Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
04/03/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR5 | |
| HB64|| SB27 | |
| SB96 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SCR 5-ALASKA READS DAY
8:03:14 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL announced that the first order of business
would be SCR 5.
8:03:33 AM
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SCR
5. She said early literacy has been a passion for her for
decades. She shared a personal story about two of her children
who have dyslexia. She has seen firsthand the difficulties of
struggling with reading. She wondered if her children would not
have been as successful as they are if they had not had the
resources and support that they did growing up and in school.
She related that she has been to many conferences about reading
proficiency and has heard many experts speak on the personal,
social, and economic consequences of poor reading proficiency,
particularly by the third grade. She heard military officials
say that poor reading proficiency is a national security issue,
as too many recruits are unable to read manuals and complete
necessary tasks due to poor reading skills.
SENATOR GARDNER pointed out that Alaska students rate second to
last, nationally, in 4th grade reading proficiency. Efforts to
improve that have not been very successful. She said she
introduces this resolution at the request of an advocate in
order to help find a solution to this problem. She hoped the
resolution will help to increase awareness and early exposure to
reading, and to connect existing organizations within
communities to families in need of support.
8:05:39 AM
SENATOR GARDNER stated that SCR 5 is part of a national effort
taking place called the National Read Across America Day. She
encouraged the committee to consider SCR 5 as a small, simple
part of a large and more complex set of efforts to improve
reading proficiency.
8:06:17 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked if anyone has identified the cause of
low reading proficiency scores.
SENATOR GARDNER said not to her knowledge. She assumed it was
due to more TV watching and less reading these days. She said
there are no shortcuts to proficient reading; it is a matter of
time and practice. She said there is a world of wonderful
literature for children, but it is a matter of modeling and
valuing frequent reading. Some children are not ready for school
and reading due to lack of preparation by their families. She
explained the connection between school readiness and reading.
8:07:55 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked if there are particular school
districts that are performing better.
SENATOR GARDNER recalled that a few years ago her staff compiled
a graph of reading levels and income levels. There was a
correlation between income levels and proficiency. Also,
communities that have libraries open all year have more
successful student readers.
8:09:18 AM
SENATOR STEVENS agreed with the importance of early literacy. He
asked what would happen on Alaska Reads Day to improve reading
skills.
SENATOR GARDNER thought it would highlight the cause and promote
reading activities by organizations.
8:10:02 AM
MEGAN HOLLAND, Intern, Senator Berta Gardner, Alaska State
Legislature, presented information on SCR 5. She offered to
provide a list of the organizations that might take part in
making this day a success.
8:10:32 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for examples of activities that would
result in more kids reading.
MS. HOLLAND provided examples of what the national effort
suggests: holding reading events for kids, giving books away,
and connecting parents with reading resources.
SENATOR STEVENS said he spent the weekend reading to his
granddaughter. Reading opens the world to children.
SENATOR GARDNER gave an example from years ago of an annual
evening reading time at school. She maintained that kids like
being read to well beyond the time that they can read to
themselves.
8:12:18 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL asked about the impacts of Best Beginnings
which distributes books.
SENATOR GARDNER did not know directly. She used to have concerns
about it because some children did not need that help because
their families provided them books. However, a constituent, Ms.
Hensley, explained that the program is prohibited from choosing
children who do or do not qualify. Instead, they focused on
supplying books to low income zip codes. There used to be a
program where physicians provided a free book to every child.
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL wondered about the impact of Best Beginnings.
She recalled a large display of free books for children in the
Anchorage Airport, possibly sponsored by the PTA.
8:14:59 AM
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL noted the resolution has no fiscal note.
SENATOR GARDNER said correct.
VICE CHAIR GIESSEL held SCR 5 in committee.