Legislature(2017 - 2018)CAPITOL 106

02/01/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION

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Audio Topic
08:00:40 AM Start
08:01:20 AM Presentation: Synchronous Distance Learning in Alaska
08:14:22 AM Presentation: Department of Education and Early Development: Every Student Succeeds Act (essa)
09:26:32 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Overview of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) TELECONFERENCED
Joint Hearing with the House Education Committee
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
                         JOINT MEETING                                                                                        
               HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
              SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                        February 1, 2017                                                                                        
                           8:00 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
 Representative Harriet Drummond, Chair                                                                                         
 Representative Justin Parish, Vice Chair                                                                                       
 Representative Zach Fansler                                                                                                    
 Representative Ivy Spohnholz                                                                                                   
 Representative Jennifer Johnston                                                                                               
 Representative Chuck Kopp                                                                                                      
 Representative David Talerico                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
 Senator Shelley Hughes, Chair                                                                                                  
 Senator Gary Stevens                                                                                                           
 Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                          
 Senator John Coghill                                                                                                           
 Senator Tom Begich                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
 Representative Geran Tarr (Alternate)                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
 All members present                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Dan Ortiz                                                                                                        
Representative Lora Reinbold                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION:  SYNCHRONOUS DISTANCE LEARNING IN ALASKA                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION:   DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION  AND EARLY  DEVELOPMENT:                                                               
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (ESSA)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JEWEL FLECKENSTEIN, Student Member                                                                                              
Alaska Close Up                                                                                                                 
Alaska's Educational Resource Center (SERRC)                                                                                    
Interior Distance Education of Alaska (IDEA)                                                                                    
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:     Provided   a  student   presentation  on                                                             
Synchronous Distance Learning in Alaska.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL JOHNSON, Commissioner                                                                                                   
Department of Education and Early Development (EED)                                                                             
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Introduced  the departmental presentation of                                                             
the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN MCCAULEY, PhD                                                                                                             
Education Policy Coordinator                                                                                                    
Department of Education and Early Development (EED)                                                                             
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   Provided  the departmental  presentation of                                                             
the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:00:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the  joint meeting of the House and                                                             
Senate  Education  Standing  Committees  to order  at  8:00  a.m.                                                               
Representatives  Drummond, Kopp,  Parish, Fansler,  Johnston, and                                                               
Talerico; and Senators Coghill,  Giessel, Begich, and Hughes were                                                               
present  at the  call  to order.    Representative Spohnholz  and                                                               
Senator Stevens  arrived as  the meeting was  in progress.   Also                                                               
present were Representatives Ortiz and Reinbold.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[Chair Drummond passed the gavel to Senator Hughes]                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION:  Synchronous Distance Learning in Alaska                                                                         
     PRESENTATION:  SYNCHRONOUS DISTANCE LEARNING IN ALASKA                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:01:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
a  student  presentation  on  Synchronous  Distance  Learning  in                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:03:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEWEL  FLECKENSTEIN, Student  Member, Alaska  Close Up,  Alaska's                                                               
Educational  Resource Center  SERRC, Interior  Distance Education                                                               
of Alaska  (IDEA), said  the cost of  operating schools  in rural                                                               
areas is unsustainable,  considering the current budget.   One of                                                               
the consequences,  she noted,  is that a  variety of  classes may                                                               
not be  available for students  and suggested  distance education                                                               
may  be  a  part  of  the  solution;  available  to  all  Alaskan                                                               
students.   She explained  that two  types of  distance education                                                               
exist:  asynchronous - accessing  materials remotely and learning                                                               
on  an  individual  schedule/pace; and  synchronous  -  accessing                                                               
resources  actively with  other  classmates albeit  in a  virtual                                                               
classroom setting.   The characteristics  of a  virtual classroom                                                               
that conducts  synchronous courses include allowances  for:  live                                                               
