Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 106
02/18/2013 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB21 | |
| HB87 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 21-FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK
8:02:49 AM
CHAIR GATTIS announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 21, "An Act relating to the length of a school
week; and providing for an effective date."
8:03:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking
as one of the joint prime sponsors, recapped the intent of HB
21, which is to allow a four-day school week opportunity to a
specific district. Provisions in HB 21 require the district to
show that the majority of the community, students and teachers
support the implementation of this program. Additionally, the
district will have to prove that the students are receiving the
equivalent of a five-day school week. They will also be
required to file quarterly reports to the Department of
Education and Early Development (EED) on student and teacher
performance and the effectiveness of the program. An individual
school within the district may elect to maintain a five-day week
rather than exercise the option. She stressed that the intent
is to extend local control to school districts.
8:04:32 AM
MIKE HANLEY, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development (EED), said that currently statute allows the
department to approve an acceptable plan, as submitted by a
district, to operate on a four-day per week school calendar or a
flexible/alternate schedule. The proposed bill will change the
approval authority for a 30-day period, transferring approval to
the office of the Alaska State School Board and Early Learning.
The authority is redirected but the process is not altered, he
pointed out. Further, it does not prevent the commissioner from
approving a school schedule change, during the same 30-day
period.
8:05:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for the difference in criteria
required for permit approval through the commissioner's office
versus the proposed 30-day application period.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that there are additional items in
the bill, which requires progress reporting, once the proposal
has been accepted. Existing statute allows the education
commissioner to approve an acceptable plan that provides the
equivalent of a five-day school week; the same as the bill
requires. However, the bill stipulates that the board consider
additional criteria, such as community involvement, and he
paraphrased from the bill, Sec. 1 paragraphs (2) and (3); which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
(2) has involved affected students, teachers, and the
community in requesting a four-day school week;
(3) submits public comment to the board that
demonstrates majority community support for the
request
8:06:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated his understanding that the
department's denial of the Craig School District's original
application was due to the lack of focus on student improvement;
a condition not stipulated in the bill. He asked if the current
authorizing criteria will require a focus on student
improvement.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY pointed out that statute must be interpreted
for academic purposes. The Craig district's request was
submitted indicating an interest for a three-day weekend, and
the academic program plan was not presented. Hence, approval
was withheld pending an academic plan, which the district was
hesitant in preparing prior to gaining approval. He suggested
that if the information the district is offering in support of
HB 21, had been submitted with the initial request, the
department would have been in a better position to offer
approval. He said his office will always focus on the student
and many questions remain unanswered, such as: how will an hour
longer day be structured for young children; will special needs
children be able to handle an extended day; and a student
missing an extended day will have one and one-quarter days to
makeup - how will that be addressed.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON followed-up to note that the conditions
for approval proposed in HB 21 encompass criteria such as
flexibility and community desires, and asked whether it needs to
include academic achievement requirements. He expressed
interest in understanding the exact difference between the
current authority, in statute, and what is proposed, for the
single district, in HB 21.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY stated his belief that there is no
perceptible difference in the criteria established under current
statute from what is proposed in HB 21, and added that statute
does not speak to academic achievement.
8:12:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX hypothesized whether approval of the
district's request would have been approved if HB 21 had been in
effect when the initial application was under consideration.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY conjectured that the board would have
considered the request and the department would have expressed
concern.
8:13:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON commented that the bill sponsors have
noted concerns and the bill will be altered based on comments
from the previous hearings. She said that Craig is one of the
top rated, rural school districts and may have an advantage over
other rural districts that are struggling academically. The
plan that the school district is now submitting has been crafted
better than the previous request, she opined, and agreed that
the commissioner took the appropriate action on the initial
application.
8:14:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked the commissioner for a general
opinion on an altered school week.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY responded that student outcomes are
paramount and Alaska has a number of flexible programs in place
to meet individual needs. In reviewing the effectiveness of how
four-day weeks perform in other states, he said many are
implemented for financial purposes, not because of a remote life
style. However, he said reports are indicative of successful
programs and he stated support for the pilot program.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER clarified that the programs are reported
as successful with regard to academic achievement or financial
economy.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY said the financial aspect has not been
studied, but it would stand to reason that without having to
dispatch buses or provide food, among other services not being
provided one day per week, an economic benefit would result.
The academic outcomes appear to vary, with first year gains
typically being the highest, and as the program continues
results appear to remain relatively positive.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the department has had frequent
requests for four-day programs.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY answered that Craig district has been the
only one. To a follow-up question, he said the reported results
of four-day programs are based on case studies, not data base,
critical analysis.
8:18:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON offered that financial savings can be
substantial, especially where bussing of children is routine,
and added that a pilot program could be helpful, as a four-day
schedule has not yet been tried in Alaska.
