Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 106
03/17/2014 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB210 | |
| HB318 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 318 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 318-ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT: MILITARY FAMILIES
CHAIR GATTIS announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 318, "An Act relating to public school reports of
students whose parents are members of the active duty military
service."
9:15:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER, speaking as prime sponsor of HB 318,
paraphrased from his sponsor statement. He said that military
families in Alaska face special challenges. Many parents move
every three or four years in and out of Alaska, noting the
state's moving rates are three times the national average. One
or more parents may deploy for up to a year or more on overseas
duty. Students must transfer into and out of school districts
from different states or even different nations. Students must
adjust to different graduation curriculum requirements and face
the social dislocations and the necessity of making new friends.
All these factors can make it difficult and challenging for
students to make normal progress toward graduation.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that while the impacts of these
stresses on a military child's educational progress may be clear
to the parents and the students, they are hidden from our local
school districts, the state, and the federal government. He
indicated that AS 14.03.120 already requires annual reports on
school and student performance, including factors such as
accreditation, achievement test scores, exit exam, retention,
drop out and graduation rates, and enrollment changes due to
transfers and other purposes. These are subdivided by gender,
ethnicity, parents' economic status, the students' English
language status, and whether the students are migrants.
9:17:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reported that the state Department of
Education and Early Development (EED) does not specifically
count or track military students so there isn't any way of
linking these important metrics with the students of military
family status. He related that 37,000 military dependents live
in Alaska, which means many are students that fall in the K-12
system. Currently the U.S. Department of Education Impact Aid
Program collects data on military-connected students by school
district with the primary purpose of helping the district
qualify for impact aid. However, the DOE data does not include
the academic performance of the students or the specific schools
they attend, which reduces the utility of the information.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said that HB 318 seeks to capture
information on the academic performance statistics of students
of active-duty military families. It would require local school
districts to gather information on the number, attendance and
performance of students enrolled in the school. It would also
require the department to post this information on the website
along with its published information. The families affected are
those whose parents and guardians are on active duty in the
armed forces of the United States - Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Marines, the United States Coast Guard, the Alaska National
Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, or the Alaska State Defense
Force.
9:18:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER related that having the information on
the number, attendance, and specific performance could have a
number of benefits. This could help local districts see how
well they do to assist military families, and help the
department design programs to help address the challenges these
students face. This should help improve the count of military
students for the purpose of calculating impact aid and
potentially increase the federal flow of funds to local school
districts. It would also provide guidance to incoming Alaskans
as military families consider where to live and which school
their children will attend. It would also help the Department
of Defense develop policies of its own to better prioritize
funding to identify and provide necessary resources to help
military families achieve better educational outcomes.
9:19:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER added some programs have aides for
students in schools in which parents frequently deploy. He said
this bill would also help the state fulfill its commitment to
military children when the state signed on in 2009 to the
Interstate Compact on the Education of Military Children, which
he helped set up for the Boards and Commission's Office. He
reported that Alaska and 38 other states are committed to help
military students transition properly and the data is necessary.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said that many organizations nationally
connected with military students' education support endorse
identifying and tracking military student performance and are
working on successful practices that can be replicated. He
recalled a similar element was adopted in HB 278. He hoped that
the committee would help get this important provision in law
adopted and implemented.
9:20:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KITO III related his understanding that the State
of Alaska collects specific information during the student count
period. He asked whether this bill will correlate information
to the specific collection time or if the data collected would
be continuously collected.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered yes to both. He was unsure how
the department will gather information, but the fiscal note
reflects the department's interest in spending time and
resources in developing data collection techniques. He was
unsure whether a "data dump" could occur between the personnel
office of the Air National Guard to the EED or if it will need
to be accomplished through questionnaires. He anticipated that
it would be a combination, but the fiscal note spans three years
of working on data collection techniques.
9:21:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KITO III asked whether the intent of the
legislation is to track performance on each individual or the
overall performance of the military student as he/she moves
through Alaska's system.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered that it would be more of a
statistical aggregate report versus individual information to
determine trends.
9:22:51 AM
CHAIR GATTIS pointed out it could be helpful to have information
follow the students as they transfer between states.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said Nevada and Texas are the two states
requiring this data collection and five states collect
information. He directed attention to state report cards that
do not include statistics on schools with less than five of a
cohort in attendance to avoid identifying a single individual
student.
9:24:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 1, to the existing law
which indicates that the information will be provided in a
public meeting of parents, students, and community members. He
pointed out the new language in paragraph 11, reads," (11)
information on the number, attendance, and performance of
students enrolled in the school whose parents or guardians are
...." He asked how a report on the ten U.S. Coast Guard
students attending a school in Homer would be made public. He
questioned reporting this subset when the other categories speak
to summary and evaluation of the curriculum and that type of
information. He anticipated the department would be able to
clarify this.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER referred to page 1 line 8, which requires
reporting on the school's performance and the performance of the
school's students. He deferred to the department to more fully
respond.
