Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106

03/11/2022 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ SB 72 SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ HB 147 RURAL DEF. TEACHER EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ HB 312 ALLOW NATURAL HAIRSTYLES TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
               SB 72-SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:05:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND announced  that  the first  order of  business                                                               
would be  CS FOR  SENATE BILL  NO. 72(FIN),  "An Act  relating to                                                               
civics  education,  civics   assessments,  and  secondary  school                                                               
graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date."                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:05:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY   STEVENS,  Alaska  State  Legislature,   as  prime                                                               
sponsor,  introduced  CSSB  72(FIN).     He  explained  that  the                                                               
proposed legislation would create  a [secondary school] exit exam                                                               
in the  form of a  civics assessment.   He stated that  in recent                                                               
years he has witnessed apathy and  division in the country and in                                                               
the  schools.   He  commented  that students  have  done well  in                                                               
science, mathematics,  reading, and  writing, but  in comparison,                                                               
civics  education  has  taken  a  "back seat."    He  shared  the                                                               
observation  that  other  states are  changing  civics  education                                                               
policies by  creating new curriculum, providing  assessments, and                                                               
offering   volunteer  programs   and  leadership   workshops  for                                                               
students.  He  expressed urgency to reverse the  recent trend and                                                               
restore faith  and understanding in  the government by  making an                                                               
investment in the future of the  country.  He contended that CSSB
72(FIN) is  an effort to educate  students on both the  system of                                                               
government in the country and the cultural diversity in Alaska.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  stated that the  proposed civics exam  would not                                                               
be  considered high  stakes, as  a  student could  take the  test                                                               
repeatedly  until  70  percent of  the  questions  were  answered                                                               
correctly.   He described the process  of retaking the exam  as a                                                               
method for  learning.  He  added that the  test would not  stop a                                                               
student from  graduating.   He indicated  that the  Department of                                                               
Education and  Early Development  (DEED) has  agreed to  create a                                                               
civics  curriculum  unique to  Alaska.    He stated  he  believes                                                               
synonymously  with  the  country's   Founding  Fathers  that  the                                                               
fundamental purpose  of the public  education system is  to teach                                                               
the meaning of citizenship and  to create a population of citizen                                                               
voters.  He  described a personal experience from  his youth when                                                               
he attended a mock legislative  session; he conjectured that this                                                               
experience moved him to be involved in government.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:09:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS stated  that, with no offense  intended, he would                                                               
like to  distribute a civics exam  to the committee members.   He                                                               
explained  that  the  exam [included  in  the  committee  packet]                                                               
consists of  42 questions that  are part of the  U.S. Citizenship                                                               
and Immigration Services naturalization exam.   He related a joke                                                               
that he  missed a few questions,  reinforcing that the test  is a                                                               
learning opportunity.   He related that many  school districts in                                                               
the state already provide instruction  [in civics education].  He                                                               
stated that the  legislation would require every  student to take                                                               
the test,  adding that it  is a way for  students to learn  to be                                                               
citizens.  He  related the personal experience  that, unlike now,                                                               
he could not vote  until the age of 21.   He remembered the first                                                               
time he voted as a great experience.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:11:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND thanked Senator  Stevens and questioned whether                                                               
committee members should take the  test now.  She then questioned                                                               
whether he managed [the Task Force on Civics Education].                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:11:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  answered that the committee  members should take                                                               
the test home.   He answered that he managed  the task force with                                                               
support  from DEED  and the  school  districts.   He stated  that                                                               
after  working on  the  task force  many  school districts  moved                                                               
ahead  with civics  programs.   He reiterated  that the  Founding                                                               
Fathers  of  the country  sought  to  create citizens,  and  this                                                               
legislation is part of that process.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:12:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND  related a personal  story that her  mother, as                                                               
an immigrant, took the naturalization  test years ago to become a                                                               
citizen.   She  stated  that  she learned  from  her mother,  who                                                               
survived  World   War  II,   to  never   forget  [the   value  of                                                               
citizenship].                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:12:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS offered  that DEED  would design  an appropriate                                                               