online classes;  live chat access;  video /web  conferencing; the                                                               
teacher being in  a different physical locale  than the students;                                                               
utilization of  programs such  as Collaborate,  Elluminate, Zoom,                                                               
and  Adobe  Connect.    She   reported  that  three  examples  of                                                               
synchronous  classrooms can  be  found in  Alaska.   The  largest                                                               
implementation  may be  Kodiak  Island  School District  (KIBSD),                                                               
which  connects   13  schools   via  on-line  classrooms.     The                                                               
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)  also offers on-line courses                                                               
for students  to work from  home while  attaining a degree.   The                                                               
third is  Williamsburg Academy that unites  teachers and students                                                               
from  across  the  state  and  the nation.    She  quoted  former                                                               
Superintendent  Gary Baldwin,  Lower  Kuskokwim School  District,                                                               
who said:   "The most  powerful thing in a  traditional classroom                                                               
is the connection between the teacher  and the student.  And that                                                               
connection  happens over  two-way video."   The  Windsor Academy,                                                               
government  economics  class  she  is enrolled  in  has  been  an                                                               
inspiration and  helped to  bring her to  the Capitol  and before                                                               
the committee  today.  Describing  the program  applications that                                                               
are  used  by  the  academy, and  elaborating  on  the  interface                                                               
possibilities, she  paraphrased from  a written  statement, which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Canvas is  our learning management system  (LMS).  It's                                                                    
     the  platform  we  use  to  deliver  all  our  courses.                                                                    
     Canvas  is  where  students  will  receive  and  submit                                                                    
     assignments,   complete   some    of   their   studies,                                                                    
     collaborate  with classmates,  and access  their course                                                                    
     syllabi  and  assignments.   Each  class  has  its  own                                                                    
     dedicated area within Blackboard.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Blackboard  Collaborate  is  software used  to  conduct                                                                    
     live  online   class  meetings  or  to   view  recorded                                                                    
     lectures.    Collaborate  meetings and  recordings  are                                                                    
     accessed through Canvas.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Zoom is the backup  video software used when Blackboard                                                                    
     Collaborate  is not  functioning.    Same principle  as                                                                    
     Blackboard Collaborate.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Student  Information  Services  (SIS),  is  the  online                                                                    
     system  parents  use  to create  an  account  with  us,                                                                    
     register and  pay for courses, view  snapshots of their                                                                    
     student's  academic  progress, and  access  transcripts                                                                    
     and  grades  for  completed courses.    Parents  create                                                                    
     their  own  SIS  accounts   first,  then  add  students                                                                    
     individually.  Only one parent  SIS account is required                                                                    
     per  student, but  both parents  can  create their  own                                                                    
     account if they wish.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
She opined  on the  high quality of  education that  she believes                                                               
she is  receiving and the  level of participation,  including the                                                               
viewing opportunities,  enjoyed by the  students.  It has  been a                                                               
great experience, she finished.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:12:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHNSTON asked  whether the  Williamsburg program                                                               
is  affiliated with  William and  Mary  College in  Williamsburg,                                                               
Virginia.  Additionally, she queried  what bandwidth is needed to                                                               
access the program.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FLECKENSTEIN said  a standard  device is  sufficient and  no                                                               
special connections are required; based on her experience.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON  asked about limitations for  class size,                                                               
and the level of school choice that it allows.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. FLECKENSTEIN responded  that she's had up to 100  in a class,                                                               
and that  the possibilities provided  are exciting and  require a                                                               
healthy level of personal engagement.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:13:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL   asked  about   tuition  costs   and  financial                                                               
arrangements for payment.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. FLECKENSTEIN answered that the  course she is enrolled in was                                                               
$300.00 which was handled via self-pay.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION:   Department of  Education and  Early Development:                                                               
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)                                                                                               
 PRESENTATION:  Department of Education and Early Development:                                                              
               Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:14:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES announced that the  final order of business would be                                                               
