Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/10/2017 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB102 || SB103 || SB104 | |
| SB102 | |
| SB104 | |
| SB103 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 10, 2017
1:44 p.m.
1:44:16 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 1:44 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop, Vice-Chair
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Natasha von Imhof
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy
ALSO PRESENT
Brittany Hutchison, Staff, Senator Anna MacKinnon; Jack
Walsh, Superintendent, Craig Schools, Craig; Tony Habra,
Haines Borough Schools, Haines; Tim Parker, President, NEA
Alaska, Juneau; David Brighton, Kenai Education
Association, Kenai; Jeff Hebard, Fairbanks Education
Association, Fairbanks; Lisa Parady, Alaska Council of
School Administrators, Juneau; Alyse Galvin, Great Alaska
Schools, Juneau; PJ Ford Slack, Superintendent, Hoonah City
Schools, Hoonah; Patience Fredrikson, Director, Division of
Libraries, Archives and Museums, Department of Education
and Early Development; Kevin Shipley, Kake City Schools,
Kake; Paul Prussing, Acting Director, Division of Student
Learning, Department of Education and Early Development;
Sana Efrid, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education
and Early Development; Stephanie Butler, Alaska Commission
on Postsecondary Education, Juneau; Scott MacManus,
Superintendent, Alaska Gateway School District, Tok; Kevin
Shipley, Kake City Schools, Kake; Tim Bauer,
Superintendent, Annette Island School District, Metlakatla;
John Conwell, Superintendent, Unalaska City School
District, Unalaska; Lora Jorgensen, Self, Juneau; Holly
Holman, Unalaska City School District, Unalaska; Joe
Nelson, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau; Brenda
Taylor, Great Alaska Schools, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Paul Kendall, Self, Anchorage; Arlene Ronda, Self, Homer;
Saichi Oba, University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Maximilian
Erickson, Self, Fairbanks; Gretchyn O'Donnell, Self,
Juneau; Pete Hoepfner, Cordova School District, Cordova;
Kathy Todd, Self, Valdez; Susan Niman, Self, Valdez; Mike
Coons, Self, Palmer; Todd Smoldon, Self, Willow.
SUMMARY
SB 102 INTERNET FOR SCHOOLS; FUNDING
SB 102 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SB 103 ED GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIP;INNOVATIVE ED FUND
SB 103 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SB 104 EDUCATION CURRICULUM
SB 104 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed the schedule for the day.
SENATE BILL NO. 102
"An Act relating to funding for Internet services for
school districts; and relating to the Alaska higher
education investment fund."
SENATE BILL NO. 103
"An Act establishing the Alaska education innovation
grant program; eliminating the Alaska education grant
program and the Alaska performance scholarship
program; redesignating the Alaska higher education
investment fund as the Alaska education innovation
grant fund; and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 104
"An Act relating to the duties of the state Board of
Education and Early Development; and relating to
school curriculum."
1:45:03 PM
BRITTANY HUTCHISON, STAFF, SENATOR ANNA MACKINNON,
offered an overview about why the suite of bills were being
introduced. She asserted that SB 102, 103, and 104 had been
crafted out of the need for major improvements in Alaska's
educational system. She said that the needs addressed in
the legislation were threefold: the prioritization of K-12
education as a constitutional responsibility, the
improvement of outcomes for Alaskan students, and providing
for efficient and streamlined delivery of education
processes and procedures.
1:46:50 PM
Ms. Hutchison provided a sponsor statement for SB 102:
The goal of this legislation is to improve educational
outcomes for Alaskan students. The graduation rate for
high school in Alaska for 2016 is 76%. Of the amount
of students who go to the University of Alaska, 52% of
incoming Alaska freshman need remediation classes. Our
children and workforce deserve better. This bill seeks
to improve outcomes by providing students with
additional internet access and increased opportunity
for virtual education, even in the most remote places
in Alaska. This will provide access to the best
teachers in our state to teach in multiple areas of
our state, via the internet.
It is the Legislature's primary constitutional
requirement to provide for an education system in
Alaska. It is time to refocus and prioritize our state
money on improved deliveries of education. SB 102 will
provide assistance to districts with high technology
costs and technological disadvantages, by increasing
the minimum requirement of megabits per second from 10
to 25. It will direct monies from the higher education
fund to increase the amount of Broadband Assistance
Grants (BAG) that the state can pay to school
districts and will allow schools the flexibility to
direct additional dollars to the classroom.
