Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/19/2021 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB20 | |
| SB80 | |
| SB72 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 20-OUT OF STATE TEACHER RECIPROCITY
9:10:06 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 20
"An Act relating to recognition of certificates of out-of-state
teachers."
He asked for a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS).
9:10:19 AM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the work draft committee
substitute (CS) for SB 20, work order 32-LS0202\B, as the
working document.
9:10:34 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion and asked Mr.
Lamkin to explain the changes.
9:10:46 AM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated the CS addresses concerns
that were brought up. He explained the following changes:
Change #1 The title, Page 1, Line 1, following "relating
to" Delete: "recognition of certificates of out-of-state
teachers." Insert: "teaching certificates for teachers
holding out-of-state certificates."
Change #2 (Version A) Section 2 (page 2 Lines 8-11)
Relating to a requirement for an out-of-state teacher to
have a baccalaureate degree, in version A this reference
was being repealed. Version B maintains the statute.
Change #3 Section 3, relating to the time period an out-of-
state teacher has to complete course trainings in Alaska
and multi- / cross-cultural studies, from three years to
two years.
Change #4 Version A, Section 5 (page 3, Line 1-11) Relating
to an exemption for out-of-state certificate holders from
having to hold a baccalaureate degree. This section was
deleted from Version B.
Change #5 In version B, a new section 5 (page 3, Lines 1-3)
was drafted, directing the department to adopt regulations
to assist in expediting the issuance of a certificate for
military spouses.
9:11:50 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection. There being no further
objection, version B was before the committee.
SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciated the input of the committee
to make the bill stronger and better.
CHAIR HOLLAND called on Education Commission of the States (ECS)
to make their presentation
9:12:56 AM
CASSIDY FRANCIES, Policy Researcher, Education Commission of the
States, Denver, Colorado, introduced herself.
9:13:30 AM
TIFFANY MCDOLE, Senior Policy Analyst, Education Commission of
the States, Denver, Colorado, introduced herself.
MS. FRANCIES said that ECS is a nonadvocacy, nonpartisan
organization that provides policy support and independent
research to the states. Last year ECS looked at policies
regarding teacher license reciprocity across the 50 states. She
showed slide 2 of the presentation License Reciprocity: National
Landscape. Research shows that teachers are the most important
in-school factor impacting student achievement. As a result,
policymakers take great interest in recruiting and retaining
effective teachers.
MS. FRANCIES presented slide 3 and said many states struggle
with teacher shortages. Teacher shortages are often concentrated
to schools with specific characteristics and certain subject
areas. Teacher shortages are impacted by mismatched supply and
demand and state policies. Any policy related to teacher
licensure, retention and recruitment, and license reciprocity
will intersect with the issue of teacher shortages.
MS. FRANCIES presented slide 4 and said policymakers balance
policy priorities which seem to be in competition with each
other:
In setting licensure policy, policymakers balance several
priorities:
• Ensuring all teachers are equipped for the job
• Ensuring there are enough teachers to fill vacancies
• Ensuring that licensure requirements do not
unintentionally keep strong candidates out of the
classroom
MS. FRANCIES presented slide 5 on NASDTEC (National Association
of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification), an
interstate agreement among 47 states and D.C. NASDTEC
facilitates educator mobility between states by outlining
minimum requirements. A bachelor's degree is a minimum essential
component of an approved educator preparation program and
teacher licensure through the agreement. States can require
their own specific requirements
9:17:44 AM
SENATOR BEGICH clarified that unlike some other interstate
compacts, NASDTEC allows states to go beyond the compact.
MS. FRANCIES replied that is correct. NASDTEC only sets the
minimum requirements. States can add to that.
SENATOR BEGICH said that is good news.
MS. FRANCIES said ECS wanted to know how many states offer "full
license reciprocity," which allows fully licensed out-of-state
teachers, regardless of experience, to be immediately eligible
to receive a standard teaching license, subject to few or no
additional requirements. She showed a map on slide 7 that showed
eight states offer full license reciprocity. The other states
have additional requirements for out-of-state license seekers.
The most common additional requirements are additional courses
and assessment scores. Some states provide exemptions for some
candidates, often those with a certain number of years of
experience or advanced licensure.
SENATOR BEGICH asked if even if Alaska adopted the bill, it
would still be one of the gray states because the bill has
additional requirements and set time periods. A person can get
reciprocity, but maintaining it is contingent on completing
Alaska history and geography and those kinds of things, so that
would not be full license reciprocity.
MS. FRANCIES said she believes the bill would move Alaska to
full license reciprocity because it would allow teachers to
immediately receive a license, regardless of experience or other
considerations.
9:21:02 AM
MS. FRANCIES noted three barriers to transferring a license:
finding reliable information; cost, especially for military
spouses; and time to complete an application and processing
time.
MS. FRANCIES said the impact on teachers is that 41 percent of
teachers who left the profession but would consider returning
cited the ability to transfer their license out of state as a
consideration when deciding whether to return to the classroom,
according to a national survey. There may be teachers in states
who are qualified to teach but aren't because of difficulties or
concerns with transferring licenses. This has the potential to
exasperate the shortage.
MS. FRANCIES noted the resources ECS provided to the committee.