test specific  to Alaska.   In response to Co-Chair  Drummond, he                                                               
stated that the  test passed out to the committee  is a sample of                                                               
the  naturalization test  given to  U.S. immigrants  applying for                                                               
citizenship.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:13:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIM   LAMKIN,  Staff,   Senator   Gary   Stevens,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, on behalf of Senator  Stevens, prime sponsor, gave a                                                               
sectional analysis of CSSB 72(FIN).   He stated that the proposed                                                               
legislation is  the recommendation of  [the Task Force  on Civics                                                               
Education].  He  stated that committee members can  find the task                                                               
force's final document posted on BASIS.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:14:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN proceeded  to the sectional analysis  of CSSB 72(FIN),                                                               
[included  in  the  committee  packet],  which  read  as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Sec. 1: AS 14.03.076, relating to public schools, adds                                                                   
             a new section                                                                                                      
          a.   directing the State Board of Education &                                                                         
               Early Development (SBOE) to develop                                                                              
          curriculum and a related assessment based on                                                                          
               the civics portion of the naturalization                                                                         
               examination administered by the U.S.                                                                             
               Department of Homeland Security for                                                                              
               immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship. The                                                                         
               curriculum and assessment must also include                                                                      
               systems of Alaska Tribal government;                                                                             
          b.  requiring students to pass the assessment                                                                         
          established in (a) above in order to receive                                                                          
               a high school diploma, with exceptions for                                                                       
          students with a disability and who receive a                                                                          
               waiver from their local school board;                                                                            
          c.   schools are to document on student                                                                               
               transcripts when a student has passed the                                                                        
               assessment, with the option for the student                                                                      
               to retake the assessment;                                                                                        
          d. districts are required to report annually                                                                          
               on their respective civics course offerings                                                                      
               and overall average student score on the                                                                         
               assessment; and                                                                                                  
          e.   a passing score is defined as correctly                                                                          
               answering 70% or more on the civics                                                                              
               assessment.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2: AS 14.07.168, relating to reporting                                                                           
               requirements of the SBOE, to include in                                                                          
               their annual report to the legislature a                                                                         
               description of civics education curriculum                                                                       
               in the state, of civics-related course                                                                           
               offerings in respective districts, and of                                                                        
               student performance on the assessment                                                                            
               described in section 1, by                                                                                       
               district.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
      Section 3: Provides for an effective date of July 1,                                                                      
                2023.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:18:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND questioned whether 70 percent of the test                                                                     
questions must be answered correctly to pass the U.S.                                                                           
naturalization exam.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:18:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN  responded that  the minimum  passing score  to attain                                                               
U.S.  citizenship is  60  percent  correct.   He  noted that  the                                                               
average immigrant  scored around 84  percent.  In  comparison, he                                                               
cited  a poll  that found  some of  the school  districts in  the                                                               
state had scores as low as 3 percent correct.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:19:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND commented  that, owing  to these  numbers, the                                                               
students in  the state deserve  more.   She added that,  owing to                                                               
the committee  members' participation in government,  it would be                                                               
interesting to  see how  they do  on the test.   She  offered the                                                               
joke that there should be no cheating.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:19:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS responded  that the  committee members'  results                                                               
would  not be  shared.   He stated  that this  test is  for self-                                                               
edification to realize the "holes" in everyone's education.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:19:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN,  in response to  Representative Gillham,  stated that                                                               