9:27:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out the federal and state military
are included in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER clarified that the legislative legal
drafters included the Alaska State Defense Force in the bill.
He said he would be amenable to an amendment since this branch
is not a military force that is subject to deployment plus it
has limited numbers. He would also be amendable to removing the
Alaska Naval Militia from the bill.
9:28:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked whether the armed forces are
separate from the US Coast Guard and the Alaska National Guard.
CHAIR GATTIS requested a breakdown of the agencies.
9:29:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER responded that the department would
report on the agencies for the various military families.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked whether they could be included in
as it creates a group as a whole.
CHAIR GATTIS acknowledged that she didn't object to viewing it
as a group.
9:30:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 2, line 26, to the
language "parents or guardians are on active duty" if the family
is in reserves versus active duty that the children would not be
reported.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER deferred to the department to respond.
9:31:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for sponsor's intent.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said the intent would be to collect the
data, even for families whose parents are in the reserves. Some
states may differentiate, but that is not the intent in HB 318.
9:32:53 AM
MARK SAN SOUCI, Regional Liaison, State Liaison Office, U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD), in response to Representative
Seaton, said that the office seeks to distinguish between active
duty and Alaska National Guard (ANG). He deferred to the
sponsor, but his goal is to differentiate between students from
active duty military families and the ANG. He reported that 17
school districts in Alaska receive impact aid for 11,000
students. He was aware of nearly 19,000 military connected
active duty kids between the ages of 5-17, but the DOD doesn't
know the specific location.
MR. SAN SOUCI reported that DOD's Impact Aid Program contributed
$1.6 million to Alaska's EED in the Delta Greely district in FY
2013. He acknowledged that the goal is to attempt to help
facilitate data-driven decisions and improve the DOD's
distribution of resources to schools that help and to help
commanders. For example, in San Diego, it wasn't possible to
compare the absentee rate for U.S. Navy families to other San
Diego families due to lack of data. In North Carolina,
questions arose as to the higher incidence of special education
students in the military, which is conjecture without data. The
DOD put $25 million in the FY 2014 budget to provide support to
districts. In addition, reports would be important in all
instances to help provide district support from the federal
government. A school with fewer than five students in the
aggregate may be collected but not reported, as the data could
become useful for specific support. He named a number of
associations, boards, and teacher organizations who support the
collection of this information. Several other states are
adopting codes to provide this information although it is too
early to determine trends. He thanked the committee for taking
up HB 318.
9:38:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD related that some students have military
advisors. She asked whether the military advisors currently in
the school will be the ones who will collect the data.
MR. SAN SOUCI answered that the DOD has a sub-agency, the DOD
Education Activity, who are the "drivers" in the states. This
agency will work to collect the data, but he was unsure of how
it will be collected in the schools.
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD acknowledged tight budget constraints
which would require using current staff. She offered her belief
the small fiscal note won't add more staff. She hoped the
military advisors would be sustainable and that the state uses
resources it already has in place.
9:40:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked about the 17,000 students
receiving federal impact aid in Alaska. She asked for further
clarification on the $1.6 million and if that is only to
Delta/Greely School District or for the entire population of
students.
MR. SAN SOUCI answered that the EED received $1.57 million in
federal Impact Aid in FY 13 and Delta/Greely School District
received $48,000. He clarified the numbers previously stated.
He reported that of 80,000 students 11,336 military students are
in 17 school districts impacted by the military. He clarified
that these districts are considered DOD Impact Aid for Military.
The U.S. Department of Education has specific information on
federal funding totaling $106 million from the EED and
districts.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER detailed that federal funding arrives in
Alaska via DOD Impact Aid to compensate communities for the loss
of property taxes for students who live on tax-exempt military
property but attend public schools. In addition, it helps to
compensate the local economy for the loss of sales or taxes
since military families shop at the commissary, which explains
the $106 million. In addition, the DOD also provides federal
Supplemental Impact Aid, which is additional funding to school
districts with more than 20 percent military students.
9:43:37 AM
CHAIR GATTIS asked whether the district provided any feedback,
particularly since additional work may be imposed on existing
staff.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered no.
CHAIR GATTIS noted the importance of collecting data but as to
where it is stored, how it is accessed and how it is
disseminated for, the state has "a ways to go." The state needs
to rise to the challenge.
9:44:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented that Marty Lang, principal at
Eagle River High School reported he received a federal grant to
help him pay for accounting students for military families. He
noted that it's been hard to get statewide information.
9:45:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to the portion of the bill
requiring open reporting, and asked if the U.S. DOD intends to
have the data reported in this manner. For example, would every
school have a public meeting and identify the five students.
MR. SAN SOUCI referred to [page 2, lines 25-28 to paragraph
(11)] of HB 318. He indicated the DOD agrees with the reporting
language. He stated the intention is to have access to data to
develop trends. He deferred to the sponsor to comment on the
remainder of the bill, which is current statute, noting that he
doesn't wish to create any additional burden. He envisioned the
data collection would be part of the routine information schools
gather on students at the beginning of the year to capture the
military connection.
