02/05/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION

                  SCR 3-AK SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:30:56 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SCR 3.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BILL  STOLTZE,  Alaska  State  Legislature,  as  sponsor,                                                              
introduced SCR  3 which designates  a School Choice Week.  He said                                                              
the resolution  is about the broad  concept of school  choice that                                                              
exists  in  our  public  schools   -  charter  schools,  technical                                                              
schools, home schools,  and combinations thereof,  serving parents                                                              
and  their families.  He mentioned  the  Mat-Su School  District's                                                              
variety  of school  choices, systems  of education  that are  best                                                              
for the  students and the  parents while meeting  the requirements                                                              
of  education.  He  noted  that Mr.  David  Boyle  requested  this                                                              
legislation  in  order  to  celebrate   that  educational  choices                                                              
exist.  He  reiterated  that  the  educational  system  that  best                                                              
serves the  student and  family should be  the primary  reason for                                                              
the program.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:35:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STOLTZE  praised the  great  teachers  in the  state.  He                                                              
noted the  date of the resolution  has passed and may  be altered.                                                              
He  said  the resolution  has  no  cost.  He reiterated  that  the                                                              
primary purpose  of the  educational system is  to best  serve the                                                              
student and family.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted no fiscal note.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL voiced appreciation for the resolution.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARDNER said  she likes the resolution.  She remarked that                                                              
public  schools often  are alternative  schools and  she does  not                                                              
see them reflected in the resolution.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   STOLTZE  said   they   are  fully   recognized  in   the                                                              
resolution.  He  commented  on waiting  lists  for  public  school                                                              
charter schools.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY applauded  the resolution  and said  he would  add                                                              
his name as  sponsor. He said he  was a believer in  education and                                                              
agreed there  were a number of  choices in Alaska. He  opined that                                                              
choice does not have to be controlled by the government.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:40:32 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS moved  to delete "25-31, 2015" on page  1, line 1,                                                              
and insert  "24-30, 2016" in  its place.  He instructed to  do the                                                              
same on page 2, line 6.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, the Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS commented  that  most charter  schools would  not                                                              
like to be considered as alternative schools.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STOLTZE  agreed  that school  choice  is  different  than                                                              
alternative school. "Choice" is the accurate descriptive word.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS   moved  to  report  SCR  3,   as  amended,  from                                                              
committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  attached  zero                                                              
fiscal note. There  being no objection, CSSCR 3(EDC)  was reported                                                              
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.