Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205

02/19/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION

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Audio Topic
03:30:18 PM Start
03:30:46 PM Presentation: Federal Impact Aid Dollars; State Supported Efforts of the Department
05:26:57 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Presentation: Federal Impact Aid Dollars TELECONFERENCED
Elizabeth Nudelman, Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development, DEED
+ Presentation: State Supported Efforts of the TELECONFERENCED
Department
Mike Hanley, Commissioner, DEED
Les Morse, Deputy Commissioner, DEED
Susan McCauley, Director, Teaching and Learning
Support, DEED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                            
                        February 19, 2015                                                                                       
                            3:30 p.m.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair                                                                                                    
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair                                                                                             
Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                           
Senator Gary Stevens                                                                                                            
Senator Berta Gardner                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION: FEDERAL IMPACT AID DOLLARS; STATE SUPPORTED                                                                       
EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner                                                                                                       
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)                                                                            
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on state supported                                                                  
efforts of the Department of Education and Early Development                                                                    
(DEED).                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN MCCAULEY, Director                                                                                                        
Teaching and Learning Support                                                                                                   
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)                                                                            
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on state supported                                                                  
efforts of the Department of Education and Early Development                                                                    
(DEED).                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH NUDELMAN, Director                                                                                                    
School Finance and Facilities Section                                                                                           
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)                                                                            
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Presented  information  related  to  Federal                                                            
Impact Aid Program.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
RYAN HERBERT, Student                                                                                                           
Outside Education                                                                                                               
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION   STATEMENT:   Shared   his   experience   with   Outside                                                            
Education.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
LISA SKILES PARADY, Executive Director                                                                                          
Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA)                                                                                  
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Commented on the  importance of the  Division                                                            
of  Teaching  and Learning  as  a  very valuable  service  to  the                                                              
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:30:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MIKE   DUNLEAVY  called   the  Senate  Education   Standing                                                            
Committee meeting  to order at  3:30 p.m. Present  at the call  to                                                              
order  were   Senators  Huggins,   Giessel,  Gardner,  and   Chair                                                              
Dunleavy. Senator Stevens arrived shortly thereafter.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
^Presentation:  Federal   Impact  Aid  Dollars;  State   Supported                                                              
Efforts of the Department                                                                                                       
    Presentation: Federal Impact Aid Dollars; State Supported                                                               
                    Efforts of the Department                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
3:30:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced  that the first presentation  today would                                                              
be by  the Department  of Education and  Early Development  (DEED)                                                              
on  state  supported  efforts  of  the   department,  followed  by                                                              
information on the Federal Impact Aid Program.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:31:24 PM                                                                                                                    
MIKE  HANLEY,  Commissioner,  Department of  Education  and  Early                                                              
Development (DEED), introduced himself.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN   MCCAULEY,  Director,   Teaching   and  Learning   Support,                                                              
Department of Education  and Early Development (DEED),  introduced                                                              
herself.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  HANLEY  said the  presentation  would focus  on  the                                                              
work the  department does  that is  supported by  general funds  -                                                              
state funds.  He said  a lot of  the work  the department does  is                                                              
directed  by funds  provided  by the  legislature  and the  Alaska                                                              
Constitution that drives that work.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY related  that one of the duties of the  department is                                                              
found  under AS  14.07.020(a)(3):  "The department  shall  provide                                                              
advisory   and  consultative   services  to   all  public   school                                                              
governing bodies  and personnel." She  said there are 509  schools                                                              
in  53  districts  in  the  state,  and   meeting  that  statutory                                                              
requirement  in the  Division  of  Teaching and  Learning  Support                                                              
constitutes a large part of what the division does.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
She  said a  large part  of the  division's  responsibility is  to                                                              
