Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/14/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB82 | |
| SB151 | |
| SB118 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 151 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 82-EDUCATION:SCHOOLS; GRANTS; FUNDING; DEBT
3:35:32 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 82
"An Act relating to education; relating to public school
attendance; relating to mobile communication devices in schools;
relating to reading proficiency incentive grants; relating to
authorization of charter schools; relating to transportation of
students; relating to school bond debt reimbursement; relating
to funding and reporting by Alaska technical and vocational
education programs; authorizing lump sum payments for certain
teachers as retention and recruitment incentives; and providing
for an effective date."
3:35:59 PM
DEENA BISHOP, COMMISSIONER, Department of Education & Early
Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, provided a recap of SB 82 on
behalf of the administration. She stated that previously she was
asked, "What problem is SB 82 trying to solve?" After reflection
she determined SB 82 is a response to the reality that Alaska is
on the wrong side of the nation's most critical education
metrics. According to the most recent National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP), Alaska ranks near the bottom in
reading and math and has the highest teacher turnover rate in
the country. She stated that these challenges are not new but
are worsening. She said while funding is essential, experience
shows that funding alone is not the answer. She noted that
during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska received an unprecedented
influx of federal dollars; however, despite that investment, the
state did not see meaningful improvement in student achievement
or teacher retention.
3:37:13 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated that SB 82 combines strategic
investment with targeted policy to ensure public dollars are
aligned with initiatives that made a measurable difference. She
referenced the Alaska Reads Act, passed in 2022, and explained
that lawmakers consulted national and local experts to identify
the most critical components of effective reading instruction.
She said the result was a comprehensive policy rooted in the
science of reading.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP reported that in the first full year of
implementation, the percentage of kindergarten students reading
at grade level increased from 24 percent to 60 percent. She
stated that such progress came from a comprehensive approach
that includes early screening to identify student risk, aligned
curriculum, high-quality instruction, structured interventions,
rigorous professional development for teachers, and continuous
parent engagement and communication.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated that SB 82 builds on that success by
targeting funding to increase reading achievement through
student growth and achievement incentives, strengthening the
educator workforce through lump-sum retention payments,
increasing career and technical education funding to provide
hands-on pathways to graduation and postsecondary opportunities,
and supporting classroom environments free from cell phone
distractions.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP added that SB 82 expands public school
choice, including neighborhood schools, charter schools,
correspondence programs, and boarding schools. She stated that
Alaska's public charter schools led the nation in the most
recent NAEP rankings and demonstrated exceptional achievement in
reading and math, outperforming peers nationwide by one full
year of learning. She said this success shows that when families
are given options and schools are empowered to innovate,
outcomes improve.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP concluded that Alaska needs additional
investment in public education, but that investment must be
paired with strong, evidence-based policy rooted in transparency
and accountability.
3:39:46 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN commented that that in working to improve
education in Alaska, he had observed that charter schools in his
district maintained high standards and high expectations for
students regarding what they should know, understand, and be
able to do.
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated that standards across other educational
opportunities in the state varied widely, including standards
for high school graduation, readiness for high school, and
expectations regarding regular attendance. He noted that Alaska
values personal liberty and freedom and allows parents and
students significant latitude in how they engage in education,
including attendance. He stated that while the constitution
requires education for children, there is no meaningful
expectation that they attend school consistently.
3:41:02 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN said that when discussing COVID-19 funding and
outcomes, it is important to recognize that state and local
funding remained flat during that period and that schools lost
funding as enrollment declined. He stated he is not certain that
attributing outcomes solely to the influx of federal dollars is
helpful.
SENATOR BJORKMAN further stated that blaming teachers or
professional organizations is also not productive. He shared
that he had been a teacher in Alaska for many years and had
brought forward ideas to improve education, even when referred
to as a "problem teacher." He stated he would continue bringing
forward ideas focused on raising standards, expecting regular
attendance, and requiring students to demonstrate measurable
academic growth.
3:42:21 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN said that until the state establishes clear
expectations and accountability for all stakeholders, it would
remain difficult to ensure education dollars are used
effectively. He expressed interest in further discussion about
attendance expectations, performance measurements, alignment to
state standards or nationally normed benchmarks, and strategic
investments tied to clear outcomes. He stated he looks forward
to continuing the conversation.