8:19:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX stated support for HB 21 and expressed
concern for a possible rise in latchkey attendance if parents
have a five-day work week.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON suggested that the local areas will be
able to directly address the latchkey situation and it would be
part of the community decision, when considering a four-day
school week.
8:21:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he does not oppose HB 21, but
questions the purpose and usefulness of superseding current
statute. He voiced support for districts to work with the
commissioner's office to attain an alternative, flexible
schedule, and suggested it may place an unintentional and undue
burden on the board or the department.
COMMISSIONER HANLEY acknowledged that the steps for approving an
application through the board process may be cumbersome, but not
overwhelmingly so.
8:22:42 AM
CHAIR GATTIS expressed support for the Craig district's
community interest to operate a four-day pilot program. She
then turned to public testimony.
8:23:52 AM
CARL ROSE, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), stated support for HB 21 and said the mission of
the association is to support student achievement through
effective local governance. The program may not work for all
districts, and he predicted that it would not be requested
universally; however, it is a good option to have for areas
where it fits community needs. He stressed the importance of
allowing and honoring local governance in a district.
8:25:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated support for local control and
reiterated that Craig is one of the best performing rural
districts in the state. He theorized that a lower performing
district might desire to adopt the program, and asked if AASB
believes that the state is in a position to make assessments to
determine the viability and effectiveness of a four-day week.
MR. ROSE said the association does not adjudicate these matters,
but the department and local school boards will make
determinations regarding program effectiveness.
CHAIR GATTIS commented that in a low performing school district,
whatever program a community embraces and becomes engaged
around, should be considered a viable possibility for
improvement.
8:27:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about the performance of the
existing alternative schedules in Alaska.
MR. ROSE reported that the block schedule has been one of the
most effective methods districts have implemented, and although
a four-day week has not been tried in Alaska, the plan is
interesting to consider. Rather than requesting a teaching day
off, proposals for the fifth day have included a number of
options, such as: staff development, additional tutorial time
for students, or an alternative program that is not counted as
an official school day but which provides enrichment activities.
To a follow-up question he explained that the block scheduling
allows focus and compression of one subject into a longer class
period, such as 90 minutes versus 40 minutes. Absenteeism
presents a significant problem in a block schedule, as the
concentrated time on a subject is difficult to make up.
Attendance policies need to be tightened when a district chooses
to implement block studies. A four-day school week would
present a similar issue, as each day would represent 25 percent
of the week's studies.
8:31:28 AM
ELAINE PRICE, Member, School Board, Southeast Island School
District, stated support for HB 21 and reported that the parents
have led the initiative for a four-day school week, and stressed
that the school board neither proposed the idea nor proffered it
as a cost saving program. Regarding the question for latchkey
participants, she said the parents are a vocal group and the
district will know if a problem arises. The teachers are also
in favor of the four-day week and look forward to having more
contact time with their students, and expect to be available on
the fifth day, Friday, for special programs. The superintendent
appreciates the flexibility the schedule will allow, especially
in the area of vocational training. She said the standards and
test scores in the district are high, and this proposal has been
approached with concern to maintain, not compromise, the
district's academic standings.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what criteria will be applied to
ensure a high level of academic performance is maintained over
the duration of the pilot plan period, and in deciding whether
or not to continue the four-day schedule.
MS. PRICE said test scores will be reviewed, as well as the
minutes of the ASC meetings. The meetings are well attended by
the community and provide a clear understanding of what is
occurring in each school. A number of variables affect test
scores, which include: teacher effectiveness, special need
students, class size, and attendance. She stressed that
academic oversight is a district priority and a close eye is
maintained on the achievements in the nine schools; steps would
be taken to rectify any backsliding.
8:36:34 AM
BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School
Administrators, stated support for HB 21. The plan has been
well thought out and represents a serious endeavor, with little
risk. He said it may not suit many communities, but Craig
district seems to be a fit and he said it would be helpful to
have a pilot program; the information gained can only become
useful for future reference or application. The local control
aspect is important to respect and support, he finished.
8:37:57 AM
CHAIR GATTIS closed public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON reported that the sponsors will be
incorporating comments from the bill hearings and some changes
can be anticipated when it arrives at the next committee of
referral.
8:38:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON commented that the committee has supported
a policy for districts to take a variety of educational
approaches and he said this bill provides potential in the same
vein. He stated support for four extended school days with the
fifth day used for a variety of enrichment opportunities. The
pilot program will be interesting to follow, and if successful,
the schedule could prove helpful in other areas of the state.
Additionally, the new assessments that will be implemented based
on intellectual integration versus the current rote fact
learning method, may be better served by this schedule.
8:40:46 AM
CHAIR GATTIS underscored the importance for acknowledging
community support through legislative action.
8:41:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 21 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 21 was reported from the
House Standing Committee on Education.
8:41:50 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:41 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
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