provide  professional   learning  for  educators,  especially   in                                                              
conference  presentations.  She  listed   several  of  the  larger                                                              
conference  presentations:   a  fall   Superintendent  Fly-In,   a                                                              
Teaching   and  Learning   Support   Institute,  and   an   annual                                                              
Principals' Conference.  She said there  have been 17  conferences                                                              
in FY 15  so far with just over  1,000 participants. In FY  14 the                                                              
division   held  18   presentations   that  included   about   900                                                              
participants.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted the arrival of Senator Stevens.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:34:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS asked  how many professional development  days are                                                              
required.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY said the statute allows for ten.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS asked  how  professional development  topics  are                                                              
prioritized and targeted appropriately.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  explained that it  is no small  task to provide  the                                                              
variation  of topics to  such a  wide variety  of school  district                                                              
types.  She said  the  division tries  to  decide which  phase  of                                                              
professional  learning a  district is  in; an  awareness phase,  a                                                              
transition  phase, or an  implementation phase.  For the  Teaching                                                              
and  Learning  Support   Institute,  they  try  to   differentiate                                                              
between  the  needs of  large  and  small districts  in  order  to                                                              
provide  learning  to  all staff.  Sometimes  there  are  breakout                                                              
groups; "like" groups,  or groups working together.  The Institute                                                              
provides content and serves as a convener.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS noted  there is a different relationship  with Mt.                                                              
Edgecumbe.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   HANLEY  replied   that  Mt.   Edgecumbe  is   under                                                              
different management, but is treated the same.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if Mt. Edgecumbe is going to close.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said  it is up to the legislature.  He said he                                                              
believes it should be kept open.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:39:06 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  MCCAULEY  continued to  describe  professional  learning  for                                                              
educators,  which sometimes  is a  request  for on-site  technical                                                              
presentations and  webinars. She  said that so far  in FY 15,  the                                                              
division has  presented to  11 districts  and last year  presented                                                              
to 13 districts.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if the requests are from small districts.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY responded  that  the  requests are  not  exclusively                                                              
from small districts, but they make up the majority of requests.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARDNER asked if school districts request a subject.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  said school districts  always suggest the topic  and                                                              
sometimes it  is a general  request that can  be made specific  to                                                              
fit  their   needs.  The   division  seeks   to  personalize   the                                                              
presentations.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARDNER asked  how larger conferences are done and  how to                                                              
add a topic to the agenda, such as Erin's Law.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  said  when  there  is  new   legislation  that  has                                                              
implications for  districts, they do  their best to be  responsive                                                              
to those  requests. The  presentation tends to  be about what  the                                                              
law requires and how  to find solutions; to clarify what  needs to                                                              
be done and then provide options.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:43:25 PM                                                                                                                    
She  spoke of  the  standardized  schedule  of webinars  that  are                                                              
available to  provide technical  assistance to  districts and  the                                                              
variety  of  ways  they  can  be  delivered.  There  are  distance                                                              
delivered  webinars   about  standards  implementation,   educator                                                              
evaluation redesign, and assessments.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  asked what a webinar  is and how it differs  from                                                              
an audio conference.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  explained that a webinar  is a prepared Power  Point                                                              
presentation  that  people  can  request  by  calling  in  to  the                                                              
division.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS said  more and more organizations are  doing them.                                                              
He asked if they will be used more in the future to save money.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  said that is part  of the direction the  division is                                                              
heading in. They  recognize that the division can't  do everything                                                              
and be everywhere.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:46:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY referred  to Erin's  Law  and asked  if the  model                                                              
curriculum  could be a  webinar. He  noted that  districts have  a                                                              
full plate of  in-service requirements. He wondered if  that would                                                              
fulfill  the training  requirements  for  teachers and  maybe  for                                                              
parents and their children.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY related  how  the  division has  assisted  districts                                                              
with  mandated training  by providing  e-learning  modules. It  is                                                              