3:43:08 PM
SENATOR STEVENS arrived at the meeting.
3:43:32 PM
CHAIR TOBIN mentioned that the NAEP website strongly urges
caution against suggesting that NAEP scores are indicative of or
causal to overall school performance. She said NAEP advises
considering scores alongside socioeconomic status and other
student supports. She referenced 2024 fourth-grade reading
scores and noted that Alaska's non-economically disadvantaged
students scored 214, which was above the national average of
212. She stated that economically disadvantaged students scored
186. She asked Commissioner Bishop to explain the difference
between the two groups and the services provided.
3:44:19 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP responded that additional federal funding
was provided through Title [I] for economically disadvantaged
students. She stated that school districts have discretion in
determining how to allocate those funds at the school level and
develop individual school plans accordingly. She said the
governor's bill includes open enrollment provisions to allow
students greater access to schools regardless of residence and
to help address barriers, including transportation. She stated
that where families live is sometimes a choice and sometimes
not, and open enrollment seeks to reduce geographic barriers.
3:45:49 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP explained that additional services are
provided through Title I programs and that pre-K, as included in
the Alaska Reads Act, also supports early literacy development.
She stated that specific differences in services would require
reviewing each school's Title [I] plan. She said the focus of
Title [I] funding was to provide additional services to support
students who were not arriving at school ready to read or
perform academically at grade level.
3:46:14 PM
CHAIR TOBIN replied that she did not fully understand the
explanation, noting that the performance gap between
economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged
students was approximately 26 points on the NAEP and has
persisted since 2003. She asked why the gap has continued and
how to reduce it. She acknowledged that SB 82 codifies open
enrollment practices already in place in Alaska and asked what
additional solutions might address the disparity.
3:46:56 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated that school choice matters and
referenced a Harvard study on NAEP data related to charter
schools. She said the scores were a surprise:
"Specifically speaking for the students that were
economically challenged. Our ranking was number one.
But when you remove the students who were economically
challenged from that study, our ranking dropped. And
so, our non-economically challenged students, if you
will, actually dropped in the ranking according to the
nation. But in Alaska, they actually stayed at the
number one ranking. And the same was true for,
interestingly enough, non-white. When you remove the
non-white students from the student capture, they
dropped. And it was of interest to Harvard to ask why
and to share that something about Alaska's choice,
especially for Alaska Native students, is working."
3:47:54 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated that early literacy is critical to
closing achievement gaps and referenced the Alaska Reads Act as
a key policy focused on early skills development. She said
research on effective literacy instruction had long existed but
that consistent implementation had varied. She stated that
strong policy and high standards are important for all schools,
not just charter schools. She agreed that standards and
attendance expectations should remain high statewide. She
acknowledged that reasons for absenteeism varies by community.
She concluded that while there was no simple solution to closing
the achievement gap, the state could continue refining its laws
related to public school choice and other evidence-based
policies that had shown results. She stated that those
principles informed the governor's legislation.
3:49:13 PM
CHAIR TOBIN clarified that the Harvard study referenced compared
charter schools to charter schools, not charter schools to
traditional public schools. She further noted that Alaska's
charter schools were approximately 86 percent white and that
Alaska did not have a statistically representative sample of
Black students within NAEP data for evaluation. She added that
the study's author, Mr. Peterson, acknowledged significant
errors in codifying Indigenous students. She suggested
assumptions were made.
3:49:41 PM
SENATOR CRONK stated that many of the issues discussed,
including absenteeism and truancy enforcement, fell under local
control. He said school districts determine their own policies
and referenced Gateway School District's strict truancy
enforcement practices, including sending letters to families. He
asked if DEED intends to take a more top-down approach or leave
those decisions to districts. He stated that parental
engagement, particularly reading to young children, is out of
the direct control of districts. He emphasized that early
literacy development is strongly influenced by parents reading
with their children and noted that technology distractions
present additional challenges. He questioned how the state can
address parental involvement when it cannot compel families to
prioritize education at home.
3:51:04 PM
CHAIR TOBIN said the number one predictor of student success is
parent income.
