03/17/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB64 | |
| SB31 | |
| Presentation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver Renewal | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 31 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 64 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 17, 2015
3:31 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: ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT FLEXIBILITY
WAIVER RENEWAL
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 31
SHORT TITLE: SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GARDNER
01/26/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/26/15 (S) EDC, FIN
02/12/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/12/15 (S) Heard & Held
02/12/15 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/17/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 64
SHORT TITLE: SCHOOL BOND DEBT REIMBURSEMENT
SPONSOR(s): FINANCE
03/02/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/02/15 (S) EDC, FIN
03/12/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/12/15 (S) Heard & Held
03/12/15 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/17/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
LAURA PIERRE, Staff
Senator Anna MacKinnon
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska,
POSITION STATEMENT: Noted a forthcoming amendment to SB 64.
DR. MARK MILLER, Superintendent
Juneau School District
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against SB 64.
DR. DEENA PARAMO, Superintendent
Mat-Su School District
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of SB 64.
T.J. PRESLEY, Staff
Senator Berta Gardner
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented changes in version H of SB 31.
ROSEMARY WEBB, Co-President
Child Lures Prevention
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 31.
JENNIFER MITCHELL, Co-President
Child Lures Prevention
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 31.
KATE TOVIAS, Employee
Committee for Children
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke of curriculum developed for child
protection.
MIKE HANELY, Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information about the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver Renewal.
DR. SUSAN MCCAULEY, Director
Teaching and Learning Support
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information regarding Elementary
and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver Renewal.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information regarding Elementary
and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver Renewal.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:23 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Huggins, Gardner, and Chair Dunleavy. He
said there would be two bill hearings and one presentation.
SB 64-SCHOOL BOND DEBT REIMBURSEMENT
3:32:29 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 64. He noted
that public testimony was still open.
LAURA PIERRE, Staff, Senator Anna MacKinnon, Alaska State
Legislature, noted a forthcoming amendment to SB 64.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY continued public testimony.
DR. MARK MILLER, Superintendent, Juneau School District,
testified against SB 64. He maintained that SB 64 is unfair to
everyone but Anchorage and he asked the committee move the date
up so that all districts could benefit and analyze their
budgets.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony.
3:35:57 PM
At ease
3:36:15 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the arrival of Senator Stevens and
opened public testimony.
DR. DEENA PARAMO, Superintendent, Mat-Su School District,
testified in favor of SB 64. She described the school bond debt
reimbursement program, a great example of a highly effective
state government program working for its people. She related
that the Mat-Su District benefitted from a bond package that
built six new educational facilities. The program is part of a
sound facility maintenance strategy that extends the useful life
of facilities. She appreciated that the program will be
reinstated after five years.
She described the Mat-Su District as unique because it is a
growing district. There are currently 80 modular units in place.
She said she cannot support the discontinuance of the School
Bond Debt Reimbursement Program altogether. However, the School
Board and administration understand the immense financial
challenges facing the state and the district is willing to
tighten its belt.
SENATOR HUGGINS voiced appreciation for the administration in
Mat-Su.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony.
3:40:34 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS offered Conceptual Amendment 1.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY objected.
SENATOR HUGGINS said the amendment would change the effective
date from May 1, 2015, to January 1, 2015, making it
retroactive.
SENATOR GARDNER spoke of the Anchorage School District and her
reasons for supporting the amendment. She noted she has never
voted against school bonds, but she hoped the funds saved would
go to classrooms. Referring to a previous testimony, she said
"we are already out of apples."
SENATOR DUNLEAVY withdrew his objection. There being no further
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report, SB 64, as amended, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSSB 64(EDC) was reported from
the Senate Education Standing Committee.
3:42:59 PM
At ease
SB 31-SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
3:45:45 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 31. He said it
was the second hearing.
T.J. PRESLEY, Staff, Senator Berta Gardner, Alaska State
Legislature, presented changes in version H of SB 31. He said
the changes address some of the concerns of superintendents and
clarify language. He noted other changes are forthcoming after
discussion with the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) and superintendents.
MR. PRESLEY presented the sectional analysis:
Section 1: No changes
The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended
by adding a new section to read: SHORT TITLE. Section
4 of this Act may be known as Erin's Law.
