Legislature(2017 - 2018)CAPITOL 106
03/21/2018 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR5 | |
| HCR21 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA READS DAY
8:03:41 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the first order of business would
be SCR 5, ALASKA READS DAY.
8:04:50 AM
JACOB TATUM, Staff, Senator Berta Gardner, Alaska State
Legislature, stated that Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5 is a
step in addressing substandard reading proficiency in the State
of Alaska. The goal of the resolution is to connect readers of
all ages with a wide network of services, and with organizations
and advocates with reading proficiency at the core of their
mission. In order to coincide with the Read Across America
movement, March 2, 2019 will be recognized as Alaska Reads Day,
and it is envisioned that Alaskan communities will promote all
things related to reading and literacy, he described. Research
[included within the bill packet] emphasizes the critical
milestones of reading proficiency prior to entering the fourth
grade, and this resolution is a way to bring awareness in how to
build a more robust reading culture in this state, he offered.
The passage of this resolution would result in the first
recognized Alaska Reads Day, and it is important to emphasize
that this resolution does not require more funding because there
are organizations tirelessly working to spread the gift of
literacy. It is the hope that Alaska Reads Day will be another
reason that literacy advocates can bring attention to their
efforts. For example, dyslexia affect tens of millions of
Americans and it is notoriously underdiagnosed. The hope is
that Alaska Reads Day can serve as an opportunity for the
broader public to understand that the barriers of literacy can
ultimately be overcome. After researching the issues in this
resolution, it became clear that the low proficiency rates among
children who are dual language learners experience 93 percent
low reading proficiency rates. Given the diversity of Alaskan
communities and the growth of this demographic, it is important
to bring attention to the needs of dual language learners, he
pointed out. Similarly, there are many programs and resources
at public libraries and other community centers that already
exist which provide valuable services to readers of all ages.
Unfortunately, those services are underutilized simply because
the public is not aware of those opportunities and Alaska Reads
Day can serve as an opportunity to publishes the services and
give readers a day to look forward to and circle on their
calendars. Similar activities on Alaska Reads Day could
include: parent-teacher association story telling events;
grandparents volunteering to read at schools; children
volunteering to read in senior homes and the Pioneer Homes; book
giveaways; and good old fashion reading buddies, he related.
The sponsor's intention, he said, is that Alaska Reads Day will
inspire Alaskans to see reading not only as a critical tool that
is used in the classroom, but also as great fun that can be
experienced at the dinner table with family and a manner in
which to explore all that this world has to offer.
8:08:23 AM
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER related that she attended an Education
Conference where a group of retired military generals, admirals,
and such, offered a presentation and discussed how the lack of
reading proficiency is a national security issue.
Unfortunately, she advised, they could not assume that all of
their recruits could read well enough to follow instructions and
understand manuals, so these retired officers became involved in
the movement to promote reading proficiency. Alaska Reads Day
is fun, and she described it as easy, valuable, free, and the
hope is that parents, grandparents, librarians, teachers, school
volunteer advocates, and everyone, will get involved in
encouraging children, and showing them all the fun in reading.
8:09:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP offered his enthusiastic support for Senate
Concurrent Resolution No. 5. He noted that he does not often
quote former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, who said that
the inability of the nation's youth to read is our highest
national security risk. Secretary Clinton basically said that
there is a dumbing down of America due to the inability to read
our Founding Fathers' documents, to understand the Constitution
of the United States, and our National Bill of Rights.
Secretary Clinton continued that the concern is not just about
cursive any longer, but about having the ability to read those
documents in simple print, the United States is at risk of
losing our way as a people. He opined that the social reasons
often discussed in this committee include: the ability to
succeed; provide for yourself; stay out of jail; and hundreds of
other reasons this resolution is important. This is a wonderful
opportunity to partner with the private sector because many
nonprofits and faith-based groups are looking for ways to help
with Alaska's largest needs. He suggested that possibly after
school programs could spring up to highlight this critical need
for our youth to read proficiently at grade level.
8:11:08 AM
CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that NorthStar Elementary School has been a
Title 1 Schoo for many years. Regularly, she offered, the
Rotary Club, run by Gordan Glaser, would invade the school
during a school day to read to the kids. She asked why this
resolution does not proclaim every March 2, as Alaska Reads Day.
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER advised that she believes there is value
in the legislature looking at it every year because it brings
attention to the issue, and if it is simply on the books it is
easier to not give it the attention it so requires.
8:12:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH pointed out that this committee has often
discussed the importance of proficiency in school. He then
referred to SCR 5, page 2, lines 6-8, which read as follows:
WHEREAS students who are not proficient readers
in the third grade are four times more likely to drop
out of school and to generate increased social
services and incarceration costs for the state; and
REPRESENTATIVE PARRISH commented that he found it interesting
that being a proficient reader in the third grade is predictive
for a person's overall success in life. In addition to the
resolution, he asked whether there is anything else Senator
Gardner would like to highlight as a potential remedy.
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER answered that in her life, her parents
turned off the television and read to the children which was
also her remedy. She explained that when she was growing up her
mother would not allow a television in the house until she was
in high school. When raising her children, they kept the
television out of their reach by design, and when they began
school through high school, there would be no electronic
entertainment Monday through Friday night.
8:14:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO thanked Senator Gardner for bringing
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5 forward because he has read
to all of his children and grandchildren. Reading to children
peaks their interest in reading and shows them that reading is
important.
CHAIR DRUMMOND opened public testimony on SCR 5.
8:15:24 AM
ERIN MCKAY, Alaska Reading Coalition, advised that as a member
of the Alaska Reading Coalition and a parent in Decoding
Dyslexia Alaska, she is testifying in support of the resolution
because it is important to work together until all of Alaska's
children have the opportunity to learn to read. March 2 is Dr.
Seuss Day, and this day enables reading and literacy
organizations to have a day of unity, and reading instruction
goes far to create the collaborations necessary to improve
reading proficiency in Alaska. She pointed out that this
resolution is an excellent tool to build consensus about the
importance of reading and the importance of bringing instruction
across all sectors of the state. Ms. McKay then provided an
anecdote about a friend from her high school.
8:18:19 AM
DAVID NEES, Alaska Policy Forum, advised that the Alaska Policy
Forum is much impressed with the continuation of Dr. Seuss Day,
and making it Alaska Reads Day. He suggested immortalizing
March 2, as Alaska Reads Day from here on out of every year
rather than in a recurring resolution. The idea behind Dr.
Seuss Day, he explained, was created one time, and then teachers
took it on by wearing the hats and reading to the children. He
reiterated his suggestion of putting March 2, into the Alaska
Calendar each year because it would allow businesses to
incorporate it into their business calendars and get the
chambers of commerce to recognize the day. The Alaska Policy
Forum has always advocated for increased reading levels and
mastery tests at the 3rd and 4th grade levels as one of the
abilities a student must possess, he offered. This is a great
first step because it does make it important that March 2, each
year is recognized as a good day to read to a grandchild, a
neighbor child, volunteer at a school, and volunteer at a
hospital.
8:20:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND, after ascertaining no one wished to
testify, closed public testimony on SCR 5.
8:20:08 AM
The committee took a brief at ease.
8:20:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH moved to report SCR 5, out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SCR 5am moved from the House
Education Standing Committee.