SENATOR BJORKMAN referenced comments from educators that many
students enter kindergarten significantly behind in reading
skills and suggest students start school earlier. He shared that
he began kindergarten shortly after turning five. He asked
Commissioner Bishop for her opinion on the age children should
start school.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP replied that early learning was important.
She referenced programs such as Parents as Teachers that
supported early intervention and early education in homes and
childcare settings. She stated that state law allows
approximately 14 different educational options for parents. She
asked whether he was referring specifically to attendance in a
classroom setting, noting that education could occur in various
formats. She stated she supports early learning and early
engagement, particularly in reading.
3:53:05 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN clarified that he was asking whether students
should engage in an educational modality that includes
measurable assessment of growth prior to age seven. He
referenced current statute requiring attendance beginning at age
seven for first grade and asked whether the state should expect
five- and six-year-olds to begin what was traditionally
recognized as kindergarten, with accountability for learning
progress.
3:53:56 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP responded that entry into school is a
parent's choice. She stated that she supports kindergarten and
believes it provides valuable opportunities for students. She
noted that during her tenure, many kindergarten programs
transitioned from part-day to full-day instruction, which
increased student engagement. She acknowledged the relationship
between parent income and student outcomes but stated she would
not characterize it as causation. She said families with greater
means often have greater opportunities to prepare their children
academically, which influences learning outcomes. She stated
that schools seek to help equalize opportunities so all students
can thrive. She asked whether the question referred to statutory
requirements for compulsory education. She stated that beginning
kindergarten at age five or first grade at age six should remain
a parent's opportunity and choice.
3:55:08 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated that the legislature would address the
issue directly through legislation. He said Alaska often
emphasizes individual liberty and personal choice but does not
consistently pair those freedoms with accountability for
students and families. He stated that choices made by families
affect the educational opportunities available to students. He
expressed concern that when students do not engage in
educational opportunities, schools are sometimes blamed for
outcomes that were influenced by family or cultural decisions.
He stated that the success of public education in Alaska was
ultimately a cultural choice reflecting how much the state
values education. He said that if the state prioritizes
individual liberty over consistent participation in education,
that is a policy choice, but schools and teachers should not be
blamed for outcomes resulting from those choices. He stated that
future legislation will address attendance, assessment, and
academic standards more directly. He concluded that measurable
growth requires accountability and engagement. He stated that
progress cannot occur without consistent participation and
support for learning.
3:57:55 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that his question relates to earlier
comments regarding open enrollment and the Chair's observation
that parental income is the strongest predictor of student
success. He also referenced Commissioner Bishop's comment that
not all families have the means to choose where they live. He
noted that in many of the communities he represents, there is
only one school, so open enrollment is not a significant issue.
He said there are a couple of districts that make effort to
facilitate school choice through open enrollment. He expressed
interest in the equity and diversity benefits of open
enrollment, particularly in larger communities with multiple
schools. He noted research suggesting that greater socioeconomic
and political integration in schools improves overall outcomes.
He stated concern about the transportation costs associated with
open enrollment in larger districts. He said the bill directs
the department to assist with transportation, and the fiscal
note includes guesses about costs depending on assumptions. He
asked whether the department has a clearer understanding of how
the transportation program would operate, including rules and
limits, particularly since the details would develop through
department regulation.
4:00:19 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP responded that in other states with open
enrollment policies, participation rates were typically around
one percent and are limited to available seats. She stated that
the program would operate only where open seats exist and would
not be pervasive. She said funding for transportation would be
finite and that districts would have flexibility in
implementation. She explained that some districts organize
transportation through hub systems rather than neighborhood-to-
neighborhood routes. She noted that charter schools currently
receive per-pupil transportation funding and that some
participate in district transportation systems while others do
not. She referenced existing provisions under the McKinney-Vento
Act, which allows transportation assistance for students
experiencing housing instability, including gas cards or other
supports. She stated that similar mechanisms could inform
implementation of open enrollment transportation. She explained
that participation would depend on seat availability, district
interest, and parental demand. She stated that open enrollment
often allows parents to place children near their workplace. She
acknowledged that implementation would be complex, involving
seat capacity, funding limits, and district coordination. The
department would address the issue incrementally through
regulation to reduce barriers for families seeking alternate
placements.