the language in  the bill gives districts flexibility  and is not                                                               
meant to be prescriptive.   He cited that the naturalization test                                                               
consists of  10 questions randomly  picked from around  140 study                                                               
questions.    To  pass  the  naturalization test,  6  out  of  10                                                               
questions need to be answered correctly.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:20:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS stated  that the  test handed  to the  committee                                                               
members is  not the  test that  would be given  to students.   He                                                               
stated that DEED would create a test specific to Alaska.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:21:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR STORY  asked whether school districts  have responded to                                                               
the bill,  as teachers have  conveyed concerns that  testing does                                                               
not capture students' comprehension.   Referring to students with                                                               
test anxiety, she  suggested that repeatedly taking  a test could                                                               
have negative  effects on self-esteem, while  hands-on activities                                                               
are  more  conducive  to  learning.     She  questioned  why  the                                                               
legislation  does not  incorporate  civics  into courses  already                                                               
offered by school  districts.  She argued that  a course offering                                                               
information and exercises  would be more useful than  one test as                                                               
the  only  "tool in  the  toolbox."    She expressed  doubt  that                                                               
passing a civics test would make students "model" citizens.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:23:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS  referenced  Co-Chair Story's  background  as  a                                                               
teacher and expressed  appreciation for the question.   He stated                                                               
that the proposed  legislation is not the only  answer, and there                                                               
are other  ways to  help young people  understand the  meaning of                                                               
citizenship.  He  offered his understanding on the  issue of test                                                               
anxiety  but   asserted  that   retaking  the   test  can   be  a                                                               
progression,  and   students  would   realize  they   [gained  an                                                               
understanding of civics] through the process.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:24:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN,  in response to  Representative Hopkins,  stated that                                                               
he has researched each  school district's graduation requirements                                                               
and  compiled a  binder with  this information.   He  stated that                                                               
there  is a  social studies  component,  but it  may not  specify                                                               
[Native Alaska] civics.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS posited  whether  options,  other than  a                                                               
test, could  reflect the same comprehensive  knowledge of civics.                                                               
He  questioned whether  the  legislation  is to  be  kept to  one                                                               
standardized test.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:25:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS stated that any  changes to the legislation would                                                               
be considered.   He added that  some of the larger  districts are                                                               
doing an exceptional job [incorporating  civics], but this is not                                                               
seen in the  smaller districts.  He stated  that the commissioner                                                               
of DEED would speak to this.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:26:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR STORY  thanked Senator Stevens  and shared that  she was                                                               
never a  teacher; instead,  she sat  on the  school board  for 18                                                               
years.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:27:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL JOHNSON,  PhD, Commissioner, Department of  Education and                                                               
Early  Development, testified  in support  of CSSB  72(FIN).   He                                                               
expressed  gratitude to  Senator  Stevens for  the  bill and  his                                                               
statesmanship.   He  stated that  civics education  is not  a new                                                               
idea, but  timely wisdom.   He paraphrased  Plato in  saying that                                                               
schools should  create good  men and  women that  act nobly.   He                                                               
added  that "if  the education  system does  less than  that, all                                                               
efforts for life,  liberty, and the pursuit of  happiness will be                                                               
thwarted."   He  cited a  [2018]  study from  the Woodrow  Wilson                                                               
National  Fellowship Foundation  that  found only  36 percent  of                                                               
Americans  passed a  multiply-choice citizenship  test.   He said                                                               
that that  test is comparable to  the test passed out  during the                                                               
meeting to  committee members.   He stated  that the  study found                                                               
less than  25 percent of Americans  knew why the U.S.  fought the                                                               
British, and  only 24  percent of  Americans could  name anything                                                               
Benjamin  Franklin accomplished.   He  added that  74 percent  of                                                               
Americans  aged 65  and  older  scored the  best,  while only  19                                                               
percent of those aged 45 and  younger passed.  He emphasized that                                                               
these statistics support the legislation's importance.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON stated that he  does not have specific data;                                                               
nonetheless, he  asserted confidence that few  citizens in Alaska                                                               
understand  Alaska  Native history  and  tribal  governance.   He                                                               
described  this   knowledge  as  an  essential   part  of  civics                                                               
