SB 80-ED. STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS/FED FUNDS  3:42:32 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 80. As sponsor, he read the sponsor statement:  SB 80 establishes an active role in public education for the legislature by requiring the legislature to give final approval of statewide educational standards and standardized assessments. Public education is a primary governmental function and the legislature is the ultimate authority in Alaska for public education. This authority is outlined in the Alaska Constitution and has been emphasized in recent court cases. Article 7 of the Alaska Constitution, titled Health, Education, and Welfare requires in part that, "The legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State…." In the recent Moore vs. State of Alaska case, it was stated "…this Court returns once again to the language of the Alaska Constitution, which places the responsibility 'to maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the state' squarely upon the legislature -not upon the Department of Education and Early Development and not upon local school districts." In light of growing concerns surrounding the adoption of a new set of standards and assessments, and with more accountability being demanded by the public, it is crucial that the adopted standards and assessments our state mandates be selected through a process that directly involves the public and the legislature. SB 80 requires state adopted standards and assessments to be: - reviewed at least once every five years by a committee composed of no less than 50% of parents with school age children - reviewed starting in 2015 with a report and request for approval during the 2016 legislative session - approved by the legislature SB 80 also prevents the Department of Education and Early Development from accepting grants which have associated standards and mandates (such as assessments), unless approved by the legislature. The legislature needs to step up its responsibility for public education. I request your support for SB 80. CHAIR DUNLEAVY said there is a strong executive form of government in Alaska. Years ago, the legislature ceded its authority to the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) to select and adopt standards and assessments and to take on grants. Curriculum, by law, has been reserved to school districts. The issues of Common Core and the Alaska Standards involved DEED, and the legislature did not have to approve them or their related assessments. He provided the history of the state's grant involvement from 1965 on. Today, the legislature does not have to approve the department's acceptance of grants. 3:47:10 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY stated that SB 80 is an opportunity to have a larger discussion that includes the legislature. Currently, the legislature only appropriates funds. He said he is not indicating that the department is not doing its job. It appears that the federal government is becoming more active in state education and the bill allows the legislature to be part of the process. He related that No Child Left Behind was passed by Congress in 2001. Secretary of State Arnie Duncan, some would say, unilaterally changed that law without an act of Congress. Along with the changes and the money comes the mandates without the legislature having a say. He concluded that SB 80 allows the legislature to be a part of the process. He noted there may be several changes in the bill. 3:50:12 PM SENATOR HUGGINS said he supports the idea. SENATOR STEVENS said the bill is quite different from the current system, but he is willing to listen to the discussion. He opined that school boards play a key role in the process and he wants to depend on their opinion. He questioned what would happened if all departments undertake this procedure. He noted, having served in the legislature for 15 years, there have been chairs and members of the Education Committee that didn't know the first thing about education. He stated that the bill is transferring a lot of power to the Education Committee and its chair. CHAIR DUNLEAVY said he looks forward to the discussion. He noted he has looked into the involvement of school boards and would be sharing that information. Legislative Legal reminded the sponsor that the legislature is responsible for education, not school boards. He said he wants to have presentations by the State School Board. He concluded that he fears mandates associated with federal grants and it is worth exploring that issue. He said it might make a difference if the State School Board was elected. [CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 80 in committee.]