Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/19/1999 01:38 PM 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
SB 112-POSTSECONDARY CLASS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
CHAIRMAN MILLER brought up SB 112 and invited Senator Elton to
present it.
Number 439
SENATOR ELTON explained the bill would allow high school students
and their families new choices and new academic opportunities at no
cost to the family or the student. Eleventh and twelfth grade
students would receive dual credit for courses that are taken at
publicly-funded colleges and vocational schools, with tuition fees
paid by the school district in which the student is enrolled.
Major elements of the bill were lifted straight out of the
Washington State program. Many Alaska school districts already
have contractual agreements with the University of Alaska to
provide dual credit for courses. The difference between those
individual agreements with the districts and the University is that
the student, or student's family, is responsible for the cost of
the tuition and fees while this bill provides that the school
district would cover those costs.
Benefits of SB 112 include extended course offerings for students,
especially gifted students and those who are more comfortable in
the vocational courses. The University provides programs that many
districts don't have, and an alternative for students who feel they
don't fit in at the high school level. The Washington experience
has shown that teens who are alienated from high school may do
better in a college atmosphere, and sometimes they do dramatically
better. It provides advanced college or vocational training for
students who want to go to work right after high school graduation,
and gives them better preparation for a job. In many states with
this program, the students continue with the vocational or
university system that they experienced as high school students.
Under this bill, only students with a GPA of at least 2.25 are
eligible for the program. This is a policy issue that SENATOR
ELTON said he would discuss later. A student is responsible for
applying to the college or vocational school, and deciding the
courses to take. If the student is taking a full load at the high
school, the school district isn't required to pay for the
additional college-level courses. Students taking college courses
are eligible for all the high school extra-curricular activities.
If the student successfully completes a college course, he or she
receives college credit and high school credit, with the high
school determining how those college credits apply to the mandated
curriculum and electives at the high school level. The high school
pays the cost of tuition and lab fees, and the student pays for
books and supplies.
The most important principle of the bill is that it expands choices
for students and their parents, and makes choices available to a
fairly broad group, not just those heading off to Stanford or
Harvard or M.I.T. SENATOR ELTON said he picked the 2.25 GPA because
he did not want to limit the program only to those very successful
high school students; he wanted to extend it to others who may not
maintain a 3.0 or 3.5 GPA, but who want to take vocational courses
such as diesel mechanics or computer classes.
Number 487
CHAIRMAN MILLER commented that both his daughters were in honors
English in high school, and he could see them going into a college
English class, and how this proposal would work at all different
student levels.
SENATOR ELTON responded that it does. If this program had been
available for the Chairman's daughters, the advantages would be
that he would not have paid for the college courses and those
credits would be fully applied toward a college degree, and also
transferable. With up to two years of college completed, the cost
of college for the family would be considerably lower.
MR. STEWART WINEBERG, on-line, stated this legislation goes back to
the late 1970s when discussions were held relating to high school
seniors with "senioritis." He was involved in programs such as
this in New York and New Jersey.
He recommended changing the GPA to at least a 3.0, because even
though some students would be excluded, students need to
demonstrate they're ready for college-level courses. He advised
adding approval of the high school principal or a designee, such as
a counselor, to ensure it's an appropriate program for the student.
A student who has not completed a school district's requirements
should not be allowed to participate, and the student should
already have passed the high school qualifying exam. He suggested
a compromise on tuition fees. University officials have indicated
interest in reducing the tuition fee for high school students. The
impact on a school district's entire funding should be examined.
MR. WINEBERG suggested a different tuition structure if the
student's reason for taking the college level course may be for
lifelong learning or because the course is not offered in his
regular school.
He encouraged the legislature to consider this bill with
modifications. Fairbanks already has this program and students
receive dual credit.
MS. MARGO WARING, Douglas resident and parent, spoke in support of
SB 112. Senator Elton's bill would provide an opportunity available
in about 21 states to Alaskan students. It is cost-effective and
makes a lot of sense in terms of what students need for their own
education.
SB 112 would meet the educational needs of students that can't be
met at local high schools because student needs are individual and
unique. She said that it isn't reasonable, for example, to have a
class in advanced studio art or music, mechanics or advanced
mathematics. In some communities there is an option for students
because those classes are being taught nearby. For students on an
academic track who intend to go to college, it provides an
opportunity to acquire skills they may not have acquired in high
school and to meet the challenges of college on a firmer footing.
It's equally important for students who don't plan on college to
acquire more job-related skills and expand in the area of their own
gifts.
Juneau has been working on a similar effort for the past nine
months that is supported by the district, the teachers, parents,
and the union. She encouraged the committee's support of the bill.
Number 573
DR. ROBERT SEWELL, Academic Advisor at University of Alaska
Southeast, stated the University is wildly enthusiastic about the
concept of Senator Elton's bill. More states every year are doing
something like this, and many offer full tuition coverage,
including fees and books, and dual enrollment with academic
advising. Juneau high school students have taken university
classes at their own election, yet the proposed legislation would
offer more of a programmatic approach to these youngsters' needs.
