04/03/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR5 | |
| HB64|| SB27 | |
| SB96 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 3, 2017
8:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Shelley Hughes, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator John Coghill
Senator Tom Begich
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5
Proclaiming March 2, 2018, as Alaska Reads Day.
- HEARD & HELD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 64(EDC)
"An Act relating to the establishment of the Task Force on
Reading Proficiency and Reading Instruction for All Students and
on the Effects of Dyslexia on Some Students."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 96
"An Act relating to education; relating to school districts;
relating to course credit for students; relating to group
insurance, self-insurance, and other cooperative arrangements
between school districts and businesses, nonprofit
organizations, and government agencies; relating to funding for
school districts; relating to school operating funds; relating
to competency examinations for teacher certificates; relating to
the Professional Teaching Practices Commission; relating to the
duties and powers of the Department of Education and Early
Development and the commissioner of education and early
development; relating to a virtual education consortium;
relating to the minimum wage for bus drivers; relating to the
investment, appropriation, and administration of the public
school trust fund; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SCR 5
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA READS DAY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GARDNER
02/24/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/24/17 (S) EDC, STA
04/03/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HB 64
SHORT TITLE: READING PROFICIENCY TASK FORCE; DYSLEXIA
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) DRUMMOND
01/20/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/20/17 (H) EDC
01/30/17 (H) EDC AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106
01/30/17 (H) Heard & Held
01/30/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/10/17 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 7DP
03/10/17 (H) DP: TALERICO, PARISH, SPOHNHOLZ, KOPP,
JOHNSTON, FANSLER, DRUMMOND
03/10/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/10/17 (H) Moved CSHB 64(EDC) Out of Committee
03/10/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/24/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/24/17 (H) VERSION: CSHB 64(EDC)
03/27/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/27/17 (S) EDC
03/28/17 (S) EDC AT 5:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 96
SHORT TITLE: EDUCATION: SCHOOLS/TEACHERS/FUNDING
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
03/20/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/20/17 (S) EDC, FIN
03/22/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/22/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/22/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/23/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/23/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/23/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/24/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/24/17 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/27/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/27/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/27/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/28/17 (S) EDC AT 5:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/28/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/28/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/30/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/30/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/30/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/31/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/31/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/31/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/03/17 (S) EDC AT 5:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SCR 5.
MEGAN HOLLAND, Intern
Senator Berta Gardner
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on SCR 5.
KRISTIN KRANENDONK, Staff
Representative Harriet Drummond
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 64 on behalf of the sponsor.
POSEY BOGGS, Member
Alaska Reading Coalition
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 64.
JOSHUA HUGHES, Staff
Senator Shelley Hughes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented changes in SB 96 from version T to
version M.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:01:23 AM
CHAIR SHELLEY HUGHES called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, Giessel, Begich, Coghill, and Chair
Hughes. She listed the bills to be heard and then turned the
gavel over to Vice Chair Giessel. She noted that the meeting
would be recessed to the call of the chair.
SCR 5-ALASKA READS DAY
8:03:14 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL announced that the first order of business
would be SCR 5.
8:03:33 AM
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SCR
5. She said early literacy has been a passion for her for
decades. She shared a personal story about two of her children
who have dyslexia. She has seen firsthand the difficulties of
struggling with reading. She wondered if her children would not
have been as successful as they are if they had not had the
resources and support that they did growing up and in school.
She related that she has been to many conferences about reading
proficiency and has heard many experts speak on the personal,
social, and economic consequences of poor reading proficiency,
particularly by the third grade. She heard military officials
say that poor reading proficiency is a national security issue,
as too many recruits are unable to read manuals and complete
necessary tasks due to poor reading skills.
SENATOR GARDNER pointed out that Alaska students rate second to
last, nationally, in 4th grade reading proficiency. Efforts to
improve that have not been very successful. She said she
introduces this resolution at the request of an advocate in
order to help find a solution to this problem. She hoped the
resolution will help to increase awareness and early exposure to
reading, and to connect existing organizations within
communities to families in need of support.
