Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/20/2001 02:05 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 41-KINDERGARTEN & DEFINITION OF "SCHOOL AGE"
RICHARD BENAVIDES, staff to Senator Davis, sponsor of SB 41,
explained that SB 41 would make kindergarten mandatory in Alaska
and it would lower the compulsory school age from 7 to 5 years of
age. Alaska has performance standards for students aged 5 to 7,
yet school attendance is not mandatory. According to statistics
provided by the state in October of 2000, all school districts
except Galena had children enrolled in some type of kindergarten
program. The movement in education at this point in time is to
have children start learning as quickly as possible in order to
meet the mandated performance standards and pass mandatory tests
at the high school level. Fifteen states have mandated
kindergarten, 42 states must offer kindergarten although it is
not mandatory, and all 50 states have financial aid for schools
with kindergarten programs.
SENATOR WARD asked if SB 41 will require all children to attend
kindergarten.
MR. BENAVIDES said that is correct.
SENATOR WARD asked if school districts could continue to offer
full, half or quarter-day kindergarten.
MR. BENAVIDES said the bill would only mandate schools to offer a
kindergarten program.
SENATOR WARD asked if districts could offer a kindergarten
program that was less than half-day.
SENATOR DAVIS stated that no kindergarten programs in Alaska are
less than half-day but the local option would allow less than
half-day. She felt there would be disadvantages to a
kindergarten program that was less than half-day.
SENATOR WARD commented that some schools provide half-day
kindergarten programs right now for financial reasons. He
questioned whether a district could have a program three days per
week.
SENATOR DAVIS said she didn't think anything would prevent a
district from doing that. She pointed out whether a district
provides a full or half-day kindergarten program depends on each
school board's philosophy and a variety of other reasons.
SENATOR WILKEN expressed surprise that the Department of
Education and Early Development (DOEED) submitted an
indeterminate fiscal note because he believes it should be able
to provide a close estimate of the number of kindergartners who
may enroll every year. He also noted that kindergarten programs
are not funded through the foundation formula.
SENATOR DAVIS asked Mr. Eddy Jeans to speak to whether
kindergarten programs are funded through the foundation formula.
MR. EDDY JEANS, School Finance Manager, DOEED, informed the
committee that DOEED does fund kindergarten programs through the
foundation formula and that both full and half time programs
exist. A half time program is currently defined in regulation as
one that lasts less than four hours per day. He pointed out the
fiscal note is indeterminate because SB 41 changes the compulsory
school age from 7 to 5. DOEED does not know how many 5 or 6 year
olds do not currently attend school. In addition, parents would
have the option of keeping their 5 and 6 year olds out of public
school by way of 12 exemptions.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if kindergartners are included in the
October count.
MR. JEANS said they are.
SENATOR WARD asked how many kindergartners were in last year's
count.
MR. JEANS said, based on the enrollment report, Alaska had 9,275
students statewide but he did not know if that number includes
both full and half time students.
SENATOR WARD asked if half time students receive half allotment
and whether districts have the option of applying for a full or
half time allotment.
MR. JEANS stated half time students receive half allotment and
repeated that districts have the option of offering half or full
time programs. Programs that are more than four hours per day,
exclusive of intermissions, are considered to be full time.
SENATOR WARD asked if a school district could apply for funds for
either half or full day kindergarten programs or could offer no
program.
MR. JEANS said that is correct.
VICE-CHAIR LEMAN took public testimony.
[NO RECORDING IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING PORTION OF THE
MEETING DUE TO TAPE DAMAGE.]
MS. DEE HUBBARD, an Anchorage resident, informed the committee
that she has been working on this issue since 1993. In 1993, the
Anchorage and Alaska PTAs passed resolutions mandating
kindergarten. Since that time, four more states have mandated
kindergarten for children. She believes the state should mandate
that every school district offer kindergarten programs.
MR. VERN MARSHALL, Executive Director of NEA-Alaska, stated
support for mandatory kindergarten. He believes the time is
right to establish such a mandate because Alaska is aggressively
pursuing standards. He feels it is wise to start children in
kindergarten because it orients children to school procedures and
helps them to start acquiring knowledge.
MR. DARROLL HARGRAVES, Council of School Administrators,
commented on both SB 41 and SB 11. He stated that research
results show that a big learning curve occurs from birth through
age 5. If children miss the opportunity to learn during that
period, they will suffer through 12th grade. In addition, young
students are more mature. He pointed out that regarding the list
of exemptions included in Senator Therriault's bill, exemption 8
is the only one that allows flexibility for students who are not
kindergarten ready at age 5. That exemption requires school
board approval to keep a child out of kindergarten at age 5. He
asked the committee to add a simpler exemption to apply to those
students who are not ready.
[SIDE B RECORDING BEGINS]
Number 2150
MS. RITA DAVIS, a teacher at Swanson Elementary School in Palmer,
emphasized the need for early intervention for school success.
Although children learn with different styles and at different
rates, educational and brain research consistently shows that
five-year old children are not only ready and eager to learn, but
have a tremendous capacity to learn. For students who come from
environments that may not be rich in literature or life
experiences, early kindergarten would offer them developmentally
appropriate activities and prepare them to learn and make
choices. For students ready to learn, it would offer an early
opportunity. Reading research concludes that early reading
success in the primary grades is the single biggest indicator of
future school success. If Alaska is focusing on meeting
standards at the end of a student's education, it is only logical
to look at the beginning. It is time our state policy reflects
our beliefs about this critical learning period.
MR. CARL ROSE, Executive Director of the Association of Alaska
School Boards, stated support for SB 41 for many of the reasons
already stated. He recently returned from the education
commission of the states. That commission produced an initiative
to change the foundation system for funding education. The
commission wants funding to cover preschool through postsecondary
education. He stated the first benchmark exam given in Alaska is
at the third grade level and districts will have to pay close
attention to that benchmark because at that point, the curriculum
"steepens out" and the gap widens. Mandating kindergarten will
help students to get up on step together. He believes the best
place to put the state's effort regarding the high school
qualifying exam is into looking at learning-appropriate methods
of teaching children at the kindergarten level and to mandate
kindergarten attendance.
MR. ROD MCCOY, special education teacher and NEA-Ak member,
thanked and complemented the committee for the great efforts
members have made for education. He made the following points:
· Research clearly says that the sooner students are involved
in the learning process, the better off they are;
· Our legal system provides clear options to request
compulsory education because parents can easily determine to
provide instruction at home - the state is not being
invasive in that process;
· Allow parents to determine whether their children are
school-ready at age 5 because attendance is important; and
· Districts need support for the benchmark tests - the state
must require schooling to start early in a child's life.
VICE-CHAIR LEMAN announced that SB 41 would be held in committee
until Chairwoman Green returns.
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