1997-05-08                     House Journal                      Page 1656
HB 275                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 275 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act establishing performance standards for elementary and                 
secondary students, requiring a comprehensive system of                        
assessment, and requiring a high school graduation examination."               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee            
on World Trade and State/Federal Relations.                                    
                                                                               
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Fiscal note, Dept. of Education, 5/8/97                                        
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter, dated May 7, 1997, appears below:           
                                                                               

1997-05-08                     House Journal                      Page 1657
HB 275                                                                       
"Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                        
                                                                               
Alaskans want the best from our public school system, including the            
assurance that students earning a high school diploma have mastered            
the skills necessary to prepare them for the work force.  For that             
reason, I am transmitting this bill establishing educational standards for     
elementary and secondary students.  It requires the Department of              
Education to set performance standards in reading, writing, and                
mathematics and to establish systems to assess whether those standards         
are being met by students in school districts throughout the state.            
                                                                               
The bill is intended to establish a comprehensive approach to testing          
of students.  It provides for testing to occur early and often during a        
students years in school.  In addition to expecting the most from their        
child, parents have a right to expect a school district to be accountable      
for their childs achievement, and have a right to know the child is            
learning and progressing.  Experience from other states shows a single,        
stand-alone exit test at the end of a students school years is                 
counterproductive; it does not enhance student learning, but rather sets       
the child up for failure.                                                      
                                                                               
Instead, comprehensive testing should occur at the primary,                    
intermediate, middle school, and high school levels.  Testing which            
holds both the school district and the student accountable for                 
educational achievement will allow reasonable goals to be                      
accomplished.  These goals include expanded parental involvement,              
measured student progress in basic skills, and remediation for students        
not reaching appropriate educational standards.                                
                                                                               
                                                                               
Under this bill, the Department of Education would adopt regulations           
establishing state performance standards for reading, writing, and             
mathematics and require each school district to develop a system for           
assessing student progress in meeting those performance standards.             
School districts would develop a system to provide information to              
parents and to students about the students progress, along with a              
program of remediation for those students who are not attaining the            
standards.  The districts would also conduct developmental screening           
for primary students.                                                          
                                                                               

1997-05-08                     House Journal                      Page 1658
HB 275                                                                       
This bill also requires the Department of Education to determine the           
form and content of a state graduation examination to be administered          
to all twelfth grade students after January1, 2003, to test proficiency        
in reading, writing, and mathematics.  A student would be allowed to           
receive a high school graduation diploma if the student met the school         
districts requirements and passed the state examination; students who          
dont  pass the state examination would be given a certificate of               
attendance, not a diploma.  If the student passed the examination after        
retaking it, the student would then be awarded a high school diploma.          
                                                                               
Enactment of this bill into law will greatly increase the likelihood that      
students graduating from high schools across Alaska will be able to            
meet a state standard of proficiency in basic educational skills.  The         
state is long overdue for a comprehensive system of testing to ensure          
minimum levels of proficiency that any public school student at any            
grade level anywhere in the state can attain.  This is an important bill       
for Alaskas students and parents.                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"