Currently, 137 schools, in 29 school districts,
receive a BAG award. SB 102 will bring 197 schools up
to the new floor of 25Mbps and provide funding to help
those schools reach 25Mbps.
The total cost of internet services in FY16 was
approximately $92.6 million. The Federal E-Rate
program discount covered approximately $79.1 million.
The School BAG awards covered $3.4 million. School
Districts across the state only had to pay a
cumulative sum of approximately $10 million in FY16.
The value of E-Rate and BAG for our schools is
tremendous. This bill will leverage between 70- 90%
federal dollars. For every state dollar, we receive
about $7 from the federal government.
I urge your support of this legislation to help
improve educational outcomes for Alaskan students.
Ms. Hutchison relayed that the bill would not provide
funding for infrastructure, personal computers,
microphones, or software.
1:48:35 PM
Ms. Hutchison discussed the sectional analysis for SB 102
(copy on file):
Section 1 AS 14.03.127(a)
Increases the floor of internet download speed from 10
megabits per second (Mbps) to 25 megabits per second
(Mbps) for every school in Alaska.
Section 2 AS 37.14.750(a)
Puts into statute that the legislature may pay for
internet services through the Higher Education
Fund.
Section 3 AS 37.14.750
Conforming language that allows the legislature to pay
for internet services through the Higher Education
Fund.
1:49:01 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony.
JACK WALSH, SUPERINTENDENT, CRAIG SCHOOLS, CRAIG, testified
in support of the bill. He believed that the expanded
internet access would help to provide additional vocational
programs.
1:50:46 PM
TONY HABRA, HAINES BOROUGH SCHOOLS, HAINES, spoke in
support of the legislation. He noted that the internet
access in Haines was good, but that it would be beneficial
to connect with other districts that currently had limited
access.
1:52:10 PM
TIM PARKER, PRESIDENT, NEA ALASKA, JUNEAU, spoke in support
of the legislation. He lamented the proposed 5 percent cut
to education funding.
Co-Chair MacKinnon reminded the testifier that the bill
before the committee was SB 102.
Mr. Parker spoke to SB 102. He stated that additional
broadband was definitely needed, but that there were some
fiber optic cable issues as well as satellite data
transmittal struggles. He stressed that a long term fiscal
solution to the budget crisis was necessary to provide
stable, forward funding for Alaska schools.
Co-Chair MacKinnon understood that Mr. Parker supported SB
102.
Mr. Parker stated that he was in support of the bill. He
said that slow running computers were detrimental to
classroom learning. He opined that teachers had to have two
lesson plans in place: one that used the computer, and
another for when the computer did not work.
1:56:59 PM
DAVID BRIGHTON, KENAI EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, KENAI, spoke
in support of SB 102. He spoke of the Alaska Performance
Scholarship. He said that his son would not be able to go
to college without the scholarship.
Co-Chair MacKinnon requested that testifiers keep their
comments to the bill before the committee.
1:59:10 PM
Senator Micciche clarified that the committee would be
hearing public testimony for the other bills on the agenda.
1:59:55 PM
JEFF HEBARD, FAIRBANKS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, FAIRBANKS,
expressed support for the bill. He was concerned about the
funding source.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stressed that individual public
testimony would be taken for each bill.
Mr. Hebard urged support for local control of decision
making for school funding issues. He testified against SB
103. He lamented the various struggles faced by students in
Alaska's school system. He argued that educators could not
build necessary relationships with students when classrooms
were overcrowded.
2:02:58 PM
Vice-Chair Bishop asked whether Mr. Hebard wanted broadband
to be optional.
Mr. Hebard answered in the affirmative.
Co-Chair MacKinnon surmised that the school districts would
pick up the cost of the broadband.
Mr. Hebard responded that he was encouraging that the
decision making be at the local level.
2:03:30 PM
LISA PARADY, ALASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS,
JUNEAU, testified in support of the bill. She stressed that
expanding internet speed in rural Alaska was a critical
piece in moving forward with virtual learning. She believed
that the effort to maximize federal dollars was prudent.