a  presentation  from  the  Department  of  Education  and  Early                                                               
Development (EED) on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:15:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL JOHNSON, Commissioner, Department  of Education and Early                                                               
Development  (EED),  offered  introductory remarks  and  reported                                                               
that, in his  travels throughout the state, he  has stressed that                                                               
ESSA  is not  an agenda  for Alaska's  education.   The state  is                                                               
establishing what  it deems  necessary, and  ESSA does  not drive                                                               
that effort.  Alaska's educational  system is a reflection of the                                                               
ESSA guidelines.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:17:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN MCCAULEY, PhD, Education  Policy Coordinator, Department of                                                               
Education and Early Development  (EED), directed attention to the                                                               
committee handout,  titled "Joint Meeting  of the House  & Senate                                                               
Education Committees,  page 3,  to explain  the inception  of the                                                               
Elementary  and Secondary  Education  Act (ESEA)  passed in  1965                                                               
with the goal to improve the  quality of education for low income                                                               
students  and   the  stipulation   for  it  to   be  periodically                                                               
reauthorized by  Congress, which  has occurred  twice:   first as                                                               
the No Child  Left Behind Act (NCLB), 2002, and  now as the Every                                                               
Student  Succeeds  Act (ESSA),  2015.    She described  the  NCLB                                                               
reauthorization,  stating, "That  was perceived  as, and  in fact                                                               
was, a very cookie cutter,  ... top down, heavily mandated, piece                                                               
of  legislation."   The ESSA  reauthorization was  passed with  a                                                               
high level of bipartisan support.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY said  the focus of the presentation is  on three key                                                               
elements, tied to  Title I, which impacts every  school in Alaska                                                               
in terms of what is developed  for the state application of ESSA.                                                               
In  order  of  address,  these   elements  are:    standards  and                                                               
assessments; accountability; and  school support and improvement.                                                               
The  specific, statutory  requirements for  each element  will be                                                               
presented, followed by whatever  differences ESSA represents from                                                               
NCLB,  and finally  a review  of the  state's current  status for                                                               
compliance.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:20:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY,   beginning  with  the  component   for  education                                                               
standards, said ESSA requires assurance  that states have adopted                                                               
challenging academic  content standards in English  language arts                                                               
(ELA), mathematics,  and science, and that  the adopted standards                                                               
are  aligned with  public college  and relevant  Career Technical                                                               
Education (CTE) entrance  requirements.  The intent  is that some                                                               
degree of alignment exists to  ensure that a high school graduate                                                               
can be ready  for postsecondary education.   The major difference                                                               
between ESSA  and NCLB, throughout,  is what the  U.S. Department                                                               
of Education (USED)  is no longer allowed to mandate.   Thus, for                                                               
this  element,  it prohibits  the  Secretary  of Education  from:                                                               
exercising authority over states'  standards, requiring states to                                                               
submit their standards for review,  or incentivizing the adoption                                                               
of  any particular  set of  standards.   Alaska's current  status                                                               
shows that  ELA and  mathematics standards  were adopted  in 2012                                                               
and  science standards  and grade  level  expectations were  last                                                               
revised  in 2006.   The  state's science  standards will  require                                                               
review  and  some  revision,  but otherwise  Alaska  is  in  good                                                               
standing on this element.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:24:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY, regarding the  component for assessments, explained                                                               
that  the  law  requires  annual  content  assessments  for  ELA,                                                               
mathematics, and  science.  The  ELA and math assessments  are to                                                               
be conducted annually in grades 3-8,  and at least once in grades                                                               
9-12.   The science assessments  are to be administered  at least                                                               
once in  grades 3-5, 6-9, and  10-12.  The differences  from NCLB                                                               
are:   states can use  a single summative assessment  or multiple                                                               
interim assessments  to produce a summative  score; districts may                                                               
choose   to   use   other  "nationally-recognized   high   school                                                               
assessments" rather  than a state  sourced assessment -  with EED                                                               
permission;  states  are  allowed  to establish  their  own  laws                                                               
regarding  "opt-out" provisions  for testing  - an  action Alaska                                                               
has  already   legislated;  and  ESSA  maintains   a  95  percent                                                               
assessment participation rate, with  consequences for not meeting                                                               
