Legislature(2017 - 2018)CAPITOL 106
01/29/2018 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Alaska's Education Challenge Report by the Alaska Board of Education | |
| Presentation: Professional Learning for Educators. League of Alaskan Education Innovators | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
January 29, 2018
7:58 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator John Coghill
Senator Tom Begich
Senator Shelley Hughes
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Representative Harriet Drummond, Chair
Representative Justin Parish, Vice Chair
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Jennifer Johnston
Representative David Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
All members present
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Representative Zach Fansler
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Lora Reinbold
Representative Geran Tarr
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: ALASKA'S EDUCATION CHALLENGE REPORT BY THE ALASKA
BOARD OF EDUCATION
- HEARD
PRESENTATION: PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS. LEAGUE OF
ALASKAN EDUCATION INNOVATORS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JAMES FIELDS, Chair
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
Glennallen, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
REBECCA HIMSCHOOT, Member
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
SUE HULL, First Vice-Chair
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
MICHAEL JOHNSON, Ph.D., Commissioner
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
DR. KEITH HAMILTON, Member
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
BARBARA THOMPSON, Member
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
Douglas, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information about the Alaska
Education Challenge.
KENNY GALLAHORN, Member
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
Kotzebue, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information about the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
CHARLES MICHAEL, Student Advisor
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information about the Alaska
Education Challenge Report.
SEAN DUSEK, Superintendent
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD)
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the League of
Alaska Education Innovators.
CHRIS BENSHOOF, Educator
Lathrop High School
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the League of
Alaska Education Innovators.
BILL BURR, President Elect
Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE);
Assistant Superintendent
Delta/Greely School District
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the League of
Alaska Education Innovators.
ACTION NARRATIVE
7:58:53 AM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the joint meeting of the Senate and
House Education Standing Committees to order at 7:58 a.m.
Present at the call to order were Senators Coghill, Giessel,
Begich and Chair Stevens and Chair Drummond. Representatives
Talerico, Parish, and Johnston arrived shortly thereafter.
^Presentation: Alaska's Education Challenge Report by the Alaska
Board of Education
PRESENTATION: ALASKA'S EDUCATION CHALLENGE REPORT BY THE ALASKA
BOARD OF EDUCATION
7:59:36 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of the presentation of
Alaska's Education Challenge Report and the presentation
Professional Learning for Educators by the League of Alaskan
Education Innovators.
8:00:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO entered.
8:00:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH entered.
8:01:16 AM
JAMES FIELDS, Chair, Alaska State Board of Education and Early
Development (DEED), Glennallen, Alaska, introduced the members
of the State Board of Education in the room.
8:02:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON entered.
8:02:38 AM
MR. FIELDS said 2017 was a busy year as the board worked on both
the Alaska Education Challenge (AEC) and the accountability plan
for the [federal law] Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The
state board is committed to the mission and vision of the three
commitments, the five strategic priorities, and the 13
recommendations in the AEC.
8:03:07 AM
MR. FIELDS said education partners have helped develop and rally
around the three commitments the board hopes every Alaskan will
share. The three commitments--increase student success,
cultivate safety and well-being, and support responsible and
reflective learners--focus the five priorities, the 13
recommendations and the ESSA accountability plan. The Board of
Education has given the Department of Education and Early
Development (DDED) the information needed to start moving the
student achievement gaps in the right direction.
8:04:53 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND asked how the state will move forward with the
Alaska Education Challenge.
8:05:07 AM
REBECCA HIMSCHOOT, Member, Alaska State Board of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Sitka, Alaska, said the greatest
outcome is unity, everyone is all moving in same direction. The
three commitments will guide what happens next, which should be
determined locally, and in partnership. With AEC, the
partnerships are stronger than ever.
8:06:37 AM
MR. FIELDS said the next steps are already happening with the
partnerships. Everyone is on the same team to make achievement
better and stronger. The board has laid out a strategic vision,
and it is now up to DEED and the partners to move ahead.
8:07:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ entered.
8:07:47 AM
SUE HULL, First Vice-Chair, Alaska State Board of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Fairbanks, Alaska, said action must be
done at the local level. The local school boards make decisions
about things like curriculum and staffing, not the state board.
The partnership notion is powerful because the work happens at
the local level, with superintendents making administrative
decisions and boards making policy decisions. The State Board of
Education has set the policy direction. The state must change
student performance in this state, and the state board cannot
make it happen without partnerships.
8:09:20 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND asked who the partners are.
