Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 106
04/10/2009 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings (s): || State Board of Education|| University of Alaska Board of Regents - Ashton Compton | |
| HB69 | |
| HB130 | |
| HB215 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 215 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 69-EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: RATING & HOME VISITS CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 69, "An Act establishing in the Department of Education and Early Development a voluntary parent education home visiting program for pre-elementary aged children; and establishing a rating system for early childhood education." 8:25:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, Alaska State Legislature, thanked the committee for taking up the bill. 8:25:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 26- LS0281\C.2, Mischel, 4/7/09, which read: Page 3, line 29, following "shall": Insert new material to read: "(1) apply for and maximize federal and private funding sources to support the program established under this section; (2) identify and engage private partners to support the program; (3) limit the number of participating families to 650 for the first two years of program implementation and thereafter increase the number of participating families based on demand; and (4)" CHAIR SEATON objected for discussion. 8:26:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK explained that Amendment 1 accomplishes two mandates: First, it requires Department of Education and Early Development (EED) to maximize federal and private funding sources to support the Parents as Teachers method. The existing Parents as Teachers programs are 100 percent funded by non-state sources, which can be used to leverage state dollars in the future. Second, it limits the participating families to 650 in the first two years of the program, augmenting the 800 families that are already being served in the state. 8:26:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked how the fiscal note would be effected by the proposed amendment. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK indicated that it lowers it to $1,950,000. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH clarified that this reduction in funds will still provide a means to accomplish the expectations set forth. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK assured the committee that because the Parents as Teachers program is already in place, the requested funding will allow the state to directly monitor, assess, and make determinations regarding the program. 8:27:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ queried how the 650 families will be distributed around the state. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK read from page 3, line 6, of the bill, which states: (c) A local agency may apply for funding to provide services under the program by submitting an implementation plan for review and approval by the department. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK pointed out that existing services are in place, which may qualify for these funds, additionally, he opined that neighboring villages, observing the success of the Parents as Teachers program, will also apply. He suggested that allowing 650 slots is a generous number that may not be fully utilized. 8:29:26 AM EDDY JEANS, Director, School Finance and Facilities Section, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), responded to Representative Buch's previous question, stating that the amended fiscal note will be $1,950,000, and will be submitted following the committee meeting. CHAIR SEATON asked whether the department has any concerns regarding Amendment 1. MR. JEANS replied, no, and said it is clear that the intent is to provide a competitive grant process. 8:30:25 AM CHAIR SEATON mentioned that the department's existing request for proposal (RFP) to establish pilot programs for four year old kindergartener classrooms, should not get confused with what is included in this bill. He clarified that stimulus money may exist for assisting communities to adopt and institute the Parents as Teachers model, but it is important to understand that continued funding is not being guaranteed by the state. The current Parents as Teachers programs are federally or privately funded, and those resources would need to be cultivated to sustain stimulus established programs. The development/implementation of a template for parent/home based programs are held separate from the department's RFP and intent, he underscored. 8:32:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER stated his understanding that the funds for the bill will be administered by EED. CHAIR SEATON said that is correct, and whether the bill is ratified this session, or not, a template will be developed, and districts will have options available in order to meet their priorities. 8:34:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON read the proposed language being added to the bill via the amendment, which states, "(d) The department shall (1) apply for and maximize federal and private funding sources to support the program established under this section;" and asked how it will apply. CHAIR SEATON explained that this is corollary to the grant program that the department has in place as an RFP, and will provide options to school districts. He predicted that HB 69 will not be enacted this session, but the RFP will allow the districts to pursue early childhood program possibilities. 8:36:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER inquired whether the bill would be better served if it were to be held in committee for further review. CHAIR SEATON established that, as of this meeting, the committee will have allowed adequate review and amendment opportunities, and if the committee supports the intent of HB 69, it would be appropriate to move it to the next committee of referral. CHAIR SEATON opened public testimony 8:38:05 AM JOY LYON, Representative, Association for the Education of Young Children in SE Alaska, Member, Juneau Drop-out Prevention & Drug Free Schools Advisory Board, stated support for HB 69, and stressed the importance of providing direction to families during the early years of parenthood. The Parents as Teachers program is considered the gold standard, and leadership for this approach, from the state, would be helpful. Programs are established under short term grants, but long term support is needed for sustainability. State funds could be leveraged with grant money, she suggested. Additionally, passing the bill will support enrollment of children in the Imaginarium (ph) Library program. Each child enrolled receives a book every month, establishing a pattern for literacy, which dovetails with the Best Beginnings approach. She reported that her office routinely fields calls from parents requesting support and resource materials. The Parents as Teachers program is empowering, respectful, cost effective, and appropriate for everyone. She estimated that 10,000 new kindergarteners enter Alaskan schools each year, who could be better prepared by having participated in an early childhood program. 8:42:56 AM DEBBIE BALDWIN, Director, Child Development Division, RurAL Cap, stated support for HB 69, and indicted that RurAL Cap considers funding for Parents as Teachers to be an important investment for the fiscal year 2009-10. She acknowledged the various public forums that recommend and support services for early childhood education and the importance for providing services both in and out of the home. The out of home options have been increased via support for Head Start funding, as well as the governor's pilot pre-kindergarten program. However, the options for in-home programs have not progressed. She stated her belief that, because of the demands on the educational Title I stimulus funding, the districts will not make Parents as Teachers programs a top priority. Early work with parents in a home environment has proven to be effective, she reported, as proven throughout the state/nation via the programs that are in place. Early engagement of the parent is essential, and the home environment as the best place for education to begin. Handing a four year old off to a classroom environment is not the key to their future success, or a lower drop-out rate, she opined. Head Start has an effective in-home component and family involvement aspect; a model worth emulating. Keeping a parent engaged in their child's education for a sustained period, as well as empowering them to be advocates for their child's learning, is essential. Further, she stressed that establishing parental involvement, during the crucial developmental age timeline, would be difficult to attain through a classroom model. RurAL Cap supports the committee's interest for investing in programs to provide high quality, in-home services, for parents who choose to participate. 