the requirement to  be determined by the  state. Alaska's current                                                               
status shows that assessments are  being annually administered in                                                               
ELA and  mathematics in grades 3-10  and in science in  grades 4,                                                               
8,  and   10.  Thus,   continuing  the   status  quo   meets  the                                                               
requirements of ESSA.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:28: 38 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY continued with the  handout, page 12, to address the                                                               
second  key  element:   accountability.    She pointed  out  that                                                               
significant changes have been adopted  under ESSA, beginning with                                                               
allowing every  state the independent  latitude to  determine and                                                               
implement an  accountability metric,  whereas NCLB  made specific                                                               
prescriptions.    Whatever  method  the state  chooses,  it  must                                                               
"meaningfully   differentiate"   schools  based   on   individual                                                               
qualities and  student performance  ratings.  She  explained that                                                               
should Alaska's star rating system  be retained, and every school                                                               
aspired  to a  four-star rating,  the federal  requirement for  a                                                               
method of  differentiation would  be considered unmet.   Further,                                                               
it requires  ambitious, state designed,  long-term goals  for all                                                               
traditional  students   and  subgroups,   but  does   not  define                                                               
"ambitious,"  nor   does  it  include   specific  goals.     Five                                                               
indicators   are   required   to    be   considered   under   the                                                               
accountability  system.   The  first is  a  measure to  determine                                                               
academic proficiency via annual  state assessments, which was the                                                               
sole NCLB standard  and an emphasis that has  been retained under                                                               
ESSA.   Secondly, elementary  and middle schools  are to  have an                                                               
additional measure  of academic performance, such  as growth from                                                               
year   to  year   to  indicate   a  student's   movement  towards                                                               
proficiency, or  if already  proficient, their  continued growth.                                                               
High  school  graduation  rates  are  to  be  factored  into  the                                                               
indicators  and are  to include  improvement goals.   The  fourth                                                               
indicator  to  be  factored  into  the metric  is  a  measure  of                                                               
progress for English  learners.  The fifth measure  is for school                                                               
quality  or  student  success  based   on  a  non-academic,  non-                                                               
standardized  measure; responding  to  a perception  of the  over                                                               
emphasis that  NCLB placed  on standardized  testing as  the only                                                               
accountability requirement.   She said that under  ESSA, there is                                                               
an understanding that many factors  impact student learning.  The                                                               
measures  to be  used  are  not prescribed  under  ESSA and  many                                                               
considerations  are being  discussed  throughout the  educational                                                               
system, such  as chronic absenteeism,  suspension/expulsion data,                                                               
high  level  course  offerings, completion  of  career  pathways,                                                               
school climate/safety, student/parent  engagement, and any number                                                               
of other possibilities,  to be decided at the  state and district                                                               
levels.    The  hurdle,  she  cautioned,  is  that  a  means  for                                                               
measurement needs  to be devised.   The non-academic  factors may                                                               
not be easily measured; thus,  the state will make determinations                                                               
in  this  realm.    The  law  allows  states  the  discretion  of                                                               
including  other   indicators,  but   the  five   presented,  are                                                               
required.   Accountability  must be  measured annually,  and each                                                               
school differentiated  based on all  the indicators.   Finally, a                                                               
participation rate of 95 percent must  be a part of the equation.                                                               
Pointing out the  differences from NCLB and the  NCLB waiver, she                                                               
said  the entire  accountability metric  under NCLB  required the                                                               
submission of  adequate yearly progress (AYP)  reports and having                                                               
100   percent  of   the  students   attain  proficiency   of  the                                                               
standardized metric  by a  date certain  - 2014.   No  longer are                                                               
aspects of the accountability system  allowed to be prescribed by                                                               
the  U.S.  Secretary  of  Education,  allowing  every  state  the                                                               
autonomy  to  design  appropriate   systems.    Alaska  currently                                                               
addresses accountability  by using the Alaska  School Performance                                                               
Index (ASPI), and a summative star  rating for schools on a scale                                                               
of  one  to five.  The  ASPI  elementary/middle school  indicator                                                               
percentage  weightings for  students  in grades  K-8 are:  school                                                               
progress  40, academic  achievement 35,  and attendance  rate 25.                                                               
The  high school  facility percentages  are: school  progress 40,                                                               
academic achievement  20, graduation rate 20,  college and career                                                               
ready 10,  and attendance  rate 10.   She  said retaining  a star                                                               
system will meet ESSA requirements;  using attendance as the non-                                                               
academic factor.  Conversations  are still ensuing throughout the                                                               
state as to whether this is an acceptable standard.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:38:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY said  the final components of the  third key element                                                               
are the  requirements for  school support  and improvement.   The                                                               
law  directs   the  state  to   identify  schools   that  require                                                               
comprehensive support, and these will  be Title I facilities that                                                               
rank in the  lowest fifth percentile, as well as  any high school                                                               
with a  graduation rate of  less than  67 percent.   Schools must                                                               
also  be identified  for targeted  support, which  are facilities                                                               
that have  a consistently  underperforming subgroup  of students.                                                               
Here  again, ESSA  does not  define  the terms  or prescribe  the                                                               
remedies,  allowing the  state  to  make determinations;  another                                                               
major departure from  NCLB.  The strategies the  state chooses to                                                               
fulfill these  requirements are to  be evidence-based  and cannot                                                               
be random suggestions.   The departure in this area  from NCLB is                                                               
also significant, in moving from  a threshold of a research-based                                                               
to   an   evidence-based   approach,   which   will   allow   the                                                               
implementation  of a  less formal  means to  recognize and  adopt                                                               
innovative  improvements.     Research-based   mandates  required                                                               
adherence  to  strict  protocols  that were  developed  based  on                                                               
extensive   studies.      The  evidence-based   approach   allows                                                               
flexibility to adopt  innovative ideas that have  a likelihood of                                                               
being  effective.   Alaska's current  status for  this area,  she                                                               
explained, is  that the  agency has  been identifying  "focus and                                                               
priority  schools,"  monitoring  school  improvement  funds,  and                                                               
using the  State System of  Support coaching model to  assist the                                                               
lowest  performing schools.   All  of this  was put  in place  to                                                               
comply with NCLB requirements and  to be consistent with the NCLB                                                               
waiver.    Continuing  the  status quo  would  likely  meet  ESSA                                                               
requirements or a new model  could be adopted, which is currently                                                               
under discussion, she reported.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:43:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  discussed  the  decisions  that  are  still  being                                                               
determined,  which  include:   should  there  be a  move  towards                                                               
testing one  grade in  high school, as  now required,  versus the                                                               
two grades that Alaska currently  tests; what are the appropriate                                                               
considerations   for   determining   the  n-size   for   subgroup                                                               
accountability, which can  have a major impact  on Alaska's small                                                               
schools;  what  should  be  used as  a  non-academic  factor  for                                                               
measuring school  quality and student success;  what supports are                                                               
perceived as most  helpful by the districts and what  will be the                                                               
qualifiers; and what innovative  approaches can be implemented to                                                               
address   Alaska's  unique   opportunities   and  long   standing                                                               
challenges.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:47:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY explained  that there appears to be  no appetite for                                                               
revisiting ESSA by  the newly elected congress.   The law enjoyed                                                               
a  high  level of  bipartisan  support,  it institutes  necessary                                                               
guardrails  while allowing  states appropriate  flexibility, and,                                                               
thus,  the sentiment  is to  allow it  to be  implemented and  be                                                               
proven.  She  reported that the department responded  to the USED                                                               
draft regulations last  fall, in concert with other  states.  The                                                               
national   feedback   resulted   in    the   USED   pausing   the                                                               
implementation   of  the   accountability  aspect   due  to   the                                                               
perception that it  is not in keeping with the  intent of the law                                                               
regarding  flexibility  allowance  for  the states.    Alaska  is                                                               
developing  state plans  in compliance  with ESSA  and monitoring                                                               
changes in the U.S. regulations as ESSA is being finalized.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:50:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  described the process used  for developing Alaska's                                                               
state  plan, which  includes: incorporating  work generated  from                                                               
ESSA  stakeholder  groups   comprised  of  tribal  organizations,                                                               
school  districts, parent  groups,  and associations;  consistent                                                               
agency  consultation with  a  broad  representation of  education                                                               