2:06:25 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon remarked that Senator Olson had been the
original carrier of a broadband assistance bill for
communities outside of the Railbelt.
2:07:13 PM
AT EASE
2:07:36 PM
RECONVENED
ALYSE GALVIN, GREAT ALASKA SCHOOLS, JUNEAU, testified in
support of SB 102. She acknowledged the importance of
broadband in rural Alaska, but added that actual teachers
in classrooms was the ultimate goal of her organization.
2:09:41 PM
AT EASE
2:11:38 PM
RECONVENED
PJ FORD SLACK, SUPERINTENDENT, HOONAH CITY SCHOOLS, HOONAH,
spoke in support of the bill. She thought it was very
important to achieve connectivity to other schools in real
time. She hoped that the legislature could offer support in
talking to local providers about providing support for
infrastructure.
2:13:02 PM
Vice-Chair Bishop asked whether her district would be able
to build the infrastructure necessary to implement the
legislation.
Ms. Ford Slack replied that her district would not be able
to afford the necessary cable without help from providers.
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that the bill did not offer
cable, satellite, or other amenities. She clarified that
only addressed existing schools that had the capacity to
step up to 25 megabits. She said that there were projects
in motion that could provide additional infrastructure that
would provide tie-ins for other communities.
2:14:47 PM
Senator Micciche asked for a clarification on the dollar
amount for the first leg of infrastructure in Ms. Ford's
district.
Ms. Ford Slack replied $6.6 million for the first leg of
cable.
Co-Chair MacKinnon hoped that the administration could
provide the numbers for schools that needed additional
help.
2:15:13 PM
Senator von Imhof queried the distance of the first leg of
cable.
Ms. Ford Slack was unsure about the amount of miles, and
clarified that the route was from Juneau to Hoonah. That
route was the shortest leg before going out to Pelican or
up to Yakutat.
Senator von Imhof referred to the sponsor statement. She
believed that the state should take advantage of the
federal match dollars. She thought that the bill could be
more effective by including fiber optic cable.
2:17:02 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon shared that there was an "Alaska Plan"
crafted by the federal delegation currently in process that
would provide support for infrastructure advancement.
2:17:28 PM
PAUL KENDALL, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
expressed frustration for the public testimony process and
the decline of the moral foundation in the state.
2:21:35 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
PATIENCE FREDRIKSON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF LIBRARIES,
ARCHIVES AND MUSEUMS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY
DEVELOPMENT, testified in favor of the legislation.
2:22:46 PM
SB 102 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
2:23:28 PM
Ms. Hutchison commented that the Alaska Telephone
Association had written that the current technology and
infrastructure was able to deliver 25 megabits, per second,
to all schools in the state. The bill would not require any
additional infrastructure.
2:24:08 PM
Ms. Hutchison read from the sponsor statement (copy on
file):
Every school district in Alaska has to have their
curriculum reviewed and approved every six years. It
is a long, arduous, and expensive task. Many school
districts struggle with this because they do not have
the necessary resources for this type of work.
The goal of this legislation is to provide all school
districts with a three year reprieve from having to
update or renew any curriculum. This will save school
districts time and money. This will also allow for a
time period in which the Alaska Education Challenge
can be implemented without the burden of curriculum
review.
This bill will allow the State Board of Education
(BOE) to approve of the curriculum from the large 5
school districts and 2 rural school districts and
allow that curriculum to be used by all school
districts, on a voluntary basis, for three years. This
time will be a transition period. During the three
year reprieve from curriculum review by districts, the
Department of Education and Early Development, in
consultation with school districts, will have one year
to find the best curriculum and best practices for
math and English language arts in other states and in
other countries. Then that curriculum will be tested
on districts in Alaska, for two years, to see if it
will be successful. If it does prove to be a good
measure of success for our students, then the State
Board of Education will review, approve and adopt that
curriculum for all school districts to be able to use,
if they so choose. I urge your support for this
legislation.
2:26:09 PM
Ms. Hutchison read from sectional analysis (copy on file):
Section 1 AS 14.07
A) Adds a new section titled, "Curriculum Approval and
Review".
B) This section allows the State Board of Education
(BOE) to approve of all curricula from the largest 5
school districts, based on the 2015-2016 ADM and 2
rural school districts, chosen by the BOE, and makes
it available for all school districts to use, on a
voluntary basis.
