SCR 1: Relating to a legislative task force on civics education.
00 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 01 Relating to a legislative task force on civics education. 02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 WHEREAS research shows that one of the most significant ways schools can foster 04 youth civic engagement is by providing students with opportunities to engage in reflective 05 civic action through their classes and cocurricular and extracurricular activities; and 06 WHEREAS, rather than providing a single course in civics, educators should provide 07 civics learning activities from preschool through college, informed by best practices that 08 develop civics knowledge, including knowledge of our system of government and how it 09 works, and civics skills, including intellectual and participatory skills necessary for an active 10 civic life; and 11 WHEREAS opportunities for students to engage in real-world learning activities can 12 enhance the civic development of students and provide authentic learning experiences; and 13 WHEREAS research suggests that educators who include in their pedagogy a 14 component of civil service opportunities may better help students achieve greater levels of 15 academic success and increased motivation; and 16 WHEREAS the state can help ensure that schools provide civil service opportunities
01 for all students through the standards that schools set and the assessments and accountability 02 measures the state chooses; 03 BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Task Force on Civics 04 Education is established as a joint task force of the Alaska State Legislature for the purpose of 05 studying the current state of civics education and making recommendations for the 06 improvement of civics education for students in the state; and be it 07 FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the task force include 08 (1) analyzing the current state of civics education in the state; 09 (2) analyzing current civics education laws in other jurisdictions; 10 (3) identifying best practices in civics education in other jurisdictions; 11 (4) studying and making recommendations about how to increase and improve 12 civics education in kindergarten through grade 12 in public schools in the state; 13 (5) making recommendations to the legislature relating to substantially 14 increasing civics literacy and the capacity of youth to obtain the requisite knowledge and 15 skills to be civically informed members of the public; 16 (6) making funding recommendations related to the task force's 17 recommendations to the legislature; 18 (7) submitting a report to the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the 19 house of representatives by January 19, 2016, summarizing the findings and recommendations 20 of the task force and notifying the members of the legislature that the report is available; and 21 be it 22 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consists of 11 members as follows: 23 (1) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of 24 the house of representatives; 25 (2) two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; 26 (3) the commissioner of education and early development or the 27 commissioner's designee; 28 (4) six members of the public appointed jointly by the speaker of the house of 29 representatives and the president of the senate as follows: 30 (A) one member of the National Education Association; 31 (B) one member representing the Association of Alaska School
01 Boards; 02 (C) one member representing the media; 03 (D) one member representing a nonprofit organization in the state with 04 civics education as part of its core mission; 05 (E) one member representing the University of Alaska; 06 (F) one member representing the Alaska Council of School 07 Administrators; and be it 08 FURTHER RESOLVED that 09 (1) the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate 10 shall jointly appoint the chair of the task force from among the legislative members of the task 11 force; 12 (2) a majority of the task force constitutes a quorum; a vacancy on the task 13 force shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection or appointment; 14 (3) the task force shall meet at the call of the chair; 15 (4) the task force may request data and other information from the Department 16 of Education and Early Development, school districts, and other state agencies; and be it 17 FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff of the legislator who chairs the task force shall 18 provide administrative and other support to the task force; and be it 19 FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force serve without compensation 20 but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under 21 AS 39.20.180; and be it 22 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force expires on June 30, 2016.