Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/22/1995 09:06 AM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SHES - 2/22/95
SB 88 PILOT PROGRAM FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
Number 416
CHAIRMAN GREEN introduced SB 88 as the next order of business
before the committee.
SENATOR SHARP, prime sponsor, said that SB 88 addresses the
consideration of the charter school concept. He noted previous
legislation, SB 60 and SB 61, which attempted to address charter
schools along with various other educational issues. SB 88 is a
single issue piece of legislation. He pointed out that SB 88 would
allow creativity with few limitations on setting up and operating
charter schools. He reviewed the sectional analysis of SB 88. He
hoped that this legislature could develop legislation encouraging
charter schools to challenge students.
SENATOR SALO asked if SB 88 included the committee amendments to
last year's legislation regarding charter schools. SENATOR SHARP
said that he basically used the last version of SB 61.
Number 496
SENATOR SALO felt that a lot of work had been put into last year's
legislation, however, more could be done. She asked where the
charter school would be located; would this be a program within an
existing school or another facility entirely? SENATOR SHARP could
foresee various possibilities. He felt that in the current
economy, existing facilities would be used. This legislation is
based on the Wisconsin Charter School Law which uses an existing
school within a district. He noted that facilities not owned by
the school district would not be eliminated from consideration.
CHAIRMAN GREEN pointed out that oftentimes, charter schools had
resulted in an attempt to save a school in danger of being phased
out. She said that the Birchwood School in Anchorage and the ABC
School in the Northern Lights District were examples of quasi
charter schools; these schools used existing facilities.
SENATOR SALO explained that part of the opposition to this bill is
encompassed in Chairman Green's previous statement. Many believe
that programs such as charter schools can be achieved in the
current system.
SENATOR SHARP noted that the scope of his background in education
was his service in the past two sessions on the HESS committee.
Number 544
SENATOR LEMAN stated that one of his goals was to offer educational
opportunities to all children in Alaska. He disagreed with the
Anchorage School District's policy. All school programs should be
available to all students even those that receive home schooling or
attend private schools. Such programs as a chemistry lab would not
be appropriate to have in a home school setting. He hoped to
ensure the ability for students to participate in any available
program.
SENATOR SHARP felt that SB 88 incorporates a lot of freedom for the
school board. This bill would allow a school district the ability
to offer facilities in the district to be utilized by a charter
school. There is ample room to explore all the options.
Number 578
CARL ROSE, Executive Director of the Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), supported SB 88. He noted the association's
previous work on this legislation in an omnibus effort. He stated
that a school board's ability to examine the needs of those it
serves is impaired by their frame of reference. Regulations,
statutes, funding constraints, negotiated agreements, and board
policies impact the school board. SB 88 allows interested groups
to offer proposals to the school board. He envisioned much
opportunity for improvement within SB 88. After conducting a
survey, Mr. Rose discovered that 85 percent of their membership are
in rural communities. The rural communities do not expect charter
schools to be part of their future.
TAPE 95-8, SIDE B
Number 595
Mr. Rose noted that the areas of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Mat-Su,
Kenai, and Juneau are interested in charter schools; the more
populated areas would be most interested in charter schools. In
terms of funding charter schools, there needs to be a clarification
of the administrative costs. He informed the committee that other
proposals had created charter schools as a funding site unto
themselves. He reiterated Senator Salo's concerns regarding the
facilities for charter schools. SB 88 seems to be geared towards
magnet schools due to the increased cost of operating an off site
facility. He commented on possible prerequisites in order to
handle admission of charter schools. In conclusion, SB 88 would
positively address certain areas of community interest and the
association supports charter schools.
SENATOR SALO asked if the AASB supported this two years ago. CARL
ROSE stated that AASB supported the concept, but not the
legislation. SB 88 seems to address most of the concerns the AASB
had with the legislation of two years ago.
SENATOR SALO expressed the need to take time with SB 88 in order to
survey possible scenarios in a charter school situation. She asked
if Mr. Rose believed that SB 88 would allow freedom from negotiated
agreements which he had mentioned as an obstacle school board's
face. CARL ROSE directed the committee's attention to Section 5
subsection (b) which addresses that fear.
SENATOR SALO asked how easy would it be for a charter school to
become a voucher system. She expressed her belief that a voucher
system would be detrimental to public education. There is a group
of parents in Anchorage working on opening a private school. If
such a group was interested in a charter school and public funding
was matched with private funds, the results could be a wonderful
school and delivery system. She pointed out that there is already
discussion regarding federal disparity in the formula; in-state
disparity could also be a consideration.