Section 2: Conforming
AS 14.30.070(b) amended to read: (b) The Department of
Health and Social Services may require the district to
conduct [ADDITIONAL] physical examinations that it
considers necessary, and may reimburse the district
for the [ADDITIONAL] examinations on the basis and to
the extent the commissioner of health and social
services prescribes by regulation.
Explanation: Conforms to AS 14.30.070(a) repeal in
Section 7
Section 3: Substantive
AS 14.30.075 Repeal requirement that school districts
pay for physical examinations for teachers.
Section 4: Substantive
AS 14.30.355 Substance of Erin's Law
Clarifies that notices are sent to parents instead of
"student, parent teacher notification"
Clarifies that training is required for mandated
reporters
Clarifies frequency of training to comport with
mandated reporter training
(c) Initially, within six months of employment for a
new teacher or administrative staff member, including
an athletic coach; and
(2) thereafter, at least once every five years.
Section 5: Conforming
Conforms to repeal of AS 14.30.070(a) in section 7
Section 6: Substantive
Repeals requirement that certificated preschool
teachers must be fingerprinted and background checked
a second time after being hired.
Section 7: Substantive
Repeals:
AS 14.30.070. Physical examination required (a) the
governing body of each school district shall provide
for and require a physical examination of every child
attending school in the district. The examination
shall be made when the child enters school or, in
areas where no physician resides, as soon thereafter
as is practicable, and thereafter at regular intervals
considered advisable by the governing body of the
district. For purposes of this subsection, physical
examinations, within the scope of chiropractic
practice, may be conducted by a chiropractor
AS 14.30.120. Certificate of physical examination the
school board, when physical examinations are made,
shall deliver to the parent, guardian, or other person
having the responsibility for or control of the child
a report signed by the physician or nurse making the
examination, specifying the findings with respect to
the health and physical well-being of the child. For
purposes of this subsection, physician examinations,
within the scope of chiropractic practice, may be
conducted by a chiropractor.
3:47:47 PM
At ease
3:48:04 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to adopt the CS for SB 31, labeled 29-
LS0420\H, as the working document.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY objected for discussion.
MR. PRESLEY continued to describe the changes in version H.
3:53:00 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony.
3:53:32 PM
ROSEMARY WEBB, Co-President Child Lures Prevention, testified in
support of SB 31.
JENNIFER MITCHELL, Co-President, Child Lures Prevention,
testified in support of SB 31. She asked if Alaska is looking
for pre-K through 12 education for sex abuse prevention.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said yes.
MS. MITCHELL related that Child Lures Prevention provides
developmentally appropriate and research-based educational
programming for pre-K through sixth grade and for grades 7 - 12.
They both align with national health education standards.
She stressed the importance of teaching this curriculum in
schools. She said 50 percent of sexually abused children
experience the abuse in the home. The use of mandated reporters
working in schools presents a good opportunity to teach
children. She shared statistics about sexual abuse of children.
She said prevention education does improve children's knowledge
and skills related to abuse prevention. She said Child Lures
Prevention would be honored to work with school districts in
Alaska.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked the sponsor if the presenters will discuss
their curriculum and how it is delivered.
MR. PRESLEY suggested also learning how the curriculum was
developed.
MS. WEBB described the program and its availability on CD, DVD,
USB flash drive, and, soon, on a web site.
3:57:10 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY pointed out that state law mandates that
curriculum is adopted at the local level. The committee is
simply hearing curriculum options.
SENATOR GARDNER named the programs available as found in
members' packets. She asked if "Affection Lures - Safe and
Healthy Boundaries" is one of Child Lures Prevention's programs.
MS. WEBB said yes.
SENATOR GARDNER asked about the cost of the program.
MS. WEBB explained that the programs are turnkey and provide a
45 minute training video, scripted lesson plans for all grade
levels, and student videos. If one school ordered a program kit
it would cost $489, plus shipping; there is a bulk rate of $439
each for six.
3:59:14 PM
KATE TOVIAS, Employee, Committee for Children, spoke of
curriculum developed for child protection. She said the non-
profit organization has created a social/emotional learning
program for children called "Second Step," as well as a child
protection unit. She said the vision statement for the Committee
for Children is "Safe Children Thriving in a Peaceful World."
She stressed that "safe" is the key word.