TAPE 99-19, SIDE B
Number 589
MR. SEWELL continued. He is the parent of a highly able middle
school student who at age 12 took a college class in writing last
summer. She got an A- and has benefitted from college instruction
while not yet in high school.
He recommended striking 11th and 12th grades to include "secondary
school" in its place because a number of freshmen and sophomores
could benefit from this. The University is concerned about the
2.25 GPA and suggests that it be 3.0, to ensure that students are
prepared to benefit from college-level instruction. Vocationally-
oriented and academically-able students could both benefit. UA is
not enthused about the idea of a reimbursement cost-shift with the
University sharing the expense. It suggests that the payer of high
school students taking college courses be charged the same charge
as the sponsor of other students, such as the Division of
Vocational Rehab and Job Training Partnership Act. The University
views these students as no different in a number of respects than
other students who take advantage of its services.
The University has been working locally for six months with the
district on the "College Connection." The chancellor and the
superintendent are both enthusiastic about the joint arrangement
whereby full payment from the district for tuition fees and books
for dual credit.
Number 560
MR. DARRYL HARGRAVES, representing the Alaska Council of School
Administrators, expressed their hearty support for SB 112. School
districts have had programs like this one for a long time. The
Community College Act of 1962 set it up in this state so that
school districts and the University worked cooperatively to provide
programs at the local level through the community colleges.
Students participated and accrued credit that the University put
into "escrow accounts" and held until the student enrolled at the
University and the credit was activated. It counted toward
secondary school graduation in the meantime.
MR. HARGRAVES questioned the language on page 3, line 3 "a district
may not make payments for a course from which a student withdraws
during the first fourteen days of the quarter or semester or a
course taken by a student who is a full-time secondary school
student." He asked if that is contradictory.
SENATOR ELTON replied no, it says the district doesn't pay if the
student withdraws during the first two weeks, and the district
doesn't pay if the student is also a full-time high school student,
under the assumption that foundation formula dollars attached to
that student shouldn't be diminished at the secondary school.
MR. HARGRAVES stated that full-time secondary students sometimes
take an additional course at the University, which is paid for by
the school district because the school doesn't provide it. He
asked if a student had one class at the University, wouldn't it
make them a full-time secondary student in order to participate in
the foundation program?
SENATOR ELTON responded if the student was taking the full high
school load and also taking one University course, the student -
not the district - would pay for those credits.
MR. HARGRAVES still felt the language doesn't quite say that to
him. He also recommended a reduced tuition arrangement with the
University, because formulas become one more hassle in a school
district business office with few personnel. He preferred the
system used in the past whereby the university branch would send
over an invoice for the amount owed for that semester.
Remnants of the 1962 Act remain with districts and community
colleges sharing some type of a cooperative agreement; for example,
a school district will be paying the cost of a professor. MR.
HARGRAVES stated he hoped this bill would not preclude those types
of agreements that are in place, and would allow them to flourish
and continue on.
SENATOR ELTON replied this bill would not preclude any other
agreement, and it doesn't preclude reduced tuition negotiated with
a school district and the University. He tried very hard not to do
that because innovative arrangements are already taking place.
MR. HARGRAVES concluded, "With those clarifications and if there is
no grounds or possibility that the University gets too greedy with
this concept, we would heartily endorse the bill."
Number 498
MR. MIKE BRADNER spoke as a parent of a high school sophomore who
attended a university to continue in a language program. He told
the committee it worked very well for his daughter, and he felt
this legislation offers opportunities in local school districts
where courses are offered at the wrong time, especially language
courses such as Russian or Japanese.
He expressed hesitancy about inserting a GPA because the University
would review and reject students, while some may find they do well
in a different environment. Some of the University programs that
are technical or vocational/technical don't attract many students
because they don't think of the University in terms of those
particular programs. In Anchorage, to attend the Martin Luther
King Career Center, you have to allocate a 3-hour time block, and
usually students can't find the time to do that. A lot of the
courses students would take are given at off-hour times, taught by
adjunct professors with high school experience. He recommended
University technical and vocational courses be offered in the
evenings as a means of drawing secondary students into those
programs. High school students feel that it looks good on their
resume when they apply to a university to show they earned college
credit as a high school student.
MR. BRUCE JOHNSON said the State Board of Education fully supports
the expansion of educational opportunities for students which this
bill would provide. University and district partnerships have
already taken place, and he appreciated Senator Elton's comment
that those long-standing agreements would be honored. Rural
students also would benefit from creative uses of this type of
partnership.
CHAIRMAN MILLER expressed support for the concept of Senator
Elton's bill but he said it needs more work. HESS would not meet
on Wednesday because the budget will be on the Floor. The
following Monday, he tentatively scheduled confirmation hearings
for the Board of Regents and Board of Education. His intent would
be to take up SB 112 and SB 117 again after those confirmations.
He would like to move SB 112 after some changes are drafted.
Number 442
SENATOR ELTON offered to work with Chairman Miller's staff on a CS
to find a way to waive the GPA, and provide a waiver for 9th and
10th grade students. He made clear that it would not preclude any
existing agreements between school districts and postsecondary
facilities. It could mean that some existing agreements that don't
provide for the school districts to pay would need to be changed.
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