2:26:57 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony.
KEVIN SHIPLEY, KAKE CITY SCHOOLS, KAKE, spoke in support of
the bill. He advocated for a research bases, systematic
approach to curriculum in teaching and not a "textbook
adoption" system. He believed that textbooks should be
tools for, and not drivers of, education curriculum. He
spoke of the work that had been done in Texas and New York
to implement an effective curriculum.
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that the bill was intended to
dovetail with the work of the Department of Education and
Early Development to refrain from allowing textbook
companies to dictate curriculum in Alaska schools.
2:29:46 PM
ALYSE GALVIN, GREAT ALASKA SCHOOLS, JUNEAU, testified in
support of the bill. She echoed the testimony of the
previous speaker that educators and parents should support
the changes in curriculum. She believed that new curriculum
could raise the bar and change behavior in education.
2:32:39 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
PAUL PRUSSING, ACTING DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF STUDENT
LEARNING, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT,
commented that it would be a challenge for the department
to implement the legislation. He appreciated the concept,
said that the fiscal note presented a hurdle, but assured
the committee that the department would work to realize the
intent of the bill.
SANA EFRID, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, said that the goal of the department
was to support the districts. She was unaware as to how the
districts wanted the department to support them in their
curriculum review, but she looked forward to having the
conversation with districts.
Co-Chair MacKinnon believed that textbooks should be a
tool, but should not drive the learning of Alaska students.
She lamented the achievement gap between the United States
and other nations. She said that she had sent a letter to
the department that asked for consideration for smaller
school districts that could not conduct a proper review,
and hoped that the department would work with her to lower
the fiscal note. She suggested that the department could
look at curriculum and give all schools a break on the
curriculum review, voluntarily, and have schools adopt the
5 big school's curriculum, along with 2 high performing
rural schools, and then wait for 3 years. She hoped that
this could give all schools the opportunity to participate
in the "Alaska Challenge."
2:37:57 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon hoped that during the curriculum review
break, the department could examine the math and language
arts programs that were successful in other states, and
then bring that curriculum back to the state. She stated
that the intent of the bill was to support a systemic
change on a volunteer basis, with resources available on
the state level to support districts.
2:39:07 PM
Ms. Efrid hoped that a deeper conversation with the
committee could provide the department with clarity on the
intent of the legislation. She noted that the current DEED
fiscal note was indeterminate, but that it could change
once the department had a better understanding of the
legislation.
Co-Chair MacKinnon reiterated that the idea was not to
provide districts with more textbooks.
Ms. Efrid appreciated the statement. She added that many
students in the state needed supplemental materials, and
that each district had individual needs.
2:40:24 PM
Vice-Chair Bishop thought that the University of Alaska
should be involved in conversations about the three bills.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that she had been in contact with
the University.
2:42:44 PM
Senator von Imhof asked when the Alaska State Standards
were adopted, and wondered what curriculum efforts had been
made since the standard were adopted.
Mr. Prussing stated that the new standards were implemented
in 2012. He lamented that, due to budget cuts, the
department did not have the staff available to offer full
support to districts.
Co-Chair MacKinnon interjected that the legislation was
intended to be a tool to assist the department. She said
that the current budget deficit meant that there would be
no new funds available for education. She furthered that
anyone waiting to testify on SB 103, the Alaska Performance
Scholarship bill, should be aware that funding for that
program would have to come from a savings account of some
type.
2:45:25 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked Ms. Efrid to schedule an
appointment with her office to continue discussing the
specifics of the bill.
Ms. Efrid said she would schedule the meeting.
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that Miles Baker, Director,
Government Relations, University of Alaska, was available
to respond to questions for the University.
2:45:57 PM
Ms. Hutchison offered a sponsor statement for the bill:
The goal of this bill is to help provide Alaskan
students with better outcomes through new innovative
new educational delivery methods and by providing a
fund that will allow school districts to apply to the
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
for innovative education grants.
We need to prioritize K-12 investment to make sure
that our students are prepared for life after high
school. Since 2011 when APS was created, 47,907
students have graduated from high school in Alaska,
only 8,606 of them received the APS. The total payout
to the approximately 18% of high school graduates was
$48.8 million. Of the recipients, 26% currently need
remediation when they enter college. The APS is not
achieving the results we had hoped for.