stakeholders;  use of  focus  groups  at various  events/meetings                                                               
across the state; and formation  of topic specific work groups to                                                               
identify ways  and means for  meeting the new requirements.   The                                                               
draft  plan is  anticipated for  completion by  April 2017.   The                                                               
department is  continuing efforts to  seek input to  complete the                                                               
draft  including  engagement  of,  and  approval  by,  the  board                                                               
regarding  necessary  regulations;   and  consultation  with  the                                                               
legislature, as  required by law.  The second  submission window,                                                               
for state  plans, is September 2017,  and Alaska is on  track for                                                               
that date.   Finishing, Dr.  McCauley provided images of  the EED                                                               
website and  described how to  access the ESSA  information page,                                                               
which the department is maintaining  for the public's edification                                                               
and comments.  She pointed out  a newly included "tool kit," that                                                               
provides access to materials.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:53:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES asked about the  final decision timeline, and who is                                                               
included in the use of the term "stakeholders."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  responded that  the  goal  is  to have  the  final                                                               
decision points addressed by April.   The stakeholder groups have                                                               
included practitioners,  principals, parents, Native  tribes, the                                                               
legislature, and  the State  Chamber of  Commerce; the  reach has                                                               
been broad, as required under ESSA.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:56:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FANSLER  asked what  is being  referred to  in the                                                               
statement, "maintain 95 percent participation requirement."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  answered that  it  refers  to  95 percent  of  the                                                               
students enrolled, at the school  wide level; having participated                                                               
in an annual, required assessment.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FANSLER asked about  accessing the ASPI cumulative                                                               
rating outcomes.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY responded  that the  latest  published results  are                                                               
from  two  years  ago  and  are  available  on  the  department's                                                               
website, under the assessment and accountability section.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FANSLER asked  for further  elaboration regarding                                                               
the weightings chart and the use of the word growth.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  said, "That [section  of the law]  identified seven                                                               
levels  of growth  for which  a school  would receive  credit, in                                                               
terms of  moving students from one  to another."  As  an example,                                                               
she explained that  a student who is not proficient,  as shown by                                                               
a state assessment, but is moved  from level 1 to level 2, allows                                                               
the school  to receive credit for  the move.  Additionally,  if a                                                               
student is  proficient and  moves from  level 5  to level  6, the                                                               
school receives  credit, as  well, even  though the  student had,                                                               
and continued  to be  proficient; demonstrating  continued growth                                                               
in their learning.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:59:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BEGICH reported  having had a hand in  writing the social                                                               
studies  standards, when  Governor Walter  Hickel was  in office,                                                               
and  asked  whether  there  have been  revisions  in  the  social                                                               
studies standards since that time.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY stated her belief  that there have been no revisions                                                               
since that time, and added that  Alaska has no provision for, nor                                                               
does ESSA  require, social studies  assessments.  She  offered to                                                               
provide further information, including the last revision date.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BEGICH noted  that the Moore, et al. v.  State of Alaska,                                                             
3AN-04-9756  CI, (2010),  settlement  funds  are expiring,  funds                                                               
that  were  targeted  to  support  schools  that  met  the  lower                                                               
proficiency standards, which  ESSA appears to address.   He asked                                                               
whether there are departmental plans  for continuing any level of                                                               
targeted support in the spirit  of ESSA and the Moore settlement,                                                             
which speaks  specifically to Alaska  constitutional obligations,                                                               
and  whether  the final  Moore  reports  could prove  helpful  in                                                             
identifying approaches to meet ESSA requirements.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  suggested that the  answer to both  questions would                                                               
be yes  and elaborated  to say that  irrespective of  the federal                                                               
requirements the  state statutes require that  Moore be followed.                                                             
Federal   law  and   state  statute   are  consistent   regarding                                                               
requirements  directing  EED to  identify  schools  in need,  and                                                               
provide appropriate  support, based on student  achievement.  The                                                               
Moore  settlement  reports  have  been helpful  as  a  review  of                                                             
