Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/19/1999 01:38 PM Senate HES
Audio | Topic |
---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= 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.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|