education. He summarized that there was a three-to-one
benefit on the investment versus the payoff for the child and
for society. The largest benefits were in education gains and
earnings. He concluded that early childhood education
investments nearly always break even.
He noted powerful, positive results from a three-year early
childhood pilot program in Alaska.
8:09:33 AM
SENATOR FRENCH summarized a handout from a survey from various
states that have taken up pre-kindergarten programs. He noted
the wide range of states that have implemented programs.
He said SB 15 is straightforward and makes pre-kindergarten
available on a voluntary basis for four-year-olds statewide.
CHAIR STEVENS noted that he was familiar with the Washington
State program on education research, a non-partisan
organization. He requested more information about SB 15.
8:11:07 AM
SENATOR FRENCH presented a sectional analysis. He related that
Section 1 adds pre-kindergarten to the list of offerings in an
elementary school. Section 2 allows pre-kindergarten children to
be counted in the average daily membership at a half rate.
Section 3 says a school district may provide a pre-kindergarten
program for students who are four years old. He stressed that
the program is optional.
He continued to describe the sections of SB 15. Section 4 sets
the age limit at four years old. Section 5 adds language on page
3 to say that pre-kindergarten programs can be supervised by
school districts. Section 6 defines a child of pre-elementary
school age versus a pre-kindergarten age. Section 7 adds to the
duties of school boards the obligation to implement regulations
for pre-kindergarten programs. Section 8 allows for counting
children for average daily membership. Section 9 says the school
district may not include in the average daily membership of a
school, students who are four years of age if the students are
enrolled in a program that receives state funding other than
funding under this chapter.
8:13:45 AM
SENATOR FRENCH said the fiscal note is for $45 million. He
opined that it is a little over-inflated because it is extremely
unlikely that every child that qualifies for pre-kindergarten
would enroll the first year. He suggested that the program would
take several years to ramp up.
SENATOR GARDNER said she was not aware that kindergarten is
funded at a half-time rate. She commented that all of the
kindergarten programs in her district are full day programs. She
asked why it is funded that way.
SENATOR FRENCH indicated that he did not know.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY wished to verify that the program is voluntary
for students who are not currently in the system.
SENATOR FRENCH responded that Senator Dunleavy brought up a good
point. He noted that 10 percent of eligible kids are enrolled in
Head Start, in a pilot program, or in a private school. That
leaves about 90 percent of kids in daycare because most parents
have to work.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY commented on the issue of helping older
students who are outside the system becoming part of the system.
He said the bill would expand public education to include the
students on a voluntary basis.
SENATOR FRENCH said it was a point well taken.
8:16:23 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that correspondence students receive 80
percent of the base student allocation. He brought up the IDEA
program and asked how the enrollment works.
SENATOR FRENCH requested more information.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how much BSA an IDEA student would
receive.
8:17:12 AM
SENATOR FRENCH deferred to the school district experts to
answer. He suggested that students enrolled in a classroom would
receive 50 percent of the BSA and IDEA students would be funded
separately.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY said IDEA is a public school program.
SENATOR FRENCH said he could envision the programs working
together.
SENATOR HUGGINS thought IDEA was one of the largest schools in
the state.
SENATOR FRENCH stressed the importance of collaboration.
SENATOR HUGGINS inquired how Head Start compares to pre-
kindergarten programs.
SENATOR FRENCH replied that they are similar, but not the same.
There is no overlap or competition between the two programs. He
thought Head Start was "stalled out" given the federal funding
situation and is aimed at low income kids.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if local daycare centers could expand
their programs.
SENATOR FRENCH responded that pre-kindergarten is not daycare.
It involves having a person who is skilled in early childhood
development and education.
8:20:05 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that there some parents that provide early
childhood education well. He suggested a certificate may not be
indicative of the success of a program.
SENATOR FRENCH answered that some babysitters are talented kids
who can instill a love for learning; some are not. He said he
hoped the credentialing program produces teachers that are
enthusiastic and talented at teaching children.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if the program was indicative of the fact
that parents aren't parenting in the home or that the program is
effective.
SENATOR FRENCH responded that most parents want the best for
their kids. He stated the pre-kindergarten program, which has
been proven to improve the chance of a child's success in life,
is worth some state investment and time.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if there are any gender factors.
SENATOR FRENCH answered no.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY stated that he applauded Senator French for
considering all Alaskans in trying to provide a good education
for kids. He asked if it matters where a child gets educated, as
long as they receive an education.
8:22:20 AM
SENATOR FRENCH replied said it does not matter where the
education takes place. He said that ideally early childhood
education would happen at home.
CHAIR STEVENS reported that he was fascinated by the
relationship between crime prevention and early childhood
education.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if the program should be extended to non-
public schools.
