Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106
04/30/2021 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB164 | |
| HB18 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 164 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 18-TEACHERS: NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
9:01:52 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 18, "An Act relating to national board
certification for public school teachers."
9:01:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State
Legislature, as prime sponsor, paraphrased the sponsor statement
for HB 18, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
HB 18 represents a commitment from the legislature to
elevate the prestige of the teaching profession in
Alaska.
National Board certification is reserved for educators
who voluntarily undertake, and successfully complete,
a rigorous certification process administered by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
The certification process is recognized as an
invaluable learning experience for educators that also
results in improved student outcomes. In Alaska and
across the country, National Board certification is
considered the gold standard of professional
development for teachers.
Certification by the National Board is an indicator of
teacher quality. Many studies have concluded that
National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) are more
effective in the classroom and that students of NBCTs
have better academic achievement.
By displaying in public schools the name of each NBCT
who teaches at that school, HB 18 creates a halo
around this superlative certification, imparts upon
the community and school the value of NBCTs, and
celebrates the hard-earned accomplishments of NBCTs.
HB 18 also sets the goal that four percent of public
school teachers in Alaska will be National Board
certified by 2026 which would nearly double the
current number of NBCTs in Alaska and nearly increase
by a factor of six the number of NBCTs in classrooms.
9:06:20 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked for the remainder of the text of the
proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS replied that approximately 35
pages were eliminated during hearings in the House State Affairs
Standing Committee.
9:06:42 AM
NORM WOOTEN, Director of Advocacy, Association of Alaska School
Boards, presented a PowerPoint titled, "HB 18 - Teachers:
National Board Certification." He presented slide 2, "AASB's
Mission," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
To advocate for children and youth by assisting school
boards in providing quality public education, focused
on student achievement, through effective local
governance.
MR. WOOTEN stressed the focus on student achievement in the
mission statement, and said the organization is not focused on
protecting school boards. He then presented slide 3, "AASB's
BOD Goals," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Goal 4: Support school boards and districts to
collaborate and implement creative solutions to
deliver personalized learning, and prepare Alaska's
children and youth for their future.
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 4, "AASB Belief Statement B.20,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
QUALITY STAFF IMPROVES STUDENT LEARNING
High-quality, highly motivated, culturally responsive
and innovative teachers, administrators and other
staff are essential for successful student learning.
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 5, "AASB Belief Statement B.22,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
AASB believes the elements of a quality educational
improvement effort should address the following key
areas:
Professional Standards: Should include the highest
standards of professionalism that exemplifies high
moral and ethical standards by school employees
throughout the district.
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 6, "AASB Resolution 4.1," subtitled,
"SUPPORTS FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
AASB supports funded opportunities and sufficient
resources for quality and relevant staff preparation
and demonstrably effective continuing development in
both urban and rural settings for those educating
Alaska's public school students. This includes, but is
not limited to:
? Professional development for teachers to implement
the Alaska State Standards;
? Pre-service: State training programs through
postsecondary and other institutions;
? Expanding Department of Education & Early
Development packaged training programs for all school
districts to use in providing consistent mandated
training to employees and in meeting the requirements
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
? Developing resources to allow the sharing and
implementation of best educational practices;
? Quality in-service programs at the local district
level;
? Necessary training for paraprofessionals and special
needs educators.
? Promote local mentors to foster the enculturation of
teachers and administrators.
? Cultural orientation and ongoing training in local
language, culture and history.
9:11:24 AM
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 7, "AASB Resolution 5.23," which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
SUPPORTING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL ALASKAN STUDENTS
AASB urges stakeholders to be innovative in their
thinking and to support efforts to collaboratively
change practices and address barriers to implement new
ways of teaching and learning in culturally responsive
ways.
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 8, "Why Do AASB's Foundational
Documents Matter?", which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
.notdef Classroom teachers ensure success for Alaska's
students.
.notdef A good teacher can make a difference in whether a
student succeeds or fails
.notdef So what makes a good teacher?
