2002-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 2142
HB 379                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 379 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; changing the name of quality school funding grants to                                 
     'learning opportunity grants'; relating to the reduction of                                    
     supplementary public school funding; 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 January 31, 2002, appears                                   
below:                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Investment in education is necessary to achieve school excellence in                                
Alaska.  This bill that I transmit today increases the per-student                                  
allocation for school funding and continues the current funding level                               
for quality school grants.  It also suspends the reduction of                                       
supplementary public school funding.                                                                
                                                                                                    
This legislation is built on the recommendations of the Education                                   
Funding Task Force presented to the Legislature in 2001.  The task                                  
force identified a five-year plan of specific initiatives and programs to                           
improve student achievement in Alaska.                                                              
                                                                                                    
The Legislature last year partially funded the recommended base                                     
student allocation in the school funding formula -- increasing it by $70                            
as opposed to the $115 the task force proposed.   This bill continues                               
toward completion of the five-year plan by increasing the base student                              
allocation by $108 per student, from the current $4,010 to $4,118.                                  

2002-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 2143
This increase will provide the resources to ensure that all of Alaska's                             
children have opportunities to meet the high academic standards                                     
necessary to succeed in today's world.                                                              
                                                                                                    
The base student allocation increases are just one piece of the funding                             
commitment we need to make to achieve academic excellence in our                                    
schools.  Another piece is continuing the currently funded maximum                                  
amount of the quality school funding grants (renamed the 'learning                                  
opportunity grants' in this bill).  Following the task force                                        
recommendations, the maximum grant amount would be set in statute                                   
at $74 per average daily membership, up from the $16 now in statute.                                
The legislature last year provided one-time funding for higher learning                             
opportunity grants.  Improvement in student performance requires a                                  
continuous commitment of resources.                                                                 
                                                                                                    
Finally, the bill would suspend the reduction of supplementary public                               
school funding until fiscal year 2004, when a district cost factor study                            
is complete. The current law funds growth in some districts at only 60                              
cents on the dollar, sending the wrong message to students and                                      
families.                                                                                           
                                                                                                    
This bill represents 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 necessary                               
resources.                                                                                          
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely,                                                         
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Tony Knowles                                                        
                                Governor"