Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
04/07/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB102 | |
| SB103 | |
| SB104 | |
| SB99 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 99-PRE-ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS/FUNDING
9:06:55 AM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SB 99.
SENATOR TOM BEGICH, sponsor of SB 99, presented the bill. He
related the importance of quality early education. He stressed
the value of providing students the opportunity, before they
enter kindergarten, to prove school readiness. Research suggest
that students who have access to high quality preschool are less
likely to be incarcerated and less likely to receive government
assistance as adults.
He related that Alaska's current pre-Kindergarten programs -
such as those in Anchorage, Mat-Su, the Lower Kuskokwim School
District, and Nome, offer opportunities and quality program
which have been described to the education committees. Early
education programs including Head Start, Best Beginnings,
Parents as Teachers, the work of DEED, and grants, provide
access to high-quality early education, beginning with the
lowest performing districts.
He continued to say that high quality pre-K education can save
up to $7 in long-term government expense by reducing the need
for remedial education and involvement in the criminal justice
and public assistance systems.
9:09:36 AM
SENATOR BEGICH said smart investments in oil and gas royalties
and the PFD have made the state one of the most economically
equitable in the country. Similar smart investments in early
education have the potential to create a generation of Alaskans
prepared to make the greatest impact on this state that we have
ever seen. This is an example of the importance of research
first then investment, in the long run.
9:10:40 AM
SYDNEY KAUFMAN, Ph.D., Staff, Alaska State Legislature,
presented the sectional analysis of SB 99:
Section 1.
Establishes that elementary schools also includes an
early education program, whether operated within a
public school or by an outside organization.
Section 2.
Establishes that a four or five-year-old, who has not
attended kindergarten, is eligible to attend a public
school early education program.
Section 3.
Creates a stair-step, 3-year grant program to provide
training and assist a school district in developing an
early education program. In year one, the lowest
performing 20% of school districts (as established in
2017) will be eligible for a grant to establish a
district-wide, high quality early education program.
In year two, the next lowest performing 20 % of school
districts will be eligible for the three-year grant
program to establish an early education program. At
the end of the three-year grant cycle, the Department
of Education and Early Development (the department)
will be responsible for determining if the district's
early education program complies with state standards.
The grants will be available to the next lowest 20% of
school districts until all school districts are
offered the opportunity to participate included.
9:12:10 AM
Section 4.
Directs the department to supervise all early
education programs and approve those early education
programs created by the early education grant program.
Section 5.
Defines an "early education program" as a pre-
kindergarten school for students 3-5 years old if its
primary function is educational. The 3-year-old
students are not included in the program this bill
proposes, but are included to ensure they are not
excluded from existing State and Federal programs.
9:12:54 AM
SENATOR BEGICH noted it is conforming language so there is not
the unintended consequence of putting three-year-olds into an
elementary school program.
9:13:36 AM
MS. KAUFMAN continued:
Section 6.
Directs the board to adopt regulations regarding
funding as well as statewide and local goals for an
early education program. Regulations shall ensure that
early education programs have the flexibility to be
locally designed and culturally appropriate, so long
as they meet early education standards. An early
education program may be either full day (6 hour) or
half day (at least 2 hours)
Section 7.
For funding purposes, an early education student shall
be counted in the school district's average daily
membership as a half day student once the early
education program has been approved by the department.
Section 8.
Adds early education to consideration for determining
the number of elementary schools in a district.
9:14:40 AM
Section 9.
Ensures that early education students who currently
receive State or Federal funding for early education
are not included in the ADM for purposes of funding.
Section 10.
Directs early education program staff to be included
in those organizations required to report evidence of
child abuse.
Section 11.
Repeals the early education grant program in 10 years,
once all school districts have had the opportunity to
apply.
9:15:22 AM
SENATOR BEGICH clarified in Section 9, if a student is receiving
federal money now for early education, the student is not
included in the ADM for purposes of funding. The reason the
Early Education Grant Program will be repealed in ten years is
that every district in the state will have had the opportunity
to join a universal voluntary preschool. He noted Oklahoma has
the highest rate of voluntary early education. Alaska has done a
good job of building quality preschools. The long-term goal is
to create a sustainable, affordable, programmatic tiered
approach, splitting districts into five cohorts.
