Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 106
02/05/2010 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB295 | |
| HB317 | |
| HB206 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 295 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 317 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 206-HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSM'T/POSTSECONDARY CLASS
9:41:41 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 206, "An Act establishing a career assessment
requirement in public schools; and relating to postsecondary
courses for secondary school students."
The committee took an at-ease from 9:42 a.m. to 9:47 a.m.
9:47:00 AM
CHAIR SEATON moved to adopt CSHB 206, 26-LS-765\P, Mischel,
2/2/10, as the working document.
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH objected for discussion.
9:47:21 AM
LOUIE FLORA, Staff, Representative Paul Seaton, Alaska State
Legislature, presented the committee substitute (CS), Version P,
directing attention to page 2, line 27, where a new Section 2
has been inserted. Language now extends the existing 20 day
student count period to 80 days, ending the second Friday in the
month of February. Page 3, line 22, Section 4, establishes that
the count from the preceding year will fund the present year.
Section 5, page 4, line 2, deals with the possibility of a count
increase, and provides districts the ability to request
additional funding, for current year adjustments. He directed
attention to Section 3 on page 3, line 17, and paraphrased the
language, which read [original punctuation provided]:
*Sec. 3. AS 14.17.600 is amended by adding new
subsections to read:
(c) The student count conducted for the immediately
preceding school year shall be used for calculating
state aid under AS 14.17.410.
(d) A student who is enrolled and graduates from
secondary school during the counting period shall be
included in the student count for the full counting
period.
9:50:26 AM
EDDY JEANS, Director, School Finance and Facilities Section,
Department of Education and Early Development (EED), said the
suggestion to consider a continuous, 80 day, count period
originated with the commissioner.
9:51:20 AM
CHAIR SEATON noted that Version P clarifies how the basic
forward funding will be solidified, and a means for districts to
receive enrollment increase adjustments for the current year.
MR. JEANS concurred.
9:52:22 AM
CHAIR SEATON explained why the count time is being adjusted, and
how it is expected to provide financial encouragement for
schools to retain students. The reason for Section 3 is to
allow adjustment for mid-year graduation, which might otherwise
be discouraged.
9:54:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked for a further explanation of the
effects of extending the count period.
CHAIR SEATON said the mathematics appear to be streamlined by
having a single longer count period, versus two shorter periods,
which are averaged.
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER opined that in order to identify an
accurate attrition number the most effective times to count
would be in October and again in April or May.
9:57:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON offered that one reason for the count
ending in February is that the school districts begin budget
deliberations, which includes issuance of pink slips to teaching
staff.
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER argued that the two count periods theory
is to provide an attrition count, and to incentivize student
retention.
9:58:48 AM
MR. JEANS said the original intent will be accomplished by HB
206, as amended. He reported that having one continuous period
eliminates the averaging mechanism required for two separate
count periods, which proved to be a confusing feature.
Additionally, Version P still achieves the desired effect
providing BSA funding based on the prior year count, and
allowing adjustments for increases in current year enrollment.
At some point the count has to be stopped to allow the districts
time for budget reconciliation, and ending in February allows
for those financial adjustments to occur.
CHAIR SEATON pointed out that in the previous version, a
February count was included.
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER maintained her concern that the original
intent is not being preserved.
CHAIR SEATON said the previous version also included a February
count period.
10:01:21 AM
MR. JEANS opined that the current language strengthens the
original intent, and the continuous count period eliminates any
"game playing."
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER argued that whatever happens on day 81 or
120 will never be known.
MR. JEANS responded that neither version would provide that
information, which would only be available by implementing a
full 180 day count period. A count of that length would hinder
districts ability to make adjustments for current enrollments,
throughout the year.
10:02:56 AM
CHAIR SEATON pointed out that concerns have arisen for how a 180
day student count will affect small schools with enrollments of
10-11.
MR. JEANS indicated that the communities that have been playing
games with a minimum of 10 students, for a 20 day count period,
will need to maintain that enrollment for 80 days. If the small
school can show that they had 10 students for 180 days, in a
prior year, funds reflecting that number will be distributed in
the subsequent year. He explained that the funding does not go
directly to the school, but is directed to the district; where
it is determined how to allocate the resources. Funding for the
prior year count will be provided, even if the count decreases
in the current year.
CHAIR SEATON said that understanding should alleviate the
concerns of the smaller schools.
10:05:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH removed his objection.
CHAIR SEATON, hearing no further objection, announced that
Version P was before the committee. He then opened public
testimony.
10:05:41 AM
DARLEEN TRIPLETT, Superintendent, Dillingham City Schools, said
the record keeping can become involved, and small schools don't
have dedicated administrative staff to handle reporting
requirements. She suggested extending the date for when the
counts are due to the department, as the ten day requirement is
restrictive. The student count must be checked for accuracy and
adjusted for transfer students, prior to transmission, which can
be labor intensive.
10:08:08 AM
WOODY WILSON, Superintendent, Wrangell Public School District,
testified in opposition to HB 206, paraphrasing from a prepared
statement, which read [original punctuation provided]:
Alaska has one of the highest high-school drop-out
rates in the nation. HB 206 addresses this problem by
providing incentives for districts to keep students by
replacing the current 20-day student count period with
an 80-day count for purposes of determining student
numbers for school funding. HB 206 seeks to elevate
student engagement by allowing students who pass the
High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) to take
college or vocational education credits for free until
high-school graduation. Students who do not pass all
three sections of the HSGQE should not be disqualified
from taking college or vocational education credits.
Many very successful business people in this and other
states could not pass all three sections of the
qualifying exam. That should not penalize them or
hold them back.