8:49:34 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER touted that Parents as Teachers plays a vital role in Alaskan education. However, this program is dependent on local contributions, he pointed out, and asked if the parental involvement is a fundamental aspect of the funding component. MS. BALDWIN responded that Parents as Teachers does not have a mandate that a specific amount of in-kind or non-federal/non- state funding be donated by the community; Head Start does have this requirement. However, communities do tend to be generous, and contributions of goods and services occurs on a regularly basis. The communities tend to become very involved in Parents as Teachers, and it is not unusual to receive voluntary help, or monetary support from the local Native agencies, village councils, businesses, or individuals. 8:52:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER acknowledged that 47 programs exist in the state, and he asked whether factors can be identified to suggest what makes Parents as Teachers successful in some communities and not others. MS. BALDWIN citing two reasons, said short term funding is one issue, which makes it difficult to build a meaningful community program. The primary funding source, to date, is a three year federal project program, not a program funding stream. It would be important to have follow up funds to keep students in the program, and to afford progress monitoring. Secondly, the most successful program continues to be Head Start; which has an extremely effective training and technical assistance network. The Parents as Teachers program does not have this capacity, nor does it have a centralized analysis program to collect data and generate reports. RurAL Cap has established a Parents as Teachers state office to work towards improving this area. 8:56:04 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked whether Parents as Teachers, a long established program, has been supported in other states with a steady funding stream and if there is a correlation on the outcomes. MS. BALDWIN acknowledged that the program has been in place for twenty years, and said she is studying how the funding has been continued in the various areas to provide a sustainable program. She offered to provide information to the committee on the ways and means that states employ. It is her goal, she said, to gain a full understanding of the funding sources, and opportunities, that are available for Parents as Teachers. In response to Chair Seaton she agreed to submit a written response to Representative Keller's full line of questioning. CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony. 8:59:34 AM CHAIR SEATON removed his objection to Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1, labeled 26-LS0281\C.2, Mischel, 4/7/09, was adopted. 9:00:25 AM CHAIR SEATON moved to adopt conceptual Amendment 2, as follows: Page 2, line 18, before "services," Delete "indentified" Insert "identified" CHAIR SEATON called for objection. There being no objection, conceptual Amendment 2 was adopted. 9:00:55 AM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ indicated that the fiscal note is also amended. CHAIR SEATON acknowledged that the fiscal note now reflects $1.9 million, provided verbally, with the official document to follow. 9:01:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER stated opposition to HB 69 based on the need for further information regarding funding opportunities for the Parent's as Teachers programs. 9:02:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK commented that the intent is to expand resource and knowledge opportunities to parents. The 650 expansion figure will allow existing programs to capitalize on the funding. He opined that this will maximize the private and public partnerships and allow state funds to be leveraged. 9:04:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated support for the bill, despite her utopian desire for young children to be at home with an attentive parent. The original concerns that she harbored for the ability to afford in-home support of an educational nature, when case workers are unable to provide regular home visits to families in need, has been laid to rest she said. The turning point was testimony taken in a previous meeting, from a Galena school district representative, who reported how the rural-urban divide has been erased among the first and second grade students, due to the Parents as Teachers program. She elaborated: I think when kids start from a variety of different places, and they come to school with no assistance, we just see that the gaps ... continue [through their educational career]. I think that this is a very cost effective program ... well demonstrated in other parts of the country. One of the things that I didn't know in my initial opposition was that we have it in 17 sites right now. ... A lot of the e-mail we get are from people talking about the state interfering with families; I don't see it that way now. I understand we ... are acknowledging and working with the strengths that families offer as the first teachers for their [children]. ... This approach just builds on that. 9:06:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER pointed out that Parents as Teachers may be funded by a bill that was just passed, and he stressed his support for the program. 9:07:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH stated that various early childhood education entities exist, along with administrative machinations, and asked if the RFP process allows the department appropriate coordination/oversight of all the facets involved across the state. MR. JEANS responded that the department is already pursuing the direction of early childhood education. The department has included a parent resource center in the pilot pre-kindergarten program. The difference is the home visit component. However, the department's intent is to offer a menu of options for early childhood development, he reported. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK agreed that a tapestry of options is needed and the department is working to that end. 9:09:52 AM CHAIR SEATON clarified that he supports the program, and stated his interest in learning from RurAL Cap why certain communities find success and what is the key to that success. Involving the department will also ensure the qualifications of individuals administering early childhood programs. 9:11:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report CSHB 69, Version 26- LS0281\C, Mischel, 2/9/09, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the amended fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 69(EDC), Version C, was reported from the House Education Standing Committee. The committee took a brief at ease from 9:12 to 9:16 a.m. 9:16:49 AM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 130 information.pdf |
HEDC 4/6/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 130 |
| Carol Shaeffer.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB130-EED-ESS-4-3-09.pdf |
HEDC 4/6/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 130 |
| HB 215 material.pdf |
HEDC 4/8/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 215 |
| HB 130 Workdraft version S.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 130 |
| HB 215 material April 10.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 215 |
| Resume - University of Alaska Board of Regents Ashton Compton.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 69 Materials I.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 69 |
| HB 69 Materials II.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 69 |
| HB 69 Materials III.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 69 |
| HB 69 EED Fiscal Note.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 69 |
| HB 69 material - April 10th.pdf |
HEDC 4/10/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 69 |