2001-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 0412
HB 139                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 139 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to increasing the base student allocation and the                             
     maximum amount of quality school funding grants for public                                     
     schools; and providing for an effective date."                                                 
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                              
Education, and the Health, Education & Social Services, and Finance                                 
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                   
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 20, 2001, appears                                  
below:                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
A new investment in education is necessary as the next step toward                                  
school excellence in Alaska.  This bill I transmit today takes that step                            
by increasing the per student allocation in school funding as well as                               
the quality schools grants.                                                                         
                                                                                                    
This legislation is built on the recommendations of the Education                                   
Funding Task Force that identified specific initiatives and programs                                
over a five-year period to improve student achievement in Alaska.                                   
The legislation increases the base student allocation in the funding                                
formula in the first year by $115 per student, from the current $3,940                              
to $4,055.  The base student allocation will increase approximately                                 

2001-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 0413
$63 per year in each of the remaining four years of the plan.  These                                
increases will help provide the resources to ensure that all of Alaska's                            
children have opportunities to meet the high academic standards we all                              
know are necessary to succeed in today's world.                                                     
                                                                                                    
The base student allocation increase is just one piece of a funding                                 
commitment we need to achieve academic excellence in our schools.                                   
Another piece is raising the quality schools grant, which this bill                                 
proposes, from $16 to $65 per average daily membership. The                                         
Legislature last year provided one-time funding for learning                                        
opportunity grants.  Improvement in student performance requires a                                  
continuous commitment of resources so that all students meet high                                   
academic standards.  By providing the additional support through the                                
quality schools grant, Alaskans can be assured the money will go to                                 
support student success in a standards-based instructional program.                                 
                                                                                                    
This legislation is an investment in our children and Alaska's future.  If                          
we are serious about preparing all of our children for the workforce                                
and the challenges of this new century, we must provide the resources                               
for students to meet high academic standards and to hold schools                                    
accountable for their students' performance.  I urge your prompt and                                
favorable action on this bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely,                                                         
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Tony Knowles                                                        
                                Governor"