Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/03/2012 01:30 PM House FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
HB310 | |
HB330 | |
HB296 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | HB 276 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 310 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 296 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | HB 330 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 330 "An Act establishing a Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Standards; requiring the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to provide information and resources to the task force; establishing state education standards; amending the authority of the Department of Education and Early Development to adopt education standards; and providing for an effective date." 3:18:08 PM Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for HB 330, Work Draft 27-LS1100\O (Mischel, 4/3/12). Co-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED for discussion. ERIN HARRINGTON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ALAN AUSTERMAN, explained the changes in the CS: -Title & Section 1: Deletes Legislative Findings Section. -New Section 1: Minor modifications to language. Revised the analysis of public education funding to make the work product more concise. Report of findings and any proposed legislation to the Governor, Department of Education & Early Development and the legislature by September 30, 2013. Task Force Membership consists of six members of the Legislature and five members as follows: 1. President of the Association of Alaska School Boards 2. President of the Alaska Council of School Administrators 3. A public school superintendent 4. A University of Alaska representative 5. A representative of a major career destination of high school graduates in the state. The Governor shall appoint a representative. 6. The task force meets at the call of a co- chair. The Senate President and House Speaker shall jointly appoint the co-chairs of the task force. The Department of Education & Early Development will provide data and information necessary for the Task Force to carry out its work. Co-Chair Stoltze WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, Work Draft 27-LS1100\O was ADOPTED. 3:22:35 PM AT EASE 3:23:04 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Stoltze MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1. Vice-chair Fairclough OBJECTED for discussion. She explained that in order to represent the sponsor's intent Amendment 1 deleted the word "five" and inserted the word "four" on page 3, line 3. The oversight of the superintendent of a public school was deleted on page 3, line 6. She WITHDREW her objection. There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was ADOPTED. REPRESENTATIVE ALAN DICK, SPONSOR, discussed the bill an asked for a meaningful conversation related to several educational issues. He directed attention to the standards of the educational system. He had experience with Alaska core and Alaska state standards that were essentially the same with some minor exceptions. He was concerned that the adoption of the proposed standards would lead the state down a path with an indeterminate fiscal note. He discussed that most curriculum cycles were 6 years. The Department of Education and Early Development and the Board of Education would, by default, be required to adopt the core standards if no action was taken. 3:36:52 PM Representative Dick read from the proposed standards. He asked whether the standards spoke to the need. He thought every standard in school should have a real life application. He believed rigor should be redirected; so students should be encouraged towards careers. He believed there should be a meaningful conversation before "we follow the lemmings over the cliff." Representative Dick felt that if a child was not college bound, the standards were unnecessary. He wondered if the system should be designed for all students to be on a fast track to college, or should it be designed to let everyone be exposed to the "crumbs that fall off the table." Representative Dick would like to see the standards field tested. He wondered whether a massive infrastructure would be built on a faulty foundation. 3:42:48 PM Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony. Vice-chair Fairclough believed there was a valid point that may not be reflected in the fiscal note. She discussed the system that was requesting additional support, and pointed out that there would be an additional expense. She thought the fiscal note fell short, and felt that there would be costs in curriculum and text books. She believed the Department of Education and Early Development should be required to make a cost estimate. Co-Chair Stoltze believed that the fiscal notes were appropriate because they were waiting on information from the task force. HB 330 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration. 3:47:36 PM AT EASE 3:49:20 PM RECONVENED