Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
03/30/2011 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Superintendent Lower Yukon School District | |
| HB15 | |
| HB5 | |
| HB199 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 199 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 198 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 5-CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY CURRICULUM
CHAIR DICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 5, "An Act requiring a standardized statewide
history of American constitutionalism curriculum and a secondary
school history of American constitutionalism examination in
public schools in the state; and providing for an effective
date." [In front of the committee was Version E]
8:53:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WES KELLER, Alaska State Legislature, directed
attention to the closing remarks from Chief Justice Walter
Carpeneti during his State of the Judiciary address. [Included
in members' packets] He referred to the principles of
democracy, and stated that HB 5 would mandate Alaska high school
curriculum for US history during the fifteen years immediately
following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
8:54:38 AM
CHAIR DICK closed public testimony.
8:54:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT moved to report CSHB 5, Version 27-
LS0018\E, Mischel, 2/24/11, from committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note.
8:55:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected. He said that proposed HB 5 put
another segment of curriculum, another test, and further
requirements on the school districts. He declared that the bill
was not concise with its curriculum requirements and that he was
not in favor of establishing vague testing to meet criteria.
8:57:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to adopt a conceptual amendment.
8:57:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON withdrew his objection.
8:57:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT withdrew his motion to move the bill.
8:58:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON withdrew her motion to adopt a
conceptual amendment.
8:59:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked Representative Seaton for
clarification of his concerns.
8:59:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that HB 5 added an "amorphous
curriculum requirement" with a test, which was yet to be
developed, to which passage was necessary for high school
graduation. He stated that this placed a huge burden on the
school districts. He opined that the high school graduation
exam was already an issue. He pointed out that proposed HB 5
was not a statewide standard, but a standard to be developed by
each district. He questioned whether it was the most productive
use of time to develop a curriculum to discuss the values held
during a 15 year segment of history and require it for high
school graduation.
9:03:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked if the proposed bill could be
amended to provide instruction without testing.
9:03:55 AM
CHAIR DICK offered his understanding that the proposed bill
empowered community members to confront local school boards
regarding the importance of this topic. He opined that the
mandate was for a conversation.
9:05:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that the requirement was not for a
conversation, but for a test that was required to receive a high
school diploma. He pointed out that the high school qualifying
exam was a requirement for receiving a diploma, and that HB 5
required another "high stakes test" which was not precisely
defined, as written in subsection (b), page 2, lines 26-28.
9:07:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE stated that, as the proposed bill imposed a
requirement on school districts, it was necessary to define its
intent. He opined that the intent was to ensure that a student
graduated with a basic understanding of the philosophical
underpinnings of the United States. He offered his belief that
the principles of the Bill of Rights, the US Constitution, and
the Declaration of Independence were the uniting factors for the
United States. He declared the necessity to understand these
principles in order to exercise the privilege of voting.
9:10:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT offered Conceptual Amendment 1, which
stated:
Page 1, line 2,
Delete "and examination"
Page 2, line 19,
Delete "and final examination"
Page 2, line 27
Delete "and examination"
9:11:20 AM
CHAIR DICK objected for discussion.
9:11:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if the proposed conceptual amendment
would allow the development of course curricula without the
test.
9:11:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT replied that "the chief school
administrator of a school district shall [develop] and submit to
the governing body of the school district a syllabus for
curriculum in the history of American constitutionalism." He
explained that it would require each school district to create
its own curriculum, but that a final examination would not be
required for high school graduation.
9:12:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA expressed a necessity to maintain the
priority for increasing the number of high school graduates.
9:13:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT expressed disagreement with the concept of
increasing the graduation rate, if it meant that students were
less educated. He stated his desire to be that "we've given
them all the tools they need to succeed." He opined that this
was "a good opportunity to help our kids be prepared as they
step out into the real world and become a part of society."
9:14:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE endorsed a need to demand a high standard
for faculty and students in order to obtain improvement and
performance from students.
9:15:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON declared that the proposed bill did not
state high standards, it designated some standards. He offered
his belief that the values of the American people during the
writing of the Articles of Confederation and the first state
constitutions were not generally known. He agreed that it was a
good academic exercise to read these documents, but he opined
that it would be difficult to be tested on the values of the
people during that era. He expressed approval for the removal
of the examinations, as the segment could then be adopted into a
theme-base curriculum. He stated that he would vote for the
proposed amendment, but that he was not supportive of the
proposed bill.
9:19:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON stated her support for the proposed
amendment, but she expressed her concern with making a mandate
to the schools. She opined that the suggested topics should be
taught in the schools, but that she did not support a mandatory
test of the curriculum as a graduation requirement. She offered
her belief that examinations should include a bit of everything
that was being taught. She stated her support for proposed HB
5.
9:20:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER stated his opposition to the proposed
amendment, and directed attention to page 2, line 18, stating
that the curriculum and the examination were to be submitted to
the governing body of the school district for approval. He
offered his belief that the proposed amendment weakened the bill
as the local school board would not be allowed the opportunity
to discuss the curriculum. He declared an obligation to young
voters to ensure that they understood their responsibilities.
9:22:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON suggested that many parents would not
support this examination.
9:23:00 AM
CHAIR DICK stated his opposition to the proposed amendment as
"it takes the teeth out of the bill."
9:24:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI removed his objection.
9:24:13 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kawasaki, P.
Wilson, Seaton, Cissna, and Pruitt voted in favor of Conceptual
Amendment 1. Representatives Feige and Dick voted against it.
Therefore, Conceptual Amendment 1 passed by a vote of 5-2.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT moved to report CSHB 5, Version 27-
LS0018\E, Mischel, 2/24/11, as amended, from committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, CSHB 5(EDC) was reported from the
House Education Standing Committee.
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