She said training for all programs is online. She listed several
types of programs. She referred to an article titled "Safe,
Supported, and Ready to Learn" in members packets. She noted
they have done research with the Adverse Child Effect Study
(ACES.) She said the scope and sequence of the Child Protection
Unit is also in members' packets. Mandatory training is required
and the program focuses on safety and is developmentally
appropriate. She described examples of lessons.
She described the training involved for the three modules and
said that all information is available online.
4:06:40 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY recognized testifiers available for questions.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY removed his objection. There being no further
objection, the CS for SB 31, version H, was adopted.
He noted the sponsor is still working on the bill. He thanked
Senator Gardner for her work with various organizations to fine-
tune the bill.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 31 in committee.
4:08:11 PM
At ease
^PRESENTATION: Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Flexibility Waiver Renewal
PRESENTATION: Elementary and Secondary Education Act Flexibility
Waiver Renewal
4:09:51 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced a presentation by Commissioner Hanley
from Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).
4:10:32 PM
MIKE HANELY, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), presented information about the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver Renewal. He
explained that there is a waiver in place due to the latest
iteration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) - which has been scheduled for
reauthorization by Congress for over seven or eight years. He
said NCLB set a bar of 100 percent proficiency for all students
by 2014 or schools would be deemed failing, and there were
restrictions as to how Title I money could be spent. So, Alaska
applied for, and received, a waiver from NCLB in 2013. The
waiver allows the state flexibility from many of the onerous
parts of NCLB.
4:12:28 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if the waiver was developed by the
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said the waiver was from U.S. DOE and DEED
applied for it.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if NCLB has been renewed.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said no. He explained that the Secretary of
Education offered the waivers. To adopt a waiver, the state had
to consider three principles; an accountability system, rigorous
expectations of students - college and career readiness, and a
plan for supporting effective instruction and leadership.
He turned to Alaska's ESEA Flexibility Waiver Renewal process.
He said the state has until March 31 to submit a renewal to
continue the waiver.
4:14:27 PM
He described the public comment process. There are three
opportunities for people to submit comments regarding the
waiver. People can submit comments to U.S. DOE via DEED's home
page by March 25. The department will hold three webinars for
public comment. The State Board of Education will take public
comments until mid-May following the State Board of Education's
meeting on regulation changes.
4:15:51 PM
COMMISSIONER HANLEY went into detail about each component of the
waiver. The first principle is college-and-career-ready
expectations for all students. The state adopted new English
Language Arts and Mathematics standards in 2012 that set the bar
higher. The university system vetted the standards for college
and career readiness. The standards will be assessed for the
first time this year using the Alaska Measures of Progress
(AMP). The department proposes no changes for this component.
He addressed principle 2: state-developed differentiated
recognition, accountability, and support. He said Alaska
developed the Alaska School Performance Index (ASPI) which
determines a score and star rating for all schools that measures
growth. Proposed changes are to maintain current ASPI scores,
but reset the Annual Measurable Objective targets (AMO's) based
on 2015 assessment data as a new baseline. The ASPI scores for
each school district will be frozen for this year and compared
to next year's scores for growth. The goal of the AMO is to
reduce by half the number of students who are not proficient
over the course of six years.
He concluded that there are no consequences for the new
assessment. He said he fully anticipates that ASPI scores will
drop because the targets are much higher.
4:20:52 PM
COMMISSIONER HANLEY highlighted the third principle - supporting
effective instruction and leadership. Student learning will now
be connected to teacher evaluation. Alaska has adopted changes
for teacher and principal evaluations systems by including
consideration of student achievement data as a part of an
evaluation. The proposed changes include postponing the
inclusion of student learning data until the 2016-2017 school
year. Instead, districts will pilot the use of student learning
data for the 2015-2016 school year.
4:23:07 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if the changes require a statutory change.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY replied that they will be done through
regulation.
SENATOR GARDNER inquired if there was legislation in the last
session regarding this issue.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY said no. He asked who the proposed changes are
going to.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said they are going to the U.S. DOE as part
of Alaska's waiver.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said the legislature is not involved in the
process and cannot accept or reject the waiver process. The
legislature ceded authority to DEED to do several things,
including waiver applications.
4:25:07 PM
SENATOR STEVENS summarized that the state will test students and
then freeze the results because they are not being used for
comparison this year.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said that is correct.