education in the  state.  He referred to a  presentation given on                                                               
March 4, 2021,  by the House Special Committee  on Tribal Affairs                                                               
[on layers  of governance].   He described the presentation  as a                                                               
perfect example of  Alaska civics education.  He  stated that the                                                               
legislation is  a needed effort  to repair the foundation  of the                                                               
state's education system.  He  explained that civics education is                                                               
about  purpose,  and  a public  education  system  without  clear                                                               
purpose is expensive,  ineffective, and corrosive to  society.  A                                                               
purposeful  public  education  system  improves  society  through                                                               
efficiency and effectiveness.   He stated that  this bill further                                                               
implements  a long-time  statute that  affirms the  legislature's                                                               
purpose for education.  He read AS 14.03.015, which follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     It  is the  policy of  this state  that the  purpose of                                                                  
     education  is to  help ensure  that  all students  will                                                                  
     succeed in  their education and work,  shape worthwhile                                                                  
     and  satisfying  lives  for themselves,  exemplify  the                                                                  
     best values  of society, and be  effective in improving                                                                  
     the character and quality of the world about them.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON stated  that this  statute also  represents                                                               
the  SBOE's vision  statement and  is  a great  description of  a                                                               
purposeful education in  civics.  He stated that  every dollar of                                                               
the $1.6 billion spent annually  on public education in the state                                                               
should have a purpose.  As the  state comes out of the [COVID 19]                                                               
pandemic,  he  expressed  hope  that  the  benchmark  for  school                                                               
districts is higher than "merely" having its schools open.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:32:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON argued  that opening  schools is  good, but                                                               
the difficulty is  in being purposeful and  effective [within the                                                               
school].  He referred to  President John F. Kennedy's speech that                                                               
questioned  spending the  country's money  on the  exploration of                                                               
the moon.   He said that President Kennedy relayed  in the speech                                                               
that  going to  the moon  was not  about improving  the moon  but                                                               
making America  better.  He  said, "Let's not storm  the capitol.                                                               
Let's teach  our kids to  read. ... Let's  show them how  to work                                                               
together to  create good policy.   Let's teach them the  value of                                                               
liberty, and never  take it for granted.  Let's  show them how to                                                               
embrace what  is difficult, because  it makes us better  and more                                                               
thankful."  He  stated that, as members of  the state government,                                                               
it  is appropriate  to  have high  expectations  for schools  and                                                               
students  in   Alaska  through  strong  legislation,   like  CSSB
72(FIN).    He  expressed  anticipation to  work  with  the  bill                                                               
sponsor.  In conclusion, he stated  that the challenge may not be                                                               
simply passing and implementing the  legislation but living up to                                                               
the civility and the character expected of students.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:34:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  agreed with Commissioner Johnson  on Plato's                                                               
purpose of  public education.   In  reference to  the requirement                                                               
that the test be taken until  it is passed, he contended that any                                                               
test  measuring  knowledge should  be  this  way.   He  expressed                                                               
unease  at setting  a  centralized standard.    He surmised  that                                                               
formulating  the section  of  the civics  exam  on Alaska  Tribal                                                               
government  would be  difficult, as  there are  21 Native  Alaska                                                               
languages recognized in  the state.  He questioned  how to decide                                                               
on an applicable  and meaningful standard for a  test specific to                                                               
Alaska civics.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON responded  that Native  Alaska tribes  have                                                               
commonalities,  including  history.   He  compared  an  inclusive                                                               
civics  standard  for the  tribes  in  Alaska with  the  American                                                               
history  standard that  includes  all 50  states.   He  expressed                                                               
respect to Representative  Prax and recommended that  he view the                                                               
presentation  from March  4,  2021, given  by  the House  Special                                                               
Committee on  Tribal Affairs.   He  stated that  the presentation                                                               
helps to understand the standards.   He expressed confidence that                                                               
watching the presentation  would help inform viewers  what can be                                                               
accomplished.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:38:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX stated that he  remembered being 13 years old                                                               
when his  family moved to  Alaska and being taught  Alaska Native                                                               
history.   He suggested  that because  there are  more indigenous                                                               
Native Alaskans,  than in  other states, there  would be  more to                                                               
learn.   He  continued that  a  13-year-old moving  to the  state                                                               