SENATOR FRENCH explained that the fiscal note envisions every
four-year-old in the state enrolled in an early education
program in a school.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if it has to be in a public school.
SENATOR FRENCH answered that the bill envisions it happening in
a public school. He pointed out that the committee could change
that.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if Senator French would not be adverse to
all Alaskan children having an opportunity for a quality pre-
kindergarten program.
SENATOR FRENCH said the bill envisions a public school system,
but the committee could change that.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY emphasized that the most important thing is
that the child receive a quality education.
SENATOR FRENCH said yes.
8:24:53 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, answered questions related to SB 15. He addressed
Senator Gardner's question about funding part-time kindergarten.
He explained that if a kindergarten student is enrolled for at
least 4 hours of school, five days a week, they are funded as
full time.
8:26:05 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if SB 15 were to pass, whether there would
be adequate space.
MR. MORSE responded that SB 15 did not address the issue of
space. He opined that some districts would find that a
challenge.
CHAIR STEVENS ask Senator Huggins if he would like the IDEA
program addressed.
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that IDEA is a public education program.
He wondered if it would work within the bill's parameters.
MR. MORSE believed it would.
SENATOR HUGGINS stated that he had a bias for rejuvenating the
K-12 program. He suggested that there should be a way to address
that.
8:28:44 AM
MR. MORSE summarized that Senator Huggins was looking for a way
to improve K-12. He noted that the department is moving forward
on several things that addressed that issue, such as early
literacy program that are within the current funding for grades
1 through 3. Another goal is to raise standards and try to get
districts to develop more rigorous curriculum.
8:30:22 AM
PETER HOEPFNER, School Board President, Cordova School Board,
testified in support of SB 15. He commented on the benefits of
pre-kindergarten programs, especially when programs such as Head
Start and Best Beginnings are not available to the Cordova area.
8:31:49 AM
At ease
8:32:29 AM
CHAIR STEVENS opened public testimony on SB 15.
8:32:57 AM
RICH RHODES, Superintendent, Wrangell School District, testified
in support of SB 15. He noted his dissertation was on closing
the achievement gap and he stressed the importance of preschool
programs. He stated that education was also the answer to
preventing recidivism in prisoners.
8:34:18 AM
ELIZABETH COREY, representing herself, testified in support of
SB 15. She shared a personal story of her son's behavioral
improvement and success in preschool.
8:36:06 AM
BETH SNYDER, Early Childhood Specialist, Anchorage School
District, testified in support of SB 15. She shared the
components of a successful, quality preschool program: a
research-based curriculum, a teacher trained in early childhood,
an on-going assessment system, and regular professional
development.
She shared data about personal growth exhibited by students
enrolled in preschool. She said there is great carryover of
preschool skills into kindergarten.
She concluded that preschool works and it matters to children,
communities, and families. It is a proven intervention and it
strengthens the overall education system.
8:38:03 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked Ms. Snyder for clarification of the
critical elements of a successful preschool program.
MS. SNYDER reiterated those qualities.
8:38:26 AM
DIRK SHUMAKER, Executive Director, Kids Corp., Inc., testified
in support of SB 15. He concurred with the previous speaker's
comments. He said the state's pilot preschool program shows that
preschools can work and are successful.
8:39:59 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held SB 15 in committee.
SB 82-BROADBAND DISCOUNTS FOR SCHOOLS
8:40:19 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 82.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to adopt CS for SB 82, labeled 28-
LS0637\0, as the working document.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes.
8:40:54 AM
DAVID SCOTT, Staff, Senator Donny Olson, explained the changes
in the CS for SB 82, version O, on behalf of the sponsor. He
related that "telecommunications" was removed from the title and
the bill, as was any reference to Title I, both on advice from
the department. An effective date was added to the bill.
He explained that SB 82 intends that the state pick up the local
share for broadband costs that are not cover under the federal
E-rate Program. He pointed out that schools are facing higher
costs and it is the intent of the sponsor to free up money for
instruction.
He said the sponsor worked with the department to reduce the
fiscal note. For FY 2014, the state match would not change;
however, for FY 2015 on, for schools whose internet services are
faster than 10 megabits-a-second, the amount they are eligible
to receive is limited to a 10 percent increase from the previous
year's amount. For schools with internet service slower than 10
megabit-a-second, they can receive more than 10 percent of the
previous year's amount. This change results in a fixed-number
fiscal note, not an indeterminate note.
8:43:44 AM
SENATOR GARDNER summarized that schools need state assistance to
pay for their broadband costs because of the way the state is
funding schools and because costs are variable across the state.