8:09:34 AM
MS. HULL said the Association of Alaska School Boards, Alaska
Council of School Administrators, NEA Alaska, the Alaska PTA,
stakeholders and community members, Alaska Native regional
corporations and other representatives from key groups. She
hoped to involve the public generally to change expectations
because school boards cannot change performance until families
and communities are engaged in telling students education
achievement is important.
8:11:44 AM
SENATOR COGHILL asked the commission or chair to explain the AEC
process for the benefit of anyone who was not familiar with the
AEC.
8:12:11 AM
MICHAEL JOHNSON, Ph.D., Commissioner, Department of Education
and Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, said the effort
grew out of dissatisfaction with the current achievement gap.
Some great things are happening in the state, but too many
students are not benefitting. He added that he is optimistic
that together the state can change that, raise expectations and
close the student achievement gap.
8:13:35 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON said the process began by requiring five
parents on every committee to represent Alaskans. Committees
also involved tribal members, school and district staff, and
stakeholders specific to each committee, such as health care
representation on the safety and well-being committees. He
expressed his gratitude to legislators who served on committees.
8:14:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked what legislators could do to help
the AEC succeed.
8:15:22 AM
DR. KEITH HAMILTON, Member, Alaska State Board of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Soldotna, Alaska, said, "Money." The
state is huge and the needs are huge: broadband issues in rural
schools, a counselor in every school, implementation of trauma-
informed practices, etc. Alaska is number one in student
absenteeism rates. Resources are needed from the governor and
legislature.
8:17:22 AM
SENATOR BEGICH asked the state board members to help legislators
connect the dots. Most legislators and public are not familiar
with the goals of the Alaska Education Challenge. He encouraged
the board to proactively comment about legislation to help make
consistent education policy.
8:18:58 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that HB 287 addresses early funding of the
foundation funding to help districts avoid issuing unnecessary
layoff notices.
8:19:51 AM
DR. HAMILTON said that type of stewardship would help the state
move ahead quickly with the Alaska Education Challenge.
8:21:44 AM
MR. FIELDS responded to Senator Begich by replying that
sometimes that challenge is difficult because the board does not
meet often, but he said they could try to find ways to help with
that effort. He thought the level of communication and
transparency between the board and the legislature is higher now
than ever before in his tenure on the board.
8:23:26 AM
MS. HIMSCHOOT agreed with Senator Begich that the board's
involvement as legislation is being generated is important. She
asked the legislature to think of the Alaska Education Challenge
partners as resources.
8:24:11 AM
MS. HIMSCHOOT said over a quarter of kids in Alaska are
chronically absent. The three commitments in the AEC say that
all Alaskans, not just teachers--communities, businesses,
families--will change this because one group alone cannot do it.
8:25:07 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked Commissioner Johnson to present results of
the Alaska Education Challenge.
8:25:20 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON noted that DEED was developing an
accountability plan for the federal law, Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA), at the same time it was working on the Alaska
Education Challenge. DEED received over 4,000 comments for the
ESSA plan and almost 15,000 AEC comments. The result of all that
work is that Alaskans support the three commitments--increase
student success, cultivate safety and well-being, and support
responsible and reflective learners--to do something about the
student achievement gap in the state.
8:27:00 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked the board to provide more information about
the three commitments.
8:27:28 AM
BARBARA THOMPSON, Member, Alaska State Board of Education and
Early Development, Douglas, Alaska, said the commitment,
increase student success, redefines what a successful student
looks like. It goes beyond the results on statewide assessments
or proficiency in English or math. It addresses whether they are
good students, good citizens, do they participate in their
communities, can they work well with others. Involving students
in their schools, communities, and government in new ways can
lend itself to increasing student achievement. They hoped that
more funding could be provided for early education because early
learning can show huge benefits in the long run.
8:30:17 AM
CHAIR STEVENS said that part of success is finding a job, having
a career. Last week the Alaska Air Carriers Association told
them that small airplane companies cannot find pilots locally.
8:30:41 AM
MS. THOMSPON said there were many recommendations about career
and technical education and growing the state's economy through
its students and their goals.
8:31:14 AM
KENNY GALLAHORN, Member, Alaska State Board of Education and
Early Development, Kotzebue, Alaska, said forward funding is
probably more important than the amount because stabilization is
needed in education. The state needs to move forward as quickly
as possible in education. Rural Alaska is not doing that well,
but the state now has a high level of commitment. "Let's get it
done," he said.
8:32:10 AM
CHAIR STEVENS said many ways exist to solve the premature layoff
notices. The house has a bill regarding forward funding and the
Senate Education Committee just passed a bill with a date of
April 1 for funding out of committee. He hoped the legislature
would deal with the pink-slip issue that has been so hard on
districts.
