Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/17/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Iser Update on Alaska's Per Pupil Spending in Context | |
| SB6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 6-ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PROGRAM
4:07:21 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 6 "An Act requiring education
in the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders."
4:07:43 PM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, District G, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 6 provided background on the
origins of SB 6. She recounted that several years ago, while
former Senator Begich was still serving, he hosted Consul
General Seo, Eun-ji from Korea in Anchorage. During that visit,
the Consul General shared a copy of a bill passed in New Jersey
promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) education.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said that as a New Jersey native she was
enthusiastic about bringing a similar effort to Alaska. She
explained that although SB 6 was not introduced immediately, she
took the initiative to file it last session. The Senate passed
it with 19 votes in favor and one senator absent, but it stalled
in the House Rules Committee.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated she was honored to reintroduce the
proposal through SB 6, which seeks to enrich Alaska's public
school curriculum by accurately and meaningfully including the
history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders. She emphasized that these communities have played a
significant role in shaping both the state and the nation, yet
their stories are often missing from traditional curriculum. She
stressed that SB 6 is about more than educationit is about
representation and inclusion. She noted that during the COVID-19
pandemic, discrimination against Asian communities increased,
and SB 6 can help foster understanding and respect by teaching
students about the contributions of AAPI communities to Alaska
and the country.
4:10:29 PM
ZANDER KOTLAROV, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, provided the sectional analysis for SB 6:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 6: Asian American/Pacific Islanders
Program
Sectional Analysis Version A
Section 1- Adds a new section to AS 14.30.
Section 14.30.430 Education in history and
contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders.
(a) Each school district shall establish and provide
to K-12 students a program, approved by the department
that includes:
(1) Instruction on AAPI history and contributions
in the United States
(2) Instructional materials that portray AAPI
diversity in culture and economics
(b) "School district" is defined as in AS 14.30.350.
4:11:48 PM
CHAIR TOBIN stated that she often hears broad terms used for
pan-ethnic groups, such as "Black" or "Indigenous," and
emphasized the importance of clarity around which subgroups are
included within those categories. She asked specifically which
sub-communities are included under the definition of Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders in the context of SB 6. She
inquired whether groups such as Samoans and Native Hawaiians are
part of that definition and expressed interest in having a
clearer understanding, noting the importance of explicitly
naming the communities represented.
4:12:05 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON responded that individuals present at the
hearing and those testifying online would likely provide a
clearer understanding of the full range of communities included
within the Asian American and Pacific Islander category
4:12:18 PM
SENATOR STEVENS expressed strong support for SB 6 and shared
that he has known many Asian Americans, noting Kodiak's long
history with the Filipino community, particularly in the fishing
industry dating back to the early 1900s. He also mentioned that
Alaska is now recruiting Filipino teachers due to a shortage of
qualified educators in the U.S.
SENATOR STEVENS asked for clarification on whether SB 6 involves
developing new curriculum and whether existing curriculum from
other districts could be used instead. He acknowledged the
current fiscal challenges in Alaska and emphasized that finding
ways to reduce the bill's fiscal note would be helpful. He asked
whether there is any way to reduce the fiscal note associated
with SB 6.
4:13:19 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON responded that she anticipated the question
about the fiscal note and confirmed that she and her staff are
actively looking into ways to reduce it. She mentioned having
some ideas for potential cost savings and stated that they are
committed to doing their best to either lower the cost or
identify funding sources.
4:14:08 PM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Innovation and Education
Excellence, Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED), Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the fiscal note for SB 6.
outlined specific costs associated with implementing SB 6,
primarily related to the approval of educational programs under
the bill. She noted that although the state recently updated its
social studies standards and has not conducted a full alignment
analysis, the updated standards likely address the bill's
required content. She stated that implementation would focus on
developing a rubric to evaluate program alignment with SB 6. She
identified the three one-time expenses listed in the fiscal
note:
[Original punctuation provided.]
1) in FY26 $30.0 for stipends ($1.5 each) for 20
educators and community stakeholders for participation
in the development of a rubric to evaluate programs;
2) in FY26 $35.0 to contract an education expert to
facilitate the development of a rubric for evaluation
of programs; and 3) in FY27 $6.0 for legal fees to
implement the necessary regulation changes.
4:15:42 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for an explanation of the rubric mentioned
in the fiscal note.
MS. MANNING explained that the rubric would serve as the
evaluation tool for approving instructional programs at the
state level under SB 6. Since the bill requires state-level
approval of materials used for instruction in Asian American and
Pacific Islander history, a formal process is needed. She stated
that the rubric would be designed to align the requirements of
the bill with existing state standards and would serve as the
basis for evaluating submitted programs. Once developed, the
rubric would allow districts or vendors to submit materials for
approval. She added that approved materials would be compiled
into a list, which districts could use to identify suitable
curriculum options that meet the bill's requirements.