8:05:39 AM
SENATOR GARDNER stated that SCR 5 is part of a national effort
taking place called the National Read Across America Day. She
encouraged the committee to consider SCR 5 as a small, simple
part of a large and more complex set of efforts to improve
reading proficiency.
8:06:17 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked if anyone has identified the cause of
low reading proficiency scores.
SENATOR GARDNER said not to her knowledge. She assumed it was
due to more TV watching and less reading these days. She said
there are no shortcuts to proficient reading; it is a matter of
time and practice. She said there is a world of wonderful
literature for children, but it is a matter of modeling and
valuing frequent reading. Some children are not ready for school
and reading due to lack of preparation by their families. She
explained the connection between school readiness and reading.
8:07:55 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked if there are particular school
districts that are performing better.
SENATOR GARDNER recalled that a few years ago her staff compiled
a graph of reading levels and income levels. There was a
correlation between income levels and proficiency. Also,
communities that have libraries open all year have more
successful student readers.
8:09:18 AM
SENATOR STEVENS agreed with the importance of early literacy. He
asked what would happen on Alaska Reads Day to improve reading
skills.
SENATOR GARDNER thought it would highlight the cause and promote
reading activities by organizations.
8:10:02 AM
MEGAN HOLLAND, Intern, Senator Berta Gardner, Alaska State
Legislature, presented information on SCR 5. She offered to
provide a list of the organizations that might take part in
making this day a success.
8:10:32 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for examples of activities that would
result in more kids reading.
MS. HOLLAND provided examples of what the national effort
suggests: holding reading events for kids, giving books away,
and connecting parents with reading resources.
SENATOR STEVENS said he spent the weekend reading to his
granddaughter. Reading opens the world to children.
SENATOR GARDNER gave an example from years ago of an annual
evening reading time at school. She maintained that kids like
being read to well beyond the time that they can read to
themselves.
8:12:18 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked about the impacts of Best Beginnings
which distributes books.
SENATOR GARDNER did not know directly. She used to have concerns
about it because some children did not need that help because
their families provided them books. However, a constituent, Ms.
Hensley, explained that the program is prohibited from choosing
children who do or do not qualify. Instead, they focused on
supplying books to low income zip codes. There used to be a
program where physicians provided a free book to every child.
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL wondered about the impact of Best Beginnings.
She recalled a large display of free books for children in the
Anchorage Airport, possibly sponsored by the PTA.
8:14:59 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL noted the resolution has no fiscal note.
SENATOR GARDNER said correct.
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL held SCR 5 in committee.
HB 64-READING PROFICIENCY TASK FORCE; DYSLEXIA
[Contains discussion of SB 27]
8:15:28 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL announced that the next order of business
would be HB 64 [CSHB 64 (EDC) was before the committee].
8:15:40 AM
KRISTIN KRANENDONK, Staff, Representative Harriet Drummond,
Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 64 on behalf of the
sponsor. She thanked Senator Dunleavy for bringing this issue to
their attention. She read from the sponsor statement:
HB 64 establishes a fifteen member task force on
reading proficiency and instruction with the goal of
making recommendations regarding reading practices for
students across the state. The task force will examine
how current regulations affect reading proficiency
outcomes with the goal of increasing statewide reading
proficiency scores within three years.
Approximately 47,000 students in Alaska did not meet
state standards in 2015. Students who cannot read by
third grade are four times more likely to drop out of
school than those who can read. More than $60 billion
is lost annually in American business productivity due
to a lack of basic reading skills. The statistics are
staggering and we must identify evidence-based
approaches to instructing students affected by
dyslexia.
The fifteen member task force will consist of six
members, three from the House and three from the
Senate, the Commissioner of Department of Education
and Early Development (DEED) (non-voting member), an
active or retired K-3 teacher with significant
experience teaching reading, a member from either the
Association of Alaska School Boards or the Alaska
Council of School Administrators, a member
representing the Alaska Association of Elementary
School Principals, a member representing the
University of Alaska, and four member representing
non-profit organizations that focus on issues related
to reading, including one member who is a parent with
a child who has a reading disability.
8:16:42 AM
MS. KRANENDONK said the task force will meet between six and ten
times a year and will submit a report to the governor and DEED
by January 1, 2018. All meetings will be done electronically and
there will be no travel reimbursements; there is a zero fiscal
note.
8:17:41 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked how the task force will know if the
regulations will affect outcomes.
8:18:03 AM
MS. KRANENDONK replied that the goal of the task force is to get
educators at the table with legislators to discuss what is
working now and seek ways to use those successes with more kids.
There is no tracking mechanism in the bill because it would add
a fiscal note.
SENATOR STEVENS opined that tracking outcomes is key.
8:18:44 AM
SENATOR COGHILL suggested talking to stakeholders about whether
or not there have been reports or efforts that have looked at
reading proficiency scores.
8:19:31 AM
MS. KRANENDONK believed there was a lot of information
available. The task force will bring that information together
to find ways of helping teachers in the classroom.
8:20:24 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL suggested that Ms. Boggs may be able to
address Senator Coghill's question.
SENATOR COGHILL restated his question.
POSEY BOGGS, Member, Alaska Reading Coalition, answered
questions related to SB 64. She responded that they do know a
lot about reading proficiency in Alaska and have looked at it
through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP),
Standards Based Assessment (SBA), and the Alaska Measures of
Progress (AMP), which all showed that Alaska's reading
proficiency has been stagnant going back decades. Results showed
that some of the best students require remedial reading when
starting college.
She stated that children who are incarcerated have trouble with
reading. People have worked hard on this issue, but it is not
improving. Some districts are still very low, or average.
8:24:02 AM
MS. BOGGS said the issues in Alaska mirror other states. One
issue is, if teachers in K-3 do not have foundational knowledge
about teaching reading, students will not be successful at
reading. Skilled teachers of reading do matter regarding
outcomes.
She sees the task force as recommending what can be done to
increase and fix the reading problem in the state.
SENATOR COGHILL said it lends itself to a debate on the
methodology of teaching reading. He asked if the task force will
be able to address the philosophical and political issues in
this area.
8:25:53 AM
MS. BOGGS hoped that they would consider the scientific
evidence. She emphasized that it is not just about phonics.
SENATOR COGHILL thought it would be interesting to see what the
university thinks about it.
8:27:30 AM
SENATOR BEGICH sees the task force as a group that will assemble
all the data, look at all the issues, and have a goal to create
a systemic view of how to teach reading in Alaska.
MS. KRANENDONK said yes. The task force is the starting place
and the report will not be the conclusion of the task force. The
process will continue through 2018 to ensure that the
recommendations are working and having an impact on reading
scores for all readers in the state, but not just dyslexic
students. Changing the way to look at dyslexia is a good place
to start.
8:29:22 AM
SENATOR BEGICH called all the information about reading "a mess
of information." He saw an advantage of a systemic approach to
reading, the compilation of a report or road map, and following
up on the recommendations. He stated that HB 64 merits support.
8:30:54 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL referred to a document of AMP results from
the spring of 2015. She asked if it comes from Representative
Drummond's office.
MS. KRANENDONK said yes. She explained that they got the
information from NAACP who pulled it off the DEED website.
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL noted the document is from DEED and includes
grades 3-10). It shows, in meeting the standards in English
language skills, that the scores go from 35 percent at grade 3
to 28 percent at grade 10. For the category, partially meets
standards, the scores go from 65 percent at grade 3 and it
improves somewhat by grade 10. These scores substantiate the
problem.
She requested a comparison between Representative Drummond's
bill, which adds dyslexia, and Senator Dunleavy's bill.