SENATOR BEGICH shared this his wife is a former certified
teacher from Virginia. This might benefit his family, so he is
putting that conflict on the record.
CHAIR HOLLAND invited Tammie Perreault to testify.
9:24:20 AM
TAMMIE PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison, Department of
Defense, Military & Family Policy, Washington, D.C., said her
mission is to be a resource for state policy makers to address
quality of life issues for military families. The Department of
Defense (DOD) is in support of SB 20. The process for teachers
licensed in another state to become fully licensed in a new
state often requires extensive documentation, additional
testing, and coursework and may involve application processing
delays. This creates further barriers for military spouse
teachers to seamlessly continue on their career paths. SB 20
reduces these barriers. One of the key policies of SB 20 is that
the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development adopt
regulations which provide for expedited processing of
applications for license to teach in the state for military
spouses. This was a specific DOD request as military spouses are
best served by receiving their license to practice an occupation
within 30 days of when they make their application. Currently,
many states have implemented this policy.
9:26:09 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE joined the committee.
MS. PERREAULT said that teaching is the most prevalent
profession among licensed military spouses. The annual
percentage of military spouses who move across state lines is
14.5 percent compared to only 1.1 percent of the general
population. Additionally, 68 percent of married service members
reported that their spouse's ability to maintain a career
impacts their decision to stay in the military. This is why this
is so important to the DOD, and 88 percent of military spouses
reported wanting or needing to work. The DOD appreciates the
tremendous effort Alaska has made to support military families
and is thankful to Senator Stevens for introducing this
important legislation.
9:27:21 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on SB 20.
9:27:35 AM
NORM WOOTEN, Director of Advocacy, Association of Alaska School
Boards, Juneau, Alaska, said that Alaska is experiencing a
crisis with the teacher shortage. This bill would alleviate some
of that. The bill maintains rigor and would attract teachers
from out of state and retains the multicultural courses required
in Alaska for a license.
9:28:53 AM
THERESA OBERMEYER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, agreed
with the testimony and asked where Alaska would be without its
wonderful teachers. There is no group she supports more. She has
been a certified teacher since 1979. She added that she thinks
reciprocity should be extended to attorneys.
9:31:03 AM
DAVID NEES, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said that he
is a retired teacher. SB 20 is an excellent bill. Senator Begich
asked an excellent question about reciprocity. One of the
barriers facing teachers from out of state is the multicultural
and Alaska Native requirement. When he worked for the Anchorage
School District, teachers from out of state usually would decide
in the second or third year whether they were staying or going.
Moving the deadline to two years will be more of a barrier than
the committee thinks it will be. Teachers have to adopt to a new
district while getting their lives focused. The bill would be
better if the courses did not have to be taken for two years.
That would be a minor change in the bill. Postponing the cost of
taking coursework that will not be used in another state would
be beneficial for recruiting teachers.
9:33:17 AM
DEENA BISHOP, Ph.D., Superintendent, Anchorage School District,
Anchorage, Alaska, said the Anchorage School District is in
favor of the flexibility and time allotted for educators to be
certified. She shared that seven percent of Anchorage School
District educators are military spouses, so the flexibility adds
value to recruitment. The Anchorage School District has many
immersion teachers who come from other countries. The bill
allows for that and ASD supports it. Someone's efficacy is by
example and previous jobs. It is beneficial to be able to hire
teachers and look at their past record of educating students.
SENATOR STEVENS asked, as a superintendent who hires more
teachers than anyone else in the state, if it is realistic to
require somebody to complete the Alaska history and
multicultural studies in two years.
DR. BISHOP replied, what the former speaker shared may have been
true in earlier times, but with online learning, it is not a
barrier at this time. Having an Alaska Native studies course in
another state is value added.
9:35:45 AM
LISA PARADY, Ph.D., Executive Director, Alaska Council of School
Administrators, Juneau, Alaska, said she and Senator Stevens
served on the governor's taskforce for teacher retention and
recruitment and had a dialogue about how important this would be
for Alaska. All are aware of the crisis of teacher shortage in
Alaska. The Alaska Council of School Administrators joint
position statement emphasizes that retaining effective educators
is essential to increasing student achievement and eliminating
academic disparities for all Alaskan students. SB 20 sits
squarely with its position statement that all members support.
Regarding the Alaska Native studies course, Alaska Staff
Development Network offers multiple opportunities for educators
to complete those studies, online, virtually, and in a webinar.
They are readily available to educators and can be completed
within that timeframe.
9:38:10 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony on SB 20 and asked the
will of the committee.
9:38:36 AM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the committee substitute (CS)
for SB 20, work order 32-LS0478\B, from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
There being no objection, CSSB 20(EDC) was reported from the
Senate Education Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 80 NASW Letter of Support.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB 80 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB020_versionB.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB020_TeacherCert_Reciprocity_Presentation_ECS_19March2021.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/29/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB020_TeacherCert_Reciprocity_Research_ECS_policy resources_19March2021.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/29/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB80 Research.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB072_Civics_BillText_versionB.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| SB020_TeacherCert-Reciprocity_Summary-of-Changes_Version A to B.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB072_Civics_Summary-of-Changes_Version A to B.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| SB 80 ASD Mental Health and SEL Instruction.pdf |
SEDC 3/19/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |