Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/13/2024 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB55 | |
| HB274 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 274 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 274-SCREENING/READING INTERVENTION K-3
9:05:36 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 274, "An Act relating to screening reading
deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to
public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through
three."
9:06:03 AM
DEENA BISHOP, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development, introduced HB 274 on behalf of the bill sponsor,
House Rules by request of the governor. She began a
corresponding PowerPoint [hard copy included in the committee
packet], titled "HB 274 Screening/Reading Intervention K-3 to
Update the Alaska Reads Act." She stated that she would move
through the slideshow fairly quickly and proceeded to slide 2
showing the Mission, Vision, and Purpose, and slide 3, titled
"Alaska's Education Challenge, which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Five Shared Strategic Priorities:
1. Support all students to read at grade level by the
end of third grade.
2. Increase career, technical, and culturally relevant
education to meet student and workforce needs.
3. Close the achievement gap by ensuring equitable
educational rigor and resources.
4. Prepare, attract, and retain effective education
professionals.
5. Improve the safety and well-being of students
through school partnerships with families,
communities, and tribes.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP noted the first point on the slide would be
the context of today's discussion. Slide 4 featured an agenda,
and she stated she would have new information for the committee
on Alaska Reads Act data.
9:07:44 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD asked whether there would be a reading of the
sectional analysis or the sponsor letter.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP confirmed that another staff member would be
available to present.
9:08:22 AM
LAUREL SHOOP, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Education and Early Development, on behalf of the
bill sponsor, House Rules by request of the governor, gave the
sectional analysis for HB 274 [included in the committee packet]
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1:
Amends AS 14.30.760 Statewide screening and support
paragraph (a) by removing language that only required
students in grades K-3 to take the statewide literacy
screener once in the fall if they met the proficiency
benchmark on the first try. By having all students
take the screener three times a year educators and
parents can track progress throughout the year. It
also allows for progress monitoring to inform
additional instruction to increase reading skills
beyond just proficiency.
Section 2:
Amends AS 14.30.765 Reading intervention services and
strategies; progression paragraph (f) by adjusting the
date of the meeting between parents, the teacher, and
other pertinent district staff to discuss whether a
third-grade student is ready for grade four. The
adjustment is from 45 days from the end of the school
year to 15 days. By changing this timeframe, data from
the third administration of the statewide literacy
screener can be used in the conversation. This
additional information allows the parents to make a
more informed decision regarding their child's
education and better reflects the overall learning
levels of students at the end of the grade level.
9:10:04 AM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP continued the presentation on slide 5, which
featured acronyms, and she drew attention to two of them which
she said she would refer to throughout the discussion:
Beginning of Year (BOY), and Middle of Year (MOY). On slide 6,
titled "Alaska Reads Act Overview," she shared there are four
components, but one is actually required. She stated she would
speak to the required component, "District Reading Improvement,"
adding that reporting/data collections is also required. She
proceeded to slides 7 and 8, titled "Alaska Reads Act: District
Reading Improvement," and explained that in the aforementioned
required component that the bill speaks to, the two items to
focus on are the literacy screener and progression. She
expounded on the literacy screener shown on slide 8. She noted
th
that on slide 9, titled "mCLASS DIBELS 8 Edition Statewide
Literacy Screener," DIBELS 8 is the state assessment and is paid
for through the Alaska Reads Act for all districts. She
proceeded to slide 10, titled "Objectives for Data Review,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
• Determine which districts/schools/classrooms need
additional support
• Analyze Beginning of Year (BOY) & Middle of Year
(MOY) data to understand trends and needs for the
remainder of the school year
Consider adjustments to systems/plans that need to
be addressed
9:13:28 AM
th
COMMISSIONER BISHOP moved to slide 11, titled "mCLASS DIBELS 8
Edition Literacy Screener Components," which featured different
kinds of screeners that students receive. Slide 12 featured
literacy screener assessment risk categories, which shared how
students are reported after taking assessments. She continued
to slide 13, which shared completion rates of students who have
taken MOY data. Slides 14 and 15, she said, featured BOY and
MOY compared data. She noted the bar chart featuring MOY shows
it has moved in the right direction. Slide 15, she said, showed
who makes up what category by grade. She said regarding the
expectation of a child and what they know, MOY is more than the
expectation in the beginning; therefore, these are "moving
assessments." She noted that Alaska, compared to the rest of
the nation, is still behind but not "out of the ballpark."