would have more to learn to meet the test standards.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:39:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON stated  that,  like with  other exams,  the                                                               
state would  accommodate students  arriving from  outside Alaska.                                                               
He expressed  confidence that  if a  13-year-old student  were to                                                               
come to Alaska,  he/she would have the time to  learn the history                                                               
and pass a  civics test.  He stated that,  in his experience, 13-                                                               
year-olds new to Alaska are eager to learn about Alaska.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:40:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  STORY expressed  interest in  whether school  districts                                                               
have responded  to the  test requirement.   She  inquired whether                                                               
requirements for  social studies could be  interwoven with civics                                                               
education.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON  conveyed  confidence in  the  teachers  of                                                               
Alaska, not  the bureaucracy.  He  suggested that if the  bill is                                                               
passed,  then  teachers  would meet  to  reference  examples  and                                                               
discuss   effective  implementation.     Regarding   testing,  he                                                               
expressed   the   belief   that  effective   education   requires                                                               
assessment.   He  noted that  that can  take different  forms, as                                                               
teachers  use creative  ways to  determine  whether students  are                                                               
learning.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:42:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR STORY voiced  the belief that within  the social studies                                                               
standard  there is  an American  government  class that  includes                                                               
civics education.   She questioned whether anything  new needs to                                                               
be implemented.   She expressed  concern that a  test requirement                                                               
would involve  money and time and  whether one test is  the right                                                               
tool to evaluate learning.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:43:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON  maintained  that  he  has  relied  on  Mr.                                                               
Lamkin's  research  and  data  to  understand  the  situation  in                                                               
schools.  He  stated that the proposed  legislation would provide                                                               
resources to  DEED and  school districts  to create  material and                                                               
assessment.   He referred  to data  that points  out some  of the                                                               
larger school  districts have  already made  progress, explaining                                                               
that this  is an  opportunity to support  smaller districts.   He                                                               
emphasized  that  the  other  part  of  the  legislation  ensures                                                               
students in Alaska are educated  in tribal government and civics,                                                               
as  there  cannot  be an  assumption  that  curriculum  purchased                                                               
outside of Alaska contains this part.   He pointed out that there                                                               
are  partners  in the  state  who  have  already worked  on  this                                                               
portion  of the  legislation.   He expressed  excitement for  the                                                               
bill to pass  so partners can develop the  resources together and                                                               
for   this  element   to  be   incorporated  in   the  districts'                                                               
curriculum.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:45:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  JOHNSON,  in  response  to  a  follow-up  question,                                                               
stated that  he is a teacher,  and he has heard  direct testimony                                                               
in other meetings from teachers  [in support of the legislation].                                                               
He stated that teachers can  be asked to provide direct testimony                                                               
to the committee,  as he does not want to  speak on their behalf.                                                               
He voiced his belief that  many teachers are excited about civics                                                               
education  and becoming  partners  in the  implementation of  the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:46:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND voiced  the belief  that this  is not  a high-                                                               
stakes test and is not required  to graduate.  She suggested that                                                               
the test be given junior year,  as this would provide time before                                                               
graduation.  She  commented on the lack of  knowledge citizens of                                                               
the state  have about  Alaska Native  history, pointing  out that                                                               
current work  on a reading  bill has  been paused, as  the Native                                                               
Alaska community  requested the inclusion of  culturally relevant                                                               
education.   She said that  the value  is in how  the legislation                                                               
fits together,  and the process  should not  involve interpreting                                                               
one bill  at a time  but develop understanding across  the board,                                                               
before going forward.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:47:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ZULKOSKY expressed  appreciation that  the civics                                                               
exam is not a high-stakes  test, however; the current language of                                                               
the  bill indicates  that schools  may  not issue  a high  school                                                               
diploma unless  the student has  achieved a passing score  on the                                                               
civics assessment.   She  acknowledged the use  of "may"  and not                                                               
"shall" in the language  of the bill.  Since this  is not a high-                                                               
stakes test,  she inquired about  alternative ways, other  than a                                                               
standardized  test, that  schools could  illustrate its  students                                                               
