Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
04/12/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR5 | |
| HB86 | |
| HB135 | |
| HB64 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 86 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 135 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 64-READING PROFICIENCY TASK FORCE; DYSLEXIA
8:37:55 AM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of HB 64.
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony.
8:38:16 AM
LORI PICKETT, representing herself, International Dyslexia
Association, testified on HB 64. She thanked the committee for
hearing the bill. She spoke from many perspectives; educator,
parent, board member, and person with dyslexia. She stressed the
problem of the gap between what is scientifically known about
how to teach reading and the instruction given in the majority
of schools. She opined that a task force on reading instruction
could develop a sustainable plan to bridge that gap.
8:40:19 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked how many K-12 children in Alaska have
dyslexia.
MS. PICKETT guessed 12 to 20 percent.
8:41:00 AM
POSIE BOGGS, Member, Alaska Reading Coalition, testified on HB
64. She appreciated the public testimony at the previous meeting
and the bi-partisan nature of the bill.
She said the Coalition views the task force as a tool to extend
their hard work beyond their own careers and to collaborate
across stakeholders and create a plan for reading outcomes that
is sustainable and systemic and based on the best scientific
information. She encouraged the passage of the bill.
CHAIR HUGHES reiterated her question about the number of
children with dyslexia.
MS. BOGGS said under the general definition it is 10 percent;
using a broader definition it is 15 percent; personal
observation is even larger.
8:43:44 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked how dyslexia impacts mathematics.
MS. BOGGS noted that three of her students are greatly impacted
in math when reading word problems. Also, long-term memory is an
issue as it relates to math, such as in algebra and fractions.
8:45:17 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked about number reversals.
MS. BOGGS said reversal of numbers has very little to do with
dyslexia.
8:46:56 AM
SENATOR STEVENS noted that the bill has a broader scope than
dyslexia - it talks about reading.
8:47:19 AM
MS. BOGGS said it is absolutely broader than dyslexia; it is for
all students and is a global bill.
SENATOR STEVENS asked whether schools of education in Alaska use
scientific research to train teachers in this areas.
8:48:55 AM
MS. BOGGS said that the National Council on Teacher Quality has
addressed the issue of early reading instruction. The program at
UAF for educators received a 99 percentile rating of basic
knowledge for teaching reading. UAA received only a 9 percentile
rating. Only about 19 percent of universities instruct their
teachers in the foundations of reading. She provided an example
of teaching phonics in Ohio. There is a huge disparity and it is
a challenging issue.
8:51:27 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked if the committee has any questions.
CHAIR HUGHES closed public testimony. She said they are working
on a CS for HB 64. She held HB 64 in committee.