9:18:37 AM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP said that on slides 17 and 18, titled
th
"Correlation Report: mCLASS DIBELS 8 Edition Beginning of the
year (BOY) Middle of the Year (MOY)," the question is once
students assess, where do they go, which she stressed is key to
understanding learning.
9:21:36 AM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP reiterated that the assessments are minimal.
She noted the progression piece featured on slide 19, titled
"Alaska Reads Act: District Reading Improvement," which is also
a requirement. She added that individualized reading
improvement plans are participated in with the parent and
teacher. She concluded the presentation by stating that she
hoped the data and student learning were better understood.
9:24:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX related that his kids did not have trouble
learning how to read; therefore, he did not know what it felt
like when "it didn't work." He questioned whether parents could
get an "assignment" where they could make a significant
contribution to their child's success in reading.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP replied yes, the individual reading
improvement plan (IRIP) is a suggestion to what parents can do
at home to assist in learning.
9:25:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK asked how much financial burden of the
bill is picked up by school districts.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP replied that the actual fiscal note is
$6,000 for the drafting of regulations, but that reading in
general is a core mission of school districts.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK noted that some districts are
"drowning" with the Alaska Reads Act and not being able to fund
it. He asked whether it was appropriate to try and implement
more if current requirements can't be met.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP offered her belief the proposed legislation
was not asking for additional work, it was just clarifying
language. She expressed that she would love an additional
investment in reading.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK asked whether the reading requirements
that need to be met would be on English standards.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP replied that at the present time, the
department is creating screeners in six different languages.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK requested a list of the languages.
9:29:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT observed that slide 13 did not include
home school students or where they fall in the Alaska Reads Act.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP replied that all students are required, and
the "ask" is in K-3 to participate. In addition, there is the
parents' right to decide whether to have their student assessed.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT requested a breakdown to reflect which
students are homeschooled.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated she could provide data by district
and school.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked for confirmation that the Act has
just been in effect this school year.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP confirmed this was the first year the
accountability system for the Act was in place.
9:30:58 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 9:30 a.m. to 9:31 a.m.
9:31:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT expressed concern about making changes
to something that has not been in place long and asked whether
the changes were brought forth from the districts. She further
questioned the need for change after the first year of
implementation.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP explained that the "asks" were additional
asks from practitioners "on the ground." In regard to the
assessment, it was at the district level.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT requested the results of focus groups
or where the data was collected from to get a sense of the areas
the asks are coming from.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP confirmed she could gather the information
and provide it to the committee at a later date.
9:33:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK asked Commissioner Bishop how well the
new requirements gel with current curriculum already in place.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP asked for confirmation whether he meant the
Alaska Reads Act in general.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK expressed his concern about what HB 274
would implement. He pointed out slide 19 regarding parental
involvement and what would happen if a child does not have a
parent present.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP acknowledged that that happens, but the
intent of the new language in the bill was to not exclude
parents.
9:37:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about the data collected, and if it
is not required, "how does it come about."
COMMISSIONER BISHOP replied it is for approximately 80 percent
of students, and at the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), it is a large enough number for the
department to make decisions.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY observed that teachers would know through
other assessments whether their kids were falling back. She
referred to a "stakeholder group," and asked Commissioner Bishop
whether she talked to them regarding the changes she wished to
make.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP explained that the stakeholder group is in
process to be gathered back and noted it is also a request in
the ask. She added that every child deserves to learn no matter
their level, and how all students are doing is of key interest.
9:41:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY sought an example of doing an IRIP.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP said the IRIP is a plan that is written
separately, and she further explained the additional screeners.
9:43:26 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD opened public testimony on HB 274. After
ascertaining no one wished to testify, she closed public
testimony.
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that HB 274 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB55.SponsorStatement.Version A.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB55 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB55A.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB55 Fiscal Note #1 DEED-SSA.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB55 Fiscal Note #2 DLWD-WIB.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB55 Fiscal Note #3 DLWD-UI.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB55 Fiscal Note #4 DLWD-AVTC.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| CSHB 55(EDU) LS-0360\R .pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 55 |
| HB274 Transmittal Letter.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB274A.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 274 |
| HB274 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 274 |
| DOLWD-AVTEC House Education Committee .pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB274 Fiscal Note DEED-SSA.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 274 |
| HB274 DEED Presentation 03 13 24.pdf |
HEDC 3/13/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 274 |