Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/26/1999 01:32 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SB 112-POSTSECONDARY CLASS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 1:32 p.m. and took up SB 112.
Senator Elton worked with the school districts and administration
and would present the changes in the proposed Committee Substitute.
SENATOR ELTON explained that on page 2, lines 5-6, the GPA was
changed from 2.25 to 2.75, but with an added caveat that a student
with less than a 2.75 could receive permission from the school's
principal to waive the requirement. The waiver was thought
especially important so that 'C' students could participate in
business or vocational education courses. He described a student
he knew with a 1.98 GPA in high school who is concurrently
maintaining a 4.0 GPA at UAF, stressing that the amended threshold
of 2.75 would not preclude people from participation.
The second change begins on line 21 of page 3, adding a new
paragraph (d) to accommodate the concerns heard from the school
districts who don't want interference with existing or future
arrangements they share with the University. This provides that
districts could continue to make individual arrangements as long as
it is understood that the school district would pay for the tuition
under the requirements of the bill.
Number 056
SENATOR PEARCE asked if the bill includes language that the student
must be in good standing in completing credit hours and on track to
graduate from high school. She gave an example of a student who
likes math but hates everything else and when he turns 18, he's got
college credit but no high school diploma.
SENATOR ELTON referred to page 2, line 23 which states the district
will determine the secondary school academic credits granted to a
student for the joint courses. The district would still set the
graduation requirements and would monitor that the student is not,
for example, taking all foreign language courses and ignoring his
basic science courses. Nothing in this bill changes the high
school graduation requirements that are set by the district.
SENATOR PEARCE responded that we don't tell the school districts
that they have to require a student to graduate, because there is
no way to do that. She said she doesn't want to set up a case
where a student who isn't on track with the required course work
for high school graduation can take the University courses. She
doesn't want the district to allow the student to take five math
courses unless the student is on track with the high school
requirements.
SENATOR ELTON said he doesn't know how to ensure in any bill that
a student receives all the credits they need for graduation.
SENATOR PEARCE noted on page 2, subsection (a), lines 3-10 state
that permission may not be granted unless the student has met all
the requirements to be at level 11th or 12th grade. There is some
number of credit hours a student must have completed to be on the
graduation track, as opposed to just completing credits after
you're a sophomore and before you become a junior and are eligible
for this program. If a junior failed to complete or didn't bother
to take a required course as a sophomore, when he finishes 12th
grade he should not be allowed, in subsection (a) postsecondary
enrollment.
The students interested in postsecondary enrollment might work a
little harder to make sure they're on schedule with the courses
they don't excel at, rather than focusing only on the courses they
like. It's going to be a "kick" for a lot of students to go to
campus and take courses. SENATOR PEARCE said that she did it
coming out of 8th grade, and she thought that it was the most
wonderful thing because she was "so grown up." Kids will fight to
do this, but she doesn't want them to do it unless they've
completed their other credits. In other words, there are things
you have to pass each year in order to graduate after four years.
She was unsure if "student enrolled in the 11th grade" under our
laws ensures that you can't be an 11th grader unless you've
completed prerequisites.
Number 166
SENATOR ELTON said a student completes the number of credits to
advance from one grade to the next in high school. If he fails to
do that because he's taking too many electives, the school
counselor advises him he's falling behind and won't meet the degree
requirements set for the end of the 12th grade. The same thing
would happen if he was enrolled for dual credit. Senator Elton was
unsure how to codify that other than the way it's currently set up.
CHAIRMAN MILLER shared the example of his daughter in the 11th
grade. The counselor told her the classes she had to take and,
with 2 or 3 hours left over, the electives she could choose from.
SENATOR PEARCE pointed out that if Chairman Miller's daughter had
missed a course in 10th grade, even if she planned to make it up as
an elective somehow in the 11th grade, Senator Pearce wouldn't want
her to be eligible for this program.
CHAIRMAN MILLER stated he understood that Senator Pearce is saying
she doesn't want students to be in this program if they haven't
completed their high school requirements at that point in time.
SENATOR ELTON said it's a good point. There has always been an
assumption that if a student is dual-enrolled, at the time they are
at the university, it's the university's problem and the time they
are at the high school, it's the high school's problem. In the
nineteen or twenty states with this program, they've found that
dual-enrolled students require more active participation by the
counselor's office to work with the student, the high school
teachers and the family to ensure these things don't happen.
SENATOR PEARCE repeated that she feels students should be caught up
before they are eligible and if they fall behind on one of the
courses they need to graduate, then they shouldn't be eligible for
university courses until they catch up. For example, if a student
had to take a two-semester chemistry course as a junior and didn't
pass the first semester but was on the university campus taking a
math course, then the student should catch up on chemistry before
going back to the university.
SENATOR ELTON said in the case Senator Pearce cited about the
student not fulfilling a 10th grade requirement, the student would
not be an 11th grade student, and therefore would not be able to
participate. The problem may occur, though, with a 12th grader who
hadn't completed an 11th grade requirement because the bill does
provide that if you're in the 11th grade you can participate.
CHAIRMAN MILLER asked the sponsor about adding a caveat such as: a
student enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade maintaining a GPA of
2.75 or equivalent and "in good standing" - or terminology that
means the student is where he should be as a junior, or where he
should be as a senior. He said he was unsure what terminology
should be used.
SENATOR PEARCE said she was unsure, because she didn't know that
all the school districts define it, and she wondered if the state
regulations require districts to define it that way. It used to be
"just how many years you hung around," which is why students had
to pass exit exams. Students who successfully completed the
requirements might not be able to successfully do the work.
SENATOR WILKEN said he agreed with Senator Pearce's suggestion and
thought there must be a sentence or two that would add that
requirement.
Number 225
SENATOR ELTON a conceptual suggestion on page 2, line 3, "a
secondary student in good standing enrolled in the 11th or 12th
grade." The definition of "good standing" would probably have to
be applied at the district level, and he was unsure the legislature
would want to craft a state definition. This would allow the high
school principal to say a student is not in good standing if
deficient in some area.
SENATOR PEARCE recommended asking DOE what fits better under their
regulations, because she didn't know. She offered to call the
department.
CHAIRMAN MILLER requested that Senator Elton find out the
definition. He would hold SB 112 and move it out on Wednesday, if
possible. He asked for other discussion and hearing none, he held
the bill.
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