02/12/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB41 | |
| SB23 | |
| SB22 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 12, 2025
3:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Löki Tobin, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Mike Cronk
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Eischeid
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 41
"An Act relating to mental health education."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 23
"An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and
secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an
effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 22
"An Act establishing a financial literacy education program for
public schools; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 41
SHORT TITLE: PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GRAY-JACKSON
01/17/25 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/17/25
01/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (S) EDC, FIN
02/03/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/03/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/12/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 22
SHORT TITLE: FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI
01/10/25 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (S) EDC, FIN
02/05/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/05/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/12/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 23
SHORT TITLE: CIVICS EDUCATION
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS
01/10/25 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (S) EDC, FIN
02/05/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/05/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/12/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, District G
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 41.
DEIRDRE GOINS, Staff
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Alaska State Legislature
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered the sectional analysis on SB 41.
ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 41.
JEN GRIFFIS, Vice President
Policy and Advocacy
Alaska Children's Trust
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 41.
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director
Division of Innovation and Education Excellence
Department of Education and Early Child Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed and answered questions on the
fiscal note for SB 41.
TIM LAMKIN, Staff,
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Paraphrased the sectional analysis for
SB 23.
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director
Division of Innovation and Education Excellence
Department of Education and Early Child Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the fiscal note for SB 23.
LISA BOUDREAU, Director
State Policy
iCivics
Cambridge, Massachusetts
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 23.
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI
District K
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 22.
HUNTER LOTTSFELDT, Staff
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered a presentation and sectional
analysis on SB 22.
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director
Division of Innovation and Education Excellence
Department of Education and Early Child Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the fiscal note for SB 22.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:32:12 PM
CHAIR TOBIN called the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. Present at the called to order
were Senators Cronk, Bjorkman, Stevens, Kiehl, and Chair Tobin.
SB 41-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
3:33:15 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 41
"An Act relating to mental health education."
3:33:33 PM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, District G, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 41 said she and Senator Claman
have been fighting for a mental health education bill for some
time. She stated that SB 41 ensures mental health education is
included in the K12 curriculum with equal priority as physical
health. She explained that the Board of Education must develop
age-appropriate guidelines in collaboration with state and
national mental health experts, tribal health organizations, and
the Departments of Health and Family Services. She emphasized
that the bill protects parental rights by requiring schools to
notify parents at least two weeks before delivering any mental
health instruction. She urged the committee to support SB 41,
describing it as a necessary and critical measure for student
well-being.
3:35:38 PM
DEIRDRE GOINS, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, Offered the sectional analysis on SB 41:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 41: Mental Health Education
Sectional Analysis Version A
Section 1- Adds a new section to 14.03.016(a)
Legislative Intent: It is the intent of the
legislature that the board of Education and Early
Development develop guidelines for instruction in
mental health in consultation with the Department of
Health, the Department of Family and community
Services, regional tribal health organizations, and
representatives of national and state mental health
organizations.
Section 2- Adds a new subsection to 14.03.016(a)- A
parent's right to direct the education of the parent's
child.
(7) Provides for notification of parents or guardians
no less than two weeks before a class or program may
provide mental health instruction a child.
Section 3- Amends AS 14.30.360(a) Health education
curriculum; physical activity guidelines.
Amended to add mental health to the K-12 Health
education curriculum, putting mental and physical
health equal weight.
Section 4- Amends AS 14.30.360(b)- Health education
curriculum; physical activity guidelines.
Amended to include board establishment of guidelines
for developmentally appropriate instruction in mental
health. In developing these developmentally
appropriate guidelines the state board shall consult
with the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of
Family and Community Services (DFCS), regional tribal
health organizations, and national and state mental
health organizations.
Section 5- Adds a new section to AS 14.30.360(b),
Report to the Legislature: Two years after the
effective date of this Act, the state Board of
Education and Early Development shall submit a report
to the Senate and House and notify the legislature
that the report is available. The report must
(1) include a copy of the guidelines for
developmentally appropriate instruction in mental
health developed by the Board as required under AS
14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 4 of this Act; and
(2) describe the process the Board used to develop
the guidelines.