are learning civics.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:49:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN stated  that the bill reads correctly.   Students must                                                               
pass the assessment  with 70 percent correct in  order to receive                                                               
a diploma.   He continued that  "high stakes" refers to  the idea                                                               
that the test is not a  onetime pass/fail.  He indicated that the                                                               
option to take the exam repeatedly reduces the pressure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:50:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY  stated research  from [the  Alaska Reads                                                               
Act] shows  that culturally  and linguistically  diverse students                                                               
have  challenges  within  the systemic  history  of  standardized                                                               
tests.  She stated that  her perception of high stakes implicates                                                               
diploma issuance  and not the  number of  times a test  is taken.                                                               
She  restated the  question on  whether the  sponsor's office  is                                                               
willing  to consider  other avenues  of  Alaska civics  education                                                               
without a proficiency benchmark.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN stated  that the bill sponsor is  amenable to whatever                                                               
the committee considers  a balanced approach in  meeting the goal                                                               
of improving and developing citizens.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:51:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN, in  response to Representative Prax,  stated that the                                                               
bill retains the  maximum flexibility among districts  and is not                                                               
meant  to  be  prescriptive.   He  stated  that  the  legislation                                                               
directs DEED  and SBOE  to develop  assessment and  curriculum on                                                               
tribal government structures.  Some  districts are in the process                                                               
of  developing  their own  curriculum,  while  the curriculum  is                                                               
already in  use in  other districts.   He  stated that  last year                                                               
representatives from the First Alaskans  Institute and the Alaska                                                               
Federation of  Natives testified  on the subject.   He  stated he                                                               
would be able to bring  these representatives into the discussion                                                               
to offer more  details.  He reiterated that the  bill is meant to                                                               
be  flexible and  creative  so as  to involve  a  broad range  of                                                               
Alaska Native cultures.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:53:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX stated  that the  challenge of  standardized                                                               
assessment  is determining  which questions  should be  included.                                                               
He surmised  that there is even  a challenge as to  which answers                                                               
are considered correct.  He  stated that there are many different                                                               
perspectives on  what happened and  which events in  U.S. history                                                               
are  the  most   important,  along  with  the   question  of  the                                                               
government's  fundamental function.   He  expressed concern  that                                                               
[the civics  exam] would dictate  a particular version.   With no                                                               
further questions, he urged that these ideas be pondered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:54:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS  offered   his  understanding  that  from                                                               
previous  testimony the  legislation would  help support  smaller                                                               
school  districts,   as  larger  school  districts   are  already                                                               
addressing the topic.  He  expressed interest in the bill's focus                                                               
on smaller school districts and  how classroom structure may help                                                               
students pass the civics test.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:55:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON  answered that, in  order to teach  well and                                                               
support students, there  must be clarity in  what students should                                                               
learn.   He  stated  that educators  must  answer five  essential                                                               
questions every day  for each student.  He  listed the questions,                                                               
which  would  determine:  what  standard  is  effective;  how  to                                                               
instruct  effective curriculum  effectively;  what assessment  is                                                               
effective; how  to intervene effectively; and  what enrichment is                                                               
effective.  He maintained that  the bill contains support for all                                                               
these questions.   He conjectured that  partners working together                                                               
with   existing  projects   would  [achieve   the  goal   of  the                                                               
legislation].   He stated  that teachers  at the  Canvas [Studio]                                                               
are contracted to deliver curriculum  and courses.  He added that                                                               
district teachers would work with  the Canvas [Studio] to address                                                               
content, assessment, and the other  questions [listed above].  He                                                               
added that there  are accommodations for students  who need extra                                                               
support with the statewide assessment.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:57:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS  argued  that students  would  be  losing                                                               
valuable class time while taking  the civics test.  He questioned                                                               
whether the format of test would  be designed by teachers and the                                                               
districts.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON  responded that  assessment is  an essential                                                               
part of effective  instruction and part of  the learning process.                                                               