4:03:08 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that the concept was compelling but
expressed concern that SB 82 did not include a cap on
transportation costs. He suggested that if the provision moved
forward, it might be appropriate to delay implementation to
allow regulations to be written and costs more clearly
identified before appropriation. He emphasized the importance of
entering the program with fiscal clarity.
CHAIR TOBIN stated that she shared concerns regarding equitable
distribution of finite transportation funds. She questioned how
the state would ensure fair access across districts, noting that
Anchorage and Mat-Su could potentially consume the majority of
available funding.
4:04:18 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP responded that interest in open enrollment
transportation was primarily anticipated in Southcentral Alaska,
particularly between Mat-Su and Anchorage. She stated that
approximately 40 percent of Mat-Su residents commute daily to
Anchorage for work, and that this commuting pattern is a key
consideration in developing the legislation.
4:04:58 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 82.
4:05:16 PM
SUSAN MCCAULEY, Principal, Birchtree Charter School, Palmer,
Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 82 stating that Birchtree
was a K8 Waldorf-inspired charter school serving 415 students.
She said she would address common misconceptions about charter
schools in Alaska, as charter schools are referenced in SB 82.
MS. MCCAULEY stated that charter schools do not receive more
funding than traditional neighborhood schools. She explained
that Alaska statute requires funding of charter schools in the
same manner as other public schools. She said that smaller class
sizes in some charter schools reflect intentional staffing
decisions rather than additional funding.
4:06:41 PM
MS. MCCAULEY stated that many charter schools lease their
facilities and pay those costs from their operating budgets. She
reported that Birchtree's annual lease cost is $703,000,
representing approximately 14 percent of its $5.1 million
budget. She said Birchtree has paid lease costs since its
opening 14 years ago. She contrasted this with other Mat-Su
schools, whose buildings are owned by the borough.
MS. MCCAULEY stated that districts are permitted to charge
charter schools up to 4 percent of their budget, excluding
facility costs, as an indirect rate for services such as human
resources, payroll, and information technology. She noted that
some legislation proposes increasing that cap to 8 percent. She
said such an increase could double Birchtree's indirect fee from
$175,000 to over $350,000, which would require eliminating staff
positions.
4:08:59 PM
MS. MCCAULEY stated that Birchtree currently serves 61 students
that qualify for special education, representing 14 percent of
enrollment, and that historically the school had served special
education students at rates equal to or exceeding the district
average. She stated that SB 82 supports parent voice and choice
and expressed support for that approach.
4:09:47 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked for clarification regarding facility costs,
stating other schools in the district also incurred operations
and maintenance expenses.
MS. MCCAULEY responded that Birchtree pays all utilities,
internet, snow removal, and garbage collection, totaling
approximately $100,000 annually, in addition to its lease costs.
She stated that while districts also incurred operations and
maintenance expenses, Birchtree uniquely pays lease costs
exceeding $700,000 annually.
SENATOR KIEHL asked whether other entities pay facility space
costs for traditional Mat-Su schools and sought clarification on
how those costs were covered.
4:11:13 PM
MS. MCCAULEY responded that Birchtree receives the same per-
pupil funding as other public schools and did not receive
additional facility funding. She stated that all facility
expenses were paid from the same statutory funding formula
provided to public schools.
4:11:45 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP clarified that most Mat-Su school buildings
are owned by the Mat-Su Borough and funded by taxpayers.
CHAIR TOBIN asked whether Birchtree's lease requires payment for
capital improvements or deferred maintenance, or whether those
costs were borne by the property owner.
4:12:29 PM
MS. MCCAULEY responded that responsibility depended on the lease
agreement. She stated that some maintenance costs are covered by
the landlord and others by the school. She provided an example
of approximately $18,000 spent on carpet replacement due to wear
and tear, which the school covered under its lease terms.
4:13:14 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked where in statute are charter schools
required to pay for leased space, noting that a charter school
in Juneau operates in district-owned space.
MS. MCCAULEY offered her understanding that because there is no
exception for facility costs in statute, the expenses are the
charter schools. Charter schools are not exempt from costs
relevant to operation. She stated that because charter schools
receive the same per-pupil funding as other public schools, they
are responsible for all operating costs, including facilities,
unless otherwise provided. She opined the myth is Charter
schools receive per-pupil funding but have facility costs that
are significant compared to traditional public schools. She
noted that some charter schools located in district-owned
facilities still pay rent and, in some cases, utilities to
occupy those spaces.
