Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): University of Alaska Board of Regents | |
| SB110 | |
| SB20 | |
| HB69 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 110 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 69-EDUCATION FUNDING: INCREASE BSA
4:55:35 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
69(RLS) am "An Act relating to education; relating to open
enrollment in public schools; relating to school and student
performance reports; relating to school and district
accountability; relating to charter schools; relating to an
annual report for correspondence study programs; relating to the
base student allocation; relating to reading proficiency
incentive grants; relating to wireless telecommunications
devices in public schools; relating to the duty of the
legislature to pass a public education appropriation bill;
relating to the duty of the governor to prepare a public
education appropriation bill; establishing the Task Force on
Education Funding; relating to a report on regulation of school
districts; and providing for an effective date."
4:56:10 PM
MIKE MASON, Staff, Senator Löki Tobin, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, offered an explanation of changes for Senate
committee substitute (SCS) for CSHB 69, version S. He said
funding for Alaska's education system has not kept up with
inflation and simultaneously there is a teacher and professional
staff shortage nationwide. By not funding Alaska's education
system students are shortchanged academically and economically.
HB 69 would provide Alaska's education system with a significant
investment of resources. He noted that data is very clear that
there is a strong correlation between increased funding and
improved student test scores. Every $1,000 per pupil increase in
instructional expenditures results in a two-percentage point
increase in reading proficiency and a one-percentage point
increase in math proficiency.
4:58:04 PM
MR. MASON said HB 69, version S, maintains the $1000 Base
Student Allocation (BSA) increase. The BSA supports all forms of
public education. The BSA helps maintain school buildings,
reduce class sizes, and provides better programs. He highlighted
that HB 69, version S, amends the statute governing the Alaska
Workforce Investment Board requiring the board to partner with
Alaska Post Secondary Education, school districts, and the
Alaska Department of Education and Early Child Development.
4:59:18 PM
MR. MASON said HB 69, version S, retains a cell phone ban and a
provision to make starting a charter school easier. A class size
reduction policy was added to the bill and Senator Kiehl is
working on language to address the local contribution issue. The
bill also contains provisions to clarify, modify, and expand
Alaska's open enrollment system and reading proficiency grants.
There is also language to track student's post-secondary
education. A final highlight was the task force on education
funding that HB 69, version S, authorizes. The task force will
analyze the state of education funding and the current
accountability provisions for schools and other factors such as
chronic absenteeism and school major maintenance:
[Original punctuation provided.]
House Bill 69 Education: Funding, Schools, Devices
Version S Explanation of Changes
Section 1 Amends AS 14.03 to add a new section
directing school districts to adopt a target average
class size policy for each grade level. Maximum class
sizes are set for grades pre-K through sixth grade and
seventh through twelfth grade. Districts may exclude
non-essential courses and mixed-grade classes from the
class size restrictions. Districts unable to meet the
target class size limits, would be required to report
why they were unable to meet the limits and how they
plan to meet the limits in the future.
Section 2 Amends AS 14.03.080 to direct districts to
adopt an inter-district open enrollment policy.
Districts must address the military status of parents
or guardians, the placement of siblings, and the
employment of parents or guardians. Districts must
establish a procedure for appealing the denial of an
enrollment application.
Section 3 Directs district to public enrollment
practices and policies.
Section 4 Amends AS 14.03.080 by requiring the
Department of Education and Early Development to
report on student academic progress over time.
Section 5 Amends AS 14.03.120 and directs DEED to
publish class sizes for grades K through 12th grade.
Section 6 Directs DEED to collaborate with the
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
to collect data on each high school graduating class
every 5 years until 20 years after graduation.
Section 7 Establishes a student academic improvement
recognition program.
Section 8 Reduces the time the Alaska State Board of
Education and Early Development is required to review
a charter school application appeal.
Section 9 Conforming language for section 11.
Section 10 Adds a new subsection under AS 14.03.255
to allow a school board to establish a simplified
renewal process for a charter school in good standing.
Section 11 Adds a new section under AS 14.03
regarding appeal procedures for a charter school
contract. The language mirrors administrative law
governing contracts.
Section 12 Amends AS 14.03.260 to allow a school
district to apply an indirect administrative cost rate
for a charter school for actual accrued administrative
costs or up to eight percent, whichever is less.
