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 72-SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION
10:01:01 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND 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."
He asked for a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS).
10:01:12 AM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the CS for SB 72, work order 32-
LS0478\B, as the working document.
10:01:26 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposed of discussion and asked Mr.
Lamkin to explain the committee substitute.
10:01:38 AM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, explained the changes in the committee substitute
for SB 72:
Change #1
The title, Page 1, Line 1
Delete: "examinations"
Insert: "assessments"
Change #2
Section 1, page 1 of Version A was largely struck and
rewritten. The reference to the U.S. Citizenship exam was
deleted and replaced in Version B to instead direct the
Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development
(SBOE) to develop curriculum for, and an assessment that
aligns with, existing Alaska education standards for
Government and Citizenship. The curriculum is to include
traditional American government as well as Alaska native
tribal government studies. School Districts are to
administer the state assessment to graduating seniors in
order to receive a diploma.
Change #3
Section 2, page 2 The reporting requirement was changed to
include a summary of what civics courses are offered at the
district level, disaggregated by district, as well as data
on student performance on the assessment established in
Section 1
MR. LAMKIN said that during the first hearing for the bill,
there was reference to insensitivity to high-stakes exams in
order to graduate. The bill was rewritten to strike reference to
the naturalization test currently administered to immigrants
wishing to have citizenship. The bill includes a test but not a
passing score. The burden is now shifted to the Department of
Education and Early Development (DEED), who will speak to this.
The department has resources to develop curriculum and
assessment that would be available free of charge to school
districts, which would report on student performance on the
assessment. The bill also wants to show sensitivity to Alaska's
unique cultures and Alaska Native tribal governance.
10:03:39 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection. There being no further
objection, version B was before the committee.
SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciated the work of his aide in
working with DEED. DEED had excellent suggestions. Instead of
imposing a national test, DEED will create its own curriculum
and assessment. He is pleased to come to that position and
anxious to hear from the commissioner.
CHAIR HOLLAND called on Ms. Van Wyhe.
10:04:53 AM
TAMARA VAN WYHE, Director, Division of Innovation and Education
Excellence, Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED), Anchorage, Alaska, said the Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED) has reviewed the committee substitute
and is appreciative of the language revision. As DEED
Commissioner Johnson shared in his earlier comments to the
committee, civics education is tremendously important for
Alaskan students. That does not and will not change. The
department is in the process of updating its social standards
now and is assembling a group to work on that. The work of the
department required by the bill is doable and could occur in a
timely manner since the department is in the midst of the work.
The assembled group of educators will review the College Career
and Civic Life (C3) framework, which has a clearly defined focus
on civics. The fiscal note has not been updated. There is
language in the committee substitute about the development of an
assessment. There is cost involved with that. DEED is supportive
of the bill and appreciative of the efforts to highlight civics
as critical content for students. As Commissioner Johnson said
earlier, this bill is not a new coat of paint on the public
education system. It is a much needed effort to repair the
foundation.
SENATOR BEGICH shared that he received a note from Spike
Jorgensen, who was the Alaska Gateway superintendent. Mr.
Jorgenson comes back to the same point. The legislature could
keep working on things like this, and Senator Begich is a
cosponsor of the bill, but until the university and its teacher
program are in alignment with the things the legislature is
asking teachers to do, there will always be a gap. Senator
Begich and Senator Stevens have tried to focus on the
university's program to make sure it is meeting with the
department and doing the work it needs to do to ensure that
teachers trained at the university will meet those standards
that the department is setting. The legislature will pass a good
bill, but the state must find a way to ensure that the teachers
being educated in Alaska actually do and abide by and are taught
with the curriculum the legislature is asking them to teach when
they come to the state system.
10:08:47 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on SB 72.
10:08:54 AM
NORM WOOTEN, Director of Advocacy, Association of Alaska School
Boards, Juneau, Alaska, said that the Association of Alaska
School Boards has a resolution in support of encouraging civics
education in school districts. It recognizes the importance of
civics. He was prepared to speak in opposition about another
high-stakes test. Instead he will express gratitude for removing
that portion from the bill in the committee substitute. He
thanked Senator Stevens for SB 72. Civics education is important
to create citizens. He stated support for the committee
substitute for SB 72.
10:10:36 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony and held SB 72 in
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 |