It also adds a student's career preparedness scores to
their high-school transcript.
The career preparedness requirement attempts to ensure
that high school graduation is based on student
competency for real-world employment applications.
The Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED) currently requires that all 11th graders take a
career assessment test, in this case the WorkKeys
Assessment.
The above statement is incorrect. "The department
does "not" currently require ...." It is the opinion
of my School Board and the opinion I share that
WorkKeys should not become a requirement since it has
little, if any, value to most students in Wrangell.
Students who are college bound will find WorkKey test
documents useless for all practical purposes. Most
colleges and universities do not recognize WorkKeys
scores as having any value. Students entering a trade
or going on to technical schools may find more value
in the WorkKeys scores since they may find counselors,
teacher's and employers who understand what those
scores mean. One size does not fit all and we do not
believe in mandating something that will have no value
to a large number of our students.
HB 206 allows students who take and pass all three
sections of the HSGQE prior to graduation to take
college credits or vocational school credits until
graduation. This could allow students to advance
toward an associate degree or vocational education
certificate by the time they have graduated high
school. New studies indicate all students should
start college with at least six college credits to
improve college graduation rates. The HSGQE has been
identified as a contributing factor to the high school
drop-out rate. Students interpret that passing the
exam means they have met their high school qualifying
criteria leading to a lack of interest in school.
Incorporation of classes that are selected based on
relevance to the individual student will help maintain
interest and achievement.
Wrangell Public Schools currently offers 51 College
Credits to students in a wide variety of classes.
Will this bill help us defray the cost of these
courses? This current school year Wrangell Public
Schools is offering Math 105, Math 108, Math 200,
English 111, English 211, Early Childhood Development,
Emergency Trauma Technician (ETT), Emergency Medical
Technician I (EMT-I), Certified Nurse Assistant,
Advanced Woodworking, Welding I (metals fabrication)
and Welding II (metal fabrication). All these courses
are concurrent or dual enrollment college courses.
How will this bill benefit our students or our
district?
HB 206 requires school districts to conduct an
extended count period to determine school funding.
This provision increases the count period from 20-days
to 80-days and would provide a financial incentive for
schools to retain their students for the whole year.
School districts will be funded based on their prior
year's count. Current law holds districts harmless
for a decrease in student count, and HB 206 would
allow districts with an increase in student numbers
during the current year to receive an adjusted funding
level for that year. Students who graduate from high-
school in the middle of the 80-day count would be
included in the full count period.
It is my belief that the prolonged count period will
accomplish nothing but to perhaps cause more
frustration for school secretaries, administrators,
and IT [(information technology)] people who have to
compile these data. It is very possible that school
districts may lose funding.
Will there be a fiscal note attached to the bill?
Extending the count will not come without cost in each
district and DEED. Thickening the bureaucracy is not
always a good thing without knowing if positive
results can be gained. The assumption is that schools
have control over whether or not the student attends
and continue their education. Agreed, schools can
influence this decision but schools certainly do not
have control. Parents are the control in this
instance. I fear schools will be punished for
decisions made in the homes of their students.
Furthermore there are other reasons for school
populations to increase and decrease that have nothing
to do with drop outs. Drop out prevention seems to be
the primary purpose for this legislation. How does
the bill control for normal transience of school
populations. Transience is certainly not related to
school drop outs but would cause a district to either
gain or lose funds. For example:
Village A has a fire that burns several homes.
Families from Village A move to Village B. Village A
has a significant decrease in student population over
the count period and Village B has an increase. One
school will be penalized while the other will be
rewarded. Neither may have had an increase or
decrease based purely on drop outs.
Where will the money for tuition come from? Is it
supposed to come from the school district's foundation
formula? There is no fiscal note that I have seen yet
so I may not understand how this is intended to be
paid for.
What about districts that use their own staff to teach
the college courses through articulation agreements
with universities and colleges. Are they reimbursed
for the courses they are teaching since no university
staff is involved other than the registrar?
If the local district teaches these classes can they
be reimbursed through the Governor's Scholarship
Program?
There would seem to be models that achieve the same
result, like the current model used in Wrangell,
without any need for legislation, additional counts,
and additional bureaucracy. Why haven't these models
been reviewed?
10:13:45 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that HB 206 would be held, for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 295 Background.pdf |
HEDC 1/29/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 295 Fiscal Notes.pdf |
HEDC 1/29/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 295 |
| Alaska Historic Preservation Act.ppt |
HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 295 |
| University of Alaska Land Grant Booklet link.docx |
HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 295 |
| HB 206 material.pdf |
HEDC 4/15/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 206 |
| Briefing paper for high schoolers taking postsecondary courses HB206.doc |
HEDC 8/25/2009 9:00:00 AM HEDC 2/1/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 206 Post Secondary courses for High School Students - HB 206 |
| HB 317 materials.pdf |
HEDC 2/1/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 317 |
| HB317_EED_ACYA_1-27-10.pdf |
HEDC 2/1/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB317_EED_ESS_1-27-10.pdf |
HEDC 2/1/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
|
| House Education questions on HB 295 .doc |
HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 295 |
| HB 206 Version P February 4, 2010.pdf |
HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/10/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/12/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/19/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 3/1/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 3/8/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 3/17/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 206 |
| HB 206 version P Sponsor Statement February 4, 2010.docx |
HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/10/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/12/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/19/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 3/1/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 3/8/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 3/17/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 206 |
| HB 317 version S.pdf |
HEDC 2/5/2010 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/10/2010 8:00:00 AM |
HB 317 |