CARL ROSE understood Senator Salo's concern with disparity issues
with regard to equality and equal protection. He stated that
students in public schools are afforded certain opportunities that
others cannot take advantage of. In smaller schools without access
to Star Schools, there is no opportunity to take advanced
mathematics or foreign languages as is the case in some areas in
Skagway. A student could excell in one school system while being
barred from certain courses with prerequisites which are not
available. He felt that creating a charter school that would not
be accessible to all would be justified in its original charter.
When a charter school is proposed the board would review the
benefits. Mr. Rose explained that charter schools and vouchers
were tied together in the past eventhough, charter schools are
different.
Number 499
WILLIE ANDERSON, National Education Association for Alaska (NEA-
AK), supported SB 88 in general, but recognized some areas of
concern. He noted that NEA-AK had also worked with Senator Sharp
on this legislation. The funding of charter schools was noted as
a concern. He explained that charter schools would pull students
out of the general population of the school system which could
result in smaller classes. Smaller classes would create the
possibility of higher enrollment in the main school causing less of
an opportunity for a quality education for those students in the
main school. Another problem could come in the area of enrollment.
Mr. Anderson emphasized the need for open enrollment; there should
be equal opportunity to participate in any program receiving public
funding.
Mr. Anderson pointed out that SB 88 merely implies that charter
schools would be required to follow all applicable laws and
regulations. He expressed the need to clarify this issue. Also
there should be clarification as to how charter schools differ from
what currently exists. He thought that SB 88 could be providing a
new vantage point in which to look at the educational process. He
said that NEA-AK supported creative thinking to the extent that
every student has equal access, the presence of an adequate funding
source, and a facility for these programs. Many of the current
educational facilities are overcrowded. SB 88 could enhance public
schools and NEA-AK would support that endeavor.
Number 453
SENATOR SALO commented that the issues of the availability of
facilities and funding for charter schools are closely linked.
SB 88 addresses the administrative costs of charter schools, but
does not deal with the costs of operating a facility separate from
a school facility already being utilized. WILLIE ANDERSON agreed
with Senator Salo and specified that SB 88 should have an
additional funding mechanism to address the operational concerns of
using a separate facility.
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to the position of NEA-AK regarding
SB 88. WILLIE ANDERSON reiterated that NEA-AK supports SB 88 with
the reservations previously indicated.
SENATOR LEMAN asked Mr. Anderson of his thoughts regarding the need
for equal access to educational programs for all students. WILLIE
ANDERSON stated that NEA-AK does not officially oppose private
school students utilizing public school facilities. NEA-AK would
encourage students interested in programs offered by public schools
to enroll in the public school. Mr. Anderson mentioned the option
of part-time enrollment. Every student has the opportunity to
attend public schools and utilize their programs, the ability to
chose certain portions of the program would be left to the
discretion of the local board of education.
Number 415
VIVIAN JOHNSON, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation member and
hospital administrator at the Bethel hospital, stated that her
testimony represented her thoughts not any group with which she was
affiliated. She informed the committee of her varied educational
background and noted that when she attended a state run high school
it did not provide the necessary challenge for her. She agreed
that equal access should be a concern. There is a need to ensure
educational opportunities. She felt that students are challenged
no matter their location.
Ms. Johnson, speaking from the perspective of a professional
teacher, noted that everyone learns in different ways. There are
also numerous theories of practice for education. She envisioned
charter schools in her future although, previous statements
indicated that rural areas would not be interested in charter
schools. She commented that, as a professional teacher, teaching
in a charter school seems very attractive to her. She asked what
the geographic balance referred to in SB 88.
Number 336
CHAIRMAN GREEN clarified that the intent of the language was to
ensure that one district did not utilize all thirty of the possible
charter schools. The numbers are arbitrary without any scientific
calculations; there was no bias intended. VIVIAN JOHNSON expressed
the need to clarify that language because the language suggests an
inbalance in the geographic areas.
VIVIAN JOHNSON emphasized that SB 88 would offer tremendous
opportunities for teachers. She pointed out that access at the
state level is important and should not be ignored no matter your
region. She offered her assistance with these issues.
SENATOR LEMAN restated Ms. Johnson's feelings that the School of
Excellence could raise the standards for everyone however, others
feel threatened by such a school. VIVIAN JOHNSON noted that
everyone reacts to change differently. Charter schools would be a
drastic philosophical change in the state's policy. She concluded
that SB 88 creates an important opportunity.
CHAIRMAN GREEN said that the committee would continue to consider
SB 88 and hoped to hear from other interested individuals. She
noted the committee's next meeting would be on Monday,
February 27th.
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