Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/16/2000 01:32 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 244-QUALITY SCHOOL GRANT FUND INCREASE
COMMISSIONER RICK CROSS, Department of Education and Early
Development, informed committee members that SB 244 increases the
current $16 average daily membership amount paid in quality school
grants to $52. The cost of this proposal will amount to about $7.6
million. The quality school grant is a targeted, value added,
accountability grant, designed to accomplish the State's goal of
bringing accountability and high standards of student achievement
in Alaska's public schools. In 1998, when the Quality School
Initiative and grant program was established, it was specifically
targeted by the Legislature to fund accountability. The
accountability grants will jump start the kind of changes that need
to occur in Alaska's schools to ensure that all students reach high
standards.
COMMISSIONER CROSS said the State will save $19.9 million this year
as the result of three changes: declining school enrollment;
increased local property values which have shifted the
responsibility for school funding from the State to local
communities; and increases in federal Impact to Aid payments that
Alaska receives. School districts anticipated higher revenues this
year and have had to make significant adjustments to their budgets
to accommodate for the loss of revenue. Some districts are facing
as much as $4 million in reductions in expenditures. The $7.6
million of grants will give school districts money to raise
standards and student achievement, and it will allow teachers to
spend more time on task with students.
In 1998, Minnesota allocated $70 million to help school districts
implement new standards. Last year, the Washington State
Legislature passed a $113 million package of initiatives to support
reforms. In 1999, the Connecticut Legislature passed a budget that
added $70 million to help schools get better results. The State of
Louisiana set aside $200 million for reforms which amounts to about
$256 per student. These states, and a number of others, are
recognizing that additional resources are needed to support schools
as they raise standards and hold students and teachers accountable.
He hopes Alaska will do the same.
Number 1239
SENATOR WILKEN pointed out that DOE submitted a zero fiscal note
although the cost of the increase will be $7.6 million.
COMMISSIONER CROSS explained the zero fiscal note reflects the fact
that the Governor's budget for the foundation includes the $7.6
million. If a different budget is used, the fiscal note will need
to be changed. He noted that the fiscal note contains a statement
explaining that the money has been accounted for in the Governor's
budget in the Foundation Program.
SENATOR WILKEN maintained that fiscal notes are to reflect changes
in current spending.
SENATOR PETE KELLY agreed that the fiscal note should reflect the
$7.6 million.
SENATOR WILKEN surmised that the fiscal note reflects a diversion
from the normal process and requires users to "connect the dots."
CHAIRMAN MILLER agreed.
COMMISSIONER CROSS said his understanding is that DOE is to work
off of the Governor's budget and therefore the fiscal note is
correct. He added that the fiscal note is clear about the costs
associated with the bill.
CHAIRMAN MILLER stated that the next committee of referral is where
the fiscal note will be reviewed.
Number 1282
SENATOR PETE KELLY asked if DOE has written its fiscal notes based
on the current year's budget or the projected budget in the past.
COMMISSIONER CROSS acknowledged that he has not been involved for
too many years but he repeated that the rules DOE is to go by
require that the fiscal note reflect the cost if the money is not
accounted for in the Governor's budget.
SENATOR ELTON asked for an explanation of the application process
the districts use and the number of districts that have
participated in the Quality Schools grant program at the $16 level.
COMMISSIONER CROSS replied that all districts have participated in
the grant program and the application process was designed by DOE.
Each district submits an application explaining how the money will
be targeted and on what programs. The districts use the money for
various programs that target poor student performance, i.e. summer
school programs, tutoring, and extended-day programs. DOE reviews
applications and asks for clarification if the use of the money is
unclear. The program is not competitive: each district is allotted
a specific amount.
SENATOR ELTON asked if DOE checks to see whether it is substituting
Quality Schools Initiative grant funding for programs that would
have otherwise been funded from other sources, thereby freeing up
dollars in an existing budget to be spent on functions not related
to quality schools.
COMMISSIONER CROSS indicated that DOE's auditing of school
districts is fairly broad but is getting better as time goes on.
If DOE found a district was substituting quality school money for
a different program funded through a different grant, it would
question that expenditure.
Number 1497
SENATOR ELTON commented that he is not opposed to the concept of SB
244, but he sees several ways to tackle this problem. He noted
that if DOE does not audit to ensure that the additional money will
be spent on academics, then Senator Wilken's approach (SB 198)
might be better.
COMMISSIONER CROSS said he supports Senator Wilken's bill but he is
asking for support of SB 244 because it will ensure that money is
targeted to meet an immediate need that school districts face.
Regarding the auditing, DOE follows up to make sure the districts
are providing the services they were given the grant money for.
CARL ROSE, Executive Director of the Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), expressed support for SB 244 for the following
reasons. Many school districts anticipated the $19 million that is
not forthcoming so they are going through severe budget reductions
as a result. Two issues face Alaska school districts: operational
costs and the quality initiatives that have been mandated. The
quality initiatives serve a purpose but will require school
districts to address student achievement on the upcoming exams. He
does not believe Alaska will see wholesale success on those exams
at the start. As younger students go through the bench marking
process at the third, sixth and eighth grades, they will be ready
for the qualifying exam. He is very concerned about remediation
for those students who do not fare well in the new system. The
AASB supports both SB 244 and SB 198. Each bill addresses a
different issue: one is categorical through grants, the other gives
districts latitude for operations. Alaska has the responsibility
of ensuring that its students are as successful as possible in our
global economy.
SENATOR ELTON asked if remediation programs would be eligible for
funding from a quality school grant.
MR. ROSE said the question of why students do not score well on the
upcoming exam and what we can do to help those students will be on
the table. Providing those students with more of the same is
probably not the answer so the AASB is looking at new strategies.
SENATOR ELTON asked if the grant money is used for remediation,
whether the district would receive $52 per student who needed
remediation or whether it would get $52 per ADM in the district
which could be used to remediate fewer students.
MR. ROSE said he believes each school district will come up with
strategies they feel will meet their students' needs and they will
apply to DOE.
Number 1880
VERNON MARSHALL, NEA-Alaska, stated support for SB 244 and
commended the committee for acting on SB 198. The Senate HESS
committee has been the first committee to step to the plate and try
to deal with the school funding issue as it applies to 2001 and
beyond. The school year of 1999-2000 will probably be remembered
as the year of the "test." In March the first exit exam will be
administered and he assumes that before the end of the school term,
the bench mark testing at grades 3,6, and 8 will occur. The next
significant date will be the year 2002 because the exam given in
March will be given to seniors and determine whether they receive
a diploma. During that year every school will be designated. The
next two years are years of opportunity. Test results will be
available in the fall of the year 2000 and at that time educators
will have to review the results and look at the curriculum to
educate better. The issue of remediation will also have to be
addressed. He hopes the remediation programs in place in Fairbanks
are replicated throughout Alaska because that model is held up with
respect. The average teacher salary in Alaska has fallen to
$47,100. The average is decreasing, but the money saved does not
appear to be used for other personnel services by school districts.
He suspects that much of that money is being plowed into
remediation, curriculum realignment, and other things. He asked
for support of SB 244 and said it is a good coupler with SB 198.
There being no further testimony or discussion, SENATOR WILKEN
moved SB 244 with individual recommendations and its accompanying
fiscal note. There being no objection, the motion carried.
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