Section 6- Adds a new section to AS 14.30.360(b),
Transition: The state Board of Education and Early
Development shall develop the mental health guidelines
required by AS 14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 4 of
this Act, within two years after the effective date of
this Act.
3:38:29 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 41.
3:38:35 PM
ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by
invitation on SB 41. She stated that NAMI is the nation's
largest grassroots mental health organization, with 48 state
organizations and over 600 affiliates, including those in
Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Utqiagvik. She explained that
NAMI's mission is to end the stigma of mental illness through
advocacy, education, support, and public awareness to help
individuals and families build better lives.
MS. RINGSTAD expressed appreciation to Senator Gray-Jackson and
the committee for years of support, noting that SB 41 reflects
several years of work by combining elements from prior
legislation. She clarified that SB 41 offers mental health
guidelinesnot curriculumfor public schools to help increase
awareness and early identification of mental health conditions
in students, and it includes a parental notification
requirement. She emphasized the link between physical and mental
health, citing data that 50 percent of mental health conditions
begin by age 14 and 75 percent by age 25.
3:41:14 PM
MS. RINGSTAD noted that since children spend significant time in
schoolespecially in the post-COVID eraschools need state
guidance to recognize and respond to mental health concerns. She
highlighted the critical role of teachers and school staff in
observing early warning signs and stressed that early
identification can change the course of a child's life. She
urged the committee to pass SB 41 this session to support youth
mental health.
3:42:25 PM
JEN GRIFFIS, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, Alaska
Children's Trust, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on
SB 41. She testified in support of SB 41 on behalf of Alaska
Children's Trust stating that the bill promotes the health and
well-being of Alaska's children and families. She explained that
SB 41 allows communities to choose to include mental wellness in
their health curriculum, giving students the opportunity to
learn how to care for their mental health alongside their
physical health.
3:43:29 PM
MS. GRIFFIS highlighted alarming data: a 59 percent increase
over the past decade in students feeling sad or hopeless,
suicide as the leading cause of death for Alaskans aged 15 to 24
in 2019, and 21 percent of high school students in 2023
reporting they had planned a suicide attempt in the last year.
She cited a Spirit of Youth survey showing that 95 percent of
Alaskans believe youth experience mental health issues, 87
percent are concerned, and nearly 90 percent support mental
health education in schools.
MS. GRIFFIS concluded that SB 41 would reduce stigma, support
families and educators, and improve access to developmentally
appropriate mental health knowledge, while preserving local
control. She emphasized that supporting students today
strengthens future generations.
3:45:14 PM
SENATOR CRONK asked if SB 41 had a fiscal note.
3:45:22 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied yes.
3:45:38 PM
At ease.
3:46:13 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.
3:46:40 PM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and
Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early Child
Development, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed and answered questions on
the fiscal note for SB 41. She explained that the process in
SB 41 centers on convening a work group made up of required
members identified in the bill to review existing standards and
make adjustments aligned with the bill's provisions. She stated
that the plan includes two in-person convenings for 30 committee
members from various sectors to collaborate, define their tasks,
and later reconvene to finalize the guidelines. She noted that
stipends would be provided to compensate members for their time
and that a facilitator would be hired to manage the group's work
and coordination.
3:48:18 PM
MS. MANNING added that $36,000 is allocated for professional
services, which includes facilitation and legal costs for
regulation adjustments. After the work is completed, the
finalized guidelines would be submitted to the State Board for
review.
3:48:45 PM
SENATOR STEVENS acknowledged the state's fiscal challenges and
noted the presence of a finance committee member. He stated that
any proposal reaching the finance committee will be closely
examined for affordability. He questioned whether the associated
costs could be reduced, asking if more online meetings could be
used or stipends eliminated. MR. S asked whether all the
proposed expenses were absolutely necessary.
3:49:12 PM
MS. MANNING explained that developing K12 mental health
education guidelines requires reviewing existing standards and
identifying necessary additions. She emphasized the importance
of convening multiple stakeholder groups who may not typically
work together and need time to align on the goals of the work.
She stated that starting with in-person meetings is critical to
grounding participants before transitioning to remote
collaboration. She clarified that significant time and effort
will be required beyond the two convenings, which justifies the
stipends. She concluded that offering compensation helps ensure
participation and acknowledges the value of the work involved in
developing the guidelines.