8:32:57 AM
MS. HULL said everyone needs to think of what kids need to know
and be able to do in the future. She related that Google had
always prioritized technical knowledge, but a study showed
people with computer or technical skills were at the bottom of
the list showing who had been successful and Google is talking
about hiring liberal arts graduates. Communication,
collaboration, creativity, confidence need to be part of the
curriculum. "We are boring high school boys to tears . . .talk,
talk, talk," she said. Other states have moved forward with
innovative apprenticeships in all fields. Students should be
getting credit outside of the school buildings.
8:36:04 AM
MS. HULL said to add to Dr. Hamilton's comment that more money
was needed, strategic use of dollars is needed. Changes do not
require more legislation, it requires alignment of focus and a
sense of purpose and utilizing it in new ways.
8:37:11 AM
CHAIR STEVENS acknowledged the presence of Senator Hughes.
8:37:21 AM
CHARLES MICHAEL, Student Advisor, Alaska Department of Education
and Early Development, Wasilla, Alaska, said career and
technical education is the most important thing to teach in high
school. Three R's s is not what is needed to be taught right
now. So many fields that can be learned in high school are
experiencing a shortage of people to hire.
8:38:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON said the strengthening of public-private
partnerships and community partnerships, which is completely
different from the past, when education was looked at something
provided, was a game changer. She asked for a report on what she
called the biggest game changer from the Alaska Education
Challenge process, tribal partnership.
8:40:17 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON said the partnership has the potential to
be a conversation that extends beyond the tribal partnership to
the educational system as a whole to create positive change.
First Alaskans Institute has been a partner to discuss how to
have those conversations. It may be different from past tribal
compacting conversations because local school boards can talk to
their tribes under the governance that already exists. Future
legislation may be required if any laws hinder those
conversations. There are tribes ready, willing, and able to take
a greater role in the education system in their communities.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON said Cook Inlet Tribal Council has been
partnering with the Anchorage School District for 12 to 15
years. It has waxed and waned over the years. Now they are
focusing on bringing STEM [science, technology, engineering, and
math] into schools.
8:42:02 AM
MR. FIELDS said talking about the cultivate safety and well-
being commitment can be depressing, but sometimes what is wrong
must be highlighted in order to take action. There are districts
doing very good things, and the way they did it should be
highlighted to show there are many answers in the state. The
superintendents' association is surveying schools and districts
about what practices work. If students are not safe and do not
have a sense of well-being, they cannot learn. Getting
communities, health agencies, and tribal health agencies
involved is critical.
8:43:57 AM
MR. FIELDS related a story about the difficulties of dealing
with the lack of counseling in his community of Glennallen.
8:46:30 AM
DR. HAMILTON said the Kenai Peninsula School District has a
variety of communities--rural villages, Old Believer
communities--and students on the road system. As in all of
Alaska, there are huge needs and huge differences. Some children
don't make it to school every day because of breakdowns in the
family. If kids don't get to school, they are missing out on
many opportunities--meals, teaching, career counseling, nursing.
There must be some equality across the state. "That every
student has got a shot at being healthy and whole and educated,"
he said.
8:48:21 AM
DR. HAMILTON said the state is weak at providing that equality.
Caring is going to make a difference. "We stand up for every
kid. We love every kid that walks through the door. We care for
their families as well," he said. The state does have an amazing
set of leaders in Alaska. The state does need resources for
counselors, nurses, and trauma-informed practices.
8:49:51 AM
CHAIR STEVENS said he has been thinking of the heroics of
teachers who have put themselves in front of their students in
active shooter situations to protect the students.
8:50:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ said we know that kids cannot learn
when they are in a heightened state of alert all the time, which
happens when they have experienced a lot of trauma. A lot of
research shows that kids who cannot self-regulate cannot learn.
Since it is such a huge issue, she asked for some initial
thoughts about how to implement trauma-informed practices.
8:51:35 AM
MR. FIELDS said there has been success with proper leadership,
staffing, and planning. The state needs to replicate the success
that has been shown in pockets of the state. The
superintendents' association was focusing on that.
8:52:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked what the board's and DEED's role
is for implementing trauma-informed practices.
8:52:56 AM
MR. FIELDS said online training is available. The department's
role is to highlight and be an advocate for things that are
working. The ESSA plan asks schools to have a plan to address
safety and well-being.
8:53:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ said she recognized that there are many
pockets of great trauma-informed practices. In Anchorage, Marcus
Wilson is working on training other schools in the practices he
implemented as the principal of North Star Elementary School.
