HB 190-CREDIT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES  8:12:11 AM CHAIR STEVENS called the committee back to order and stated that the next order of business would be HB 190. [CSHB 90(EDC) was before the committee.] REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, sponsor, introduced HB 190. He related that the need for the legislation became obvious when the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) testified before the House Education Committee. Students who took calculus in college, which is equivalent to a full year of high school math, were given only one semester credit due to the lack of seat time according to school district policy. He said that HB 190 allows students who demonstrate mastery of a subject to challenge and test out of high school courses and receive academic credit. Each school district can determine criteria for demonstrating mastery. It requires that school districts have an assessment tool for challenging the courses. He said the credits in the bill would apply to the requirements of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, but would not necessarily factor into the GPA. The bill does not attempt to offer credit for pre-requisite courses. He noted it varies by district as to whether they currently offer such an opportunity to challenge credits. The bill provides a unified, statewide approach toward keeping students engaged in learning challenging materials and receiving due credit. He referred to an example of the "Credit by Choice" program from the Anchorage School District. He noted that some classes cannot be exempted. 8:16:57 AM He clarified on page 1, line 10, of the bill that "it's within a reasonable time" and on line 11, "courses provided by the district that are likely to be, or have been, the subject of challenge requested under this section." He summarized that when students are ready to have mastery of the subject, they can challenge. 8:17:31 AM CHAIR STEVENS clarified that the standards would not be reduced or be made easier. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON agreed. He explained that success should not be measured by seat time. An alternative must be provided for students who have demonstrated mastery of a subject. CHAIR STEVENS asked how small districts would handle this. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that the bill applies to courses that a district offers. 8:19:40 AM SENATOR DUNLEAVY stated that the two bills before the committee will help students. He discussed College Level Examination Placement (CLEP), as it applied to foreign exchange students in the Mat-Su School District. He spoke positively about performance-based outcome programs. SENATOR HUGGINS voiced support for the idea behind the bill. He addressed various levels of educational control and asked why legislation is required. 8:22:47 AM SENATOR GARDNER noted the concept of adverse incentives, comparing the student's and the district's incentives. She pointed out that some students could pass a course without having taken it, such as composition; however, she suggested there would be benefits to taking the course. She noted she has mixed feelings about students testing out of many of their classes because she prefers that students excel, rather than meet standards. 8:24:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that he understood what Senator Gardner was addressing. He explained that the intent was to see students excel and to test out of classes they have already mastered. He suggested that the bill would encourage mastery rather than a pass/fail grade. It is up to the districts to decide the level of mastery. 8:27:02 AM SENATOR GARDNER summarized that a district could set the level of mastery. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that is correct. 8:27:31 AM CHAIR STEVENS clarified that districts would be encouraged to solve the issue, not mandate it. He suggested that CLEP might be the solution for some districts. SENATOR DUNLEAVY commended Representative Seaton for the bill. He encouraged districts to move toward performance-based learning as a means of saving money. 8:29:33 AM LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education & Early Development, offered to answer questions. He stated that the issue is a district responsibility. CHAIR STEVENS asked if the smaller districts should work with the larger districts to find solutions. MR. MORSE said yes. He noted that the department could help facilitate that communication. SENATOR HUGGINS asked how widespread CLEP is used in Alaska. He recalled how the Army used CLEP. 8:32:03 AM MR. MORSE replied that he was unable to comment on CLEP usage. He said he has heard that students use it primarily for language credits. DR. HERB SCHROEDER, Executive Director, Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), thanked the committee for its work and for the citation honoring ANSEP. He related that ANSEP allows students from anywhere in the state to complete courses necessary to earn the Alaska Performance Scholarship by bringing students into Anchorage where they complete university classes. The problem for many students was that they were not given equivalent high school credit for the university credits they earned. DR. SCHROEDER gave an example of a student who completed numerous college math courses that were not recognized by the student's high school. He said that HB 190 provides a mechanism for students to earn the correct number of high school credits for completing a university course. He noted that, over time, many students will be able to graduate from high school early. 8:35:22 AM CHAIR STEVENS summarized that there is antipathy between high school educators and college courses. DR. SCHROEDER agreed. He said it appears to be a "seat time" issue. SENATOR DUNLEAVY noted he has difficulty with the logic behind seat time. BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director, Alaska Association of School Administrators, testified in support of continuous progress in moving kids forward on a level that is appropriate for them. He said that since the mid-nineties the Lower Kuskokwim School District has had a continuous improvement model where kids could take an assessment delivered at the district level to determine their placement in coursework. From that point forward, the students could challenge courses. Standards have pushed school districts in this direction. He noted that standards are going to become more rigorous with the implementation of Common Core. He suggested that school districts would not be resistant to HB 190. Many schools are already teaching multiple level courses. 8:39:12 AM SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if Common Core standards are being adopted in Alaska. DR. JOHNSON said yes. He added that the state plans to adopt assessments that test the Common Core. SENATOR HUGGINS asked about binding state policies. DR. JOHNSON replied that he suspected that this proposal could be done through regulation at the department level or each district could assume the responsibility at the local level. 8:41:14 AM CHAIR STEVENS concluded that HB 190 would not be a burden to school districts. DR. JOHNSON agreed. He noted that schools could share information and adopt an assessment as the need arises. SENATOR DUNLEAVY suggested the CLEPS program could also be used. He asked where NEA stands on the bill. CHAIR STEVENS acknowledged a "thumbs up" from NEA. 8:42:48 AM CHAIR STEVENS held HB 190 in committee.