Section 13 Extends the report on correspondence
study programs that was set to expire on July 1, 2025.
Section 14 Conforming language for section 15.
Section 15 Amends AS 14.03.310 to provide an
allotment to a student enrolled in a correspondence
program who participates in a state standards-based
assessment, alternative assessment, or provides a
student portfolio based on criteria established by
DEED.
Section 16 Conforming language to section 13.
Section 17 - Conforming language to section 13, based
on the Alaska Reads Act repeal in 2034.
Section 18 Conforming language to section 19.
Section 19 Amends AS 14.17.410 by adding a new
subjection to allow a city or borough school district
to support non-classroom related activities permitted
by federal guidance.
Section 20 Increases the base student allocation by
$1,000.
Section 21 Conforming language related to inter-
district open enrollment policies by permitting a
child over age 16 to attend a school chosen by the
student's parent or guardian.
Section 22 Conforming language relate to inter-
district open enrollment policies by permitting a
child who receives services under a 504 special
education plan to attend a school of their parent or
guardian's choice.
Section 23 Conforming language related to section
22.
Section 24 Provides reading proficiency grants for
non-Kindergarten ready students, Kindergarten through
third grade students who are not reading at grade
level, and kindergarten through third grade students
who are reading at grade level. Grants are subject to
appropriation.
Section 25 Amends AS 14.33 by adding a new section
that directs districts to adopt a wireless
telecommunications device policy.
Section 26 Directs the Alaska Workforce Investment
Board to work with the Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education and DEED to develop a
statewide policy for coordinated and effective
technical and vocational education training including
offering each high school student an opportunity to
take a career or college entrance exam or assessment.
The section also requires the creation of a
recognition program for high schools that achieve a 90
percent assessment rate.
Section 27 Conforming language to section 6.
Section 28 Allows DEED to adopt correspondence
programs in regulation.
Section 29 Removes the exemption from complying with
AS 14.17.505 for unobligated allotment funds.
Section 30 Establishes a Task Force on Education
Funding to review and recommend education reforms. The
task force's report will be due January 31, 2027.
Section 31 Amends uncodified law to add a new
section with applicability language noting that
sections 8-12 apply to a contract that becomes legally
binding on or after the effective date of sections 8-
12 of this act.
Section 32 Conforming language for section 13
regarding the repeal of the Alaska Reads Act in 2034.
Section 33 Sets a July 1, 2025, effective date for
the act.
5:03:16 PM
CHAIR TOBIN noted that the committee also retained and amended a
particular section of the bill that was added on the House
floor. Also, there was a change made offered by Senator Bjorkman
concerning tracking academic performance. Some components that
were added on the House floor were retained and expanded to
allow districts to create a recognition program for schools that
show case academic growth at 75 percent or above of all
students.
5:03:43 PM
MR. MASON stated those changes occur in Section 4, which amends
AS 14.03.080 requiring the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) to report student academic progress over
time.
5:03:58 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the Senate committee substitute
(SCS) for CSHB 69, work order 34-LS0309\S, as the working
document.
5:04:16 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN objected to offer Conceptual Amendment 1.
5:04:18 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
5:04:22 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1
Insert New Section:
Section 32. Section 15 of this Act takes effect
on July 1, 2026.
Renumber following sections accordingly.
5:04:24 PM
CHAIR TOBIN objected for purposes of discussion.
5:04:27 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN offered Conceptual Amendment 1, to insert a new
Section 32 that delays the effective date of Section 15, making
it effective on July 1, 2026. Legislative Legal Services was
authorized to make technical and conforming changes.
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated the reason for the delayed effective
date is to provide time for people to adjust and understand the
provision so no homeschool student goes without an allotment
that is expected for the next school year. He commented he has
general concerns about the provision.
5:05:42 PM
CHAIR TOBIN removed her objection; she found no further
objection and Conceptual Amendment 1 to the SCS CSHB 69 was
adopted.
5:05:55 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked if Senator Bjorkman maintained his objection
to the adoption of SCS CSHB 69 as the working document.
5:05:59 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
5:06:03 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no further objection and SCS CSHB 69, as
amended, was adopted.
5:06:20 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
5:06:22 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report SCS CSHB 69, work order 34-
LS0309\S, as amended, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s) and the needed title
change resolution.
5:06:40 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and SCS CSHB 69(EDC) was reported
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.