She shared that her daughter, who she adopted at the age of
nine, is on the fetal alcohol spectrum. The family had to
reorient itself to her reality. Teachers face this every day and
sometimes must struggle with whole classrooms of people trying
to get out of fight-or-flight mode into a calmer mode that
allows for learning and insight.
8:55:24 AM
MS. HIMSCHOOT said as a classroom teacher, cultivating safety
and well-being is very important to her. The three commitments
all work together, but if a child cannot get out of fight or
flight, they cannot learn. NEA Alaska has been training its
members about this, and individual districts are offering
training on this. One of the first steps in the challenge is to
find things that work and replicate them.
8:57:12 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL said as a nurse practitioner who practices in an
Anchorage middle and high school, she knows that, sadly, a large
number of students deal with mental illness and trauma. Alaska
has a large cadre of many qualified mental health therapists who
are restrained by some of Alaska's own laws. Changing the laws
will allow qualified clinicians, mental health therapists,
social workers, and others to provide these services. A few
years ago, the legislature opened the door for telehealth
through its work on Medicaid reform. Telehealth could provide
mental health services around the state. She said she would stay
in touch about progress in this area with Mr. Fields.
8:58:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON asked if the commissioners of the
Department of Health and Social Services and DEED could work
together to effectively use the state's resources.
8:59:36 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND said Representative Spohnholz, the chair of the
Health and Social Services Committee, and herself, as chair of
the Education Committee, are planning this spring to look at how
the Department of Health and Social Services and DEED are
providing services to children from birth through age five to
focus resources across departments, so kids arrive at school
ready to take advantage of the huge investment the state is
going to make in them.
9:00:43 AM
MS. HIMSCHOOT said the words "responsible" and "reflective" in
the commitment to support responsible and reflective learners
were very intentional. Reflective students know why they are
learning. Responsible students take responsibility for their
learning. Responsible and reflective educators are also
necessary.
9:02:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked about the recommendation to triple
the number of nationally board-certified teachers in Alaska
through salary incentives.
9:03:08 AM
MS. HIMSCHOOT said that did not have to come from the
legislature. The recommendation was modeled on the state of
Washington, which offers a $10,000 state-funded salary bonus for
the rest of a teacher's career. The bonus is doubled for working
in a hard-to-staff school. Thirty-five percent of teachers in
hard-to-staff schools in Washington are now nationally board
certified. Alaska has about 180 nationally board-certified
teachers. The goal is to continually triple that number.
Nationally board certified is the highest standard an educator
can attain. Nationally board-certified teachers can support
reflective and responsible learners.
9:04:52 AM
SENATOR HUGHES said Michigan put it back on the families to
change low expectations. She wondered if training is available
to help excellent teachers to engage the families and whether
there are models to overturn low family expectations.
9:06:49 AM
MS. HULL responded that we cannot take over for families. The
more schools do the more the expectation is that schools will do
everything, which they cannot. There must be an effort to
strengthen families. She related a story about the Detroit News
running an editorial that blamed parents for the struggling
economy because of low educational achievements. Another example
is that providing breakfast is now an expectation of schools.
There must be a joint effort to strengthen families.
9:09:48 AM
SENATOR BEGICH noted that he is sponsor of SB 99, which is about
pre-kindergarten. In his work with youth advocacy groups in the
past in Anchorage, they looked at a model that would have put a
social worker in schools because taking on the additional role
of a social worker is too much for teachers. There must be
collaborative ways of merging social workers and teachers.
9:11:22 AM
SENATOR BEGICH said we must be careful about parent blaming.
Parents who are not doing a good job probably need more support
than blame.
9:12:00 AM
MR. FIELDS said the Copper River Native Association is bringing
in mothers and fathers early on for training on parenting
skills. The Department of Health and Social Safety is key in
efforts to train parents early.
9:14:21 AM
At ease.
^Presentation: Professional Learning for Educators. League of
Alaskan Education Innovators
PRESENTATION: UPDATE ON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS BY
THE LEAGUE OF ALASKAN EDUCATION INNOVATORS
9:16:47 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND reconvened the joint meeting and announced the
committee would next hear an update on professional learning for
educators by the League of Alaskan Education Innovators.
9:17:41 AM
SEAN DUSEK, Superintendent, Kenai Peninsula Borough School
District (KPBSD), Soldotna, Alaska, said the work of the
coalition is based on the three commitments. The partners in the
League of Alaskan Education Innovators are diverse and offer
different professional learning. To be more efficient and
effective, the group wanted all the players in the same room.