4:17:06 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 6.
4:17:35 PM
SHAYNE NUESCA, Co-Director, Make Us Visible Alaska, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 6. She identified herself
as a person who grew up in Anchorage, attended the University of
Alaska, worked as a journalist and is a co-founder of a media
collective called Mana. She stated that SB 6 has widespread
support and emphasized that many conversations about the bill
have focused on how it can foster a greater sense of
understanding and belonging. While she initially understood that
vision conceptually, she said her discussions with the community
helped her more deeply grasp its meaning. She shared an example
from October, when Romig Middle School in Anchorage held a one-
day Filipino American History class. She observed one of the
class periods and described it as a powerful illustration of the
bill's goals. She said the experience showed what greater
belonging and cultural understanding could look like in Alaska
schools. She urged the committee to pass SB 6.
4:20:10 PM
KAYE ROLDAN, Co-Director, Make Us Visible Alaska, Juneau,
Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 6. She said she is a long-
time Juneau resident, and active member of the local Filipino
community. She shared that she went through the Alaska public
school system and graduated from the University of Alaska
Southeast (UAS). She expressed strong support for SB 6, stating
that she did not encounter Filipino history in school until a
cultural geography class at UAS, where Filipino contributions to
fisheries and mining were mentioned briefly. She emphasized that
one of her primary motivations for supporting SB 6 is the
importance of representation and being reflected in the
curriculum. She explained that inclusion in curriculum fosters a
sense of belonging, identity, and self-confidence. Drawing from
her background in education, she stated that when students learn
about their culture from an early age, they develop pride and
the confidence to share their heritage with others. She added
that SB 6 can also help counter negative narratives and anti-
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate by ensuring that
AAPI stories are included and taught. She concluded that SB 6
promotes cross-cultural understanding and helps build stronger,
safer communities across Alaska.
4:23:59 PM
CHAIR TOBIN concluded invited testimony and opened public
testimony on SB 6.
4:24:20 PM
HANNAH REBADULLA, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 6. She introduced herself as a
Filipino American with a master's in clinical psychology and a
PhD candidate in clinical-community psychology at the University
of Alaska Anchorage. She stated her commitment to serving
underrepresented communities through research and advocacy. She
shared that growing up, she rarely saw stories like hers
reflected in textbooks. She said Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders are often misrepresented as perpetual immigrants, when
in fact they have long-standing roots in the U.S. She emphasized
that this lack of historical representation has serious
consequences, citing a rise in hate crimes against Asian
Americans nationwide, including in Alaska. She described two
recent incidents of racial harassment she and her family
experiencedone where a driver swerved toward her parents and
another where a man threw a rock at her truck while she was with
her son, followed by verbal abuse. She said these acts were
rooted in ignorance and the perception that Asian Americans do
not belong. She argued that education is a powerful tool to
combat such bias. Citing research, she explained that inclusive
curricula reduce prejudice and promote empathy. She urged
support for SB 6 as both a policy and a commitment to a more
accurate, inclusive, and just education system that affirms the
identities and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders.
4:26:58 PM
LUCENA DELCASTILLO, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 6 by reading her written testimony:
[Original punctuation provided.]
I am a first year Cadette in Girl Scouts. I am writing
to express my strong support for Senate Bill 6, an act
requiring education in the history and contributions
of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
I have been a resident of Juneau, Alaska for 11 years
and I am a 6th grade student at Auke Bay Elementary.
My mother is Filipina and my father is German. I
experienced racism in my school. Last month, a few
classmates teased me about being Asian. They called me
by the racial slur "Ching Chong". It was very hurtful
and I will never forget that day coming home in tears.
Teaching Asian American and Pacific Islander history
and culture is important because we need to learn
about acceptance and understand different cultures.
This is urgent to me because I do not want kids to be
bullied for being an Asian American and Pacific
Islander and I want to make my school a better place
for all kids regardless of their race where they feel
safe and belong.
Thank you for your consideration
4:28:47 PM
EDRIC CARRILLO, Vice President, Filipino Community of Alaska -
Juneau, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 6 by reading
his written testimony:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Chair Tobin, members of the Senate Education
Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on
this important piece of legislation today.
For the record, my name is Edric Carrillo, a lifelong
Alaskan and Vice President of the Filipino Community
of Juneau. I have served on the board for nearly a
decade, but I have been involved with our community
for as long as I can remember.
