Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2021 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB72 | |
| SB111 | |
| 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 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 72-SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION
9:24:16 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."
CHAIR HOLLAND noted that the committee had adopted the committee
substitute (CS) for SB 72, work order 32-LS0478\B, as the
working document and had heard public testimony. He asked the
bill sponsor, Senator Stevens, for any comments.
9:24:33 AM
At ease
9:24:46 AM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, speaking as sponsor of SB 72, stated that
the committee substitute removes the need to pass an exam but
says that students will take the exam. It directs the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED) to develop a unique,
Alaskan civics curriculum and assessment. The bill recognizes
the importance of including Alaska Native tribal governance
systems in the educational program.
SENATOR HUGHES shared that she preferred the previous version.
She is concerned about a teacher who has students who know they
don't have to pass a test they take. She hopes that won't be a
problem for teachers. If students take some courses as freshmen,
they might have trouble taking a test a few years later. The
committee heard one of most passionate speeches from
Commissioner Johnson about how necessary this bill is, and
holding students more accountable for passing the test would be
better. The committee substitute is an improvement over not
having civics education at all. She understands the feedback
from the districts. The transcript will show that students took
the test. She wishes the transcript would show whether students
passed or failed the exam, even if that would not prevent them
from graduating. Some students might be motivated by pride if
they knew it would show up on their transcripts. She does not
want to hand teachers a problem, and some districts may decide
to grade the test and incorporate it into a class. This is
better than the current status where it is possible that no or
minimal civics are taught.
SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciates her comments. At first, his
office thought it should be a high-stakes test but his office
learned from communities that there are some problems with that.
The key part of the committee substitute is that DEED will
develop curriculum and an assessment. As the committee just
heard from the Professional Teaching Practices Commission
appointee, that should be presented throughout the curriculum,
not just in one single class. He asked Mr. Lamkin to explain how
his office decided to remove the high-stakes exam.
SENATOR HUGHES said that it is good that the end of bill
requires that student performance on the assessment will be
reported to the legislature by district. Even though students
will not need a certain grade to get a diploma, the legislature
will learn how students are doing. That is a good feature.
9:29:34 AM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said the bill reflects some
discussions with the department, particularly the commissioner,
and concerns about high-stakes exams. This seemed like a
reasonable approach, to put a greater emphasis on standards and
offer curriculum developed by Alaskans, as well as Alaska's own
unique assessment. That assessment will be taken and not
necessarily passed. It will first trigger a review of content
standards on government and citizenship that were adopted in
2006. It is timely to review and adjust them accordingly and to
reflect the system of government for the indigenous people of
Alaska.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if Alaska history or government is required
for graduation or if it is a district decision.
MR. LAMKIN replied there is no state requirement, although some
districts require it.
SENATOR MICCICHE echoed the concerns of Senator Hughes. He had a
recent conversation with another senator about getting a foot in
the door and proving its value over time and getting to the
point of being able to test to know that students are retaining
information. This goes way back. He read a Forbes article in
which Lincoln talked about teaching children reverence for the
Constitution and its laws lest the American democracy degenerate
into what he called "mobocratic" rule. In Reagan's farewell
address he echoed Lincoln and called for informed patriotism.
The article also spoke to the generational divide. Seventy-four
percent of senior citizens can pass the test but only 19 percent
of Americans under the age of 45 can answer even six of the 10
questions. Division in the country is based in part on an
essential misunderstanding of how government works and
functions. It causes part of the mistrust because "we the
people" don't understand the power they hold because they don't
understand the workings of government itself. It is incredibly
important and he is supportive of the bill. He does wish the
committee had pushed for a test. He will not get in the way of
the bill, and maybe a foot in the door is the right path at this
time.
CHAIR HOLLAND called on invited testimony.
9:33:39 AM
JULIE TRUSKOWSKI, State Coordinator, We The People, Anchorage,
Alaska, thanked the committee for the opportunity to speak about
the important topic of reinvigorating civics in public schools.
She is a retired, nationally board certified teacher with 28
years of experience in Alaska. She is the state coordinator for
the We the People program. It is a nationally-recognized
curriculum from the nonpartisan Center for Civics Education that
teaches civics competency and responsibility. Several
legislators have served as judges in the high school state
competition. We the People checks off quite a few boxes for
learning and assessing knowledge of civics and the Constitution.