different than  a webinar  because it is  a prepared,  self-paced,                                                              
curriculum, not a live person holding a seminar.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL asked  what  all  the professional  learning  for                                                              
educators costs.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY said  the work  is supported  through general  funds                                                              
and conducted by a "lean team" of folks.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  requested a  brief presentation  of a webinar  at                                                              
some time.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:49:44 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  MCCAULEY  showed  a  webinar  schedule  on  accountability  -                                                              
educator  evaluation  and  support.  It   listed  available  times                                                              
scheduled for  the year.  There are webinars  on other topics,  as                                                              
well, such as standards implementation.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:50:39 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:53:35 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  MCCAULEY related  that  the division  tries  to increase  its                                                              
capacity  and  maximize effectiveness  by  partnering  with  other                                                              
organizations to  provide support. Some  of the organizations  are                                                              
the Alaska  Council of School  Administrators, the Association  of                                                              
Alaska School Boards,  the Alaska National Education  Association,                                                              
and the University of Alaska.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL inquired  if  the  programs and  in-services  are                                                              
mandatory for teachers in order to keep a teaching certificate.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  clarified  that  all are  optional,  but  they  are                                                              
frequently  set up so  teachers can  receive continuing  education                                                              
credits.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL  asked  if  they  are  effective  and  should  be                                                              
continued.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  said   there  are  post-evaluations   that  include                                                              
specific  learning  objectives  that  are   measurable.  Sometimes                                                              
mini-interviews are  done. The division  evaluates whether or  not                                                              
the efforts meet the needs of districts and schools.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  asked if  teachers apply what  they learn and  if                                                              
that is evaluated.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DR. MACCAULEY  said there  is not  a measure  of application,  but                                                              
rather an increase in skill and knowledge.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL called it self-reporting.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DR. MACCAULEY said that is accurate.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY added  that most of the training  is requested                                                              
by districts and  many times they request additional  information.                                                              
There is currently  a backlog of requests by districts.  He called                                                              
it an  exciting shift in the  collaboration between districts  and                                                              
the department than was previously held.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:01:02 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  MCCAULEY  described  the  mentoring  and  coaching  programs,                                                              
three  programs   funded  through  general  funds   with  specific                                                              
purposes:   Alaska   Administrator   Coaching    Project,   Alaska                                                              
Statewide Mentor Project,  and State System of Support.  The first                                                              
two  are  voluntary  and  support  beginning   administrators  and                                                              
teachers,  and the  third is  for low-achieving  districts at  the                                                              
recommendation of superintendents.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  asked if  the third category  is assigned and  the                                                              
first two are voluntary.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY said  that  is correct.  She gave  an  example of  a                                                              
superintendent's  request for  a coach  for a  specific school  in                                                              
the district.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY  asked  if  superintendents  can  refuse  to  host                                                              
coaches.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY said probably not.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY summarized  that the  department  has mandates  to                                                              
provide coaching support to schools that need it.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY said  yes, the  department is  obligated to  provide                                                              
support to low-achieving districts.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:05:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS asked who the coaches are.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY said  they  are on  contract  and most  are  retired                                                              
principals who have worked in rural Alaska.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
She  continued   with  details  about   the  Support  for   School                                                              
Improvement  Plan provided  by EED  liaisons.  She explained  that                                                              
EED  liaisons are  nine cross-program  EED  employees who  provide                                                              
technical assistance  to schools in developing school  improvement                                                              
plans. They  have scheduled  check-ins with  the school  principal                                                              
and they  review the plans  and provide  feedback for 86  one-star                                                              
and two-star schools.  There are two liaisons who can  provide on-                                                              
site and distance-delivered assistance.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:07:59 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  MCCAULEY  described   the  resources  and  publications   the                                                              
division  publishes  with  educators  and  parents  in  mind.  She                                                              
showed examples of some  of the resources and said quite  a bit of                                                              
work has  been done on  the parent and community  star on the  web                                                              
site. She  showed an example  of an  Alaska Standards guide.  Most                                                              
resources   have  been  developed   at  the   request  of   school                                                              
districts.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL commented  that  the average  parent  may not  be                                                              
able to understand the publications.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  said they worked with  on the publications  with the                                                              
National Parent Teacher Association.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:10:42 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  HANLEY  drew attention  to  another division  -  the                                                              
Libraries,  Archives, &  Museums Division.  It provides  education                                                              
for professionals  in  museums, archives  and libraries  statewide                                                              
through  technical support,  advice,  site visits,  webinars,  and                                                              
presentations. Training  is available, as  is Live Homework  Help.                                                              
There  also  are AmeriCorps  and  Vista  volunteers  available  to                                                              
help.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  asked why this item  is not under the  Division of                                                              
Teacher and Learning Support.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said  it could be. He did not know  how it was                                                              
originally organized under this division.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked  if the division deals with all  libraries in                                                              
the state.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY  said only state libraries. He  explained that                                                              
state  libraries often  partner  with  local libraries,  but  some                                                              
local libraries are independent.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked about filters in public libraries.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY did not have that information.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY requested more information regarding filters.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:14:20 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  HANLEY  noted Live  Homework  Help had  24,000  live                                                              
sessions  last  year  equaling 8,400  hours.  That  has  increased                                                              
every year.  He related that there  is also technical and  on-line                                                              
support   available  in   libraries.  He   gave   an  example   of                                                              
teleconferencing in small communities.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY  asked  if Live  Homework  Help  is  available  to                                                              
everyone with a wide-open system.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY  said it is wide  open. He noted some  concern                                                              
about increased out-of-state use.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  asked if a  private school student,  home-schooled                                                              
student, or adult could use it.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY  said yes. He said  he knew of several  adults                                                              
who are taking college courses and using the service for help.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARDNER  asked how many school  libraries are open  in the                                                              
summer.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY  said not enough,  especially if they are  not                                                              
connected to the community library.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  asked if  Live Homework Help  is available for  12                                                              
months.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER HANLEY offered to find out.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:18:17 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER HANLEY  talked about AmeriCorps and Vista  Volunteers                                                              
that  provide some  of the  library services.  He explained  about                                                              
grants for operating libraries and special projects.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
He  concluded  that  the intent  of  the  Division  of  Libraries,                                                              
Archives, and  Museums is to empower  communities and provide  the                                                              
resources they need, to find the solutions that they need.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:19:03 PM                                                                                                                    
COMMISSIONER  HANLEY turned  to the  topic of  school finance  and                                                              
facilities and introduced Ms. Nudelman.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH  NUDELMAN,  Director,  School   Finance  and  Facilities                                                              
Section,  Department of  Education and  Early Development  (DEED),                                                              
presented information  related to the Federal Impact  Aid Program.                                                              
She began  with school finance  and how it  provides a variety  of                                                              
financial service and  support to school districts.  She explained                                                              
that  the section  consists  of  two groups,  school  finance  and                                                              
school facilities.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
She said school  finance provides a variety of  financial services                                                              
and support to  the school district business officials  around the                                                              
state including:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Annual budget and audit review and analysis                                                                                
     State Single Audit Compliance Supplement for DEED                                                                          
         Public School Funding Formula calculations and                                                                         
     assistance                                                                                                                 
     Pupil Transportation payment and oversight                                                                                 
     State Pass-Through Report                                                                                                  
    Debt   Retirement/School    Bond   Reimbursement    with                                                                    
     City/Boroughs                                                                                                              
     Residential/Boarding Home Program                                                                                          
     Calculation and Issuance of Tuition Rates                                                                                  