He said the department will address the fiscal notes.
CHAIR HUGHES mentioned those who could answer questions about
the bill.
9:17:33 AM
CHAIR HUGHES suggested that homes without parental support need
preschool more than those with support. She said the grant
targets low achieving students and inquired why it is available
to those who might not need the grant.
9:18:53 AM
SENATOR BEGICH explained that they started with the lower
achieving districts due to a constitutional obligation to do so.
Educational opportunity must be offered to all students in
Alaska, but it is a choice by parents to make use of them.
9:20:13 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked if there is anything to prohibit a tribal
organization from offering pre-elementary programs.
SENATOR BEGICH said no. The bill encourages tribal participation
and is part of the reason for two sections in the bill. One
ensures the ability to collaborate with Head Start, and the
cultural component in the bill encourages participation by
tribes. The intent of the bill is to encourage continuing
partnerships with existing entities.
9:21:00 AM
SENATOR COGHILL thanked him for the thoughtful bill. He liked
the tiered process, but getting the money will be difficult. He
struggles with the fact that grade 1-3 students should be able
to read, and he was not sure the bill addresses that. He said
the system fails many students. He hoped the bill would address
this and supports the idea of reaching out to families.
9:23:06 AM
SENATOR BEGICH referred to a handout that shows research in
Alaska where pre-K has taken place; those kids go to school
ready to learn. He used the Lower Kuskokwim and Nome School
District as examples. Research shows that it is time to stop the
demonstration grant and ensure that pre-K is available to all
students. Those are the critical years for learning.
9:25:35 AM
SENATOR COGHILL said they have tried Parents as Teachers and
other methods to encourage parents to step up. He takes issue
when the state relieves families of their responsibilities. He
questioned where the funding will come from.
9:26:28 AM
SENATOR BEGICH addressed Senator Coghill's funding concern. He
hoped in the future "the way we do these resources and how we do
them will be identified."
9:26:57 AM
SENATOR STEVENS liked the bill. He did not know how rigor in
education fits into preschool. He spoke in favor of local design
and culturally appropriate needs in the bill, but he hoped there
was substance in the program. He asked how to know if the
program works and if the money is well spent.
9:27:45 AM
SENATOR BEGICH said they know because on page 7, the criteria
that are set out are the tested methodology that is used, such
as high-quality teachers, types of programming, and standards.
He said it is the Oklahoma standard that has been tested and
measured. The quality of Alaska experience would also apply to
this legislation. The department will write regulations using
their models of quality outcomes.
He noted the backup data shows dramatic increases in school
readiness because of this type of program. He said he would
provide a copy of it to the committee. It will be measured
against the standards of 9 years of experience and the
department will have jurisdiction over whether programs will
continue. After three years if the department deems a preschool
is not meeting quality standards, it will not be approved.
9:30:32 AM
CHAIR HUGHES invited Ms. Johnson to testify.
9:31:07 AM
MEGHAN JOHNSON, Director, Learn and Grow in THREAD, testified in
support of SB 99. She shared the goals of Learn and Grow. She
said she will address what high quality early childhood
education looks like. She implored the legislature to think
about children's futures.
9:32:34 AM
She said there are approximately 40,000 children under the age
of six in Alaska where both parents work and there is limited
access to affordable, quality programs. A lot of quality
practice has to do with what is appropriate for the development
of birth to age 5 children. Parents play the primary role in
supporting this development, but if they work, it falls to early
childhood teachers and programs.
She shared the most recent early care and learning economic
report by the McDowell Group. Early care and learning
contributes $2 billion to Alaska's economy each year. She listed
financial benefits of early childhood education.
She said there is a lack of affordable early childhood programs.
She noted that pre-K can be a high-quality choice for parents.
She described the soft skills children need.
9:35:07 AM
MS. JOHNSON described several factors affect children's
development and what is needed to support relationships with
other children. Teachers have specialized training and work in
partnership with parents in these areas. She said there are
decreased costs for special education and incarceration due to
early childhood education.
9:37:33 AM
She provided a story of a family that was not able to enter a
pre-K program and how their son struggled in school.
CHAIR HUGHES thanked Ms. Johnson and held SB 99 in committee.