SB 103 will phase out the Alaska Performance
Scholarship and the Alaska Education Grant over the
next 4 years.
· Seniors in high school now - will receive 4 years
of scholarship
· Freshman in College now - will receive 3 more
years of scholarship
· Sophomore in College now - will receive 2 more
years of scholarship
· Junior in College now - will receive 1 more year
of scholarship
The high school graduating class of 2017 will be the
last class to receive these awards.
We must prioritize K-12 investment and provide Alaskan
students with a valuable 21st century education. In
doing so, SB 103 will rename the Higher Education Fund
to, "The Alaska Innovation Education Grant Fund." This
Fund's purpose is to provide school districts with
grants to fulfill academically innovative ways of
delivering education, such as coursework through a
combination of technologies, pilot programs for
cutting-edge learning resources, and changes in the
way students and teachers interact in the classroom,
to name a few. These grants must be approved by the
Commissioner of Education and be submitted to the
legislature for funding.
I urge your support for this legislation.
2:48:28 PM
Ms. Hutchison reviewed the Sectional Analysis (copy on
file):
Section 1: AS 14.03
Adds a new section, AS 14.03.128, that establishes the
Alaska Education Innovation Grant Fund. School
Districts may request a grant under this section for
the support of innovative education ideas. The
Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) shall determine annually the amount
requested for grants and submit them in their budget
for legislative approval.
Section 2: AS 14.42.030(e)
Removes the Alaska Education Grant from state statute.
The Alaska Education Grant is in AS 14.43.400 - AS
14.43.420.
Section 3: AS 14.43.810(a)
Makes the high school graduating class of 2017, the
last high school class to receive the Alaska
Performance Scholarship (APS).
Section 4: AS 14.43.820(a)
Allows the commission to award an APS to a student no
later than July 1, 2017.
Section 5: AS 14.43.915(a)
Makes the APS and the Alaska Education Grant (AEG)
available to students for four years and does not
allow a student's eligibility to go past the 2020-2021
academic year.
Section 6: AS 14.43.915(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant". This section
deals with money going from the fund to the Alaska
Education Grant fund. This section is repealed Feb. 1,
2021.
Section 7: AS 14.43.915(b)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant". This section
deals with money going from the fund to the Alaska
Performance Scholarship award account. This section is
repealed Feb. 1, 2021.
Section 8: AS 14.43.915(c)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant". This section
deals with the allocation of monies from the fund.
This section is repealed Feb. 1, 2021.
Section 9: AS 14.45.130(a)
This section deals with eligibility of students from a
private or religious school receiving the APS. It is
repealed Feb. 1, 2021.
Section 10: AS 37.14.750(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant". This section
establishes the purpose of the fund, which is "making
grants to school districts to support the Alaska
Education Innovation Grant Program."
Section 11: AS 37.14.750(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant". This section
establishes the purpose of the fund, which is "making
grants to school districts to support the Alaska
Education Innovation Grant Program." This section also
removes the language that allows payments from the
fund to go to scholarships to postsecondary
institutions. This section is repealed in Feb. 1,
2021.
Section 12: AS 37.14.750(d)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 13: AS 43.20.014(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 14: AS 43.55.019(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 15: AS 43.56.018(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 16: AS 43.65.018(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 17: AS 43.75.018(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 18: AS 43.77.045(a)
Conforming Language to change the name of the fund
from "Alaska Higher Education Investment" to the
"Alaska Education Innovation Grant".
Section 19: AS 14.03.113
AS 14.03.113, "District's determination of scholarship
eligibility" is repealed July 1, 2017.
Section 20
Repeals the following sections on Feb. 1, 2021.