        Provide school finance training opportunities to                                                                        
     Business officials                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:24:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY asked  if the  old boarding  home stipend  program                                                              
still exists and, if so, which statute it is in.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN said it exists under AS 14.07.020.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:25:39 PM                                                                                                                    
She   discussed  the   Alaska  Association   of  School   Business                                                              
Officials  (ALASBO)  annual conference.  She  said  it is  a  very                                                              
strong  group of  individuals who  have an  annual conference  and                                                              
work  on  new accounting  standards,  studies,  and  provide  good                                                              
data. She praised that group of individuals.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:27:03 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  NUDELMAN drew  attention to  the responsibilities  of  School                                                              
Facilities:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
    Preventative   maintenance   program    evaluation   and                                                                    
     support.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Capital improvement plan (AIP) application support.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
    Assistance        to       districts       on        the                                                                    
     management/administration of projects.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
       Review educational facility submittals and provide                                                                       
     verbal and written feedback to districts.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
       Guidance to districts on school facility planning,                                                                       
     design, construction, and operations.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  asked about the status  of Kasayulie v.  State of                                                              
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN  related that  in  the  Kasayulie  Case all  of  the                                                              
appropriations have  been made for all  of the schools except  for                                                              
one. Only  the piece  for planning  remains and  is in  the FY  16                                                              
budget  for  approximately  $4.9 million.  The  total  project  is                                                              
approximately  $60  million.  She  added   that  Kivalina  in  the                                                              
Northwest Arctic is the remaining school.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY commented on Kivalina.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
He opened public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
RYAN HERBERT,  Student, Outside  Education, shared his  experience                                                              
with Outside  Education. He  explained that all  work is done  via                                                              
webinar. He gave an  example of a webinar, which cuts  the cost of                                                              
education and is  convenient because it can be accessed  anywhere.                                                              
He  said  he develops  webinars  and  they  are the  wave  of  the                                                              
future.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARDNER  asked  if Mr.  Herbert  was  familiar  with  the                                                              
Alaska Learning Network, which includes webinars.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. HERBERT said  he is familiar with it, however,  other webinars                                                              
like his are more advanced.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
LISA SKILES PARADY,  Executive Director, Alaska Council  of School                                                              
Administrators (ACSA),  said that for  ACSA members, the  Division                                                              
of Teaching  and Learning  is invaluable,  especially in light  of                                                              
recent mandates.  She gave  an example  of the  support they  will                                                              
provide during  the Superintendent Fly-In.  She stressed that  the                                                              
division provides critical services.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY moved on to the topic of Federal Impact Aid.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:41:03 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:41:53 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  NUDELMAN explained  that Impact  Aid  (Public Law  874) is  a                                                              
federal formula  grant program  that is  designed to assist  local                                                              
schools that have  lost revenue due to tax-exempt  federal related                                                              
property   and  incurred   increased  expenditures   due  to   the                                                              
enrollment of federally connected children.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY  said  examples  of  federal   property  would  be                                                              
military  bases, national  parks  and  preserves, and  other  land                                                              
taken out of the possibility to be locally taxed.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS NUDELMAN said correct.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  said in lieu  of the ability  to tax, the  federal                                                              
government has enacted  Public Law 874 that has been in  place for                                                              
a long  time. He  noted Alaska has  a lot  of set-aside land  that                                                              
districts cannot tax.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN said  correct. She  outlined  what her  presentation                                                              
would cover.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
She provided the history of impact aid:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     The federal Impact law came into effect in 1950.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska has participated in Impact Aid since inception.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     The equalization provision was added to the Impact Aid                                                                     
     law in 1976.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     The equalization provision allows a state to reduce                                                                        
     the amount of state aid sent to a district if                                                                              
     certified as "equalized" by the U.S. Department of                                                                         
     Education.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  summarized if  a school  district has  non-taxable                                                              
land, PL  874 was  enacted to offset  that, and  there has been  a                                                              