improvements  and interventions  that were  deemed useful  or not                                                               
for improving student learning, she reported.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BEGICH suggested  using a percentage to  determine the n-                                                               
size, then asked  about including the Youth  Risk Behavior Survey                                                               
(YRBS),  and  the School  Climate  and  Connectedness Survey,  as                                                               
methods for measuring school qualities and student success.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY recollected that the  n-size stipulation may need to                                                               
be a required,  consistent number across the state  for each sub-                                                               
group,  negating the  possibility  of using  a  percentage.   She                                                               
offered   to  review   the  requirements   and  provide   further                                                               
information.   The USED  issues guidance  statements, as  well as                                                               
regulations, and currently the n-size  is allowed to be no higher                                                               
than   35.     Regarding  the   YRBS  and   School  Climate   and                                                               
Connectedness  Survey,   she  said   the  surveys,   or  selected                                                               
sections, could be used; ESSA allows that type of flexibility.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:05:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   JOHNSTON  asked   what  assessments/testing   is                                                               
scheduled for 2017.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY answered  that a  vendor has  been identified,  who                                                               
will  be  providing  a  statewide  assessment  in  spring,  2017,                                                               
proctored to students in grades 3-10.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON  expressed concern regarding the  lack of                                                               
ability  to mine  student  data  on a  consistent,  year to  year                                                               
basis, and asked  whether districts are being  encouraged to mine                                                               
data.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  clarification is being  brought around  the purpose                                                               
and  usefulness  of  statewide   assessments,  as  questioned  by                                                               
parents  and administrators  across  the state.   The  department                                                               
will make every  effort to generate useful reports  based on data                                                               
received.     School   assessments   and  statewide   assessments                                                               
certainly  differ significantly  regarding what  is expected  and                                                               
how  the  data  is  used.     She  deferred  further  comment  to                                                               
Commissioner Johnson.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:07:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON noted that part  of the restructuring of the                                                               
department,   following  adoption   of   HB   30,  reflects   the                                                               
understanding  that  data  should inform  decisions  being  made.                                                               
Thus, the  data shop is being  made a unit within  the department                                                               
and new  focus is being  placed on how  the data is  received and                                                               
distributed.  The  measure is being taken to ensure  that data is                                                               
being  put  to  optimum  use  and  informs  instruction  for  the                                                               
students.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:08:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS expressed  concern for  EDC to  be appropriately                                                               
manned to  handle the changes that  are being asked of  it, given                                                               
that it's a modest sized department; what impacts are expected.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON reported  that the  efforts to  comply with                                                               
ESSA is taxing  the department.  The current  staff have absorbed                                                               
the duties  for developing compliance  measures along  with their                                                               
regularly assigned  duties.   Many of EDC  staff working  on K-12                                                               
issues  are federally  funded workers;  however,  that creates  a                                                               
challenge in the  effort to ensure that the agency  is an Alaska,                                                               
agenda driven  department.  He  deferred further response  to Dr.                                                               
McCauley.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY added  that the reductions have  certainly had major                                                               
impacts.   About 23 positions  have been removed,  which included                                                               
subject content  specialists.  The reductions  represent a number                                                               
of support staff  that educators leaned on heavily,  on a regular                                                               
basis,  which were  situated throughout  the districts.   In  the                                                               
agency's  administrative office  staff has  stepped up  to absorb                                                               
additional duties.   She assured  the committee that  the federal                                                               
requirements  will  be met,  while  putting  Alaska's vision  for                                                               
education first.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:12:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL  expressed  hope  that state's  rights  will  be                                                               
recognized  under   ESSA,  as  is   expected.    She   noted  the                                                               
requirement  to  measure  school   quality  and  student  success                                                               
indicates   a  qualitative   aspect  that   can  be   focused  on                                                               
individuals  via  qualitative  research.     She  opined  on  the                                                               
importance of this approach and  applauded the quality indicator,                                                               
stating  that  she looks  forward  to  seeing  how this  will  be                                                               
