Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/08/2021 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB72 | |
| SB17 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 72-SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION
3:30:41 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 72
"An Act relating to civics education, civics examinations, and
secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an
effective date."
She noted there was a committee substitute for the committee to
consider.
3:31:29 PM
SENATOR MYERS moved to adopt committee substitute (CS) for SB
72, work order 32-LS0478\W, as the working document.
3:31:44 PM
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion purposes.
3:31:57 PM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 72, said he thinks the bill is important and he
does not object to the changes. He asked Senator Myers if he has
read the Federalist Papers and all of its 85 essays.
SENATOR MYERS replied he has.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if he read all 360 pages of the Federalist
Papers. He stated, "Three hundred and sixty pages, Senator. You
are asking the Board of Education to read all those pages plus
other historical documents. That is an enormous thing to ask of
them, and that is okay with me if you want to do that."
He said he taught United States history at the University of
Alaska and he did read the 85 articles and essays of the
Federalist Papers, but he did not believe that many people have.
SENATOR MYERS confirmed he read the Federalist Papers. He
explained the point he was getting at with his suggested changes
to the bill was to address his concern that the bill requires
the state create civics education with very little direction to
"what we want in there."
He stated bad civics curriculum could be worse than none at all.
He explained he wanted to make sure to provide direction for
creating the civics curriculum and his suggestions would move in
that direction.
3:34:11 PM
CHAIR HUGHES noted the committee has not gone through the
summary of changes, but as she reads the bill, there is no
requirement to read everything. The noted historical documents
are research sources for teaching government citizenship, the
history of United States government systems, and the history of
American constitutionalism.
She said there would probably be historical document references
rather than assigned student reading, something she believes is
reasonable. She asked the sponsor if he read that differently.
SENATOR STEVENS replied he is not saying the students should
read the historical documents, but the CS asks the State School
Board to read the historical documents and it is asking an
enormous amount.
CHAIR HUGHES specified the legislative intent does not ask
anybody to read all the historical documents but rather to use
portions of the documents as references.
She asked Senator Meyers if he agreed with her assessment.
SENATOR MYERS answered yes. He said regarding the constitutional
intent explanations, there are certain portions that are still
extremely relevant and continue to provide timely wisdom.
He stated he is not suggesting that the entire State Board needs
to read through the historical documents, but there already is
plenty of commentary on them that would help in crafting the
civics curriculum.
3:36:26 PM
CHAIR HUGHES thanked him for the clarification.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked if now was the appropriate time to
share her comments on the CS.
CHAIR HUGHES suggested the committee first receive the sectional
analysis and then the committee will entertain questions.
3:37:15 PM
DAWSON MANN, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, paraphrased the explanation of
changes in CSSB 72 from version I to version W:
Sec. 1 AS 14.03 Page 1, Lines 4-14, Page 2, Lines 1-
13
Adds history of American constitutionalism as
portrayed in the listed documents to the requirements
of the civics curriculum and assessment.
Adds a requirement that schools include a student's
civics assessment score on the student's transcript.
Adds a requirement that districts must report student
performance on the civics assessment and curriculum to
the department along with an average of district test
scores on the assessment
3:38:55 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated she appreciated Senator Stevens'
comments because they make sense in terms of the number of
papers that the State Board is going to have to read.
She noted Senator Myers mentioned "bad curriculum." She said
personally, she does not think there is any such thing as "bad
curriculum," especially with SB 72 in teaching civics.
She remarked the bill as presented from the Senate Education
Committee is just fine and she does not agree with the CS at all
and will not support it.
3:39:34 PM
CHAIR HUGHES maintained her objection so that the committee can
continue its discussion.
She pointed out that the committee reached out to Ms. Medicine
Crow in regard to the tribal government to see if she might have
a suggestion of some things that she might itemize for review
assurance; the committee has not heard back from her, but there
may be an opportunity for that.
She noted previous conversations during the committee meeting
that the [historical documents] are to be sources and do not
have to be thoroughly read with everything used either by the
State Board or students.
CHAIR HUGHES asked Senator Stevens if he had any remarks.
SENATOR STEVENS stated he is not happy with the historical
document list and viewed the list as unnecessary. He said there
will be professionals writing the curriculum and there is no
need for being so prescriptive. He said he is fine with the
other addition in the CS on the assessment scores.
3:41:11 PM
At ease
3:42:52 PM
CHAIR HUGHES reconvened the meeting and announced an additional
period for amendments for SB 72.
3:43:32 PM
At ease
3:43:42 PM
CHAIR HUGHES reconvened the meeting and opened public testimony
on SB 72.
3:44:11 PM
STUART THOMPSON, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 72. He said the graduating high school student
testing to verify affective grasps of civics is constitutionally
justified and critical to posterity.
3:48:28 PM
MIKE COONS, representing self, Palmer, Alaska, testified in
opposition of SB 72. He said he has reservations about the bill
due to confusing civics curriculum language. He noted the Mat-Su
School District is using national and DEED standards for its
civics curriculum and his hope is other school districts will do
the same. The Mat-Su District also teaches Alaska history that
covers government used by Alaska Natives.
He said Alaska needs upcoming adult populations to understand
their duty as proud American citizens. He stated the bill
requires substantive amendments to ensure the students are
taught the truth about government and the constitution.
3:51:30 PM
GWEN WOODARD, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 72. She said Alaska students are expected to vote
coming out of high school and having a basic knowledge of civics
is necessary.
3:52:11 PM
CHRISTINE HUTCHISON, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 72. She noted North Dakota has a requirement
for students to pass a civics examination and their high school
passage rate was not jeopardized. The bill should not have
anything added that is an unfunded mandate and creates a fiscal
note. The requirement of a citizen exam is sufficient for
teachers to teach towhich they do in North Dakota. She
summarized getting the exam into code is critical and adding
specific curriculum can occur later.
3:54:42 PM
CHAIR HUGHES closed public testimony on SB 72.
She explained when she signed on as a co-sponsor, the
legislation did require the citizenship exam, but that was
changed in the last committee of referral. The CS before the
committee still requires an assessment test, but it would be
something that DEED would develop. The department might use some
of the citizenship exam material and other references.
CHAIR HUGHES noted when she originally signed on as co-sponsor,
the bill required high school seniors to pass the citizenship
exam. However, the districts pushed back because they felt that
would affect graduation rates. She said she was disappointed in
that change because students walking out the door with a diploma
should be equipped with a solid civics foundation so they will
be contributing citizens. Removing that is a problem that
requires further discussions with the sponsor of the bill, she
said.
3:56:30 PM
CHAIR HUGHES held SB 72 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CSSB 72 Version W.pdf |
SCRA 4/8/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 72 |
| CSSB 72 Version W Explanation of Changes.pdf |
SCRA 4/8/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 72 |
| SB 72 Public Testimony 3.8.21.pdf |
SCRA 4/8/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 72 |