change in  1976 that  provides that  the state  has access to  the                                                              
money before  it goes  to school  districts, and  the amount  that                                                              
goes to the district is reduced.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN said  that is conceptually correct, but the  funds go                                                              
to the school  districts and the  state reduces the payments  from                                                              
basic need from the state's portion.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:46:16 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  NUDELMAN  listed  who  participates  in  Impact  Aid:  school                                                              
districts with concentrations  of federally connected children who                                                              
are children  of military personnel or others  who work on federal                                                              
land, or whose  parents reside on Indian lands or federal low rent                                                              
housing.  Under a provision  in the Impact  Aid law,  the state of                                                              
Alaska  applies  for  military Impact  Aid  and  passes the  funds                                                              
directly to the  participating school districts. This provides for                                                              
a higher reimbursement  rate than if the application was submitted                                                              
individually  by the  military base  effected school  districts of                                                              
Anchorage,  Fairbanks,  and  Kodiak.  The  state also  applies  on                                                              
behalf  of Mt. Edgecumbe. She  added that Alaska  applies that way                                                              
because the funding is higher with one application.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
She  listed  the  other  eligibility  requirements.  A  district's                                                              
eligibility  is  based   on  the  number  of  eligible   federally                                                              
connected  children equal  to  at least  3  percent of  the  total                                                              
number  of students  in average  daily attendance,  or the  number                                                              
equal to at least 400.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  asked if  there are small  schools districts  that                                                              
don't apply because  it is not worth  it for them to fill  out the                                                              
paperwork.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN said  it would be financially worth small  district's                                                              
efforts to  apply. A district with  only seven students would  not                                                              
be able to apply because the program has a floor.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  inquired if  there are schools  along the  Tongass                                                              
National  Forest in  Southeast Alaska  that can  apply for  Impact                                                              
Aid.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN  replied  that there  is  a  category  for  national                                                              
lands.  She  did  not  know  how  many   students  were  federally                                                              
connected to national lands in Southeast Alaska.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY gave Juneau or Sitka as examples.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN said most  Impact Aid students are on native  land or                                                              
military.  The  students  must  be  federally  connected;  federal                                                              
lands  many  not impact  the  costs  of educating  students  in  a                                                              
district. She  believed that  students in  Southeast Alaska  don't                                                              
live on federal land out of the tax base.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:50:58 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS questioned Kodiak's application.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN  clarified how  the unified  application of  military                                                              
impacted districts.  Rather than each of the districts  submitting                                                              
an  application,   the  Department   of  Education  collects   the                                                              
information  and  submits  it  in  one  application  in  order  to                                                              
qualify for  a higher rate of funding.  The money is then  divided                                                              
within the districts.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:52:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GARDNER asked  how school  districts  know where  parents                                                              
work.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN  offered  to  provide  that  information.  Anchorage                                                              
School   District   works  with   a   military-connected   housing                                                              
association. She  noted it is  a lot of  work to put together  the                                                              
applications.  She said  some  districts  have a  form  requesting                                                              
information from students.  The funding to Alaska is  $140 million                                                              
a year and the districts go through a process to apply.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARDNER asked  if  a district  can  require a  parent  to                                                              
reveal that information.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said that happens.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  asked about  students of  military families  that                                                              
do not live on federal land.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN said  there are  many different  categories; one  is                                                              
for students  whose parents  work on  federal land,  but who  does                                                              
not live on federal  land. There are about ten categories  and the                                                              
calculations vary.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
She   continued  with   an  overview   of   the  school   district                                                              
application.  She said  there  is a  deadline  of January  31  for                                                              
submitting  the electronic  application.  An applicant  can  still                                                              
apply  for up  to 60-days  following the  deadline, however,  this                                                              
applicant will incur a 10 percent reduction in funding.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if it is a one-day count.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN  said  the  impact  count   day  is  chosen  by  the                                                              
district; no  earlier than the fourth  day of the school  year and                                                              
no later than January 31.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:58:08 PM                                                                                                                    
She  said  Impact  Aid  Provides  funding  related  to  four  main                                                              
categories:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          1) 8003: Basic Support (basic support, basic support                                                                  
          for heavily impacted districts, and basic support for                                                                 
          children with disabilities)                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          2) 8007: Construction                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
          3) 8002: Property                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          4) 8008: Facilities                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
She noted Alaska  qualifies on an  annual basis for 8003  and 8007                                                              
funding.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
She  said that  the one  heavily impacted  district  in Alaska  is                                                              
Annette  Island  School  District  because  of  its  "reservation"                                                              
boundaries. They receive a substantially higher reimbursement.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said their direct state aid is reduced, as well.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN  clarified that the  heavily impacted portion  cannot                                                              
be viewed and reduced under federal law, only the basic portion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said they "get more money."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN said correct.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
She  explained  that   basic  support  also  includes   money  for                                                              
children with disabilities.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
She related  that basic  support payments are  based on a  formula                                                              
that considers the  number of eligible Impact Aid students  in the                                                              
district; the  Impact Aid  count of  federally connected  children                                                              
in   the  district.   The  formula   also   considers  the   Local                                                              
Contribution Rate  - one-half of  the average statewide per  pupil                                                              
expenditures.  Basic Support  is  discretionary funding  for  free                                                              
public education of federally connected children.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked  whether a school district can opt out  if it                                                              
does not want to apply.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUDELMAN  explained that  some categories  are not  considered                                                              
for   equalization   and  disparity.   There   is  a   ratio   for                                                              
municipalities to  calculate the portion  that is offset, and  the                                                              
state only  offsets at 90  percent. That  entices schools to  fill                                                              
out the  applications. She stated that  the state of Alaska  helps                                                              
fund basic need.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
She reviewed basic  support for children with disabilities,  which                                                              
can  range from  $500 to  $1,200 per  child. She  said the  Bering                                                              
Strait School District qualifies for this.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:03:36 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. NUDELMAN  spoke of the 8007  construction fund payment,  which                                                              
is  only about  1 percent  of  the total  funding  in Alaska,  and                                                              
applies when  the federally connected  children equal at least  50                                                              
percent of the membership in average daily attendance.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
She showed  a sample  of an  Impact Aid payment  voucher from  the                                                              
Bering Strait  School District.  She explained  the basic  support                                                              
payment category. She  said that typically the money  is disbursed                                                              
at  80  percent  the first  time  out.  She  detailed  other  fund                                                              
categories.  She  pointed  out  that Impact  Aid  is  not  forward                                                              
funded  at   the  federal   level.  She   highlighted  the   local                                                              
contribution rate  and type. She concluded  that it is a  "federal                                                              
direct program"  and goes right to  the district, not through  the                                                              
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  asked if it  is a program  that will continue  or                                                              
if the state can expect some reductions.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN  replied that  it  has  been a  solid  program.  She                                                              
believed it  was reduced when some  programs were sequestered.  It                                                              
was one  of the first  education funding  programs. It also  funds                                                              
students on reservations, which adds to its stability.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:10:27 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. NUDELMAN showed an example of a military voucher.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
She discussed the state consideration of Impact Aid Payments in                                                                 
providing state aid. Public Law 874 allows a state to seek                                                                      
permission to consider Impact Aid in its state formula if the                                                                   
formula meets a specified equalization standard. Alaska's public                                                                
school funding formula (the Foundation formula) is designed as                                                                  
an equalized formula and each year Alaska submits a disparity                                                                   
test calculation showing that the per-pupil revenue between the                                                                 
highest and lowest districts in the state does not exceed a 25%                                                                 
difference.  She noted the calculation is on DEED's website.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:12:50 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. NUDELMAN shared how the disparity test is calculated. The                                                                   
disparity test follows the Impact Aid program requirements. In                                                                  
general, the test aggregates revenues per district and divides                                                                  