implemented.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY said  parents have  been  asked to  respond to  the                                                               
question:   What makes a great  school and what qualities  do you                                                               
want in  the facility  that your  child attends  every day?   She                                                               
reported that parents  care about a wide spectrum  of things that                                                               
were  not  included in  NCLB's  qualitative  design but  are  now                                                               
reflected in ESSA.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:16:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PARISH  asked  whether there  has  been  research                                                               
gathered  regarding the  effects  of testing  on overall  student                                                               
achievement.   He recalled that  in schools where he  has worked,                                                               
regular  classroom activity  was  temporarily  shut down,  during                                                               
assessment periods.   He expressed  apprehension for  taking time                                                               
away from the regular teaching schedule.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON  said studies of  that nature have  not been                                                               
done, as  far as  he is  aware.  The  process for  selecting this                                                               
year's assessment began with the  department asking the question,                                                               
"Why  does the  state  give  an assessment."    The answers  that                                                               
arrived  included:   the  ability to  inform  policy makers,  the                                                               
public, and  educators regarding  school performance; be  able to                                                               
make   informed  improvements;   and  ensure   equity  of   equal                                                               
opportunity for  students statewide.   Based on these  reasons it                                                               
was  determined what  type of  assessment would  be useful.   The                                                               
result  was  that  a minimally  intrusive  assessment,  with  low                                                               
impact  on the  classroom, would  be proctored,  and fulfill  the                                                               
goals.   He pointed out that  schools may assess at  the district                                                               
level  for local  reasons.   The  state  assessment will  provide                                                               
accountability to meet federal  requirements and continue federal                                                               
funding, without  major interruption while  providing appropriate                                                               
information.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY  added that anecdotal evidence  exists regarding the                                                               
perceptions that surround assessments.   However, ESSA appears to                                                               
respond   to    those   perceptions   and    places   assessments                                                               
appropriately.  The  new law does not ascribe  assessments as the                                                               
be-all/end-all   driver  of   a  school   accountability  system.                                                               
Further,  the commissioner  has  indicated  that duplication  and                                                               
complication  of  assessment  methods  will  not  be  brought  to                                                               
districts.  The state assessment  will not detract from, compete,                                                               
or  supplant  whatever tests  are  administered  locally.   Local                                                               
tests  can   provide  immediate   results  to   inform  classroom                                                               
instruction.   The  department,  statewide  assessments serve  to                                                               
comply with legal obligations both state and federal.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PARISH reviewed  the high  school testing  status                                                               
and   requirements  to   ask  about   the   statewide  level   of                                                               
participation in  the SAT's as  well as the comparative  time and                                                               
money obligations associated with the proctoring.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DR. MCCAULEY offered to provide further information.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON added  that the  past reason  for assessing                                                               
two grades  in high school  was to  comply with regulation.   The                                                               
requirements  and  options  for  how these  assessments  will  be                                                               
handled  in  the  future  are  now  different,  under  ESSA,  and                                                               
currently being reviewed.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:23:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP  returned to the topic  of accountability and                                                               
measurements  for   school  quality  and  student   success,  and                                                               
suggested,  as one  index  to weight,  the  percent of  satisfied                                                               
parents;  those who  indicated approval  of  the facilities  that                                                               
their children attend.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MCCAULEY  noted that  parent  satisfaction  is an  important                                                               
factor.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON assured  the committee that as  late as this                                                               
morning,  the  state department  is  pausing  the ESSA  technical                                                               
assistance  to states  regarding the  plan, which  may mean  ESSA                                                               
regulations  are in  flux and  the  delayed implementation  could                                                               
bring further flexibility.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:25:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES announced the next Senate EDC meeting.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND announced the next House EDC meeting.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:26:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business  before the committees, the joint                                                               
meeting  of the  House  Education Standing  Committee and  Senate                                                               
Education Standing Committee was adjourned at 9:26 a.m.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
2-1-17 Joint HS ESSA Presentation.pdf SEDC 2/1/2017 8:00:00 AM
Synchronous Distance Learning (2).pdf SEDC 2/1/2017 8:00:00 AM