SENATOR STEVENS expressed concern about the additional costs
associated with implementing SB 41. He suggested looking for
ways to reduce costs before the bill reaches the Finance
Committee.
3:50:47 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the committee for hearing SB 41 and
expressed hope that the bill would be heard again. She
specifically thanked Senator Stevens for his question regarding
costs, noting that it mirrored a recent question from her chief
of staff. She appreciated the question being put on the record.
3:51:14 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 41 in committee.
3:51:25 PM
At ease.
SB 23-CIVICS EDUCATION
3:53:28 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 2 "An Act relating to civics
education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation
requirements; and providing for an effective date."
3:53:56 PM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, speaking as sponsor of SB 23 stated that
SB 23 addresses a longstanding lack of civic knowledge in the
education system, describing it as a "quiet epidemic" caused by
decades of prioritizing core subjects like math and science at
the expense of social studies. He explained that the bill
establishes a required civics course or exam for graduating
seniors, emphasizing that it is not a high-stakes test but a
critical learning tool to promote understanding of citizenship.
SENATOR STEVENS shared his personal experience taking the civics
test, noting that it reinforced the idea that learning is a
process. He stated that SB 23 directs the State Board of
Education and Early Development to develop civics curriculum and
assist districts in aligning instruction with civic standards.
He expressed hope that the bill would help renew a sense of
civic responsibility, including voting and community engagement,
which he said aligns with the original purpose of public
education as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
SENATOR STEVENS added that he recently met with representatives
from the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), who expressed
concern about declining voter turnout. He told them that SB 23
offers a solution by educating young people on the importance of
civic participation and understanding how government functions
3:56:40 PM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he would be reviewing
the Sectional Analysis for SB 23, version I, and the fiscal note
from the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED),
which is currently marked as indeterminate. He mentioned that
committee members should have a sample of the civics exam, which
many had already taken at Senator Stevens' request, along with
examples of online civics resources. He noted that the packet
did not include DEED's recently adopted December 2024 Alaska
Social Studies Standards, which provide detailed focus on
civics. He described the new standards as encouraging and a
positive development for advancing the goals of SB 23.
3:57:31 PM
MR. LAMKIN paraphrased the sectional analysis for SB 23:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SENATE BILL 23
Civics Education in Alaska Schools
SECTIONAL ANALYSIS
(Version I)
Sec. 1: AS 14.03.076, relating to public schools, adds
a new section directing:
a. The State Board of Education & Early Development
(SBOE) to develop curriculum, an assessment, and
a project-based assessment relating to
comparative government and civics, to include:
i. an assessment that is based on the civics
portion of the naturalization examination
administered by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security for immigrants seeking
U.S. citizenship;
ii. the curriculum developed by SBOE may be
used by school districts in educating
students in comparative government and
civics.
b. The curriculum developed by SBOE must include
instruction on a wide variety of the fundamental
U.S. principles of government, to include study
of:
i. the founding history the U.S., the U.S. and
AK Constitutions, the responsibilities of
the executive, legislative, and judicial
branches; the rights and responsibilities of
U.S. citizenship, civil rights and
liberties, political parties and interest
groups, campaigns and elections, foreign and
domestic policy, and comparative systems of
government used globally and by Alaska
Natives.
c. In order to receive a high school diploma, a
student must either:
i. complete a semester course covering topics
described in (b) above;
ii. pass the written assessment described under
(a) above;
iii. present evidence of having passed an
assessment similar to that described in (a)
above within the previous 5 years;
iv. achieve a passing score on a project-based
assessment described under (a) above;
v. present evidence of having passed a project-
based assessment similar to that described
in (a) above while in high school; or
vi. is exempted as a student with a disability
who receives a waiver.
3:58:47 PM
MR. LAMKIN continued the sectional analysis for SB 23:
[Original punctuation provided.]
d. Provides exemptions for students transferring
into a school district from within the state as
a junior or senior, or if from another state and
has completed a state history course while in
that state.
e. Schools are to document on student transcripts
when a student has passed the assessment, with
the option for the student to retake the
assessment repeatedly.
f. The AK Dept. of Education and Early Development
(DEED) is directed to adopt regulations
recognizing students who achieve an excellent
level of proficiency in civics knowledge and
skill by affixing a seal of civic readiness on
the student's diploma or transcript.
g. A student may satisfy the civics studies
graduation requirement (c) by completing any of
the options described above, that being the
written assessment (a), or a project-based
assessment (b).
h. Specifies a passing score is a minimum
satisfactory score of 70 percent.
Sec. 2: Transition language, making the graduation
requirement for civics effective for students entering
grade 9 on or after July 1, 2026
Sec. 3: Establishes an effective date of July 1, 2026.
MR. LAMKIN said other states, such as New York, have adopted
civics legislation. SB 23 is modeled after legislation in
Kentucky.
3:59:54 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked for a review of the fiscal note for SB 23.
4:00:37 PM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and
Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early Child
Development, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the fiscal note for SB 23.
She explained that the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) submitted an indeterminate fiscal note due to
uncertainty around the actual costs of curriculum and assessment
development for SB 23. She stated that past estimates were based
on similar projects but lacked precision, prompting concern
about their accuracy. She said DEED intends to issue a request
for information from vendors to better determine the costs of
each component. She clarified that DEED would need to partner
with an external organization to support the development of the
civics curriculum and assessments required by the bill.
4:01:39 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that he had not yet seen the newly adopted
social studies standards. He noted that he did not expect a
crosswalk comparing the bill's requirements with the standards
to be readily available. However, he asked for a general sense
of how much of the civics education required by SB 23 is already
addressed within the recently adopted standards.
4:02:05 PM
MS. MANNING stated that the updated social studies standards
were approved by the State Board of Education in December and
were developed with awareness of ongoing state-level
conversations about civics education. She explained that
previous legislative discussions informed the content included
in the new civics standards. She acknowledged that DEED has not
completed a crosswalk comparing SB 23 with the updated
standards. However, she emphasized that prior legislative intent
and feedback were considered during the development process.
4:02:52 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked whether it would be fair to say that the
updated social studies standards have made progress toward the
goals of SB 23, but that the bill goes a bit further in its
requirements.
4:03:03 PM
MS. MANNING stated that a key piece of SB 23 is the development
of the curriculum and assessments. She explained that standards
establish what students must know upon completing coursework,
curriculum outlines how that content is delivered, and
assessments measure student understanding of the standards. She
added that the bill's components and the standards would guide
curriculum and assessment development. She emphasized that this
process would require additional components to align both the
curriculum and assessments.
4:03:42 PM
SENATOR STEVENS stated that some districts, such as Anchorage,
the commissioner's former district, have already implemented
successful models. He suggested that rather than recreating the
system, the state could use one that already exists and works.
He noted that the bill is largely modeled on initiatives from
Kentucky and New York, recommending a review of those states for
potential guidance. He expressed concern about costs, especially
in a difficult budget year, and asked DEED to consider ways to
save money and accomplish the objectives of SB 23.
MS. MANNING stated that the intent behind issuing an
indeterminate bill and a Request for Information (RFI) is to
ensure the proposal reflects the actual costs of implementation.
She emphasized that the process would include reviewing what
other states have done and the programs or processes they have
used. She noted that this review would help determine how to
implement a statewide program in the most cost-effective way
possible.
SENATOR STEVENS expressed appreciation for the response and
emphasized the importance of considering not only other states
but also successful districts within Alaska.
4:05:36 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 23.
4:05:56 PM
LISA BOUDREAU, Director, State Policy, iCivics, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, testified by invitation on SB 23, paraphrasing
the following written statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senate Committee on Education Hearing on SB 23 - Civic
Education
State of Alaska
February 12, 2025
Testimony of Lisa Boudeau
Director of State Policy, iCivics and CivxNow
Coalition
Good afternoon, I'd like to thank Madame Chair,
Senator Tobin and Vice Chair Stevens and the other
honorable members of the Committee for allowing me to
testify. I am happy to be here.
My name is Lisa Boudreau, and I serve as Director of
State Policy for the CivxNow Coalition, a project of
iCivics. We were founded in 2009 by late Supreme Court
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. And it is in her legacy
that iCivics is a nonpartisan organization dedicated
to advancing civic learning by providing educators and
students with the knowledge, skills, and resources
needed to embrace and engage in our civic life
together. We empower educators and lead the movement
to make civic education a nationwide priority so all
young people have the confidence to shape the world
around them and believe in our country's future.
