2003-03-05                     House Journal                      Page 0449
HB 174                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 174 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to the state centralized correspondence study                                 
     program, to funding for educational programs that occur primarily                              
     outside school facilities, and to the duties of school boards of                               
     borough and city school districts and regional educational                                     
     attendance areas; 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 March 5, 2003, follows:                                     
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Kott:                                                                                 
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                          
transmitting a bill eliminating the Alyeska Central School program                                  
(ACS), the state's correspondence program.                                                          
                                                                                                    
Alyeska was once the state's only correspondence program offering                                   
education services to students statewide.  The school began operations                              
in 1939 offering programs to students living in remote areas with no                                
local schools.  However, there are 12 school districts currently offering                           
statewide correspondence services to Alaska's school age residents.                                 
                                                                                                    

2003-03-05                     House Journal                      Page 0450
The district-operated statewide correspondence programs offer a                                     
variety of education delivery methods.  Educational delivery models                                 
include US postal, Internet and family developed programs supported                                 
by district staff.                                                                                  
                                                                                                    
Eliminating the ACS program will eliminate the duplicative services                                 
currently being provided by school districts enrolling and serving                                  
correspondence students statewide.  The Department of Education and                                 
Early Development will help ACS students and families identify the                                  
appropriate educational services and assist them in moving to other                                 
programs to ensure no child is left behind.                                                         
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
                                 Sincerely,                                                        
                                 /s/                                                                
                                 Frank H. Murkowski                                                 
                                  Governor"