ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE  March 28, 2018 8:02 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Harriet Drummond, Chair Representative Justin Parish, Vice Chair Representative Tiffany Zulkosky Representative Ivy Spohnholz Representative Jennifer Johnston Representative Chuck Kopp Representative David Talerico MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Lora Reinbold (alternate) Representative Geran Tarr (alternate) COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 52 "An Act relating to providing a pre-elementary program within a school district; and providing for the certification of early childhood education plans." - MOVED HB 52 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 406 "An Act relating to the calculation of state aid for schools that consolidate; relating to the determination of the number of schools in a district; and providing for an effective date." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 52 SHORT TITLE: PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI 01/18/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/18/17 (H) EDC, FIN 02/08/17 (H) EDC AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106 02/08/17 (H) Heard & Held 02/08/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/27/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/27/17 (H) Heard & Held 03/27/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/28/18 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing of HB 52, offered an overview as prime sponsor of the legislation. ACTION NARRATIVE 8:02:35 AM CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the House Education Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Representatives, Zulkosky, Johnston, Kopp, Spohnholz, Parish, Talerico and Drummond were present at the call to order. HB 52-PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS  8:03:09 AM CHAIR DRUMMOND announced the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 52, "An Act relating to providing a pre- elementary program within a school district; and providing for the certification of early childhood education plans." 8:03:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, noted that joint meetings were held last week with the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee as it is important look at early education and how early education is a great return on investment to the state. The House Education Standing Committee is the primary policy committee for education and this is important public policy, while recognizing the "incredible" fiscal note attached to this bill. He explained that when the bill moves to the House Finance Committee it will discuss the fiscal impacts to the state. He pointed out that from a purely policy driven standpoint, the state can and should join with the 42 other states with some sort of state-level support for early education. As the committee is aware, a pilot pre-K program was put in place under Governor Sarah Palin and the results have shown that children in the first phase advanced faster, had better math, reading, and science scores, and "tested better in the spring than they did in the fall." Those, he described, are proven results for Alaska, and when a pilot program has shown those results and improved efficacy, it is ready for prime time. CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that her intent is to ensure that the state continues to provide early childhood services. 8:06:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE PARISH commented that "It's a great bill and that we will realize a substantial saving. If we've got money to invest in major industry projects, I think we've got money to invest in our children." 8:06:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE PARRISH moved to report HB 53, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 53 moved from the House Education Standing Committee. 8:07:15 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:07 a.m. to 8:12:10 a.m. 8:13:09 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Education meeting was adjourned at 8:13 a.m.