by adjusted average daily membership (AADM) to arrive at                                                                        
adjusted per-pupil revenues for each district. The districts are                                                                
sorted from highest to lowest adjusted per-pupil revenues and                                                                   
the difference in adjusted per-pupil revenues from highest to                                                                   
lowest cannot be more than 25 percent.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
She mentioned  litigation as  it relates  to funding formulas  and                                                              
commented  that  using this  formula  that  includes  equalization                                                              
Impact Aid has provided  the state with a foundation  formula that                                                              
has stood  strong to  adequacy and equalization.  After the  Moore                                                              
lawsuit got underway,  neither of those two items were  pointed at                                                              
for deficiencies in the foundation formula.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
She  discussed the  calculation for  Impact Aid  related to  state                                                              
aid at  AS 14.17.410.  If the  state is approved  as an  equalized                                                              
state under the  disparity test, the state calculates  the funding                                                              
for  basic need  in the  Public Education  Funding  formula at  AS                                                              
14.17.410  considering Impact  Aid to  the extent  provide for  by                                                              
federal Impact Aid law.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:16:01 PM                                                                                                                    
She   showed   how   to  calculate   eligible   Impact   Aid   for                                                              
consideration  in the  state aid  formula.  A state  may not  take                                                              
into  consideration  the following:  children  with  disabilities,                                                              
funding, one-fifth  of funding for  children who reside on  Indian                                                              
Lands, construction funding, and heavily impacted districts.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
She  related  that the  state  may  consider 100  percent  of  the                                                              
remaining   Impact  Aid   after  subtracting   those  funds.   For                                                              
municipal  school  districts,  the amount  considered  is  further                                                              
reduced by  the Impact  Aid percentage of  required local  divided                                                              
by actual  local. Finally, the state  considers 90 percent  of the                                                              
eligible Impact Aid after all subtractions.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked why the final 10 percent is not considered.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUDELMAN  said  the  statute is  drafted  that  way.  The  10                                                              
percent could  be considered  additional funding  that stays  with                                                              
the district.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:18:11 PM                                                                                                                    
She provided  two district voucher  examples: Anchorage and  Lower                                                              
Kuskokwim. The total  amount of Impact Aid Anchorage  was entitled                                                              
to  was $20,887,370.  She  listed the  amount  that could  not  be                                                              
offset  as  $667,265.  The state  offsets  48.73  percent  of  the                                                              
Impact   Aid.  She   summarized  Lower   Kuskokwim's  Impact   Aid                                                              
calculations.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:21:31 PM                                                                                                                    
She  stated  the   total  of  federal  Impact  Aid   revenues  are                                                              
approximately $140 million annually to Alaska schools.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
She shared  the Impact  Aid summary  chart from  FY 14 that  lists                                                              
all school districts.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
She explained  the FY 14  foundation funding:  In FY 14  districts                                                              
received  approximately  $132 million  in  Impact Aid,  the  State                                                              
considered $71  million as funding  in the foundation formula  and                                                              
districts retained $61  million. The eligibility for the  state to                                                              
consider  Impact Aid as  a funding  component of  basic need,  and                                                              
the requirements such  as the percentage to be considered  and the                                                              
calculations  required, are contained  in the  federal Impact  Aid                                                              
law.  If the  state  did not  consider  Impact  Aid as  a  funding                                                              
source in  the foundation formula  the state general fund  dollars                                                              
would have increased by $71 million in FY 14.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
She showed  a chart of  the FY 14  foundation funding formula  for                                                              
all school districts.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:24:23 PM                                                                                                                    
She said  various calculations  can be seen  from the charts.  For                                                              
Anchorage, the state  is providing about 76 percent of  basic need                                                              
with  state entitlement,  for  Chugach  that  number is  about  97                                                              
percent,  and  for  Lower  Kuskokwim  that   number  is  about  79                                                              
percent.  She  pointed  out  that  the   foundation  formula  also                                                              
provides funding in other categories.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY thanked  the  Department  of Education  and  Early                                                              
Development (DEED) for the presentations.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:26:57 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  nothing further to  come before the committee,  Chair                                                              
Dunleavy  adjourned the  Senate  Education Standing  Committee  at                                                              
5:26 p.m.                                                                                                                       

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Impact Aid Presentation.pdf SEDC 2/19/2015 3:30:00 PM
Impact Aid Testimony - Chugach District (2-18-15).pdf SEDC 2/19/2015 3:30:00 PM
State Supported Efforts.pdf SEDC 2/19/2015 3:30:00 PM