Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/20/2024 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| University of Alaska Board of Regents|| Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development | |
| HB147 | |
| HB382 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 391 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 382 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 147-RETIRED TEACHER CERTIFICATE
9:33:22 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business
would be HB 147, "An act relating to teacher certificates for
retired teachers."
9:33:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced HB 147 and paraphrased the sponsor statement
[included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
The first thing this bill seeks to do is honor
teachers in the State of Alaska for their years of
dedication to our youth by providing them with a
lifetime teachers certificate at no cost. Under
current law, retired teachers pay a one-time $250 fee
for this type of certificate. The current fee brings
very little revenue to the state. Retired teachers
normally only seek a life-time certificate if they
plan on re-entering the classroom as substitutes.
The other thing this bill does is extend the number of
consecutive days a retired teacher holding this type
of certificate can long-term substitute from 120 days
to 165 days. This allows a person holding this type of
certificate to fill in as a long-term substitute for
more than an entire semester in cases where absences
continue for extended periods.
Alaska educators occasionally must take a leave of
absence from their classroom for different reasons
including medical procedures, caring for a child or
elder, the birth of a child, as well as other
emergencies. On rare occasions, teachers abruptly exit
a position mid-year for personal reasons, leaving the
school in a bind. When regular teachers must leave
positions during the academic year, this bill will
take some pressure off schools in finding skilled,
qualified substitutes and allow them to fill longer
vacancies than previously allowed. This bill also
encourages retired teachers to share their expertise
with students and young teachers and to remain living
in Alaska as active members of communities and
contributors to the economy.
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT additionally shared an anecdote from her
recent visit to her alma mater, Ryan Middle School in Fairbanks,
and spoke of her seventh-grade teacher who was asked to be a
long-term substitute teacher.
9:39:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked for an explanation of the current
limitation on the number of days [a teacher can long-term
substitute] and how HB 147 would change the limitation of the
number of days.
9:39:31 AM
TAMMY SMITH, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, Alaska State
Legislature, answered questions during the hearing on HB 147 on
behalf of Representative Dibert, prime sponsor. She addressed
Representative Himschoot and explained that currently the number
of days was increased to 165 from 120 due to schools being in
need of substitute teachers for a very long time. Being that a
school year is approximately 180 days, she explained, school
districts must post positions for at least 10 days so the 165
pushes it into the new school year. The bill would provide
ample time for districts to have a long-term substitute teacher
in a position, she said.
9:41:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX sought to clarify that the 165 school days
excluded weekends.
MS. SMITH confirmed that was correct and that it included
student contact days.
9:41:25 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD wished to make sure the public was aware that
Representative Dibert's staff communicated with the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED) in order for the
department to be supportive of the bill.
MS. SMITH confirmed that was correct.
9:41:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT inquired about how many teachers hold
the lifetime certificate.
MS. SMITH said DEED was online for further clarification, but
that the number had increased to about 1,000.
9:42:22 AM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and
Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early
Development, answered questions during the hearing on HB 147 and
clarified that she could get back to the committee with exact
numbers. She added that there are approximately 100 retired
teachers per year who apply for the retired teachers
certification.
9:42:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT offered her understanding that the
lifetime certificates are not counted on for funding for the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC).
MS. MANNING replied that receipts DEED collects from retired
teacher certification fees would go into it; however, it comes
from all receipts from teacher certifications.
9:44:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked to be reminded of the number of
vacancy rates for teaching staff across the state.
MS. SMITH responded that she did not have the rates.
MS. MANNING added that she did not have the current teacher
vacancy rates on hand but would get back to the committee at a
later date. She further noted that teacher turnover varies by
area.
9:45:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK moved to report HB 147 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
9:45:55 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE objected for the purpose of discussion. He
noted there was no public testimony for HB 147 in the House
Education Standing Committee, but there was in a prior
committee; therefore, he said he was not opposed to moving the
bill and removed his objection. There being no further
objection, HB 147 was reported out of the House Education
Standing Committee.