4:14:55 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said the facility issue seems to involve two
factors. One factor is the cap on indirect which limits a
district's ability to recover costs. He suggested that if
districts could fully recover costs, charter schools might be
housed in district-owned space with maintenance and operations
covered similarly to other public schools. He further stated
that the decision in some districts to require charter schools
to lease expensive space appears to be a local control decision
rather than a statewide problem requiring state intervention.
MS. MCCAULEY responded that in the Mat-Su School District there
is no available space in district-owned facilities for its six
charter schools to occupy. She stated that Mat-Su is
experiencing enrollment growth, unlike many other districts. She
added that the Mat-Su Borough and School District recently took
action to address the facility issue by placing a bond
proposition before voters to fund construction of three charter
school facilities, including Birchtree. She said the proposition
passed and that construction of a new school would significantly
reduce Birchtree's facility costs in the future. She expressed
appreciation for the borough and district's cooperation and
support.
CHAIR TOBIN commented that she is happy the school district made
a decision that is right for their community. She said everyone
on the committee is a strong supporter of local control.
4:17:25 PM
HEATHER GOTTSHALL, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified by invitation on SB 82. She said she is a community
advocate for school choice. She stated that she was born in
Bethel, raised in Kenai and Anchorage, and later served in the
military. She said she worked as a high school English teacher
in multiple states and has observed various education systems.
She stated that school choice provides families with greater
opportunity to support their children's academic success. She
said she has attended both traditional public schools and public
charter schools and values differentiated educational
opportunities.
MS. GOTTSHALL expressed support for SB 82, particularly its open
enrollment provisions, which she said would allow families to
select schools and academic pathways that meet their children's
specific needs. She stated that the bill requires transparent
reporting on school capacity, applications, and enrollment
decisions. She noted that the bill provides transportation
assistance for students attending schools outside their assigned
attendance area and includes funding adjustments for mid-year
enrollment increases.
4:20:02 PM
MS. GOTTSHALL stated that SB 82 also supports charter schools by
allowing initial charter applications to go directly to the
State Board of Education. She said she has spoken with community
members who experienced barriers in initiating charter schools
under the current process. She noted that SB 82 would allow the
University of Alaska and local governments to authorize new
charter schools. She further stated that SB 82 increases the
correspondence program funding factor from 0.90 to 1.0 full-time
equivalent and expands access to special education services and
block grants.
MS. GOTTSHALL stated that SB 82 includes provisions requiring
districts to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use
during the school day, while allowing exceptions for
emergencies, health needs, and individualized education
programs.
4:22:03 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 82.
4:22:29 PM
NELS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League,
Juneau, Alaska, provided testimony on SB 82:
[Original punctuation provided.]
It feels like an auspicious moment in time.
We want to acknowledge all the hard work that this
body and its counterpart in the House have applied to
the question of not just increasing State funding for
public education, but seeking other improvements that
would increase efficacy thereof.
Passage last week of an increase to the BSA of $1,000
is a critical step forward, and back. If the Governor
does veto HB 69 as indicated, we are left with school
districts that remain underfunded. Maybe there is a
veto override, and maybe there isn't, but the
potential of the latter increases significantly the
risks involved for Alaska's schools, and ultimately
communities.
At the same time, there are clearly areas of
compromise that were engendered by negotiations on HB
69. We hope that where agreement was fostered, it can
be the foundation for next steps.
SB 82, and its companion in the House, are starting
points perhaps, which offer building blocks for
legislation that may navigate a path for compromise as
we move forward. This remains a priority for AML,
since local governments fund about 50 percent of the
State's public education obligation in municipal
school districts, where the majority of students
attend, and own and maintain 75 percent of schools in
Alaska.
We have said before that we appreciate that the
Governor, alongside House and Senate leadership, have
prioritized addressing the challenges experienced by
Alaska's public education system. We fully understand
that both bodies need the votes to advance legislation
that increases and inflation proofs the BSA, without
threat of a gubernatorial veto. Clearly, the multiple
sides involved must reach a compromise. We recognize
that this involves careful negotiations between the
Governor, and both majorities and minorities in the
Legislature.
