Legislature(2019 - 2020)ADAMS 519
03/10/2020 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB24 | |
| HB155 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 155 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 181 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 155
"An Act relating to eligibility for the Alaska
performance scholarship program."
11:17:44 AM
Co-Chair Johnston invited the presenters to the table.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, SPONSOR, read the prepared
sponsor statement:
The goal of HB 155 is to allow Career Technical
Education (CTE) courses to count towards eligibility
for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). All too
often students who desire CTE classes do not have room
in their schedule to simultaneously pursue a CTE track
and meet APS eligibility.
HB 155 recognizes the importance of CTE for all
students, whether they are headed to college,
apprenticeships, postsecondary training or entering
the workforce.
National research tells us that graduation rates are
higher for students who take CTE courses, particularly
those who take two or more courses as part of a
coordinated program of study. These students are often
referred to as "concentrators". In Alaska, data shows
that students who are CTE concentrators are 19 percent
more likely to graduate than their counterparts.
HB 155 offers three avenues for a student to
incorporate CTE courses in their APS application.
Under both the math/science and social
studies/language curriculum options a student may
replace one credit of social studies with one credit
of CTE. (Note - A credit is equivalent to one year, or
two semesters of course work.)
For students pursuing a more rigorous CTE track, HB155
allows a student to replace two years of world
language with two years of CTE, with one year required
to be in a sequence of increasing rigor within a
career cluster.
Financial assistance provided by APS is vital to many
young Alaskans and it is important that students who
choose a path that includes CTE have access to these
resources.
Career and Technical Education offers students the
opportunity to apply knowledge in a real-world
context, develop practices that enrich their lives,
and attain skills that can lead to skilled jobs and
future occupations.
Representative Story continued that the bill had 2 zero
fiscal notes, and stressed that the bill was important to
students
11:22:56 AM
MARY HAKALA, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, read from
the Sponsor Statement (copy on file):
The goal of HB 155 is to allow Career Technical
Education (CTE) courses to count towards eligibility
for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). All too
often students who desire CTE classes do not have room
in their schedule to simultaneously pursue a CTE track
and meet APS eligibility.
HB 155 recognizes the importance of CTE for all
students, whether they are headed to college,
apprenticeships, postsecondary training or entering
the workforce.
National research tells us that graduation rates are
higher for students who take CTE courses, particularly
those who take two or more courses as part of a
coordinated program of study. These students are
often referred to as "concentrators". In Alaska, data
shows that students who are CTE concentrators are 19
percent more likely to graduate than their
counterparts.
HB 155 offers three avenues for a student to
incorporate CTE courses in their APS application.
Under both the math/science and social
studies/language curriculum options a student may
replace one credit of social studies with one credit
of CTE. (Note - A credit is equivalent to one year,
or two semesters of course work.)
For students pursuing a more rigorous CTE track, HB155
allows a student to replace two years of world
language with two years of CTE, with one year required
to be in a sequence of increasing rigor within a
career cluster.
Financial assistance provided by APS is vital to many
young Alaskans and it is important that students who
choose a path that includes CTE have access to these
resources.
Career and Technical Education offers students the
opportunity to apply knowledge in a real world
context, develop practices that enrich their lives,
and attain skills that can lead to skilled jobs and
future occupations.
11:24:39 AM
Ms. Hakala directed attention to the scholarship checklist
(copy on file):
CS HB155 (EDC) offers three options for students to
apply CTE credits to Alaska Performance Scholarship
(APS) eligibility:
A) A student may replace one credit social
studies with one credit CTE; or
B) A student my replace two credits world
language with two credits CTE, one year of which
is sequentially more rigorous within a career
cluster; or
C) A student may replace one credit social
studies with one credit CTE
One credit is equivalent to one year, or two semesters
(or semester equivalents) of course work.
11:28:04 AM
Ms. Hakala pointed out that there was an addendum to the
collaboration, which reflected the collaborative process
for advanced career technical education.
Co-Chair Johnston asked for a sectional review.
Ms. Hakala was happy to provide one.
Co-Chair Johnston invited Stephanie Butler to the table to
review the fiscal notes.
11:30:02 AM
STEPHANIE BUTLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY
DEVELOPMENT, discussed the fiscal notes.
Representative Josephson thought the representative had
made a good case about graduation rates, economic benefit,
and capturing student interest. He had concerns about his
certificate in History. He had worries about the country
following the rule of law.
Ms. Hakala spoke of struggling in looking at the various
requirements. Social Studies offered some wiggle room.
Social Studies covered a diverse set of courses compared to
Math.
Representative Wool thought the bill would bump foreign
languages which the committee had just been discussing in
the previous bill. He did not think wood shop was as
difficult as English. He queried a list of CTE courses.
Representative Story deferred to DEED. She remarked that
there was an attempt to get more rigorous career technical
options for students, but those courses were not listed on
the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
Representative Wool wondered if some credits would still be
required for graduation.
Representative Story responded that it would be important
to consult a career counselor regarding the specific career
requirements.
11:37:14 AM
DEB RIDDLE, DIVISION OPERATIONS MANAGER, DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, indicated there was a
website to refer to that listed the required courses.
Representative Carpenter asked for a refresher of Math and
Science requirements.
Ms. Hakala responded that under Science, the state
requirement were two credits and one health or physical
education credit. The math had three credits, social
studies had three credits, and language arts had three
credits.
Representative Carpenter wondered if the class level
mattered in the required credits.
Ms. Hakala replied that the class level was not specified
in statute.
11:40:13 AM
Representative Sullivan-Leonard noted the current
vocational schools, and wondered whether they were
recipients of the scholarship.
Ms. Hakala responded that a CTE track existed, but also
stressed that it was not in existence. She remarked that
the current Alaska Performance Scholarship statute
specifically supported a CTE award after graduation, but
did not provide a pathway to receive that award. She stated
that the legislation would resolve that disconnect by
ensuring high school students had a pathway that maintained
rigor, and also provided for a CTE focus. She stated that
the only difference for a CTE student was that they take
the Work Keys test, and those students were still held to
the same academic and course work standards as any other
student applying for the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
Representative Sullivan-Leonard wondered how many
additional students were anticipated to receive the
scholarship funds.
Representative Story reported that there was not an
anticipated increase in number of students to receive the
funds.
11:45:54 AM
Representative Wool wondered how useful the math
requirements might be to the career education. He felt that
the math requirement could be reexamined, and possibly
replaced with a CTE course to increase graduation rates.
Representative Josephson asked Ms. Hakala to provide the
list of CTE courses.
Ms. Hakala noted that she had provided the checklist for
the current program.
Co-Chair Johnston would be setting the bill aside.
HB 155 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Johnston reviewed the agenda for the afternoon
meeting.