9:47:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON clarified that the DOD's intention is to
have access to the data and information, without publically
broadcasting the data.
MR. SAN SOUCI agreed. He said it is not the DOD's intent to
expose individual students or subject military children to
scrutiny.
9:48:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for further clarification on the
Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska
State Defense Force agencies.
MR. SAN SOUCI answered that the DOD is most concerned with
active duty military, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska
National Guard, and any reserves, but not the Alaska Naval
Militia and the Alaska State Defense Force, although he deferred
to the sponsor.
9:49:36 AM
CHAIR GATTIS asked for further clarification on the public
meeting and disseminating information on less than five military
students in a school.
PAUL PRUSSING, Deputy Director, Teaching and Learning Support,
Department of Education and Early Development (EED), explained
that this would amend the report card to the public on the
department's website. A person could click on a school and
acquire information, such as how many Alaska Native and
Caucasians or special education students are in a school. This
bill would add a category in the subgroups listed to include
military personnel. He described the data collection and
indicated the source of information for the student report is
the Online Alaska Student Information System (OASIS) and the
complexity of the fiscal note is because it's more than a simple
Excel spreadsheet being sent to the department, such as in HB
210.
9:50:58 AM
CHAIR GATTIS asked for further clarification that if the
information is uploaded in July it relates to the prior year
data. She questioned the reasons parents fill out paperwork
twice a year for schools.
MR. PRUSSING answered that the fall and spring testing results
and other information from the past year is reported.
CHAIR GATTIS remarked that the information gathered could be
used to allow parents to obtain tutoring for their children;
however, she admitted it's just one of her pet peeves.
9:52:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KITO III understood the data is collected via
OASIS and published in July. He asked for further clarification
on whether information on students of military families is
collected and if it is time critical.
MR. PRUSSING answered that data collection will be considered as
part of fiscal note. He envisioned the department will need to
reflect on the best way to collect data. It is envisioned
currently to compile it via OASIS, the main data collection for
all districts, but it's something that could evolve.
9:54:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 1, lines 12-14,
[paragraphs (2) and (3), which is the only place results of
norm-referenced achievement tests and results of state
standards-based assessments in reading, writing, and
mathematics, is reported. Everything else in this section seems
to relate to broader reporting on drop-out rates, achievement,
or graduation rates. He expressed concern that this seems to
require detailed performance reporting for the military
subgroup, which would be different than other subgroup
reporting.
MR. PRUSSING answered that information is being gathered on the
military students regarding attendance and performance, but
having the confirmation that they are students of military
families will not occur. He offered his belief that paragraph
(11) just gathers one piece of information.
9:56:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON maintained concern that the data
collection is for a subcategory for students of military
families as a statutory requirement in HB 318, but the statutes
don't indicate a parallel reporting standard for other student
groups.
CHAIR GATTIS asked whether the other subgroups reported on in
this manner.
MR. PRUSSING answered yes; part of the accountability system
requires annual measureable objectives for each subgroup and
each school reports this information. He said the department
has not expressed concern.
9:58:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON recalled the "No Child Left Behind"
(NCLB) program required this information, that it a source of
pride for some schools and is included in their public website
postings. She acknowledged that for certain small districts may
have an issue but other areas find it helpful.
10:00:06 AM
CHAIR GATTIS closed public testimony on HB 318.
10:00:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 4, on
page 2, line 28, after "Guard," to delete "the Alaska Naval
Militia, or the Alaska State Defense Force."
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD objected for discussion purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON deferred to the sponsor but said the DOD
indicated interest in active duty military members. He offered
his belief that including the state entities will detract from
the target information.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER, as sponsor, agreed with Conceptual
Amendment 4.
10:01:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KITO III asked whether the amendment before the
committee was Amendment 4 or if it should be Amendment 1.
10:01:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON withdrew Conceptual Amendment 4.
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD removed her objection to Conceptual
Amendment 4.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, on
page 2, line 28, after "Guard," to delete "the Alaska Naval
Militia, or the Alaska State Defense Force."
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD objected for discussion purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER, as sponsor, agreed with Conceptual
Amendment 1.
10:02:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD removed her objection. There being no
further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
10:02:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD moved to report HB 318, as amended, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB
318(EDC) was reported from the House Education Standing
Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB0318A.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 318 |
| HB 318 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 318 |
| HB318-Fiscal Note.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 318 |
| HB 318 DOD White Paper.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 318 |
| HB 318 MCEC Brochure.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 318 |
| CSHB210-T Version.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 210 |
| CSHB210 T Version-Sectional Summary.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 210 |
| CSHB 210 T Version-Explanation of Changes.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 210 |
| HB210 - Cowan testimony.pdf |
HEDC 3/17/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 210 |