MS. KRANENDONK related that Representative Drummond made several
changes and they worked with Senator Dunleavy's office regarding
all of them. She compared Representative Drummond's bill, HB 64,
and Senator Dunleavy's bill, SB 27:
Page 1: lines 11-12 Language was changed to recognize
the work the state is doing for students while still
acknowledging that it could be improved
Page 2, line 27 Section C was added to examine what
education reforms have already been implemented and to
look at why those changes have worked or not
Page 2, line 27 - Page 3, line 2 Language was changed
in this section to clear up the scope of the task
force
Page 4, line 1 Allows one member to represent either
the Association of Alaska School Boards or Alaska
Council of School Administrators
Page 4, lines 4-5 Removed language having a nonvoting
judge as a member of the task force and replaced that
member representing the Alaska Association of
Elementary School Principals
Page 4, line 13 Changed language to recognize all
nonprofit organizations focused on reading and
education issues and included language to ensure at
least one of those members is also a parent of a child
with a reading disability
Page 4, line 31 A definition of dyslexia was added
MS. KRANENDONK explained that they worked with a number of
organizations that deal with dyslexia in order to come up with a
definition. They chose not to do the DSM definition that is put
on IEPs because of the way it is worded. They know that there
are some undiagnosed students with dyslexia and the DSM
definition requires an IEP first, before a student can be termed
dyslexic.
She understood that Senator Dunleavy was ok with all the
changes.
8:35:59 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked Ms. Boggs to elaborate on the
definition of dyslexia.
8:36:17 AM
MS. BOGGS agreed with the definition in HB 64 because most
dyslexic children are not diagnosed. The DSM definition leaves
out the majority of those children who are undiagnosed and are
in the regular classroom. The definition in HB 54 comes from the
Arkansas dyslexia bill.
8:37:24 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked how long the Alaska Reading Coalition
(ARC) has been in place.
MS. BOGGS explained that ARC, which is made up of the NAACP, the
Alaska branch of the International Dyslexia Association,
Decoding Dyslexia Alaska, Literate Nation Alaska, and the Alaska
Literacy Program, as well as a dozen private tutors, have been
in existence for about 24 months. Their depth of knowledge goes
back a long way. The Alaska International Dyslexia Association
has been in Alaska since 2009.
8:39:02 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL said the Senate bill spells out that the
Alaska Reading Coalition is also a member.
8:39:44 AM
MS. KRANENDONK responded that they worked with Legislative Legal
on this section. The Alaska Reading Coalition is not an official
member of the coalition because they are not a recognized
501(c)(3). They are working closely with all members of the
Alaska Reading Coalition.
8:40:47 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL appreciated the inclusion of a parent.
8:41:03 AM
SENATOR COGHILL referred to a document from December 2015. There
was no mention about who wrote it.
He wished to become more informed on dyslexia and suggested
hearing more about it before moving the bill.
8:42:18 AM
MS. KRANENDONK said she would provide that and there will also
be further information on dyslexia during public testimony.
8:42:48 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL noted the state is behind in reading in
Alaska. The founders identified three reasons for education,
reading, mathematics, and the basic understanding of religion.
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL held HB 64 in committee.
8:43:42 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL recessed to the call of the chair.
SB 96-EDUCATION: SCHOOLS/TEACHERS/FUNDING
12:06:18 PM
CHAIR HUGHES brought the meeting back to order at 12:06 p.m. and
announced that the final order of business would be SB 96.
12:06:43 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the CS for SB 96, labeled 30-
LS0452\M, as the working document.
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion.
12:07:12 PM
JOSHUA HUGHES, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, presented changes in SB 96 from version T to
version M.
1. Page 1, Lines 1-12: Multiple changes were made to
the title in order for the title to focus on the
specific issues effected by the bill.
2. Page 3, Line 6: Adds language to allow a student to
challenge out of a career and technical education
course.
12:08:10 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked how to ensure standards are used when
students challenge out of a course.
MR. BANKS said he understands that the standards will be set by
school districts; several schools already allow this.
SENATOR STEVENS hoped there would be serious standards.
12:08:58 PM
MR. BANKS described the third change:
3. Page 3, Line 11 through Page 4, Line 21: Changes to
the annual report filed by school districts in Section
5 of Version T are deleted. Language is added to the
report required by the Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED) in order for DEED to compile
information reported on by school districts. The
ratios to be reported on in Version T are also
reported on in Version M: • Administrative employees
to students
• Administrative employees to teachers
• Teachers to students
DEED will send this report to school districts who
will make available to the public the portion of the
report relating to their district on their website or
by another easily accessible method. "Administrative
employee" is defined as a certificated employee that
does not provide direct classroom instruction for
students.
12:10:27 PM
CHAIR HUGHES asked what page it is on.
MR. HUGHES said page 4, lines 19-21.
12:10:47 PM
SENATOR BEGICH brought up the issue of some employees being
federal employees.
12:11:21 PM
MR. BANKS agreed that they had discussed it and it was
inadvertently left out of Version M.
12:11:42 PM
CHAIR HUGHES said that Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) could address that.
12:12:00 PM
SENATOR BEGICH said it was inadvertent and we will figure it
out.
12:12:17 PM
MR. BANKS turned to the fourth change:
4. Page 5, Line 12: The pooling of health insurance is
taken out of the definition of "administrative
services" under AS 14.14.110 in order to avoid the
possibility of the State requiring districts to pool
health insurance.
12:13:36 PM
MR. BANKS reported on the fifth and sixth changes:
5. Page 6, Line 3: The reference to a self-insurance
policy under AS 39.30.091 is deleted as this type of
health insurance is only offered to State employees.
The cooperative grant can still be used for a district
to participate in a group health insurance policy
under AS 39.30.090.
6. Page 6, Line 13: Sections 10 and 11 of Version T
are deleted.
12:14:31 PM
MR. BANKS described the seventh change:
7. Page 13, Line 11: Sections 20 and 21 in Version T
is deleted relating to the utilization of income of
the Public School Trust Fund.
12:15:12 PM
He said in the eighth change a new section is added:
8. Page 13, Lines 25-30: Adds a new section relating
to the Public School Trust Fund allowing the
Legislature to appropriate 4.75% of the Fund's market
value. This section also requires that the
appropriation be used only for supporting the state
public school program and to cover the administrative
costs of the fund.
12:15:37 PM
He described the ninth change:
9. Page 14, Line 14: AS 37.14.140 is repealed as the
additional section added under point 8 directs how the
Public School Trust Fund appropriations may be spent.
12:15:55 PM
MR. BANKS described the last change:
10. Page 14, Line 15 through Page 15, Line 15:
Requires DEED to analyze schools that are under 70%
capacity and within 25 miles by road of one or more
schools within the same district. The report will be
due by the beginning of the 2018 Legislative Session
and will look at the feasibility of merging schools
within a district with consideration given to the
following variables:
• If merging schools would result in overcrowding of
schools.
• If facility design for each school under
consideration will be appropriate for all grade levels
within the schools under consideration.
• The estimated savings and costs associated with the
merging of schools.
• Any legal and financial liabilities that a school
district and the state could incur due to the closure
of a school.
12:17:35 PM
SENATOR STEVENS had concerns about merging schools with
different grade levels.
MR. BANKS explained that the school design and remodel cost
would be considered, as stated on page 15.
SENATOR STEVENS assumed there would be separation of grade
levels.
MR. BANKS agreed that could be considered.
12:18:50 PM
SENATOR BEGICH clarified that Commissioner Johnson expressed an
interest in addressing all of those factors over the interim and
then reporting back in order to prevent unintended consequences.
The section provides for that to happen.
MR. BANKS said that was correct. The purpose of the analysis is
to avoid any unintended consequences.
12:19:47 PM
CHAIR HUGHES said the department is reaching out to districts
and may travel to districts to assess facilities. She encouraged
districts to bring their concerns to the department.
12:20:19 PM
CHAIR HUGHES removed her objection.
CHAIR HUGHES held SB 96 in committee.
12:20:46 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Hughes adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
at 12:20 p.m.