Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 106
03/27/2009 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB33 | |
| HB206 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 33 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 206-HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSM'T/POSTSECONDARY CLASS 8:48:05 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 206, "An Act establishing a career assessment requirement in public schools; and relating to postsecondary courses for secondary school students." 8:50:00 AM LARRY LEDOUX, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), informed the committee that on the State Board of Education's fall meeting agenda is a complete discussion of the state's assessment system, including the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE). Therefore, the board is interested in discussing HB 206. Commissioner LeDoux then explained that existing regulations require students to complete the WorkKeys assessment during their junior year. Although the program is being delayed for a year, the board has been clear that it's not backing away from the requirement. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX related that at this time EED doesn't have a point of view on HB 206 other than that the assessments used must be of the quality to inform the student, parents, and employers and provide accountability for the school system. However, students who take the assessment as a senior don't have time to respond to the learning needs that are identified. Currently, the regulation requires completion of the WorkKeys assessment in the junior year in order that parents and students can review the scores and address areas in need. He noted that some states allow this exam to be taken more than once, and only the final score is listed on the student's transcript. 8:52:15 AM CHAIR SEATON asked if the department intends to expand WorkKeys to freshman-year students in order that lower classes can track the development of their skills for intended careers or colleges. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX informed the committee that WorkKeys includes an assessment that is performed in sixth and eighth grade. The aforementioned includes a complete learning program, WIN, in which students can participate. Commissioner LeDoux then said that what's lacking statewide is a comprehensive, integrated career education plan for Alaskan children. Although many districts have curriculum, many teachers would say that the career and technology curriculum isn't integrated into the courses being offered. The assessment will reveal what students have learned and what they haven't learned, but that won't be the program that ensures students learn the information. 8:54:29 AM CHAIR SEATON asked if the WorkKeys information is useful for college assessment purposes in determining the need for remedial classes and the possible success of a student during his/her freshman year. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX said that the WorkKeys assessment has a broad range, such that a high score would indicate a good foundation in math and technical reading. However, it isn't a pre-college exam. He related that the graduation exam for the State of Illinois is the WorkKeys exam plus a Standards Based Assessment (SBA) similar to that used in Alaska. He characterized the aforementioned as a good option. The WorkKeys program is a good exam for assessing certain skills, but it doesn't go far enough in terms of some of the technical skills necessary for college. For instance, the WorkKeys being used in Alaska only tests in the areas of finding information, math, and reading. 8:57:06 AM ERIK MCCORMICK, Director, Assessment and Accountability, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), informed the committee that the Career and Technical Education [office] administers the WorkKeys test. He noted that he will be meeting with that office's staff to review correlations with the HSGQE. This will be the first review of the data. In response to Chair Seaton, Mr. McCormick said that he didn't know the cost for the WorkKeys program but offered to obtain that information. 8:58:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked if the American College Testing (ACT) has a combination test for college readiness along with the WorkKeys test. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX related that one state uses the ACT college exam as its exit exam. However, Commissioner LeDoux opined that the ACT college exam is too limiting. He specified that the combination test in Illinois includes WorkKeys and measures social studies, science, mathematics, and language arts skills in a broader standards based assessment, known as the Prairie State Achievement Exam. 8:59:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked if a student could completely fail a section of the Prairie State Achievement Exam and still graduate. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX opined that if it's a high stakes exam, then one would likely have to pass all sections. In response to Chair Seaton, Commissioner LeDoux said that he didn't know whether it's a high stakes exam. 9:00:49 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX, in response to Chair Seaton, said that any time an assessment is going to be administered, the students must be given the opportunity to learn. The assessment needs to be integrated into learning activities, likely even in kindergarten. 9:01:54 AM CHAIR SEATON related: Our goal here was to try to have something on the diploma that had an encouragement for achievement throughout the senior year so that you could actually, towards the end of the senior year, take it and have improved your scores and be more, shall we say, employable or there could be relative balance .... CHAIR SEATON expressed the need to make the [assessment] exam relative to the diploma. 9:03:11 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX remarked that he liked the fact that the Prairie State Achievement Exam can be taken several times with only the highest score being reported. He related his understanding that either the ACT or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) will begin reporting an individual's highest score only. If students take a test during their junior year, they have the opportunity to know what they need to do to raise their score. Therefore, the opportunity to take the test again should be allowed if the test is going to be used to form instruction, he said. 9:03:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON inquired as to how many states have adopted the WorkKeys test. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX recalled that about 25 states have done so. 9:04:22 AM CHAIR SEATON asked if any changes to the first section of HB 206, the WorkKeys assessment, are necessary. He reminded the committee that HB 206 won't be moved through the legislature this session. The legislation is before the committee in order to engender interaction between the committee and the State Board of Education while working on the drop-out rate. 9:06:03 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX remarked that the intent of this legislation is exciting. He then informed the committee that many schools have teachers teaching co-credit classes. In such cases, since the district is paying for the teacher, the only fee is a registration/credit fee. The fee is negotiated between the school district and the local campus. He then discussed the concept of middle colleges in which students take co-credit courses as well as associate level courses while in high school. Those courses that are taught by college professors who are paid by the university should probably charge full tuition. However, those courses taught within the high school by teachers under contract with the school district probably shouldn't charge full tuition. 9:08:45 AM CHAIR SEATON said that it's not the committee's intent to increase costs rather the intent is to formalize the HSGQE across the state. Therefore, he questioned how the aforementioned could be accomplished. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX answered that EED will work with the university on language to effectuate the intended goal of the legislation. 9:10:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH characterized HB 206 as a laudable beginning, especially if the desire is to measure career aptitude and readiness. He suggested that [career assessment recommended in HB 206] should occur in elementary school at a very young age. He related that his goal is to help students thth such that by the time they reach 6-8 grades they can be successful. CHAIR SEATON highlighted his understanding that most members would agree that vocational education is lacking in the existing education system. Therefore, districts will have to gear education to accommodate more than the 30 percent of students who go on to higher education, which is one of the reasons for the career path language in HB 206. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH clarified that he is interested in the success of the student, whether it is in academia or otherwise. 9:14:41 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX stated his agreement that career and technical education is lacking and is an area that needs to be addressed as it's a pathway to success for many students. On Friday, the State Board of Education approved Alaska's education plan, which includes a comprehensive package that will achieve many of the goals discussed today. Commissioner LeDoux agreed to provide the draft plan to the committee once it's available. 9:15:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated that she finds the co-credit and middle college approach problematic. She reminded the committee that the national system already includes advanced placement classes in high school. Those classes are identified and recognized as being different from normal high school classes. Students don't receive college credit for those courses unless they reach a certain level on a nationally standardized test for that subject. Even then, some universities and schools don't accept them as credit toward graduation. She opined that the rationale is that a good education isn't necessarily a quicker education. Moving students through the system faster doesn't necessarily benefit the student. She recalled some 8 graders in her district that were ready for math that wasn't offered in the district. The question became whether these students should take math classes at the high school. However, high school teachers felt that although these students could pass tests, it didn't mean the students had a "solid grounding." Representative Gardner opined that it's a mistake to rush students through high school or college. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX noted that many co-credit classes are vocational in nature, more specifically these are articulated programs that lead to vocational certification. Commissioner LeDoux then remarked that to treat all students the same is to treat them unfairly. Since students are different, he opined, schools need comprehensive centers of learning at which students can explore their individual interests and can learn at a pace which they are able and/or choose. One of the problems in Alaska's system that leads to dropping out is the lack of options. Commissioner LeDoux expressed the need to remove the transitions between early childhood and primary education, elementary and middle school, middle school and high school, and high school and college. Research, he related, on drop-outs shows that transitions are critical in regard to keeping children in school. He reiterated the need to remove the transition between high school and college because that's where students are being lost; opportunities for students to express who they are need to be available. 9:20:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER clarified that she would view it as fine for a student who is doing well to take a college class. However, she would advise against a student trying to complete college freshman-year requirements in high school. "It's not a race to success ... we want to enrich what they're doing, not speed it up." COMMISSIONER LEDOUX said he understood. In American society, graduation from high school represents passage into adulthood. Many feel that young people, because of their emotional maturity, need to be in a protected environment [high school]. 9:21:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON asked if the stimulus package includes funds that would provide the department more tools to achieve what Commissioner LeDoux has described. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX answered that the stimulus package is structured such that most of the funds are moved through the school districts. Very little money is targeted for the department. Only 20 percent of the stabilization funds can be used by the department to pay down retirement. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON pointed out that many of the issues discussed aren't going to be addressed if the department doesn't receive the resources to do so. 9:23:02 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX, in response to Chair Seaton, informed the committee that several schools in the state are piloting credit recovery programs or credit by exams, although it's not widespread. Using the HSGQE at the sophomore level is the gatekeeper for college classes, which will be a motivator for some students. He related his belief that students who are interested in taking college classes will [easily pass the HSGQE]. College classes, co-credit, are usually available during a student's regular schedule, although sometimes evening college classes are made available to high school students. In further response to Chair Seaton, Commissioner LeDoux pointed out that the state sets broad requirements while the districts must ensure that their requirements are aligned with the state standards. This is similar to what occurs when students transfer from out-of-state high schools. 9:26:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON suggested that gaining college credits in high school is a cost savings for a number of students. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX stated his agreement while adding that for many young people college is no longer a four-year program, but rather a five-year program. 9:28:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked if there is a readiness evaluation test for high school. MR. MCCORMICK explained that the state's SBAs are aligned with the grade level expectations. Therefore, the courses a student thth takes in 8 grade represent what an 8 grader is expected to rdth vertically articulated, and therefore a student in 8 grade can th be compared to a 9 grader. Mr. McCormick said that the state doesn't have the skills to say what a student going into high school should know, but rather does know what a student should th know by the end of 8 grade. 9:30:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked, "Based on what standard?" MR. MCCORMICK answered that there are content and performance standards that have been created by Alaskan educators. The state's SBAs are based on the grade-level expectations, which the department is working to integrate into curriculum across the state. He offered to share the specifics with the committee, if it so desired. 9:30:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH surmised then that the SBAs are based on the national education composite, not just Alaska. Therefore, he questioned whether the information is standardized and could be compared to other states' data. MR. MCCORMICK explained that the SBAs were specifically developed by Alaskan educations for Alaskan students. In Alaska the only norm referenced tests that can be compared state-to- state are the Terra Nova tests, the California Achievement tests (CAT), and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 9:32:16 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX, in response to Representative Buch, related his understanding from the U.S. Secretary of Education that national/common standards are part of the agenda. He noted that he has been invited to a meeting of chief executives who will try to put together a coalition to facilitate the development of common standards for the nation. Some of the competitive funds in the stimulus package are to be allocated based on progress in development of some of these national standards. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH opined that if the committee intends to craft a change, it should be crafted in alignment with the national movement. 9:33:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked if Commissioner LeDoux believes that the common standards would incorporate academic preparedness along with something similar to WorkKeys. COMMISSIONER LEDOUX informed the committee that the State Board of Education has determined that WorkKeys is a high priority of discussion. Therefore, data will be collected and there will be discussions regarding the state's assessment program. He predicted that there will likely be changes to the exam recommended to the legislature. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated her pleasure with the aforementioned answer as much time is lost with [HSGQE] testing. 9:35:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said it is helpful to compare Alaskan students to those in other states. He asked if within the state there's a move to have an assessment based on the state's own standards. MR. MCCORMICK reminded the committee that EED has been asked to perform a full evaluation of all the state's assessments. The recent federal Title I regulations now require all states to report NAEP results in their district and state report cards. th Also, NAEP is piloting a 12 grade exam that tests reading, writing, and science. At this point, Alaska isn't one of the pilot states. Mr. McCormick expressed the need to ensure that a track of an occupation isn't limited by these assessment scores. 9:37:24 AM CHAIR SEATON pointed out that the second aspect of HB 206 is how to handle the HSGQE. He noted that he is not opposed to eliminating the HSGQE if EED and the State School Board find it necessary to do so. He mentioned that he has serious concerns with regard to the quality of the HSGQE. Therefore, he expressed openness to other possible tracks. 9:39:28 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX asked to have a future meeting with the committee along with the State Board of Education. He noted that the department intended to have recommendations before the committee by mid-September. To that end, he asked if the committee would be available to meet this summer. CHAIR SEATON replied yes, adding that members may also be able to attend work sessions of the State Board of Education. 9:40:53 AM COMMISSIONER LEDOUX invited the committee to various discussions in the near future on topics such as the graduation rate. 9:41:34 AM CHAIR SEATON noted that Friday there will be an interactive WorkKeys presentation during which members can take the test. 9:43:11 AM MR. MCCORMICK welcomed statements the committee would like to forward to the graduation rate committee that will meet April th 15. [HB 206 was held.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 206 material.pdf |
HEDC 3/27/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 4/3/2009 8:00:00 AM HEDC 2/1/2010 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Compulsory_Comparison.pdf |
HEDC 3/27/2009 8:00:00 AM |
|
| hb 33 material.pdf |
HEDC 3/27/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 33 |
| HB 33 material II.pdf |
HEDC 3/27/2009 8:00:00 AM |
HB 33 |