The group formed spontaneously because coherence is needed to do
things to improve education now. [Slide presentation shows
partners are Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA),
Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE), Alaska
Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP), NEA-Alaska,
Alaska Staff Development Network, DEED, University of Alaska,
Alaska Superintendents Association, and Alaska Association of
Secondary School Principals (AASSP).]
9:18:56 AM
MR. DUSEK said that the overall vision is to prepare students to
be ready for life and to be highly productive citizens in the
State of Alaska. After going through the Alaska Education
Challenge, they started the work group. It began with basic
communication--what are the groups working on, what do their
members need. The group will meet a few more times this year.
The legislature has been involved in important conversations
about improving and innovating education. The group wants to be
part of that process and help lead the innovation process to do
the best for every child.
9:20:15 AM
MR. DUSEK said the group will be looking at how to scale the
successful work being done in the state for any culture or to
meet any need. The group work is about coordinating efforts,
focusing topics, and sharing resources.
9:21:10 AM
MR. DUSEK said, as part of increasing student success, the
important 4 r's to teach, along with the 3 r's, are rigor,
relevance, relationships, and responsiveness. Copper River and
Sitka are doing innovative school practices. High quality
educators are delivering instruction in a manner that is
engaging and relevant. They are looking at the innovative
performance indicators from the coalition Redefining Ready.
9:24:20 AM
CHRIS BENSHOOF, Educator, Lathrop High School, Fairbanks,
Alaska, the 2013 Alaska teacher of the year, noted that NEA
Alaska's Delegate Assembly voted in January to support the three
commitments. He noted that Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs shows
that students cannot learn until their physiological, safety,
and belonging/friends needs have been met, which ties into the
commitment of safety and well-being. Thankfully, stakeholders in
Alaska are addressing the needs of safety and well-being, not
just student achievement.
9:27:06 AM
MR. DUSEK said all the organizations have been focusing on the
commitment to safety and well-being. The superintendents'
organization has been focusing on Adverse Childhood Experiences
(ACES) and trauma-informed instruction. The principals'
conference had a big strand on safety and well-being and
emotional learning, as did the RTI conference. The focus of his
group is on providing expertise in Alaska, not sending people
out for training, to be more efficient, and then coming up with
ways to implement these ideas in schools.
9:27:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked him to explain RTI.
9:28:01 AM
MR. DUSEK said it means Response to Intervention. RTI is a
process to provide additional supports to students as an interim
step before providing special education services.
9:28:29 AM
SENATOR BEGICH said connecting Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and
Bloom's Taxonomy to the three commitments is an example of how
to lock in the knowledge produced through the challenge.
9:29:40 AM
BILL BURR, President Elect, Alaska Society for Technology in
Education (ASTE); Assistant Superintendent, Delta/Greely School
District, Delta Junction, Alaska, said ASTE examined the three
commitments to see how to meet them. Creating personalized
learning will take time and effort and forward thinking. Digital
devices do not change brains but may open the mind or make
students use their heads.
9:32:11 AM
MR. BURR said personalized learning changes and redefines what
teaching and learning is, it utilizes technology, allows
flexible classroom, and gives students ownership of education.
They are codesigners, can work at their own pace, and find their
own path. It is educators providing guidance and working with
students to enable them to find their own path.
9:34:08 AM
SENATOR HUGHES said she is excited about this subject and noted
that SB 96 would promote much of what he was saying. She said an
announcement had been made that Trump's capital infrastructure
package will include funding for broadband. Alaska is poised to
take advantage of this federal funding. She asked his group to
help the legislature advocate for federal funding of broadband.
9:36:35 AM
SENATOR HUGHES said the funding could provide rural broadband
and Alaska could lead the way in educational technological
innovation.
9:37:15 AM
MR. DUSEK CARRS noted that partnerships are not just among
educational professional organizations. He recognized
CARRS/Safeway and BP for education grants they have awarded.
9:38:53 AM
MR. DUSEK said the next steps are to increase work group
representation and participation, develop long-term processes
for consistency of implementation and access, and to seek
opportunities to support each organization's efforts to improve
instructions. The group will meet with DEED regarding ESSA and
moving forward together with the Alaska Education Challenge. The
only way to improve education across Alaska must be through
communication and collaboration.
9:42:09 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Drummond adjourned the joint meeting of the Senate and
House Education Standing Committees at 9:42 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| AKEdChallengeReportFINALpdf.pdf |
SEDC 1/29/2018 8:00:00 AM |
Joint Education Committee - Jan29,2018 |
| AKPL Workgroup 1.29.18 Final.pdf |
SEDC 1/29/2018 8:00:00 AM |
Joint Education Committee - Jan29,2018 |