The curriculum culminates in mock Congressional hearings. It
truly is educating for a purpose. In the era of unfunded
mandates and austere budgeting, We the People is cost effective
in that it already exists in many communities. Around 25
communities in the state already have We the People material on
hand, from many schools in the Anchorage and Fairbanks districts
to smaller schools. Those schools should already have textbooks.
That could be useful information as legislators move forward
with SB 72.
SENATOR STEVENS asked her about the issue of the high-stakes vs
removing the need for passing an exam.
MS. TRUSKOWSKI answered that if kids know there is
accountability, they will up their game. She agreed with Senator
Hughes. It is easy to overlook something with no accountability.
That might be what happened with civics education and why it has
fallen off the radar. Social studies in general is an unfunded
mandate with no accountability piece, so it gets overlooked and
pushed aside. She doesn't necessarily like the idea of an
assessment that is something like questions on the citizenship
test because it promotes rote learning instead of internalizing
knowledge and articulating what has been learned, which is what
We the People does.
9:37:34 AM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if We the People is an afterschool program
or done during the school day. She asked if any schools used We
the People as curriculum to meet government requirements.
MS. TRUSKOWSKI said that at the last national meeting of state
coordinators for We the People, she learned that Florida has a
civics test requirement for graduation. Nevada recently got
legislative funding for We the People to be taught in all
schools. It cannot be an afterschool program. It must be
incorporated into the curriculum. It can be time consuming but
it can be tailored to shorter amounts of time. She taught it in
sixth grade and used one of six units. This year the state
competition was virtual and only West Valley High School was
able to participate by using fewer components.
9:40:17 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony.
9:40:27 AM
DAVID NEES, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said he is a
retired teacher who worked with student councils for years. He
is a fan of the civics bill. This is a good bill. Pulling the
citizenship test out takes the teeth out of it. Districts
usually say it is unfunded mandate. The argument is whether to
make it a stick or carrot. Students could get civics credit by
passing the citizenship test, and it could be regular credit if
they don't take the test. It could be an honors course if they
do pass the test. Another option is to allow We the People for
credit. These are ideas for carrots rather than sticks.
9:42:27 AM
JOANNA WASSILLIE, representing self, White Mountain, Alaska,
said that she appreciated the comments of Danette Peterson, the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission appointee who spoke
earlier. Ms. Wassillie is a high school and middle school
language arts and social studies teacher who is teaching
government now. She liked what Ms. Peterson said about civics
being taught across the curriculum, starting in younger grades.
Civics is an important part of citizenship and personal
development. All seem to agree that it needs to be bolstered in
the state and country. To make citizenship an intrinsic value
and strength in the state, this must begin at the younger
grades. As far as testing, her worry about passing a test as an
alternative to taking a course is that it would become more rote
learning as opposed to becoming an intrinsic and lifelong
practice for students. That is why she likes incorporating
civics standards across curriculum in all grade levels. She is
planning to look at using We the People next year.
9:44:50 AM
CHRISTINE HUTCHISON, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, said that
she is crazy about civics education for children and adults. She
participated with the local school board social studies
curriculum committee twice. Just teaching to the standards is
not sufficient. There must be a requirement that this be taught.
She is going to look into We the People. She would like to see
some type of testing. Lowering standards for any purpose is not
useful. If people don't learn and defend the Constitution, the
country is going to be in a very sad state as Senator Micciche
outlined. She is hopeful that this bill will become law. It is
critical to have a civics education requirement. This needs to
be pass. This is a feel-good, limited fiscal issue.
SENATOR MICCICHE said he has talked about this with Ms.
Hutchinson. He thanked her for calling. He would like to know
what she finds out about what the district is doing about this
topic and asked her to share anything she learns with the
committee.
9:48:52 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony. He solicited a motion.
9:49:27 AM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for SB 72, work order 32-LS0478\B, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
CHAIR HOLLAND found no objection and CSSB 72 (EDC) was reported
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB072_Civics_BillText_versionB.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| SB072_Civics_Summary-of-Changes_Version A to B.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| CSSB72 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| Danette Peterson Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2021 9:00:00 AM |