4:06:46 PM
MS. BOUDREAU continued her testimony on SB 23:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Civics has been neglected over the past 50 years.
Instructional time has decreased, only 47 percent of
U.S. adults could name all three branches of
government, NAEP scores show that only 22 percent of
8th graders tested proficient or above in
understanding how this country's constitutional
democracy is supposed to work and how to apply that
knowledge.
These results are predictable as civics consists of
only a one-semester course in high school for most K
12 students across the nation.
• Just 5 states require a stand-alone civics course in
middle school, and elementary schools spend less than
30 minutes per day on social studies.
• Students from rural areas, native students, and
students from low-income families often encounter
fewer civic learning opportunities in their schools.
• Only about 30 percent states have a recognition
program.
4:07:34 PM
MS. BOUREAU continued her testimony on SB 23:
[Original punctuation provided.]
So we're all here, because it's fair to question the
extent to which Alaskans are prepared for informed,
effective, and lifelong civic engagement. And we must
also question extent to which our school districts are
offering civics universally to every student in the
classroom.
With that in mind, our CivxNow coalition has developed
research-based nonpartisan policies that have
attracted bipartisan support across states. Since
2021, 25 states have adopted 38 policies aligning with
CivxNow's policy recommendations. To name of few:
strengthening civic course requirements, Increasing
funding for civic learning; improving professional
development for educators; aligning state standards
with best practices; project-based assessments, and
more.
This year I'm tracking 99 different bills across 34
states related to civic education. 70 percent of them
are directly aligned directly with at least one of
those bi-partisan policy recommendations that I just
listed.
Indeed, many parts of SB 23 sponsored by Senator
Stevens also align with our recommendations, more
required time on civics in high school, an assessment,
and civic seal program.
This is a really good bill and we've been supporting
it for three sessions now, helping to craft the
language, improve it by providing feedback to the
author from stakeholders including legislators,
teachers, administrators and cultural institutions.
Often the first question I hear from committee members
is, well what are other states doing.
4:09:17 PM
MS. BOUREAU continued her testimony on SB 23:
[Original punctuation provided.]
I can share a few quick examples now:
Last session in Kentucky the legislature passed House
Bill 535, and students can now choose between civics
test and taking a credit class in civic education.
Also last session, Indiana passed SB211, that created
a new "Excellence in Civic Engagement" designation for
graduating high school students.
Two sessions ago, Missouri's General Assembly passed
HB 2002, which included $500K for educator
professional development in "civics and patriotism."
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed
HB 171 into law, updating high school graduation
requirements to include an additional semester of
social studies and civics.
I commend the Alaska's Department of Education for
their rigorous development of new social studies
standards just released in December 2024. As a quick
refresher; standards outline the minimum standards
that students in Alaska should learn in each grade
band.
Senator Steven's bill takes this work to the next
level by requiring more dedicated time on civics in
the classroom in high school, accountability for
schools and students through an assessment, and a
recognition program.
In closing, I'll just share that were doing this work
because too many young people are losing faith in our
country. The best way to strengthen our democracy is
to teach it.
Building young people's faith in our country starts
with teaching them how to participate in itdeveloping
the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to
effectively share their ideas with others and
contribute to their communities. When young people see
they can shape our country, they believe in its
future.
4:11:16 PM
MS. BOUREAU continued her testimony on SB 23:
[Original punctuation provided.]
iCivics and CivxNow support SB23 and I urge you to
work with the author to shape a bill that can be
passed this session.
Thank you so much for your time and attention, I
welcome any questions that you may have.
Thank you.
4:11:42 PM
SENATOR STEVENS thanked Ms. Boudreau for her assistance.
4:12:02 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 23 in committee.
4:12:19 PM
At ease.
SB 22-FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS
4:13:40 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 22 "An Act establishing a
financial literacy education program for public schools; and
providing for an effective date."