Growing up in Alaska, I didn't learn about Filipino
history-or much about Asian American and Pacific
Islander contributions-until high school. And even
then, it wasn't part of the curriculum; it was through
a "Cultural Day" event where I first heard about the
Alaskeros-Filipino cannery workers-and the Mestizos,
who helped build Alaska's fishing industry and became
an integral part of our state's history. From building
Alaskan infrastructure to Filipino nurses and teachers
who have, and continue to shape our healthcare and
education systems, our history is deeply woven into
the fabric of this state and nation.
4:30:02 PM
MR. CARRILLO continued his testimony:
[Original punctuation provided.]
I remember asking my parents why they never talked
about this history, and their answer was simple: "We
just wanted you to fit in. And we didn't know." They
were also products of Alaska's K-12 system, and if
they hadn't learned it, how could they pass it down to
me? It wasn't until I became more involved in the
Filipino Community that I truly started to grasp the
depth of our contributions-not just to Alaska, but to
American history as a whole. This bill is an
opportunity to celebrate and educate, to instill pride
in our shared history.
SB 6 is not about special treatment-it's about fair
treatment. It ensures that all Alaskans have access to
the full story of our state's history and the people
who shaped it. When we talk about the great melting
pot of America, that includes the Filipino and AAPI
community, where in Juneau nearly 10 percent of the
population is Filipino, and in other parts of Alaska
such as Kodiak and Dutch Harbor, where the percentage
is even higher. And of course, Anchorage which
represents a rich tapestry of diverse cultures, all of
which contribute to what makes Alaska-and America-so
great.
This committee and the legislature made significant
progress last year in advancing this bill. I urge you
to help get it across the finish line this session and
ensure it is signed into law-for students today and
for future generations of Alaskans who deserve to know
their history.
Thank you again for your time and for your continued
support of SB 6.
4:32:10 PM
TAMMALIVIS, SALANOA, Director Assistant, Polynesian Association
of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 6. She
shared the personal story behind her name which symbolizing the
people she carries with her. She expressed strong support for SB
6, stating that it wasn't until college that she began learning
about the contributions of Pacific Islanders to the United
States. Growing up, she was often mistaken for Hawaiian, and her
only representation in the K12 system came through spirit days
like "Aloha Day," where she was handed a plastic lei and told
"aloha"despite being Samoan, not Hawaiian. She explained that
she was born in American Samoa, a U.S. territory, and only
discovered her family's deep historical ties to the country
through her own research. She learned her great-grandfather
formed a battalion in American Samoa during World War II and
trained others in hand-to-hand combat. Her grandfather later
served in the Vietnam War and was exposed to Agent Orange. These
stories were unknown to her family due to silence around trauma
and cultural norms discouraging open discussion. She said she
found archival photos of her great-grandfather training what was
called the "Barefoot Battalion" and said this discovery inspired
her to speak out and share her family's legacy. She emphasized
that in her culture, speaking publiclyespecially as a womanis
not customary, but living in the U.S. taught her that people are
interested in learning about Pacific Islander communities. She
concluded by expressing her desire to educate others about the
distinct cultures of Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia, and
to affirm that Pacific Islanders are a vital part of the
American story.
4:35:39 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 6.
4:35:47 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 6 in committee.
4:36:05 PM
SENATOR CRONK noted that SB 6 includes a requirement for school
districts to provide department-approved education and asked
whether this means every district must locate or adopt a
specific curriculum. He expressed a preference for allowing AAPI
communities to tell their own stories by creating their own
curriculum, rather than requiring all districts to adopt pre-
existing materials that may not accurately reflect local
perspectives. He emphasized that no one could tell AAPI stories
better than the people themselves.
4:36:54 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated her belief that school districts
would collaborate with stakeholdersspecifically members of the
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communitywhen
developing or selecting curriculum to meet the requirements of
SB 6.
4:37:13 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the committee for hearing SB 6 in a
timely manner and stated that she remains focused on ensuring
the bill passes during the current legislative session.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| ISER Presentation - Per Pupil Spending in Context 02.17.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
Education |
| SB 6 Hearing Request SEDC 01.23.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Version A 02.17.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Sponsor Statement Version A 02.17.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Sectional Analysis Version A 02.17.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Fiscal Note EED-SSA 02.14.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Research - AAPCHO State Profile 02.17.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Testimony - Ketchikan Wellness Coalition 01.28.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Testimony - Make Us Visible 01.23.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Testimony - Polynesian Association of Alaska 02.15.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |
| SB 6 Testimony - Rebecca Carrillo 02.17.2025.pdf |
SEDC 2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 6 |