2000-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 2092
HB 336                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 336 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act increasing the eligible maximum amount for quality                    
school grant funding for school districts; and providing for an                
effective date."                                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education & Social         
Services and Finance Committees.                                               
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Education & Early Development, 2/4/00               
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 2, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
As part of the state's Quality Schools Initiative, we have a                   
responsibility to improve student performance and provide them a               
passport to a bright, successful future.  One way to accomplish this is        
to help finance school district efforts to develop and maintain quality        
schools and  make  sure  students are getting  the academic tools they         

2000-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 2093
HB 336                                                                       
need to succeed.  To assist in this statewide effort, I am transmitting        
this bill to increase the maximum eligible amount of grants to school          
districts.                                                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               
In 1998 the legislature established quality school grants as a                 
component of public school funding.  The eligible amount was set at            
$16 per adjusted average daily membership.  This bill increases that           
amount to $52.  This increase, recommended by the state Board of               
Education and Early Development, is possible because school district           
enrollment projections are down for next year, saving the state about          
$19.9 million.                                                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Department of Education and Early Development is recommending              
that additional money be provided to school districts in the form of           
grants, rather than increasing the amount of the base student allocation.      
By providing the additional support as a grant, Alaskans can be                
assured the money will go to support the implementation of the quality         
schools initiative, including the high school graduation qualifying            
examination, instead of being absorbed in salaries, building                   
maintenance, or administration.                                                
                                                                               
                                                                               
All Alaska families are concerned whether their children are meeting           
the new high state academic standards in reading, writing, and math.           
Most school districts are taking extraordinary steps to prepare their          
students to meet these standards.  Yet some administrators wonder              
what impact the high school graduation qualifying examination will             
have on their ability to deliver a quality program to their students.  The     
increased grant funding will allow a qualifying district to take creative      
measures to prepare its students, schools, and communities to work             
toward success on the examination.                                             
                                                                               
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this bill.                          
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"