Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/07/2023 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Rural Education in Alaska | |
| HB148 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 148 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 139 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 148-AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY
10:09:40 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 148, "An Act relating to the Alaska
performance scholarship program."
10:10:06 AM
BUD SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of the sponsor, the House Education
Standing Committee, of which Representative Ruffridge served as
chair, provided a brief overview of HB 148 and the Alaska
Performance Scholarship (APS). He discussed the changes HB 148
would make to APS, including increasing the award amounts,
eliminating the testing requirements, adding a step-up
provision, and the recognition of CTE.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE invited public testimony [which
remained open from the meeting on 04/05/23].
10:12:28 AM
EMILY FERRY, Collective Impact Coordinator, Association of
Alaska School Boards (ASB), testified in support of HB 148. She
stated that ASB supports the inclusion of CTE in APS. She
stated that research supports removing the testing requirements.
She discussed how increasing eligibility to APS would help
contribute to the workforce in the state. She stated that
implementing staff to help students and parents with APS is also
crucial.
10:15:53 AM
LISA PARADY, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School
Administrators (ACSA), testified in support of HB 148. She
concurred with Ms. Ferry's testimony. She referred to ACSA's
position statement and its support of CTE, as this would
contribute to the state's economic stability. She pointed out
that research shows CTE courses improve graduation rates, lead
to higher career earnings, and decreases the student dropout
percentages. Concerning rural students, she expressed the
opinion that the proposed legislation would increase APS
accessibility without diminishing the rigor.
10:18:53 AM
VIRGINIA MORGAN, representing self, testified in support of all
the provisions in HB 148, but she stated that she specifically
supports the removal of the testing requirements. She argued
that the tests are unfair to rural students, and these tests are
not an accurate predictor of success. She shared that her
daughter did not do well on the tests; otherwise, she had high
achievements.
10:22:06 AM
SHANNON MAJOR, representing self, stated that as a school
counselor she makes sure students are on the right path to meet
the APS requirements. She argued that the changes proposed in
the legislation would make APS stronger. She pointed out the
most challenging part of qualifying for APS is the standardized
test requirement. She explained that the scores for these tests
are calculated by an agency outside of the district, resulting
in inaccuracies.
10:24:36 AM
MEGAN MURPHY, representing self, testified in support of HB 148.
She shared that she worked in the education system for 17 years,
with many of these years in rural Alaska. She expressed support
for the provisions in the proposed legislation, especially the
removal of the requirement for standardized tests to qualify for
APS. She stated that the testing locations are not accessible
for rural students. She reinforced that a student's grade point
average would be a better metric for APS qualification. She
argued that this would help students stay in the state and add
to the workforce.
10:27:12 AM
PAIGE PETR, School Counselor, King Tech High School, testified
in support of HB 148. She voiced support for the removal of the
standardized test requirements. She shared that she has been
involved with education for 20 years. She gave a brief
description of King Tech High School and shared the story of
four students who were prohibited from applying for APS because
of the testing requirements.
10:30:31 AM
SEAN SCHUBERT, Workforce Development Coordinator, King Tech High
School, testified in support of HB 148. He concurred with other
public testimony heard during the hearing.
10:31:58 AM
TOM BRICE, Vice President, Board of Directors, Alumni
Association, University of Alaska Fairbanks, on behalf of the
board, testified in support of HB 148. He argued that students
who received their education in Alaska, stay and work in the
state. He argued that the update to APS would make the program
have a greater impact.
10:33:53 AM
HERMAN MORGAN, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
148. He argued that students are not being educated and
"throwing more money at it makes it too top heavy." He
continued that parents need more consent in what students are
learning.
10:36:31 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE, after ascertaining that there was no one
else who wished to testify, closed public testimony.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 148 was held over.