.notdef Continual professional development
.notdef Mentorship for new and low performing teachers
.notdef Professional Learning Communities that offer
opportunities for sharing best practices
.notdef Leadership for implementing student achievement
strategies
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 9, "How does this pertain to National
Board Certification?", which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
.notdef NBC teaches and promotes classroom creativity
.notdef NBC requires continual self-evaluation and self-
improvement
.notdef NBC builds leadership within classrooms, school
buildings, and school districts
.notdef NBC is about improving instruction = increased
student achievement
9:14:51 AM
MR. WOOTEN presented slide 10, "Finally - Let's Circle Back,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Why would AASB support National Board Certification?
To advocate for children and youth by assisting school
boards in providing quality public education, focused
on student achievement, through effective local
governance.
NBC is "focused on student achievement"
9:15:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether school districts incentivize
board certification, and whether AASB honors teachers in any
other way.
MR. WOOTEN answered he does not know whether school districts
incentivize board certification, but teachers who have attained
NBC certification should be honored in some way.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed the desire to support teachers
who achieve NBC, and she noted the cost of certification and
suggested that there could be compensation.
MR. WOOTEN responded that AASB would be eager to collaborate
with the National Education Association-Alaska to look at
avenues of NBC promotion.
9:18:39 AM
MATT MOSER, Government Relations Director, National Education
Association-Alaska, on behalf of Tom Klaameyer, president of
NEA-Alaska, offered comments in support of HB 18. In response
to Representative Story's question regarding school districts
and board certification, he said approximately six school
districts include contract language for NBC teachers. He
explained that NBC is an advanced certification that goes beyond
Alaska's licensure, considered by many to be a true mark of
excellent and recognized as the teaching profession's highest
credential. He said NBC has been described by educators as one
of the most difficult things they've done, with intensive self-
reflection on the teacher's part. He said a 2017 study in
Mississippi found that students of NBC teachers are
significantly more likely to score proficiently on literacy
assessments; kindergarten students are 31 percent more likely to
receive a score of "proficient" on their readiness assessment
compared to other students; and third-grade students are 11
percent more likely to receive a "proficient" score on math and
English/language arts assessments.
9:22:17 AM
MR. WOOTEN shared a multi-year study in Washington State that
found that being taught by NBC teachers equated to an additional
1.5 months of learning, and Harvard University's Strategic Data
Project found that students of NBC teachers in the Los Angeles
County School District gained roughly the equivalent of two
additional months of math instruction and one month of
English/language arts. The learning community in general, he
said, is also impacted; in Florida, Ohio, and South Carolina,
NBC has been a tool utilized to keep excellent educators in the
profession, with studies showing that attrition among NBC
teachers is three times lower than teacher attrition statewide.
Teachers with NBC become leaders, mentoring other teachers, and
transforming isolated pockets of excellence into systemwide
improvements.
MR. MOSER stressed NEA-Alaska's wholehearted support of efforts
to increase the number of NBC teachers, and suggested financial
incentives, noting that it costs approximately $2,000 to earn
the initial certification, which must be renewed every five
years. Teachers in up to 25 other states often earn an annual
stipend of $5,000, with additional stipends for teachers who
work as an NBC teacher in a high-needs school. He said NEA-
Alaska offers an intensive, one-week preparation course for
teachers to prepare for NBC. He said Alaska currently has 202
NBC teachers, with 24 candidates in the process, so it could be
a modest investment in education to incentivize teachers to
achieve NBC.
9:27:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked which organization runs the
certification process.
MR. MOSER responded that the governing body is an independent
group.
9:28:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS answered that NBC is run by an
independent nonprofit composed of a variety of education
professionals.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX suggested Googling it.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said there is a website that
describes the process and standards, including the peer review
process.
9:29:32 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND stated HB 18 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB_18_Testimony_4_30_2021.pdf |
HEDC 4/30/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB 18 Sponsor Statement 2.25.2021.pdf |
HEDC 4/30/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB 18 Committee Packet 4.30.2021.pdf |
HEDC 4/30/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |