Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106
02/06/2015 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR2 | |
| HB30 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HCR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HCR 2-AK SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK
8:06:20 AM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2, Designating January 25 - 31,
2015, as Alaska School Choice Week.
8:07:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature, deferred
to staff to explain the proposed committee substitute (CS) for
HCR 2.
8:07:23 AM
DREW FORD, Staff, Representative Lynn Gattis, Alaska State
Legislature, offered to review the changes in the proposed
committee substitute (CS) for HCR 2. He detailed the changes in
the proposed committee substitute: On page 1, line 1, delete
"January 25 - 31, 2015" and insert "January 24 - 30, 2016" and
on page 2, lines 6-7, delete "25-31, 2015" and insert "24 -30,
2016". He reported that these dates reflect Sunday through
Saturday.
8:07:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HCR 2, labeled 29-LS0402\W, Glover, 2/5/15,
as the working document. There being no objection, Version W
was before the committee.
8:08:22 AM
CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony on HCR 2. After first
determining no one wished to testify, Chair Keller closed public
testimony on HCR 2.
8:08:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that he has received a number of
communications from his district requesting clarification that
HCR 2 would not commit any state funds to vouchers. He recalled
discussions at the last committee hearing that confirmed this,
and the sponsor also agreed. He further recalled the sponsor
indicated the intent of HCR 2 is to recognize Alaska supports
school choice and parents should have the choice to send their
children to schools of their choice, as well as the choice to
home school their children. The accountability for the
schooling rests on parents and although the resolution doesn't
negate the state's accountability, the choice for education is
transferred from the home school to the parents themselves.
Since this [resolution] does not in any way promote using state
resources for anything except public education he is very
comfortable with Version W, he said.
8:10:23 AM
CHAIR KELLER remarked he is very certain anyone involved in
education in Alaska would agree that it is in the best interest
of the state that every child should receive a "super" education
and have access to it. Public funds are fine-tuned and the
subject of contention, but what is not in contention is that the
[committee] supports every child in Alaska having access to a
good education.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON acknowledged that he fully agreed that the
demarcation point is making sure the accountability for that
good and sufficient education rests with the parent stimulating,
permitting, or choosing the specific educational system [for
their child]; therefore accountability is key throughout the
educational process. He did not think there was any
disagreement on accountability.
8:11:47 AM
CHAIR KELLER, recalling the last hearing on HCR 2, said that
accountability on the education process ultimately rests with
the parents. However, he suggested that Representative Seaton's
point is related to the accountability that state has when it
[appropriates] funds to various programs. He acknowledged
tension exists, but that is not the point of the resolution.
The intent of [Version W] is to recognize that parents have a
choice, and it is the parents' responsibility - and they are
accountable - for their children's education.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON responded that he fully agrees and that is
his position, as well.
8:12:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND said the Anchorage School District has
numerous charter schools and a multitude of optional programs as
well as alternative programs. All of the programs of choice
encourage the public to an annual celebration of choice. She
wondered if the committee is ignoring the optional and
alternative programs by not including them, perhaps after
"traditional public" and prior to "public charter schools."
8:13:48 AM
CHAIR KELLER suggested that changes to the resolution would be
"on the fly." He expressed concern that the resolution might be
set aside again since listing all of the choices each district
has would be an impossible task. He acknowledged that the
Matanuska-Susitna Borough school district has excellent choices
for children. For example, the Matanuska-Susitna Central School
uses fiber optics to allow online courses to be used for
students being home schooled. He did not see the purpose since
most school districts [offer numerous choices]. He did not
object to an amendment being offered, but he was hesitant that
it would achieve the intended purpose.
8:14:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to adopt Amendment 1, as follows:
[On page 1, line 9,] adding the word "optional," between "public
schools" and "public charter schools."
8:15:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND referred to page 1, line 9, the word
"optional" followed by a "," before "public charter schools."
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND read, "Whereas the state has a multitude
of high quality traditional public schools, optional ...." She
interjected it should read "optional public schools", public
charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well as families who
educate their children in the home; and". She asked whether she
should amend or withdraw her motion.
CHAIR KELLER asked her to proceed and to restate her motion.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND restated Amendment 1, as follows:
Whereas the state has a multitude of high quality
traditional public schools, optional public schools,
public charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well
as families who educate their children in the home;
8:16:13 AM
CHAIR KELLER objected for the purpose of discussion. He asked
the sponsor to comment on Amendment 1.
8:16:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS explained that [HCR 2] recognizes parental
choice so whether the schools are optional, charter, or lottery,
it really goes back to the parental right to choose. Certainly,
numerous categories of schools could be added, but the gist of
the resolution is to recognize that parents have the right to
choose. As sponsor, she does not have any issue with adding
more schools, she said.
