04/02/2018 03:00 PM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 104                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the duties of the state Board of                                                                       
     Education and Early Development; and relating to                                                                           
     school curriculum."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:19:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAUL PRUSSING,  DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LEARNING,  DEPARTMENT OF                                                                    
EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, introduced himself.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DON  ENOCH, SPECIAL  EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR,  DEPARTMENT OF                                                                    
EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, introduced himself.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  MacKinnon stated  that there  were some  questions                                                                    
about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Stevens  wondered  whether all  IEPs  were  equally                                                                    
valid. He was concerned about  the possible savings of time.                                                                    
He  wondered whether  a school  district with  an IEP  would                                                                    
want to  change that IEP.  He wondered whether an  IEP would                                                                    
be  considered  a  finished  absolute  document.  Mr.  Enoch                                                                    
replied  that the  IEP was  transferrable  from district  to                                                                    
district.  He asserted  that  some  districts had  different                                                                    
standards allowed for  a district level. He  stated that, at                                                                    
that time,  the district  would have an  abbreviated meeting                                                                    
to address  those small  points. He  noted that,  because of                                                                    
the  differences  in  paperwork between  districts,  it  was                                                                    
slightly more labor intensive.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Micciche   noted  it  was   an  atmosphere-specific                                                                    
document,    because   of    the   different    specialties,                                                                    
instructors, and  setting. He felt  that the document  was a                                                                    
"starting point" at a new school,  when a child arrives at a                                                                    
new district.  Mr. Enoch replied  that the IEP  was designed                                                                    
to be as flexible as necessary.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens  queried the online advantages  versus a 30-                                                                    
page paper.  Mr. Enoch replied  that software  companies had                                                                    
developed ways to guide people  through certain scenarios to                                                                    
ensure  compliance-accurate responses.  The largest  problem                                                                    
for most teachers was the paperwork.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens  wondered whether  the state  agencies dealt                                                                    
with IEPs  or whether  the districts completely  oversaw the                                                                    
IEPs. Mr. Enoch replied that the IEPs were reviewed on a 4-                                                                     
year rotation for  all the small districts;  and annually in                                                                    
all the large districts.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:24:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator von  Imhof noted  that it  was a  recommendation per                                                                    
the performance review  of DEED in 2016. She  shared that it                                                                    
was  found  that  there  were  multiple  software  platforms                                                                    
utilized by  the 53 school  districts across the  state, and                                                                    
it   was   found   to  be   an   inefficient   system.   The                                                                    
recommendation  was for  a more  standard software  platform                                                                    
initiated by DEED available to districts.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   MacKinnon  noted   the  document   outlining  the                                                                    
benefits for parents, teachers,  schools, districts, and the                                                                    
state.  She  noted  that  parents  had  complete  access  to                                                                    
student files at all time. She highlighted the benefits.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Micciche explained the fiscal note.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:31:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DR.  MARK  STOCK,  DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT,  ANCHORAGE  SCHOOL                                                                    
DISTRICT (via  teleconference) felt that it  was appropriate                                                                    
that all Alaskan students had  the best curriculum materials                                                                    
available within  budget. He used a  construction analogy to                                                                    
explain the  bill. He  felt that the  bill helped  to ensure                                                                    
the  best  infrastructure  available. He  hoped  that  there                                                                    
would be realistic expectations.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Bishop queried  the monetary  value to  evaluate                                                                    
the  curriculum. Dr.  Stock replied  that the  K-5 materials                                                                    
were approximately  $6 million.  He furthered  that millions                                                                    
of  dollars would  be spent  for  implementation. He  stated                                                                    
that  grant  funds  would  be  used  to  hire  instructional                                                                    
coaches to ensure that the materials were used properly.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SB  104  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.