He stated that there are multiply  ways to format the test.  With                                                               
no federal  protocols, each district  could determine  the format                                                               
and  implementation of  the test.    In response  to a  follow-up                                                               
question, he  stated that  the assessment  would resemble  a test                                                               
given at the district level.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:59:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS  restated that,  along with  other testing                                                               
requirements, the civics test would  take time away from learning                                                               
in the classroom.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   JOHNSON  stated   that   the  federally   required                                                               
assessments contain protocols  and must happen at  a certain time                                                               
of the year.   He reiterated that the  proposed civics assessment                                                               
would be a different type of  test.  He listed examples: the test                                                               
would not have to  be in the spring; the test  may be given after                                                               
a  student takes  a  course; and  the test  may  be given  during                                                               
sophomore or junior year.  He  stated that he does not envision a                                                               
prescriptive setting;  it could  be determined,  not only  at the                                                               
district  level, but  also  at the  individual  school level,  as                                                               
there  would  be  no  constraints of  reporting  to  the  federal                                                               
government.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:01:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 9:02 a.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:02:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opened public testimony on CSSB 72(FIN).                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:04:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE  HUTCHINSON, representing  self,  stated  that she  has                                                               
been following  the legislation since  [the Task Force  on Civics                                                               
Education] began its  work.  She said that,  through contact with                                                               
Mr. Lamkin, she  passed a copy of the task  force's report to the                                                               
curriculum department of  her local school district.   She stated                                                               
that  she is  a public  member  of the  curriculum committee  and                                                               
would be present  at the next meeting.  She  said that during its                                                               
last meeting civics was not a  high point of the discussion.  She                                                               
stated  that  she asked  the  curriculum  committee about  civics                                                               
education, and she was told "they  teach to standards, not to the                                                               
topic."     She  argued  that   civics  education  should   be  a                                                               
requirement in the  education system, as [citizens]  should be as                                                               
knowledgeable  as  immigrants about  the  U.S.  government.   She                                                               
related the  story that a  local retiree in her  community passed                                                               
the naturalization  exam at  nine years old.   She  expressed the                                                               
belief that a  13-year-old should be able to take  the exam.  She                                                               
voiced the opinion  that the exam is critical and  should be part                                                               
of the standard.  She  offered her appreciation to the committee,                                                               
the bill  sponsor, and  Mr. Lamkin.   She  stated that  she would                                                               
continue to  use the  information provided by  Mr. Lamkin  in her                                                               
group discussions on local and  state government.  She maintained                                                               
that  the issues  are  critical, and  she  reaffirmed her  strong                                                               
support of CSSB 72(FIN).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:08:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that CSSB 72(FIN) was held over.                                                                    

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 147 FN EED ACPE 1.7.22.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB 147 Sponsor Statement ver. B.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB 147 Supporting Document_ Education Retention and Turnover in Alaska.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB 147 Supporting Document_Teacher Education Loan Program Background.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB0147 work draft Version B.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB0147A.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB 147 Sectional Analysis ver. B.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB 147 Committee Packet HEDC 3.11.22.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 147
HB 312 EED SSA 2.10.22.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM
HB 312
HB 312 Sectional Analysis.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 312
HB 312 Committee Packet 3.11.22.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 312
HB 312 Sponsor Statement.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM
HB 312
HB 312 Supporting Document - Brookings.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM
HB 312
HB 312 Supporting Document - Gaddy.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM
HB 312
HB 312 Supporting Document - Glamour.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM
HB 312
HB0312A.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM
HB 312
CS for SB 72 (CRA).PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
CS for SB72 EDC.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
CS for SB 72 FIN.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB 72 Committee Packet HEDC 3.11.22.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB 72 FN EED SSA 2.9.22.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB 72 Oppose 031022.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB 72 Support 031022.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB0072A.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Bill Text verison D.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Fiscal Note 1.12.2022.PDF HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Research 128-Test-Questions.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Research Forbes_NeglectingCivics_2.21.2020.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Research Links-to-Resources.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Research RAND_Focus-on-Civic-Ed 12.8.2020.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Research WSJ_3.2.2021.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Sectional version D.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72
SB072 Civics Sponsor Statement 2.10.2021.pdf HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM
SB 72