Article 8: Alaska Education Grant Program
- AS 14.43.400 - Purpose; creation
- AS 14.43.405 - Administration
- AS 14.43.406 - Applicability of other laws
- AS 14.43.415 - Eligibility; priority
- AS 14.43.420 - Limitation on grants
Article 12: Alaska Performance Scholarship Program
- AS 14.43.810 - Alaska performance scholarship
program established; regulations
- AS 14.43.820 - Alaska performance scholarship
program; eligibility
- AS 14.43.825 - Maximum annual awards
- AS 14.43.830 - Qualified postsecondary institutions
- AS 14,43.840 - Report to the Legislature
- AS 14.43.849 - Definitions
Article 13 General Provisions
- AS 14.43.915 - Alaska education grant account and
Alaska performance scholarship award account
Article 9: Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund
- AS 37.14.750(c) - As soon as is practicable after
July 1 of each year, the commissioner of revenue shall
determine the market value of the fund established in
this section on June 30 for the immediately preceding
fiscal year. The commissioner shall identify seven
percent of that amount as available for appropriation
as follows: (1) one-third for the grant account
established under AS 14.43.915(a), from which the
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education may award
grants; and (2) two-thirds for the scholarship account
established under AS 14.43.915(b), from which the
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education may award
scholarships.
Section 21: Applicability Section
The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education may
only award an APS to a new applicant if they are
determined eligible by their school district and
reported as eligible to DEED on or before July 1,
2017.
Section 22: Transition
The Departments of: Education and Early Development,
Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education may adopt
regulations to implement necessary changes made by
this act. The regulations may only take effect after
the law is implemented.
Section 23: Retroactivity
If Sections 3-5 and 19 of this Act take effect after
July 1, 2017, then sections 3-5 and 19 of this act are
retroactive to July 1, 2017.
Section 24: Effective Dates
Sections 2, 9, and 11 take effect Feb. 1, 2021.
Section 25: Effective Date
Except for Sections 2, 9, and 11, this act takes
effect immediately.
Section 23: Retroactivity
If Sections 3-5 and 19 of this Act take effect after
July 1, 2017, then sections 3-5 and 19 of this act are
retroactive to July 1, 2017.
Section 24: Effective Dates
Sections 2, 9, and 11 take effect Feb. 1, 2021.
Section 25: Effective Date
Except for Sections 2, 9, and 11, this act takes
effect immediately.
2:50:52 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony.
ARLENE RONDA, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in opposition to the legislation. She said that she was
opposed to any provision that would give a tax credit to
individuals, businesses, property owners, or any other
entity that could claim a tax credit for a donation. She
asserted that well-funded public schools were essential for
a civil society. She was opposed to the tax credit section
of the legislation.
2:53:16 PM
AT EASE
2:53:45 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair MacKinnon explained that the bill would not alter
or repeal anything in relation to tax credits. She stressed
that the tax credits mentioned in the legislation already
existed in state statute and were not being repealed or
changed.
Ms. Ronda was surprised that the credit had been in statute
all along. She maintained her concerned that tax credits
were going toward anything that was not a public
institution.
Co-Chair MacKinnon explained how the tax credits worked in
relation to the Higher Education Fund.
2:55:41 PM
SAICHI OBA, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), testified in strong opposition to the
bill. He supported the continuation of the Alaska
Performance Scholarship. He said that the University
opposed the use of funds, identified for APS, to be used
for other purposes. He said that APS encouraged students to
take rigorous courses, and that recipients took fewer
remedial courses than non-recipients. He ruminated on the
positive educational aspects of the scholarship. He
believed that the greatest challenge facing Alaska was
students choosing not to continue to any post-secondary
program, which the loss of APS would only exacerbate.
2:58:28 PM
STEPHANIE BUTLER, ALASKA COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION, JUNEAU, testified in opposition to the bill. She
said that the APS was an existing resource that had an
extraordinary reach; students and the state benefitted
greatly from the program. She listed the various ways in
which the APS benefitted the state. She noted that the
scholarship provided a pathway to higher education for
lower income Alaskans. She noted that many APS recipients
are the first members of their families to attend college.
She related that the APS was a positive force in addressing
Alaska's education and workforce crisis, and the impact was
growing. She relayed that the program encouraged all
students to aim higher academically.
3:02:11 PM
SCOTT MACMANUS, SUPERINTENDENT, ALASKA GATEWAY SCHOOL
DISTRICT, TOK, spoke in opposition to the bill. He
testified that he supported innovation in education, but
not at the expense of the APS. He supported the education
commissioner's "Alaska Challenge," which he believed would
create an innovative, systemic, long-term solution to
Alaska education. He lamented all of the positions that his
district was going to lose under the proposed 5 percent cut
to education.