4:14:03 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, District K, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, Sponsor of SB 22. He stated that SB 22 was
introduced in the previous session, passed the committee, but
failed to advance due to late timing. He explained that the
bill's core goal is to ensure high school students receive
financial literacy education, including skills like balancing a
checkbook, setting up a retirement plan, and applying for
financial aid. He noted that Alaska has the lowest financial aid
application rate in the country and emphasized the importance of
equipping students with foundational financial knowledge. He
described how initial proposals for a standalone course were
revised, based on feedback from school districts and the
committee, to integrate financial literacy into existing
subjects like math and economics. He acknowledged concerns from
educators about added mandates but argued that this is a minimal
requirement with broad flexibility, similar in importance to
civics.
4:16:43 PM
HUNTER LOTTSFELDT, Staff, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, Offered a presentation and
sectional analysis on SB 22. He moved to slide 2 and paraphrased
What is Financial Literacy, adding that it is also important for
Alaska's students to know how to apply for financial aid:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What is Financial Literacy
• Understanding how much you earn and spend
• Responsibly managing and paying off debt
• Building assets to achieve personal goals
• Preparing for financial security later in life
4:17:20 PM
MR. LOTTSFELDT moved to slide 3, Why Do We Need Financial
Literacy, and shared the following points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Why Do We Need Financial Literacy?
• Only third of Americans can comfortably cover a $400
emergency
• Average credit card debt in Alaska: $8,026
• Average student loan debt in Alaska: $35,821 (2k
increase)
• Alaska received an "F" grade in teaching financial
literacy
4:18:01 PM
MR. LOTTSFELDT moved to slide 4, SB 22:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senate Bill 22
• Adds a 0.5 credit in financial literacy
• Course should cover topics including:
• Making a budget
• Avoiding fraud and financial deception
• Basic principles of retirement accounts
• Postsecondary financial aid and scholarships 4
4:18:22 PM
MR. LOTTSFELDT moved to slide 5, List of Topics, and said
essential SB 22 is trying to build a base for personal finance
as students graduate from public school:
[Original punctuation provided.]
List of Topics
• (1) different types of financial institutions and
opening and managing an account with a financial
institution;
• (2) making a budget;
• (3) basic principles of money management,
including spending, credit, credit scores, and;
managing retail debt, credit card debt, and other
types of debt
• (4) basic principles of completing a loan
application;
• (5) basic principles of personal insurance
policies;
• (6) basic computation of federal income taxes;
• (7) avoiding fraud, financial deception, and
predatory lending practices;
• (8) simple contracts;
• (9) contesting an incorrect billing statement;
• (10) computing interest rates by various
mechanisms; (11) types of savings and
investments;
• (12) basic principles of retirement accounts;
• (13) receiving an inheritance and related
financial implications;
• (14) postsecondary financial aid and
scholarships; and
• (15) financial implications of being a member or
a beneficiary of a Native corporation established
under 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act) or a similar entity,
including payment of dividends and issuance of
shares.
4:18:40 PM
MR. LOTTSFELDT provided the sectional analysis for SB 22:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 22
Sectional Analysis
Section 1. AS 14.30 relating to public schools, adds a
new section
a. Directing school districts to establish and
provide a financial literacy education
program, equivalent to a half credit, for
students in grades nine through 12 that will
be approved by the Department of Education&
Early Development. And topics covered their-
in.
b. Creates an exemption to this graduation
requirement for transfer students who cannot
reasonable complete the course work.
c. Provides definitions.
Section 2. Provides an applicability date of January
1, 2027, for the first graduating class that will need
to meet this requirement.
Section 3. Provides an effective date for the bill of
July 1, 2026.
MR. LOTTSFELDT said that if a student transfers from out-of-state to
a school in Alaska after 10th grade the student does not need to
fulfill the half credit requirement.
4:19:34 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked whether the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) is included in SB 22, noting that many
students appear lost when trying to complete the form, which is
required for scholarship eligibility.
4:19:55 PM
MR. LOTTSFELDT stated that SB 22 addresses both FAFSA and the
Alaska Performance Scholarship. He shared his concern over
Alaska's FAFSA completion rate, noting it dropped from 16
percent last year to 13.7 percent as of January 31. He added
that the rate was as low as 11.9 percent just two weeks earlier
and expressed hope it would improve by the end of the school
year. He emphasized that the consistently low rates remain a
significant concern.
4:20:36 PM
SENATOR CRONK stated support for SB 22 but sought clarification,
asking whether it mandates that every student must complete
financial literacy education as a graduation requirement
beginning after 2027.
4:20:49 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied that SB 22 does mandate students
complete financial literacy education.
SENATOR STEVENS addressed concern about the use of the term
unfunded mandates and said the state provides over a billion
dollars to education. He asserted that certain priorities, like
financial literacy, must be addressed. He maintained that
districts should be able to allocate time and resources within
existing funding to teach this content.
4:21:25 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked for clarification on language in SB 22, page
two, lines three and four, specifically the phrase "the program
must include, to the maximum extent practicable, discussion of
or instruction on..." She requested an explanation of what that
language might mean in practical terms for a school, especially
in the context of concerns about unfunded mandates.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI explained that the phrase "to the maximum
extent practicable" was language added by the committee last
year to provide flexibility. He stated that if a school
districtsuch as one in a rural areacannot reasonably implement
the requirement, then meeting the standard of practicability
would relieve them of the obligation. He emphasized that the
bill requires the Department of Education and Early Development
to make a list of approved open educational resources available
to districts, as noted on page one, lines eight and nine. He
added that many credible online financial literacy curricula
exist, and some districts, like Anchorage, have already
successfully integrated them. He noted that the provision serves
as a pressure relief valve for districts unable to meet the
requirement.
4:23:16 PM
CHAIR TOBIN stated that changes intended to simplify the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process have instead
contributed to low completion rates. She expressed hope that
those rates will improve. She shared her experience attending
the State Higher Education Executive Organization's annual
convening, where the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary
Education (ACPE) and others emphasized the importance of
financial literacy in high school. She noted that students are
often taking on significant debt without fully understanding the
long-term financial impact and that parents may be unable to
guide them. She expressed support for the legislation,
highlighting the state's responsibility to prepare students for
financial success.
4:24:17 PM
SENATOR KIEHL emphasized that students cannot complete the FAFSA
on their own because they need their parents' tax information.
4:24:37 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI confirmed Senator Kiehl's statement.
4:25:13 PM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and
Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early Child
Development, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the fiscal note for SB 22.
She stated that the fiscal note for SB 22 was based on the
requirement that DEED maintain a list of approved open
educational resources that align with the bill. She explained
that the department would convene a committee of 20 educators,
compensated through stipends, to develop a rubric for evaluating
these resources. The committee would align the bill's
requirements with existing education standards and use the
rubric to assess and compile a vetted list of materials. She
added that the fiscal note also includes funding for a financial
literacy expert to support the process and covers fees related
to necessary regulation changes.
SENATOR STEVENS SENATOR STEVENS asked for an explanation of
"existing open resources."
4:26:56 PM
MS. MANNING explained that while some financial literacy
curricula come with costs and must be purchased by districts,
others are free open educational resources. These free resources
are often developed through federally funded grants or by
educational nonprofit organizations and are publicly available
for use. She stated that the department would typically issue a
Request for Information (RFI) to identify potential partners
offering relevant materials. The department would then research
what is currently available and in use by other states or
districts, and compile those resources for evaluation based on
quality and alignment with educational standards.
4:27:59 PM
SENATOR CRONK asked whether using a stipend is a common past
practice. He also inquired about the amount of the stipend per
person and the expected timeframe for the educators' work.
4:28:17 PM
MS. MANNING explained that the stipend is intended for Alaska
educators who participate in the committee process. She stated
that each educator would receive $1,500, based on the estimated
time required to review standards, develop a rubric, and
evaluate materials. She noted that the work would take place
over several months and emphasized that since these educators
are already balancing district responsibilities, the stipend
both encourages participation and recognizes the additional
commitment and work involved.
4:29:38 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that SB 22 has broad support from
various organizations, including the Alaska Chamber of Commerce,
the Anchorage School District, the Rural Alaska Community Action
Program Inc. (RurAL CAP), Alaska Credit Union League, and
others. He thanked the committee for their time and
consideration.
4:30:01 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 22 in committee.
4:31:00 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Tobin adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 4:31 p.m.