8:17:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON expressed concern with the consistency of
the language of Amendment 1, stating he thinks it should be
"optional public schools" since the rest of the list is "public
schools, charter schools, and nonpublic schools" so "schools" is
included in each phrase in the clause. He thought that
"optional public" would need to be modified to "optional public
schools" for the purpose of consistency. He acknowledged that
Legislative Legal Services would likely reframe the language to
maintain consistency in proposed [Amendment 1]. He suggested
the language in Amendment 1 should be consistent.
8:18:13 AM
CHAIR KELLER maintained his objection to Amendment 1 as he did
not understand the need. He surmised that if the committee were
to request a conceptual amendment that Legislative Legal Service
would ask to identify the point of the conceptual amendment. He
stated that public schools by definition are optional to all
parents. Therefore, Amendment 1 seems confusing to him, he
said.
8:18:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND, speaking from her experience as a
former three-term Anchorage School Board member, said the
optional programs are indeed optional, are accessible by lottery
to any parents, and have been in place for decades in the
Anchorage School District (ASD). In fact, she thought the ASD
offered the first options for schools of choice in the state.
Since dozens of optional school choices are available in the
district, she would find [Version W] objectionable if the ASD's
optional programs are not recognized.
8:19:12 AM
CHAIR KELLER asked whether the implication is that some programs
are not optional.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND answered no, but the optional programs
are not "neighborhood schools" and are only accessible through
the lottery program, as are the charter school programs that
were instituted in the Anchorage School District in the 1990s.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS offered her belief that many districts use
different language to describe schools such as lottery school;
however, the term "neighborhood school" is also not in statute
but is commonly known. She was unsure whether the term
"optional school" is in statute, but [the resolution] is
ultimately about parents being able to choose the school. She
did not object to the language "optional."
8:20:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON related that besides traditional public
schools, the system includes alternative public schools,
alternative high schools, and vocational technical schools,
which may not be considered as traditional schools. He
suggested that they might be considered alternative or optional
schools. Thus, adding the language [in Amendment 1] would
probably give a greater breadth of inclusion of schools instead
of looking just at traditional public schools and charter
schools. Since the sponsor doesn't object to the category being
broader than traditional schools, he thinks would be helpful as
the resolution moves forward.
8:22:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to amend Amendment 1, by adding
"schools" after "optional public" for the purpose of
consistency.
8:22:35 AM
CHAIR KELLER responded that he didn't understand [the proposed
amendment to Amendment 1]. He read Amendment 1, as he
understood it as follows, "Whereas the state has a multitude of
high quality traditional" and the amendment adds, the word
"optional" then "public schools, public charter schools,
nonpublic schools, as well as families who educate their
children in the home;". He asked for further clarification on
where he wanted to place "schools."
8:22:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON thought that "optional public" was
inserted after the "," as another classification of schools.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND thought she had included the word
"schools."
8:23:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he was uncertain about the language,
whether it was written as, "traditional public" then adding a
new "," followed by "optional public schools" or if it comes
after the "," and reads, ", optional public" then it would need
the word "schools" inserted.
8:23:40 AM
CHAIR KELLER asked to have Amendment 1 clearly stated on the
record since the committee will not pass a conceptual amendment.
He asked to have Amendment 1 restated.
8:24:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND offered to read the "whereas clause,"
including the language in Amendment 1, as follows:
Whereas the state has a multitude of high quality
traditional public schools, optional public schools,
public charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well
as families who educate their children in the home [;]
8:24:27 AM
CHAIR KELLER asked whether the sponsor agreed with Amendment 1.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS answered yes.
8:24:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON withdrew the amendment to Amendment 1.
8:24:52 AM
CHAIR KELLER restated that Amendment 1 makes changes on page 1,
line 9, as follows:
Whereas the state has a multitude of high quality
traditional public schools, optional schools, public
charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well as
families who educate their children in the home; and
8:25:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND said that she believed that the word
"public" was omitted between "optional" and "schools" so it
should read "optional public schools".
8:25:58 AM
CHAIR KELLER offered his belief that amendments are conceptual
amendments since the Legislative Legal attorneys can revise the
language. He asked to repeat the language, such that Amendment
1 makes changes on page 1, line 9, as follows:
Whereas the state has a multitude of high quality
traditional public schools, optional public schools,
public charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well
as [families who educate their children in the home;
and]
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND agreed that [the whereas clause was
correct].
CHAIR KELLER removed his objection. There being no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
8:26:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HCR 2, labeled 29-LS0402\W, Glover, 2/5/15,
as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHCR 2
(EDC) was reported from the House Education Standing Committee.
8:27:19 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:27 a.m. to 8:28 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 30 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HEDC 2/6/2015 8:00:00 AM |
HB 30 |
| HCR2 FiscalNote.pdf |
HEDC 2/6/2015 8:00:00 AM |