3:04:38 PM
KEVIN SHIPLEY, KAKE CITY SCHOOLS, KAKE, testified in
opposition to SB 103. He stressed that the APS had resulted
in students taking more academically rigorous classes. He
said that the APS had been a driver in raising the bar for
students to challenge themselves academically. He shared
that the APS had allowed for innovation in schools because
educators had to figure out how to offer the required
courses to students.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether the Kake school board
adopted curriculum.
Mr. Shipley replied that the school board had adjusted and
adopted curriculum, and he lamented that the curriculum was
largely driven by textbooks.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if the local school board set the
parameters for education qualifications.
Mr. Shipley replied in the affirmative.
3:07:35 PM
Senator von Imhof asked whether the school district offered
information on various scholarships to seniors.
Mr. Shipley replied that the district had a college and
career counselor, paid for by a grant, and that students
were constantly seeking additional ways to fund their
higher education. He said that the counselor was funded for
the next three years through a federal grant.
Senator von Imhof asked how many seniors lived in the
district.
Mr. Shipley replied that he had 5 seniors in his district.
3:08:52 PM
TONY HABRA, HAINES BOROUGH SCHOOLS, HAINES, testified in
opposition to the bill. He shared that his daughter would
be receiving the APS in 2017. He said that the APS would
allow her to receive her degree and stay in Alaska after
graduation. He believed that she was representative of many
students that received the scholarship. He echoed previous
testimony about the APS benefitting lower-income student
who may be the first in their family to attend college.
3:11:00 PM
TIM BAUER, SUPERINTENDENT, ANNETTE ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT,
METLAKATLA, testified in opposition to the bill. He echoed
the comments of the previous speaker. He asserted that the
scholarships provided hope and possibilities for Alaskan
students. He relayed that the chance at an APS was used to
bolster motivation for engagement by students; the idea
that there would be a reward for hard work resulted in
students success. He passionately defended the retention of
the APS.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether Mr. Bauer's students
qualified for other University grants.
Mr. Bauer answered in the affirmative.
3:13:28 PM
JOHN CONWELL, SUPERINTENDENT, UNALASKA CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT, UNALASKA, spoke against the bill. He remembered
that the original legislation that established the
scholarship had been signed on campus by then Governor
Parnell. He believed that the program especially served his
diverse district well, and he praised the innovative nature
of the program. He shared that the scholarship was often a
"safety net" for students seeking financial aid. He thought
that recipients of the scholarship were more likely to stay
in Alaska for their postsecondary education.
3:17:17 PM
LORA JORGENSEN, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in opposition to
the bill. She discussed the benefits of the program that
extended beyond recipients of the scholarships. She shared
that her son was a recipient of APS.
3:19:54 PM
HOLLY HOLMAN, UNALASKA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNALASKA,
testified against the bill. She relayed that her child had
applied for the scholarship and had decided to go to school
in Fairbanks. She said that students in Unalaska were
working extra hard in order to qualify for APS, and that
these students wanted to go to college and then make a life
in Alaska. She believed that the scholarship was an
investment in the future.
3:22:05 PM
MAXIMILIAN ERICKSON, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
spoke in opposition to the bill. He voiced strong support
for APS.
3:23:41 PM
GRETCHYN O'DONNELL, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference),
testified in opposition to the bill. She shared that she
was a first generation college student in her family. She
relayed that the APS became available her sophomore year of
high school. She believed that investment in students
through the APS gave students hope that their dreams could
be achieved. She said that she would not have been able to
attend college without the APS.
3:26:16 PM
PETE HOEPFNER, CORDOVA SCHOOL DISTRICT, CORDOVA (via
teleconference), testified in opposition to the bill. He
spoke of the increased academic rigor in his district due
to the APS. He said that many students had planned on using
the scholarship to go to college. He worried that only
having grants available would pit districts against each
other because some would be better at grant writing than
others. He did not think that districts should compete with
each other for funding. He felt that the additional
administrative costs of crafting the innovative grants
would add more work to the already full plate of the
reduced personnel at the Department of Education and Early
Childhood Development.
3:28:48 PM
JOE NELSON, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SOUTHEAST, JUNEAU, spoke
in opposition to the bill. He echoed the comments of
previous testifiers. He expressed understanding for the
fiscal situation in the state. He felt that the scholarship
was impacting systemic change and helping to change the
culture of education district-by-district. He noted that
districts were initially challenged by the requirements of
the APS, but that the idea had been proved to be thoughtful
and innovative, as it tied the scholarship to the
curriculum, standardized test scores, the G.P.A, and took a
three tiered approach to qualifying levels.
Co-Chair MacKinnon believed that of the 5 percent of
students that applied for the grant and received it, only 5
percent of the student graduated in 6 years' time.
Mr. Nelson agreed that the issue of persistence should be
addressed. He thought that graduation rates could be
improved.
Co-Chair MacKinnon restated that 5 percent of all Alaska
high school freshmen would graduate from college within 6
years. She noted that the statistic was farther reaching
than just the scholarship. She wondered whether the dollars
were being used to the greatest benefit through the APS.
3:33:33 PM
ALYSE GALVIN, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in opposition to the
bill. She believed that the scholarship served students who
may not have believed that they could ever attend college.
3:36:29 PM
JACK WALSH, SUPERINTENDENT, CRAIG SCHOOL DISTRICT, CRAIG,
testified in opposition to SB 103. He recognized that there
was a need for innovation in education. He believed that
eliminating the scholarship would be harmful to the state
overall. He felt that the legislature could craft a fiscal
plan while maintaining the scholarship.
3:39:12 PM
Senator Micciche asked how Mr. Walsh made the connection of
K-12 education and the APS part of his mission.
Mr. Walsh responded that scholarships in education provided
hope and opportunity to Alaskan students and could lead
people out of poverty and into successful livelihoods. He
believed that not only K-12 education needed to be
encouraged, but also postsecondary education. He felt that
education should not end with the 12th grade, and that all
of the research stated that postsecondary education was
necessary in the future.
3:42:04 PM
TIM PARKER, NEA ALASKA, JUNEAU, spoke in opposition to the
bill. He believed in innovation in K-12 education, and he
stressed that every good teacher in the state was
innovating on a regular basis. He said that 2 out of 3
students needed financial aid in order to attend college
and that the APS was needed by those students.
3:44:28 PM
BRENDA TAYLOR, GREAT ALASKA SCHOOLS, JUNEAU, testified in
opposition to the bill. She said that she had initially be
against the APS because of the pressure that it placed on
school districts to meet the scholarship requirements for
class offerings. She said that her mind had been changed
and she had realized that the advanced rigor had resulted
in students working harder toward the goal of postsecondary
education. She said that college counselors at Juneau
Douglas High School had been cut, which had resulted in
students having less guidance when seeking resources and
financial aid for college.
3:47:36 PM
KATHY TODD, SELF, VALDEZ (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the bill. She believed that the APS had
proved successful in her district in motivating kids to
take more academic classes, and in raising grade point
averages. She said that the scholarship had provided much
needed funding for financial aid. She added that the
scholarship fed the University budget while helping Alaskan
students. She believed that the APS was an innovative way
to change school culture for the better and give more
students a range of postgraduate educational opportunities.
3:51:01 PM
SUSAN NIMAN, SELF, VALDEZ (via teleconference), testified
in opposition to the bill. She thought that taking away
money from a group that did not have the power to vote was
unfair. She felt that education funding should take
priority over funding juvenile detention centers. She
echoed the points made by previous testifiers.
3:52:39 PM
MIKE COONS, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill.
3:55:46 PM
TODD SMOLDON, SELF, WILLOW (via teleconference), testified
in support the bill.
3:58:15 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair MacKinnon specified that amendments for SB 103
were due by 5pm, Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
Ms. Stephanie Butler, Executive Director, Alaska Commission
on Postsecondary Education, Department of Education and
Early Development offered to provide further information
that supported not eliminating the APS program.
Co-Chair MacKinnon reminded the committee and the public
that Alaska was facing a fiscal crisis. She explained that
a direct draw from the earnings reserve account (ERA) would
jeopardize the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. She stressed
that it was critical to examine important issues in order
to address the current budget shortfall.
SB 103 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed housekeeping.
ADJOURNMENT
4:02:20 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 4:02 p.m.