SENATOR STEVENS asked how Commissioner Hanley could then say the
test scores will drop.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY explained that currently about 80 percent of
students show proficiency and this year a lower percentage will
be deemed proficient, according to the new rankings.
4:26:28 PM
COMMISSIONER HANLEY continued to explain that this will allow a
year of using data for piloting and trial. Another proposed
change is to remove the 20/35/50 percentage requirements for the
use of student learning data in teacher evaluations. Without
that change, 20 percent of teacher evaluations would be tied to
student learning the first year, 35 percent the second year, 35
percent the third year, and eventually 50 percent.
He summarized that the waiver will provide a model that will
make more sense for Alaska.
4:29:49 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS provided a hypothetical example of a poor
teacher.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said districts have requirements to use
improvement plans for teacher performance.
SENATOR HUGGINS said some problem teachers remain in the system.
SENATOR STEVENS opined that student learning is key to effective
teaching. He voiced concern about removing that element from
teacher evaluations. He asked what the eight elements of a
teacher evaluation are.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY listed several of the components of the
teacher evaluation: knows the curriculum and how to teach it,
connects to the community and parents, contributes to the
profession.
DR. SUSAN MCCAULEY, Director, Teaching and Learning Support,
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), presented
information regarding Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Flexibility Waiver Renewal. She added effective learning
environment as a component.
SENATOR STEVENS agreed those are important. He questioned the
removal of student achievement.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said student achievement remains an
important part of teacher evaluations.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked how much Alaska receives from ESEA grants.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said no grants are tied to the waiver. He
thought the state receives over $200 million in grant money.
4:35:53 PM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), presented information regarding
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Flexibility Waiver
Renewal. He explained that $200 million was the total of all
federal funds and ESEA has about $6O million in title funds.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said the legislature has no authority in the
decision or in policy. The waiver deadline is coming up at the
end of March. He asked what the legislature could do if it
opposed the waiver. "Would the department renew the waiver
anyway?" He inquired.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said yes. It is preferable to going back to
Adequate Yearly Progress. He said he has a responsibility to the
state and he feels a sense of accountability. He feels these
conversations are important.
He offered to provide the eight teacher evaluation standards.
4:40:04 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS commented on the migration rate in Anchorage.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said there could be a high number of migrant
students in a couple of schools.
SENATOR HUGGINS did not know how a teacher could be accountable
for 50 percent of migrant students.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said the department allows for things
outside the teacher's control when evaluating teachers.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he was defending teachers.
4:42:12 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if there is a connection between tenure
and teacher evaluation.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY did not think so.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thanked the department for answering the
questions. He said he is interested in the federal government's
accounting of success in federal schools. BIA schools have
terrible scores in spite of $20,000 funded per student. It
bothered him that the state has no say in education as the
representative of the people. He summarized what will happen
with the waiver process. He referred to the Moore case. He
concluded that the legislature has a mandate to maintain
education.
4:46:14 PM
COMMISSIONER HANLEY offered to continue to answer the
committee's questions.
SENATOR STEVENS voiced appreciation that the education bar is
set higher. He said he has a concern about freezing some of the
test data. He wondered how soon progress can be measured.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY thought the true measurement would be to see
if students are prepared for post-secondary education.
He read the eight standards of teacher evaluations:
A teacher understands how students learn and develop and
applies that knowledge in teaching practice.
A teacher teaches students with respect for individual and
cultural characteristics.
A teacher knows their content area and how to teach it.
A teacher facilitates, monitors, and assesses student
learning.
A teacher creates and maintains a learning environment in
which all students are actively engaged and contributing
members.
A teacher works as a partner with parents, families, and
community.
A teacher participates in and contributes to the teaching
profession.
[The eighth component is student learning.]
4:49:48 PM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair
Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee at
4:49 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CSSB 31 Draft.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CSSB 31 Explanation.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 - Teen Dating Violence.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CSSB 31 Child Lures' Workbook.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CSSB31 Child Lures' Prevention Gr3-4.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CSSB 31 Scope and Sequence.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CSSB 31 Lesson Plans.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CSSB31 Four-Part Solution.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 64 - FNSB Comments.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 64 |
| SB 64 - Effective Date Amendment.pdf |
SEDC 3/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 64 |