MR. SCOTT replied that schools are faced with higher costs, such
as energy costs, and the sponsor decided that subsidizing
broadband costs was one way the state could help.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if increasing the base student allocation
would do the same thing, as well as allow schools to choose how
to spend the extra funding.
MR. SCOTT said he could not speak for his boss, but he agreed.
8:45:06 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, answered questions related to the fiscal note for
SB 82. He explained the calculations used to determine a new
fiscal note. He said the local share would be $13.7 million next
year for districts across the state. In FY 2015, if the schools
within the district have the broadband called for in the
legislation, they receive a 10 percent increase; if not, the
department works with vendors to increase the broadband up to
the qualifying amount.
He related that about one-third of the schools do not have
adequate broadband. The two-thirds of the schools that do have
adequate broadband, with the 10 percent escalator, would cost
$14.6 million and the one-third would cost $7.3 million. The
total for FY 2015 would be about $22 million. The out years
would see a 10 percent increase per year out to FY 2019.
8:47:11 AM
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony and held SB 82 in
committee.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING: STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION & EARLY
DEVELOPMENT
CONFIRMATION HEARING:
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION & EARLY DEVELOPMENT
8:47:23 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced that the next order of business would be
a confirmation hearing for the State Board of Education and
Early Development. He asked Mr. Fields to introduce himself.
JAMES FIELDS, appointee, State Board of Education and Early
Development, introduced himself.
CHAIR STEVENS asked Mr. Fields why he wished to serve on the
State Board of Education and Early Development.
MR. FIELDS responded that he is currently the president of the
local school board in the Copper River School District. He said
he felt it was an honor to be able to represent the school
district. He said he cares about kids.
8:48:24 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked about Mr. Fields' business background and
residency. She wondered how long Mr. Fields has been an Alaskan
resident.
MR. FIELDS responded that he has been a full-time resident since
2002.
8:49:58 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how long Mr. Fields has been the president
of the school board.
MR. FIELDS said for three years.
SENATOR HUGGINS requested success stories from Glennallen.
MR. FIELDS replied that the school district was one of the first
schools to take on the Common Core curriculum. He highlighted
staff development as another success. He said the district is
currently in the top 5 percent in test scores.
SENATOR GARDNER congratulated Mr. Fields for turning around some
of the small schools in his district. She requested tips other
schools might use to do the same thing.
8:52:01 AM
MR. FIELDS deferred to the superintendent to answer.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if there is a preschool program in the
district.
MR. FIELDS answered that the district has a Head Start program.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if Mr. Fields has children enrolled in the
district.
MR. FIELDS said yes.
8:53:57 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to forward name of Mr. James Fields for
consideration for an appointment to the State Board of Education
and Early Development before a joint session of the legislature.
CHAIR STEVENS found no objection and announced the name would be
forwarded.
HB 87-EXTEND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY
8:54:21 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 87. [CSHB
87(FIN) was before the committee.]
8:54:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETE HIGGINS, sponsor of HB 87, introduced the
bill. He related that HB 87 extends the requirement for the
Special Education Service Agency (SESA), which was established
in 1986.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS explained the changes the House made to
HB 87. He said that SESA was extended until June 30, 2021, and
realigned under the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) for oversight.
8:56:41 AM
PATRICK PILLAI, Executive Director, Special Education Services
Agency (SESA), provided information related to HB 87.
CHAIR STEVENS noted that the committee was waiting for a fiscal
note and a Senate CS.
MR. PILLAI addressed the oversight of SESA, which he saw as a
policy decision. He said if the oversight moves from the
Governor's Council to DEED, and if the structure remains the
same with the continuation of an advisory board, it will have
little impact on agency operations. He said he preferred SESA to
remain under the Governor's Council because there are no
problems with oversight at this time. He emphasized that SESA
requires funding because it is looking at $400,000 in cuts.
8:58:21 AM
CHAIR STEVENS reviewed the differences between the Senate and
House version of the bill. He said governance and funding are
the two main differences that need to be worked out.
8:58:51 AM
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education & Early
Development, provided information about SESA. He spoke in
support of extending SESA. He noted that DEED currently actively
works with SESA, and audit concerns have been addressed. He said
SESA functions very well under the governance of the Governor's
Council. He thought that moving SESA under DEED would be
cumbersome.
CHAIR STEVENS said the committee is awaiting a fiscal note. If
the governance were to transfer there would be a need for
additional staffing in DEED. He requested information about the
fiscal note.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that the DEED would be tasked with
oversight of SESA and that would require another staff.
9:01:14 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held HB 87 in committee pending a fiscal note.
9:01:30 AM
There being no further business to come before the Senate
Education Standing Committee, Chair Stevens adjourned the
meeting at 9:01 a.m.