Please, for the sake of our students, families,
communities, and businesses, let's continue to work
toward negotiated solutions.
First, note that AML members have voted to support a
higher and inflation-proof BSA, and we agree that this
is a different than and as important a discussion as
accountability measures. Clearly, a starved system
doesn't produce results that attract and retain
Alaskans.
We are interested in a Task Force on Education
Funding, that was earlier proposed and are prepared to
engage diligently in offering solutions or
contributing perspectives that may not otherwise
arise.
4:25:24 PM
QUINCY AZIMI-TABRIZI, Deputy State Director, Americans for
Prosperity, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 82.
She said she supports expanding opportunities for Alaska
students by strengthening open enrollment, allowing multiple
charter school authorizers, and increasing funding for
correspondence school programs. She stated she grew up in
Anchorage and attended both a public charter school and a
neighborhood public school. She said she had great teachers and
access to an education that worked for her but emphasized that
every child learns differently. She stated that families across
Alaska, both urban and rural, deserve educational options that
fit their learning styles.
MS. AZIMI-TABRIZI stated that open enrollment empowers parents
to choose the school that best fits their children's needs
regardless of zip code. She noted that 84 percent of states
offer some form of open enrollment and that 70 percent of
Americans support it across party lines. She stated that Alaska
is the only state that relies solely on local school districts
to authorize charter schools. She noted that every other state,
except for Hawaii, has multiple authorizers, including
universities and independent chartering boards. She stated that
expanding authorizer options would help communities create
schools that meet local needs. Public correspondence schools
already serve nearly 1 in 5 students in Alaska. However, they
only receive about 90 percent of the BSA compared to district
schools that average 2.2 times the BSA, after multipliers. These
programs save the state around $150 million per year. Even
increasing correspondence schools to the full BSA would save the
state about $7,200 per student, while giving families better
access to resources and curriculums. She opined that together
the policies give students and educators more options and make
sure every child in Alaska has a real chance to succeed. She
urged support for SB 82.
4:27:45 PM
JOHN WEETMAN, Principal, Matsu School District, Wasilla, Alaska,
Testified in support of SB 82. He stated he celebrated his
fortieth year as an educator in Alaska and explained that Twin
Rivers operates as a correspondence charter school serving about
600 K12 students and families in the Mat-Su Borough. He stated
SB 82 would improve educational access and innovation across
Alaska by empowering families, educators, and local communities
and by allowing charter school applications to go directly to
the State Board of Education, which would streamline the process
and reduce delays and barriers for innovative educators and
underserved communities. He stated expanding charter school
authorizers to include the University of Alaska and local
governments would create collaboration opportunities and support
a wider range of educational models. He added that increasing
the funding formula for correspondence students from 0.9 to 1.0
FTE would correct a longstanding inequity and acknowledge the
growing role and success of home-based and flexible learning
models. He said SB 82 would expand access to special education
services for correspondence students, make them eligible for
block grants, and support educational opportunity for students
and families across Alaska.
4:30:29 PM
AUDRI JIRAK, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 82. She stated that she has two children enrolled
in American Charter School. She said Alaska ranks near the
bottom nationally in math and reading test scores while charter
schools perform at the top. She stated that SB 82 would increase
school choice and collaboration and allow additional charter
schools to be established. She noted that there is a waitlist at
almost every charter school in the Mat-Su School District and
said parents want more school options for their children. She
stated that having incentives and goals is a great way to
motivate educators to achieve student growth. She expressed
support for a cell phonefree environment policy and increased
funding for CTE programs. She said new funding should be paired
with reform and accountability. She concluded that SB 82 would
benefit students statewide.
4:32:26 PM
AMANDA THOMPSON, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 82. She said she is a teacher in the Anchorage
School District and that teaching is difficult due to a lack of
support. She stated that SB 82 contains "bright spots" that
support teachers, such as reading incentive grants. She said
schools should incentivize good work from students. She added
that she is teaching at a neighborhood school to help achieve
better results for the students attending there. She said school
choice allows students who an alternative to move out of
neighborhood classrooms, allowing more attention for the
students who remain. She concluded that SB 82 is a win-win and
urged its support.
4:34:51 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 82.
4:34:58 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 82 in committee.
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